morning notes

Va. Attorney General to Seek Reelection — “Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican who has embraced prosecutions against election fraud and other conservative causes, said Monday that he will seek reelection next year, dispelling speculation of a potential gubernatorial bid.” [Associated Press]

School Boards Seek Delay in Accountability Changes — “Northern Virginia’s school systems are urging the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education to delay for at least a year the implementation of the state’s new School Performance and Supports Framework,” which was approved in August and is intended to reflect how well schools are meeting academic expectations. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Man Charged With Voter Intimidation — “A 23-year-old Woodbridge man was arrested for voter intimidation on Election Day outside a Fairfax City polling place, according to the City of Fairfax Police. Officers responded around 4:17 p.m. on Nov. 5 for the report of a man making hand gestures and verbally threatening people outside the polls at the Sherwood Center at 3740 Blenheim Blvd.” [Patch]

Chantilly Office Depot to Close — “The Office Depot store in the Chantilly Crossing shopping center is closing its doors next month… The Burn confirmed with employees that Office Depot is expected to close in mid-December, on or around Saturday, December 14.” [The Burn]

Former D.C. Area Radio Anchor Dies — “Evan Haning, whose 50-year radio career included almost a decade as an anchor and reporter at WTOP, has died at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer.” His daughter, Amber, says working at the Chevy Chase-based radio station, which covers the D.C. region, was his favorite job. [WTOP]

Asian Food Hall Expects to Open Soon — “After three years in the works, Pop-Up District, a new food hall and lounge at Eden Center, plans to open for business sometime next month… The food hall has confirmed five restaurants and a bar across its 8,000 square feet.” [ARLnow]

Child Care Center Proposed in West Falls Church — “The Gardner School has proposed building a childcare center at 6637 South Street next to Annandale Road.” The single-story building would replace a structure that’s temporarily hosting the Fort Buffalo Fire Station during construction on a permanent station in Seven Corners. [Annandale Today]

Real Time Crime Center Helped Make Arrest — “The Fairfax County Police Department’s (FCPD) license plate reading technologies and new Real Time Crime Center enabled officers from the Mount Vernon District Station to make a key arrest last week.” The Nov. 11 incident began when a Flock camera flagged a vehicle with a stolen license plate at Walmart in Belle Haven. [On the Move]

It’s Tuesday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high of around 63 and light winds shifting to the southeast at 6 mph in the afternoon. Night brings a 20% chance of showers, mostly cloudy conditions, and a low of about 51 with light southeast winds. [NWS]

Toddler Killed by Truck Driver in Chantilly — “Officers responded to the 4200 block of Airline Pkwy in Chantilly [on Saturday, Nov. 16] where the driver of a truck had struck a 3-year-old in the roadway. The child was declared deceased on scene. The driver remained on scene.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Virginia to Fund New Workforce Housing — “Virginia will help fund housing construction near major business developments, Gov. Glenn Younkgin announced [last] week. A new executive order … sets a goal of investing $75 million towards localities that want to bolster housing supply tied to new job creation over the next five years.” [Virginia Mercury]

Silver Line Phase 2 Marks Anniversary — “Happy 2nd birthday to the Silver Line Phase 2! The extension added 11.4 miles of track outbound from Wiehle-Reston, 6 new stations, and extended service to @Dulles_Airport and Ashburn, VA. Over 8M trips later, it’s keeping the region on the move!” [WMATA/Twitter]

Falls Church HS to Get Athletic Improvements — “Many of the improvements in the Falls Church High School renovation/expansion project have been completed, but much more work needs to be done.” Mason District School Board Representative Ricardy Anderson shared on Nov. 13 that the project will now include athletic field improvements previously “cut due to cost increases.” [Annandale Today]

Children’s Art Studio to Open Fort Hunt Space — “Hooray Art! is slated to open at Hollin Hall Shopping Center in January 2025. The children’s art studio, founded in 2023 by local resident Paige Bradford, will occupy the space between the Hollin Hall Variety Store and Nature’s Nibbles at 7908 Fort Hunt Road.” [On the MoVe]

GMU ‘Body Farm’ Supports Forensic Research — “O’Toole now heads the George Mason University Forensic Science Program, which includes a facility informally called a ‘body farm’ — one of only 10 in the world… The outdoor forensic research lab provides hands-on training and research, in the blending of science and the search for justice.” [WTOP]

Chefs Reflect on First Year in Tysons — “Ometeo has carved out a niche with its Tex-Mex offerings, helmed by chefs Manuel Perez and Gabe Erales. As the restaurant celebrates its first year, the duo … reflected on the challenges and triumphs of introducing authentic Tex-Mex cuisine to a region where tastes and traditions differ.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

McLean Citizens Association Celebrates 110 Years — “Thursday night at the McLean Community Center, one of many institutions that owes its existence to the McLean Citizens Association (MCA), local luminaries mingled with dozens of McLean area residents to toast MCA on its 110th Anniversary. As the County’s oldest continuously operating civic association, MCA had plenty to celebrate.” [MCA]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 67 degrees and a northwest wind ranging from 5 to 9 mph. The night will be partly cloudy with a low around 46 degrees and a slightly lighter northwest wind at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

McKay Worried About Trump’s Impact on Local Economy — “A second Trump presidency could have a devastating effect on the Fairfax County economy, Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay warns.” He’s also concerned about potential cuts to federal health and housing programs, but says the county’s Trust Policy provides some protection for undocumented immigrants, as Trump promises mass deportations. [Annandale Today]

Man Gets Life in Prison for 2022 Shootings — Jordan Cochran was sentenced to life in prison yesterday (Thursday) after being “convicted in August of fatally shooting 18-year-old Kebbren Leigh-Gaye at a bus stop in the Hybla Valley area of Richmond Highway in a disagreement that began over a pair of shoes.” He then shot a man who declined to give him a ride, permanently blinding him. [Washington Post]

Uptick in Pneumonia Cases Reported — “D.C.-area urgent care centers are reporting a big uptick in ‘walking pneumonia’ cases … According to MedStar, which operates 33 urgent care centers in the D.C. region, it saw 1,758 cases this October — a 358% increase from the 391 cases seen in October of last year.” [WTOP]

Cybersecurity Firm Opens Tysons Office — Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Censys has signed a four-and-a-half-year lease for 4,471 square feet at 8260 Greensboro Drive in Tysons. Expected to have 20 workers, the new office is the company’s first in the D.C. area, bringing it closer to federal customers like the defense and homeland security departments. [Washington Business Journal]

Retired Firefighter With Cancer Honored by Friends — “On a pristine Saturday along Pohick Bay in Fairfax County, Va. a parking lot full of first responders and military dignitaries gathered in unison. They weren’t there for an emergency, but to honor a gifted colleague who was forced to retire after 25 years of service to focus on the fight of his life.” [WJLA]

Nonprofit Launches Annual Holiday Donation Drive — “Britepaths, a Fairfax-based nonprofit, is seeking donations from the community to provide holiday meals and gifts for children of Fairfax County area families in need. Last year, Britepath’s holiday program helped 265 children during the holiday season.” [Patch]

How N. Va. Private Schools Are Using A.I. — “Many independent K-12 schools are … forming policies and educational standards that aim to utilize AI’s potential benefits without compromising the quality of instruction students receive. Here’s how some members of NoVA’s private-school community are addressing AI now and for the future.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Lorton Neighborhood Working to Add EV Chargers — “This past summer, the Mount Vernon District registered its first participant in Charge Up Fairfax — the county’s program designed to help residents of community associations more easily access electric vehicle (EV) chargers.” The Shepherd Hills Homeowners Association hopes to have its charging stations in place next spring. [On the MoVe]

It’s Friday — With patchy fog clearing by 9am, the sky will transition from cloudy to mostly sunny, with temperatures reaching a high near 56 degrees. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. Night will be mostly clear, with a low temperature around 45 degrees. [NWS]

McLean Mansion Allegedly Bought with Stolen Money — “The way Nigerian authorities tell it, their country’s former national security adviser misappropriated more than $2 billion from his own government, routing some of it to a family friend — the man who bought the mansion in McLean. In the United States, according to Nigerian authorities, the man sought to launder the money in part by purchasing homes.” [Washington Post]

Congressman Arrested for Being Drunk at Dulles Airport — “House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul was detained by police at Dulles International Airport earlier this month in an incident that he described as ‘the result of a poor decision’ to mix Ambien and alcohol.” He has been charged with being drunk in public for the Nov. 4 incident. [Semafor]

Suspect Wanted in Armed Tysons Robbery — “On October 25, at 5:14 p.m., officers responded to the 2000 block of Chain Bridge Road in Tysons for a robbery call. The victim reported that a suspect entered the business with a firearm and demanded money. The suspect then fled out of the business with cash from the register and into a vehicle. The victim was not harmed.” [FCPD]

FCPS to Address Crowding at Lincolnia School — “Community meetings have been scheduled to discuss options for easing overcrowding at Parklawn Elementary School, Mason school board member Ricardy Anderson announced.” A virtual meeting is planned for Nov. 25, followed by an in-person forum on Dec. 11 in the school’s cafeteria. [Annandale Today]

Fairfax Connector Gives Riders Safety Lights — “Be Smart. Be Safe. Be Seen. We’re lighting up Fairfax County by providing bus and rail riders with safety lights. Our Fairfax Connector team handed out dozens at the Huntington Metro this evening.” [Fairfax Connector/Twitter]

Animal Shelter Seeks Owners of Found Pets — “Do you recognize these found pets? Please help us find their families by sharing this post!” The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is looking to get several dogs, a cat, two rabbits and one parakeet found around the county between Nov. 4 and 12 to their proper homes. [FCAS/Facebook]

Mediterranean Restaurant Lands in Falls Church — “Cafe Zevian, a Mediterranean concept by Adem Kaplan, will be located at the bottom of The Kensington senior living facility at 700 W. Broad Street … The new eatery will open in the former space of Famille, a French-inspired restaurant that closed in 2022. It’s scheduled to open for business by the end of the week.” [ARLnow]

FFXnow Has Joined Bluesky — While FFXnow isn’t joining outlets like NPR and The Guardian in fully leaving Twitter (at least for the time being), we’ve added Bluesky and Threads to our growing roster of active social media platforms, which also includes Facebook and Instagram. To keep up with all our stories, you can also sign up for our email newsletter.

It’s Thursday — Expect rain in the afternoon, with cloudy skies and a high of 52. Rain will continue until 4am, accompanied by patchy fog and a low of 45. The chance of precipitation increases from 70% to 90% at night, with potential amounts between a quarter and half an inch. [NWS]

FFXnow Gets Approval to Publish Legal Notices — “ARLnow’s sister site, FFXnow, received a separate court authorization to publish legal notices for Fairfax County. ARLnow and FFXnow are the first online-only sites in the D.C. area to receive such authorization.” [ARLnow]

Former Delegate Launches Attorney General Bid — “Jay Jones, a Democratic former state delegate from Norfolk, on Tuesday announced his bid for Virginia attorney general at two separate events in Norfolk and Richmond.” Jones campaigned for the job in 2021 but lost the Democratic nomination to then-incumbent Mark Herring. [Virginia Mercury]

Filipino Restaurant in Annandale to Close — “Sari, the family-owned Filipino restaurant in the Bradlick Shopping Center in Annandale will close by the end of the month. Owner Juan Canlas owns six restaurants in D.C. and Maryland and says he is closing two because it’s become too difficult to manage all of them.” [Annandale Today]

Virginia Shares Public School Performance Data — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on Friday rolled out a new state website aimed at giving parents and teachers more information about Virginia’s K-12 public schools, including performance data and comparisons among school systems around the state.” However, critics say there’s a lack of clarity to what the data means. [Washington Post]

Fairfax City’s Largest Private Employer to Stay — Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED) “has successfully worked with Zeta Associates, Inc., the city’s largest private employer and office space user, to maintain its 225,000 square feet of office space that serves hundreds of high-skilled jobs in the city.” The software company will get help renovating the building in WillowWood Plaza. [FCED]

Data Centers Fuel Energy Demand — “The rise of data-hungry artificial intelligence is driving an explosion in data center construction both statewide [in Virginia] and across the country… What’s clear is that data centers will help shape the region’s energy landscape for decades to come — prompting investments in both renewables and gas infrastructure.” [WHRO]

Tysons Nonprofit CEO to Retire — Second Story CEO Judith Dittman will retire at the end of 2024 after more than 30 years with the nonprofit, which provides housing and other services for youth and families in crisis. She will be succeeded in January 2025 by Jade Leedham, who has been serving as executive vice president in anticipation of the transition. [Second Story]

Some Farmers Markets Extend Season — “This year, three Fairfax County Park Authority farmers market locations will be extending their season into December. The Reston, McCutcheon/Mount Vernon, and Burke markets will now be closing various dates in December.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 52 with a north wind at 7 mph, shifting to an eastward direction in the afternoon. As night falls, the sky will become mostly cloudy and temperatures will drop to around 37 degrees. [NWS]

‘Heavy’ Building Fire in Great Falls — “Fairfax County Fire & Rescue personnel extinguished a fire Sunday night in the 800 block of Blacks Hill Road in the Great Falls area. When fire units arrived on the scene, they found a structure with heavy fire throughout.” [Patch]

Centreville Man Sentenced for Jan. 6 Capitol Attack — A U.S. District judge sentenced Centreville resident Zachary J. Alam to eight years in prison last Thursday (Nov. 7) after a jury convicted him last year of “assaulting police, destroying public property and obstructing police during a civil disorder” at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. [Washington Post]

Navy Federal Hit With Record Fine — “Vienna-based Navy Federal Credit Union has been ordered by a federal regulator to pay $95 million in restitution and fines for allegedly charging illegal overdraft fees to customers” between 2017 and 2022. That includes $80 million in refunds to customers and $15 million for a victims’ relief fund — the largest fine ever levied against a credit union by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. [Washington Business Journal]

More Black and Latino Men Voted for Trump — “For DaSean Gallishaw, a consultant in Fairfax, Virginia, a vote for Trump was rooted in what he saw as Democrats’ rhetoric not matching their actions. ‘It’s been a very long time since the Democrats ever really kept their promises to what they’re going to do for the minority communities,’ he said.” [Associated Press]

GMU Students File Lawsuit Over Tampons — “In a lawsuit filed in federal court, third-year law students Selene Cerankosky and Maria Arcara said the school ordered them to have no contact with another student who proposed stocking all restrooms, including men’s rooms, with menstrual hygiene products.” [WTOP]

Tex-Mex Restaurant Opens in Falls Church — “A new Latin and Tex-Mex restaurant is currently hosting its soft opening in Falls Church. Casa Mariachi Bar and Grille expects to hold a grand opening sometime next week at 133 E. Annandale Road, manager Tony Flores told ARLnow” on Nov. 8. [ARLnow]

Belle Haven Residents Push for New Park — The Fairfax County Park Authority is finalizing the design concept for a trail system that could help address “the lack of readily accessible recreational opportunities in the highly developed, densely populated Kings Crossing area.” The concept will be presented to the community next spring. [On the MoVe]

Woodlawn Park to Unveil New Restrooms — “The Fairfax County Park Authority, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and members of the Woodlawn Little League community invite the public to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting for the newly completed restroom and concessions building at McNaughton Fields Park. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.” [FCPA]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 56 degrees, accompanied by a north wind blowing at 13 to 15 mph and gusts reaching up to 24 mph. The clear night will bring a low around 33 degrees, with a north wind at 7 to 9 mph and gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]

County Warns About Fake Shredding Events — “Residents have recently reported arriving at Fairfax County facilities for shredding events that were falsely advertised on a suspicious website. These events are not associated with the county and we urge you to take steps to avoid misinformation and potential scams.” [Fairfax County Government]

Hayfield Argues Against Potential Postseason Ban — “Hayfield Secondary School made its final appeal Thursday to overturn a recommended two-year postseason ban in football. The hearing was held before a Virginia High School League three-person Executive Committee subcommittee,” which now has five working days to reach a final decision. [Inside NoVA]

FCPD Details Results of License Plate Readers — “The Fairfax County Police Department reports strong results from license plate readers.” Since the tools were introduced in November 2022, they have led to arrests of 514 people, 200 stolen vehicle recoveries, 43 gun recoveries and the locations of 30 missing people. [Annandale Today]

Local Voters Cite Economy, Abortion Among Top Issues — “Originally a Republican stronghold, Fairfax began to shift in the early 2000s as its population grew more diverse and younger families moved in. From student loan debt and health care to economic stability, these issues drive voters to make their voices heard in what many see as a defining election.” [The Wash]

Speculation on Youngkin Joining Trump Team — “Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has been getting closer to Donald Trump in recent months, with the two even appearing together on stage, leading to questions about whether Youngkin would possibly leave the state and join the incoming Trump administration.” [WTOP]

Herndon Cybersecurity Firm Buys Competitor — Everfox “previously known as Forcepoint Federal, has acquired Frederick, Maryland-based Yakabod Inc., a 23-year-old software company that provides cybersecurity and related services to federal agencies, corporations, universities and other organizations.” Announced on Nov. 1, the deal is Everfox’s second acquisition in three months. [DC Inno]

Herndon Homecoming Parade to Close Streets — “The Herndon High School Homecoming Parade is set to take place this Saturday, November 9th, kicking off at 9:30 am… To ensure the safety and smooth flow of the event, please take note of the following street closures and parking restrictions on Saturday morning.” [Town of Herndon]

Meadowlark Gardens Lets Kids See Winter Lights for Free — “Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights has four nights when kids will be admitted for free. On those nights, kids ages 2 to 12 will be admitted to the botanical gardens when they are accompanied by someone who has paid to get in.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 70 degrees with a light northwest wind that will reach 5-10 mph in the morning and potentially gust up to 20 mph. Clear conditions will continue into Friday night, with a low around 45 degrees. [NWS]

Republicans Projected to Control Senate — “The GOP has won control of the Senate as Sen. Deb Fischer secures reelection in Nebraska. With at least 51 Senate seats secured, Republicans will retake control of the chamber for the first time in four years.” [Associated Press]

Fairfax Businessmen on Trial for Selling Tech to Russia — “Two senior executives from the Fairfax-based Eleview International Inc., made their initial appearance in federal court on Monday to face charges of transferring critical systems and technologies — some with military application — to Russia.” The alleged sales violated restrictions that the U.S. imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. [Patch]

Fairfax City Candidates Hear Voter Concerns — “Candidates running for office in the City of Fairfax entered the final stretch of their months-long campaign on Tuesday, with many making a final appeal to voters at polling sites around the city. By noon on Tuesday, 2,599 people — about 14.87 percent of the city’s active, registered voters — had cast in-person ballots,” the city’s general registrar said. [Patch]

FCPS Sets Meeting Dates on Boundary Review — “Our first set of boundary review meetings will begin in a few weeks, with a meeting scheduled in each of our six regions. Families, staff, and community members will be able to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.” [FCPS]

New Name Proposed for Eden Center Road — “The Falls Church City Council is expected to approve a resolution on Nov. 12 to designate the section of Wilson Boulevard in front of the Eden Center as ‘Saigon Boulevard’ … It will be an honorary name, not recognized by the U.S. Postal Service.” [Annandale Today]

Tea Shop Plans Fairfax Location — The Alley, a tea shop chain with locations around the world, has chosen Fairfax City as the site of its first Virginia location. The shop will open at 11017 Main Street and appears to specialize in “bubble teas or boba teas with tapioca balls in them.” [The Burn]

Cloned Ferret Gives Birth in Virginia — A female black-footed ferret that “was created by cloning gave birth to two healthy offspring at a Smithsonian Institution/National Zoo center in Virginia, in what a federal agency called a conservation milestone. Authorities indicated that techniques used in their work with black-footed ferrets could help preserve other endangered species.” [Washington Post]

It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high around 79 degrees and southwest winds at 10 to 13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. The night will be mostly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 63 degrees. The southwest wind of 6 mph will become calm after midnight. [NWS]

Poll Worker Removed for Citizenship Question — Fairfax County’s Office of Elections removed a poll worker from the Franconia Governmental Center’s early voting site who asked an elementary school principal to show proof of her citizenship — a violation of state law. Liza Burrell-Aldana, once named principal of the year by the Washington Post, believes she was questioned because she looks and sounds Latina. [Washington Post]

Man Charged With Assault on Dulles Flight — A man has been charged with felony assault after allegedly punching another passenger “repeatedly in the face and head” during a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Dulles International Airport. An FBI agent says the attack against the sleeping passenger on Monday, Oct. 28 was unprovoked. [Associated Press/WTOP]

How County Is Ensuring Security of Election — With Election Day here, the Fairfax County Office of Elections offered a breakdown of the steps it takes to ensure “every vote is accurately recorded, safely stored and properly counted. From safeguarding ballots and voting machines to conducting post-election canvassing, the county’s Office of Elections prioritizes security at every step.” [Fairfax County Government]

Local Restaurants Offer Election Day Specials — “Make the most of Election Day by picking up a few free treats and special deals just for voters. Here’s where you can find food and drink specials on November 5.” Offers include a free nonalcoholic drink from Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar in Chantilly and Fair Oaks, and a themed cocktail from Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen in McLean. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Trail Proposed Along GW Parkway — “A coalition of environmental advocacy groups is hoping recent controversy over tree-clearing along the Potomac River leads to creative thinking about the future.” The group suggested that the National Park Service create a trail along the George Washington Memorial Parkway’s full Arlington County length. [ARLnow]

Buyer Search Underway for Vacant Annandale Building — “There is a lot of interest in the vacant property on Columbia Pike next to the Giant parking lot. But don’t expect anything to happen any time soon. The 1-acre site is available for a ground lease or sale for $3.5 million, says Craig Cheney with KLNB.” [Annandale Today]

Tysons Coffee Shop Opens Loudoun Expansion — “The new Shotted Specialty Coffee shop coming to Loudoun County has announced that its grand opening will be this coming Friday, November 8. They have already started a soft opening and busy brewing.” The cafe can be found in Fairfax County at both Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria. [The Burn]

It’s Tuesday — The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, reaching a high of about 73°F. There will be south winds ranging from 5 to 13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. At night, expect partly cloudy skies with lows around 60°F and a consistent south wind at approximately 9 mph. [NWS]