morning notes

Events to Look Forward to in 2025 — “Northern Virginians have so much to look forward to, from the return of the giant pandas to celebrating 50 years of Kings Dominion to so many new openings. You won’t want to miss any of these 25 events and attractions in 2025.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Legislator to Preview General Assembly Session — State Del. Holly Seibold, “who represents Virginia’s 12th House District, including Vienna, Tysons and some adjacent parts of Fairfax County, will preview the upcoming state legislative session” at Patrick Henry Library in Vienna tomorrow (Saturday) at 12:30 p.m. The county’s General Assembly delegation will also hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. [Fairfax County Public Library]

Bill Would Require Political Ads to Disclose A.I. Use — “Virginia State Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, already pre-filed a bill before the General Assembly convenes in January that would require political ads to disclose the use of AI. The content can mislead voters by distorting reality, such as deepfake robocalls generated in New Hampshire that sounded like President Joe Biden.” [WUSA9]

Retiring Rep. Wexton Seeks to Raise Awareness of Disease — “In January, Wexton will retire from the House of Representatives, where she has served since 2019. Yet the manner in which she’s making her exit is atypical. Many diagnosed with PSP retreat from the world … But Wexton has chosen to fight, using her platform to bring attention to the disease and working to pass legislation to fund potential new treatments for it and other brain disorders.” [Washingtonian]

Lottery Ticket Bought in Herndon Among $1M Winners — “Five lottery winners have scored a million-dollar prize in Virginia’s New Year’s Millionaire Raffle, including two in Northern Virginia.” One of the winning raffle tickets was sold by the McNair Farms Sunoco at 13470 Coppermine Road in Herndon. [Patch]

Vegetarian Indian Restaurant Coming to Chantilly — “It looks like a vegetarian restaurant chain is expanding into Northern Virginia. It’s called Saravanaa Bhavan and it specializes in meat-free dishes from southern India … Saravanaa Bhavan has taken a roughly 4,800 s.f. space in the Chantilly Crossing shopping center.” [The Burn]

Volunteers Invited to Help Package Oatmeal — “The Rotary Club of Bailey’s Crossroads, the Arlington Moose Lodge, and the Bailey’s Crossroads Lions Club invite community members to take part in an oatmeal packaging event on Jan. 4. Volunteers will assemble 18,000 servings of fortified oatmeal to help low-income people get through the cold winter months.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Friday — Expect rain and snow showers after 1pm, with mostly cloudy skies, a high near 42, and southwest winds of 5-11 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. There’s a 50% chance of precipitation. For Friday night, there’s a 20% chance of snow showers before 10pm, clearing up to mostly clear skies and a low of 25. [NWS]

Lightning Strikes D.C. Landmarks — “2024 did not go out with a whimper, as storms moved into the region on New Year’s Eve, producing heavy rain, wind gusts and prompting a tornado warning and lightning strikes at two iconic D.C. structures. Lightning struck the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol Tuesday night as the storms rolled through the District.” [WTOP]

Rep. Connolly Reacts to New Orleans Attack — “I am heartbroken by the horrific attack in New Orleans. My heart is with the victims, their families, and the people of New Orleans. Thank you to every first responder who ran toward danger to protect innocent lives.” [Rep. Gerry Connolly/Twitter]

Fairfax City Police Investigate Shots-Fired Incident — “Police are asking the public’s help in identifying the person who shot a firearm around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday in the 9900 block of Fairfax Square. This is the second such shooting in the neighborhood” in December. No injuries or property damage were reported, but bullet casings were found. [Patch]

South County Sees Rebound in Tourism — “Visit Fairfax, the county’s destination marketing organization, is upbeat about the post-pandemic resurgence of tourism in Southeast Fairfax County — particularly in the resource- and attraction-rich parts of the Mount Vernon District.” Attractions like the Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House and the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton reported upticks in visitors for 2024. [On the MoVe]

Police Seek Suspects in Annandale Home Burglary — “On December 27, at 2:48 p.m., officers responded to the 3300 block of Elm Terrace in Annandale for a residential burglary alarm. The complainant reported seeing two suspects enter her home on surveillance cameras. After activating an audible alarm, the suspects fled prior to police arrival.” [FCPD]

Tysons Marriott Hotel Sold — “The Tysons Corner Marriott has sold for nearly $63.9 million, or $161,227 per key, to a New York real estate investment management firm that appears to be making its first entry into Greater Washington’s hospitality market. The sale, to an affiliate of Prospect Ridge, was recorded Dec. 5, per Fairfax County land records.” [Washington Business Journal]

Incoming Fairfax City Council Member Gets Engaged — “As if getting elected to the Fairfax City Council didn’t make 2024 special enough for Anthony Amos, he decided to cap the year off by getting engaged … Monterrosa and Amos first met in Hawaii in 2018. The couple has set Sept. 20, 2025 as a tentative date for their wedding ceremony.” [Patch]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 40 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 11 to 16 mph and gusts up to 28 mph. For Thursday night, the conditions will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 29 degrees and a west wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]

Police Offer New Year’s Eve Safety Tips — “Traffic-related incidents often increase during holiday celebrations, especially when alcohol is involved. If you are planning to drive this New Year’s Eve, avoid drinking entirely to ensure you are fully alert and in control behind the wheel.” Free Lyft rides will be available through the Tysons-based Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP). [FCPD]

Culmore Residents Displaced by Apartment Fire — “A fire in an apartment building in Culmore on Dec. 18 displaced five people, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports.” There were no injuries after a fire alarm woke up residents, enabling them to evacuate the second-floor unit in the 6000 block of Argyle Drive. “Total property loss is estimated at $81,000.” [Annandale Today]

D.C. Records Warmest Year on Record — “Cooler December weather couldn’t keep the year from becoming the city’s warmest on record. This year’s annual average temperature of 61.8 degrees will end up 0.3 degrees ahead of the previous record high of 61.5 degrees in 2012.” [Capital Weather Gang]

Security Vestibules Added at Some Schools — “Several schools around the Richmond Highway Corridor, including West Potomac High School, have either finished or nearly wrapped up construction of their new security vestibules … With phase one of vestibule implementation nearly complete, there are still four more groups to go,” with FCPS seeking bids for a second round in early 2025. [On the MoVe]

Prolonged Street Closure Required Near Landmark Mall — “Some streets around the former Landmark Mall site, most notable a stretch of Duke Street, could see some closures starting today and running through next August. The City of Alexandria said the street closures are tied to construction of infrastructure at the WestEnd project.” [ALXnow]

Falls Church to Prioritize Affordable Housing in 2025 — “Some Falls Church officials are hoping 2025 will be a year of moving from conversation to concrete decisions in addressing affordable-housing goals.” The Falls Church City Council recently discussed goals recommended by a “working group that had spent much of 2024 focused on affordable housing.” [ARLnow]

TJ Student Raises Awareness of Light Pollution — “Lots of teenagers spend their time relaxing over winter break; but 15-year-old Rushil Kukreja was busy meeting with state lawmakers in Virginia about light pollution.” The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology junior created the nonprofit Princia to support “advocacy, education and research.” [WTOP]

It’s Tuesday — There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, starting at 1pm, with a high of 58 and southeast winds at 5-11 mph, gusting to 20 mph. On Tuesday night, expect a low around 42 and a west wind at 9 mph. New Year’s Day will be mostly sunny, breezy, and with a high near 48, accompanied by a west wind at 11-20 mph, gusting up to 34 mph. [NWS]

Driver in Fatal Hit-and-Run Still Unknown — “A Fairfax County family is still searching for answers after a devastating hit-and-run crash claimed the life of their matriarch, Mary Wong. The crash happened on Huntsman Boulevard near Bridle Wood Drive just before 8 p.m. on December 27th, 2023 — just two days after Christmas.” [FOX5]

Metro Construction Finishes Ahead of Schedule — Metro resumed normal service at 5 a.m. today (Monday) after suspending operations on parts of the Blue, Orange and Silver lines in D.C. for 10 days of track repairs and upgrades. The construction work finished a day early and “more than $450,000 under budget.” [WMATA]

Motorcyclist Killed in Fair Lakes Crash Identified — Police are continuing to investigate a crash that killed motorcyclist Michael Yung of Lorton at West Ox Road and Piney Branch Road on Friday (Dec. 27). Detectives are looking at whether “speed was a factor” in the crash, which saw Yung collide with an SUV that was turning left in the intersection. [FCPD]

Police Investigate Reston Burglary — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are seeking the community’s help in identifying suspects who burglarized a business and stole electronics in Reston on Christmas Eve.” Police say four people broke into the business in the 1600 block of Reston Parkway and stole electronics around 5 a.m. on Dec. 24. [FCPD]

Critic’s Take on Year’s Best New N. Va. Restaurants — “I’ve been through the good, bad, and forgettable this year, all to bring you a list of my favorite Northern Virginia restaurants of 2024. From vegan soups to dry-aged fish, these are the new restaurants that I’ve measured most favorably.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

This Silver Line Station is Metro’s Least Used — “About 400,000 people ride Metro trains daily, making it the second-busiest subway system in the country behind New York City’s … But at Loudoun Gateway, the second-to-last stop on the Silver Line extension, there is never any bustle,” with an average of 317 people entering the station each day this year. [Washington Post]

Community Centers Start Lending Tech Devices — “Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services is pleased to announce the new Technology Lending Program available at 12 NCS centers.” Any county resident can borrow technology, such as Canon EOS cameras, 3D printers and, in the future, Chromebooks, for 14 days. [NCS]

Local Student Builds Career on TV, Broadway — “Braden Allen King grew up in Fairfax County and watched as his dad and brother took part in local theater productions, and his mom taught dance, with his sister dancing at her studio. So, it wasn’t much of a shock to anyone in his family when he decided he wanted to pursue a career as an actor.” [Fairfax County Times]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly cloudy morning followed by gradual clearing and a high around 57°F. There will be west winds blowing at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. As for Monday night, the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures dipping to around 38°F. A southwest wind of around 5 mph will become calm in the evening. [NWS]

Kid-Friendly Ways to Celebrate New Year — For anyone with young kids who can’t or don’t want to stay up until midnight next Tuesday (Dec. 31), options for ringing in the new year include Rocknoceros New Year’s Eve Ball at Jammin’ Java in Vienna and Noon Year’s Eve Party at Shipgarten in Tysons. Some Fairfax County libraries are also planning “Noon Year’s Eve” celebrations. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Library Contest Offers Free Signed Books — To wrap up its 85th year of service, Fairfax County Public Library is giving out 13 free books signed by its visiting authors. Until next Tuesday, Dec. 31, patrons can enter to win a copy by sharing “how much Fairfax County Public Library has saved you this year (hint: it’s found at the bottom of your checkout receipt).” [FCPL/Instagram]

Local Mom Honors Son Lost to Drug Addiction — For Fairfax resident Debbie Zane, Christmas has become a time for mourning and remembering her son, Alex, who died in January 2022 “after a ten-year battle he had with serious mental illness and addiction.” She has written a book as “a cathartic and giving way to honor Alex while hopefully helping others.” [NBC4]

Falls Church Considers Design for ‘LOVE’ Sculpture — “It was not love at first sight, art-wise, for members of the Falls Church City Council. As a result, city staff will return early in the new year with refinements to a proposed ‘LOVE’ sculpture that will adorn the west side of the City Hall campus.” [ARLnow]

When Fairfax County Will Pick Up Christmas Trees — “Natural Christmas trees will be collected from January 6 to 17, 2025 for recycling. Lights, decorations, and stands must be removed to ensure collection. After January 17, please schedule a brush Special Pickup to have the natural Christmas tree removed.” [DPWES]

Inova Urgent Care Opens in Alexandria — “Inova opened a new urgent care center in Alexandria’s West End on Monday (Dec. 23). The Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care opened at 4600 Kenmore Avenue in the Seminary Plaza shopping center, and it’s the ninth center to open this year in Virginia.” [ALXnow]

Area Restaurants Repurpose Former Pizza Huts — “What do a taqueria, a Korean-Chinese restaurant, and a barbecue joint have in common? They all used to be Pizza Huts. The restaurant chain ditched its distinctive red-hut architecture in 2016, but you can still find the structures around the area, now housing other eateries.” [Washingtonian]

It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies, with temperatures reaching a high of around 43 degrees. Chances of rain will increase at night, mainly after 1 am, accompanied by patchy fog and overcast conditions, with lows around 38 degrees. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall possibly accumulating between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. [NWS]

Fort Hunt Man Revived Elaborate Christmas Display — “Christmas displays that inspire awe take effort. But arguably none put up this year took as much effort as the one that [Bill] Vaughan has spent nearly four years working on while recovering from a devastating injury that occurred the last time he tried to put up his display.” [Washington Post]

Woman Injured in Newington Crash — Fairfax County police officers responded around noon on Tuesday (Dec. 24) to “a single vehicle crash on Pohick Road near Havenbrook Way in Newington. The driver, an adult female, was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.” Pohick Road was closed for a couple of hours while detectives investigated. [FCPD/Twitter]

Fairfax City Names Acting Police Chief — “City of Fairfax Police Captain Natalie Hinesley has been selected to serve as acting police chief for the City of Fairfax Police Department … She will assume the acting police chief’s duties on Jan. 3, 2025. The need to select an acting police chief arose when current City of Fairfax Police Chief Erin Schaible announced her retirement earlier this month.” [City of Fairfax]

Annandale to Get New Cafe — “A coffee and sandwich shop, called Coffee & Bread, is expected to open in Annandale in January. The standalone building, at 7109 Columbia Pike, has been empty since December 2023 when Tobacco Luxe closed.” [Annandale Today]

N. Va. Nonprofit Gives Holiday Gifts and Meals — Once a teen struggling with homelessness and hunger, Elizabeth Ford recently “founded a nonprofit called BetterALife that provides children and their families in Loudoun and Fairfax counties with a variety of services … At their annual event called ‘A Child’s Wish,’ her group gave away gifts last weekend to 800 children and their parents.” [Washington Post]

Vienna Hires Economic Development Head From Fairfax — “After the departure of Vienna’s first economic development director, a new director was chosen from Fairfax City Economic Development. The town announced Nicole Toulouse will be the next economic development director, effective Jan. 13. 2025.” [Patch]

Chef Peter Chang’s Rise in the D.C. Area — “Just as Disney devotees make pilgrimages to the legendary theme parks worldwide, Chang fans visit his Sichuan-laden eateries across the DMV and beyond. Though diners are bound to find a cohesive culinary dynamic among his restaurants, various X factors set each apart.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, having a high close to 42 degrees and calm wind conditions. By Thursday night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low near 29 degrees and a continued calm breeze. [NWS]

Dog Rescued From Accotink Creek — “Just before 6:30pm #FairfaxsBravest received a call for a dog who had fallen into the Accontink Creek. Units arrived to find a dog stuck in the freezing water. Crews entered and swiftly rescued the dog. The dog was transferred to a local vet for evaluation.” [FCFRD/Twitter]

Fairfax Lawmaker Leads Push for Cannabis Sales — Del. Paul Krizek is introducing the House version of a bill that “would establish a legal framework to regulate the sale and taxation of cannabis for adults 21 and older.” Since Virginia legalized marijuana possession in 2021, measures to allow retail sales have stalled, including a bill passed last year that got vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. [Virginia Mercury]

Two Evacuated From McLean House Fire — “At 10:40 am [Monday] morning #FairfaxsBravest responded to a house fire in the 1600 block of Hunting Ave. Units arrived with fire showing from the attic. Firefighters conducted an aggressive fire attack and completed primary searches. All negative. 2 civilians evaluated on the scene.” [FCFRD/Twitter]

Newington Gun Store Targeted for Theft Again — A 20-year-old man from D.C. has been charged with possessing burglarious tools and wearing a mask in public after allegedly setting off the burglary alarm at Dominion Defense at 7200 Fullerton Road on Dec. 20. Firearms were previously stolen from the business in May 2023 and on Sept. 18. [FCPD]

New Trial Date Set for Herndon Double Murder Case — “Initially, Brendan Banfield’s criminal trial was set for Feb. 3, 2025. But, on Friday, Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge S. Azcarate granted a motion for continuance made by Banfield’s lawyers. The four-week jury trial was pushed back to Oct. 20, 2025, according to court documents.” [Patch]

County Launches Public Safety Data Dashboard — “The Safety & Security dashboard is the fifth dashboard now published to support the implementation of the Fairfax Countywide Strategic Plan.” The dashboard includes data related to arrests, crimes, diversions from arrest, 911 call processing times, “positive interactions with police” and more. [Fairfax County Government]

GW Parkway Gets New Superintendent — “The National Park Service (NPS) announced Dec. 19 that Jennifer (Jen) Madello will be the new superintendent of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, effective Dec. 29 … Madello will fill the role previously occupied by Charles Cuvelier, who assumed a new role at NPS this past August.” [On the MoVe]

Local Party City Locations to Close — “Party City is closing all of its stores, including the one on Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Party City Holdco Inc. is carrying out a ‘wind down’ of its 748 stores nationwide, which it expects to complete by Feb. 28.” The company also has stores on Loisdale Road in Springfield and Fairfax Blvd in Fairfax City. [Annandale Today]

It’s Tuesday — Rain or freezing rain is expected until 1pm, followed by a slight chance of rain between until 2pm, with a high temperature near 45. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation and a possibility of less than 0.1 inches of new ice accumulation. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 32. On Christmas Day, expect partly sunny skies with a high temperature near 42. [NWS]

One Seriously Injured in Mantua House Fire — Fairfax County firefighters were on scene shortly after midnight on Saturday (Dec. 21) for “a house fire in the 9100 block of Little River Turnpike in the Mantua area. Units arrived to fire showing. The fire is under control. One civilian was transported with life-threatening injuries. Fire investigators are on scene.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Defense Seeks Dismissal of Wesley Shifflett Conviction — “About two months before his sentencing date, the defense for a former Fairfax County police officer convicted in a shooting that killed a suspected unarmed shoplifter argued the verdict should be thrown out.” A jury found Wesley Shifflett guilty of recklessly handling a firearm but acquitted him on the more serious charge of involuntary manslaughter. [WUSA9]

Route 7 Crash Caught on Video — “Watch: A driver travels across five lanes of opposing traffic before crashing into a vehicle in the far right lane. This was [Thursday] evening at Haycock & Route 7 at the Fairfax County – Falls Church border. Video from SafetyVid.com.” [Dave Statter/Twitter]

New Casino Bill May Come From Different Lawmaker — “While it has yet to be introduced in the upcoming session, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, tells WUSA he plans to continue the fight to have a referendum to build a casino in the Tysons Corner area.” A recent letter signed by over 100 people argued a casino could pose a national security risk. [WUSA9]

Power Tools Stolen From Local Businesses — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are seeking the community’s help in identifying suspects who burglarized and stole power tools from businesses in Annandale, Merrifield, Lincolnia, and Chantilly.” The burglaries occurred on Dec. 15 and 16 and believed to involve the same suspects, police say. [FCPD]

Customers Frustrated With Metro Shuttle Service — “MetroAccess, which offers Metro’s door-to-door service for people with disabilities, faces growing criticism for a lack of performance and poor customer satisfaction. Numan Aslam, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, said he’s been using MetroAccess for more than 15 years. Recently, he’s been losing patience” with the service. [NBC4]

Montgomery Leader Responds on American Legion Bridge — At a recent Dulles corridor transportation panel, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Jeff McKay suggested Maryland doesn’t want to replace the American Legion Bridge so workers will stay on its side of the Potomac River. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich says the assertion is “inaccurate” but he does “understand his frustration.” [MoCo Show]

DC United Visits Local Hospital — “Patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation services at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital (IMVH) got a special treat Dec. 20, courtesy of local professional soccer team, D.C. United. Every year, the hospital holds a winter market where patients recovering from a variety of traumatic conditions and injuries can ‘shop’ for gifts for loved ones, but this was the first year that an outside organization stepped in to donate gifts.” [On the MoVe]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high around 35 degrees with calm winds that will later shift to the south at 5 to 7 mph. As for Monday night, the skies will turn mostly cloudy with a low temperature of approximately 27 degrees and a south wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

GMU Student Charged With Plotting Anti-Israel Attack — A freshman at George Mason University “faces one count of demonstrating how to manufacture an explosive with intent to murder internationally protected persons.” Investigators that the 18-year-old was planning “an attack on Israel’s general consulate in New York using a bomb, assault rifle or suicide vest.” [Washington Post]

Police Investigate Reported Drone Sightings — “The drama over drones that began in New Jersey has led to thousands of sightings nationwide, including hundreds in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. In Virginia, the Virginia Fusion Center, located within the Homeland Security Division of the Virginia State Police, said it has received more than 150 tips regarding drone activity in the Commonwealth.” [WTOP]

Flu Vaccine Rates Down for Children in D.C. Area — “Fewer kids are getting flu shots so far this season in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, per new CDC data.” In Virginia, vaccine coverage is at 45.1% so far this year, compared with 49.9% last year — a lower decline than what has been reported in D.C., Maryland and nationwide. [Axios D.C.]

Local NAACP to Host Casino Discussion — The Fairfax County NAACP will host a panel discussion on the proposed Tysons entertainment complex at the Gum Springs Community Center on Jan. 7, 2025. Participants will include potential developer Comstock, the No Casino Coalition, the Northern Virginia Labor Federation and George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis Director Terry Clower. [Patch]

New Owner for Seven Corners Apartment Building — “The Jefferson, a 310-unit apartment building in Seven Corners, has changed hands, the Washington Business Journal reports. Eagle Rock Properties acquired the complex, at 6166 Leesburg Pike, on Nov. 20 from Capital Investment Advisors LLC for $65.65 million.” [Annandale Today]

Glasgow Middle School Names New Principal — “Fairfax County Public Schools named Lisa Barrow the new principal of Glasgow Middle School. She has served as principal of Cooper Middle School in McLean since 2020 … Barrow was principal of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School from 2011 to 2016.” [Annandale Today]

Over $2M Donated to County Parks — “The Fairfax County Park Foundation Board joined with members of the Park Authority Board and Fairfax County Supervisors Andres Jimenez (Mason District) and Rodney Lusk (Franconia District) to commemorate the more than $2.1 million in monetary contributions received in 2024 to support park programs and initiatives throughout the county.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly cloudy conditions with a high near 43 and a calm wind turning northeast at 5 mph in the afternoon, coupled with a 50% chance of rain. The chance of rain will lessen to 30% before 1 am, while temperatures dip to around 32. The northwest wind will increase to 6-11 mph with gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]

Youngkin Proposes School Voucher Program — “Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on Wednesday proposed spending $50 million to start a scholarship program that would give lower-income families money to pay for private K-12 schooling. Called ‘opportunity scholarships,’ the program would allocate $5,000 scholarships to 10,000 students across the commonwealth to pay for private school tuition, fees, uniforms and supplies.” [Washington Post]

Man Convicted of Shooting Ex Faces Prison Time — A jury recommended a sentence of 23 years in prison and a $100,000 fine for Collins Agyei, who was convicted on Tuesday (Dec. 17) of shooting Esther Arko at a Mount Vernon apartment complex on Feb. 7, 2023. Final sentencing will be determined in April. [Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano/Bluesky]

Route 29 Lane Closes for Construction — “Beginning at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, the right through lane of southbound Route 29 between Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) and Meadow Estates Drive/Hampton Forest Way will be closed until summer 2025 to facilitate construction for the Route 29 widening project.” [VDOT]

Development Considered at Franconia Triangle — “Change has been slow to come in Franconia but it’s picked up speed lately,” with a study “focused on a triangle of land bordered by Franconia Road, Beulah Street and Grovedale Drive.” Fairfax County is looking at a plan amendment to allow affordable housing on the current Franconia Governmental Center site as well as “63 townhouses, 30 multi-family units and retail sites facing Franconia Road.” [The Connection]

Vienna Police ID Alleged Hit-and-Run Driver — Police have identified the driver who allegedly struck a pedestrian on Park Street on Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) as a man from New Kent County. Charged with a felony hit-and-run, the man turned himself in on Dec. 11, and was held in custody on a $10,000 secured bond. [Vienna Police]

Nearby: Arlington Adds More Speed Cameras — “Eight new school zone speed cameras are being installed around Arlington. The new cameras will start issuing warnings with the start of school after winter break, before issuing $100 tickets to speeders starting Feb. 5.” Arlington introduced speed cameras this summer, as Fairfax County announced plans to expand its program. [ARLnow]

Fire Department Names New Deputy Chief — “Fire Chief John Butler is pleased to announce the promotion of Battalion Chief Scott Schermerhorn to Deputy Chief. He will lead Division 1, A-Shift. Deputy Chief Schermerhorn has been a proud member of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department for over 21 years.” [FCFRD]

It’s Thursday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 45 degrees and a northwest wind ranging from 6 to 10 mph. As night falls, the sky will transition to increasing clouds and the temperature will drop to around 31 degrees, accompanied by calm winds. [NWS]