morning notes

Police Search for Kingstowne Robbery Suspects — A worker was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a commercial robbery in the 5700 block of Kingstowne Blvd on Aug. 7. Police say the employee “attempted to stop” a man and woman from leaving the store after they took merchadise without paying. The woman then “discharged pepper spray at the employee.” [FCPD]

Circus Coming to GMU — “Tickets for the upcoming performances of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus in Fairfax are now on sale. Billed as The Greatest Show on Earth, Ringling Bros. will be bringing more than 75 performers from 18 countries and presenting 50 circus acts from March 23 to April 6, 2025 at EagleBank Arena” on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. [Patch]

Metro Workers Secure New Contract — “Metro workers will have to take at least 10 hours off between shifts and see some caps to their raises, under the terms of a new union contract signed Wednesday…The changes address long-standing concerns over worker exhaustion as well as high labor costs.” [Washington Post]

State Police Release Annual Crime Data — “Virginia had fewer homicides, but more vehicle thefts and drug arrests, during 2023, according to the annual statewide report released Aug. 20 by Virginia State Police…There were 20,824 violent-crime offenses reported last year versus 20,549 in 2022, a 1.3 percent increase.” [Gazette Leader]

Events Venue Opens in Hybla Valley — “Tucked away toward the rear of an unassuming Richmond Highway strip mall, a former mattress and furniture store has been transformed into a high-end event and meeting space. Known as Vista Banquet Hall, the new facility has been a labor of love for its owner, Lydia Kassa, who first started searching for a space to open it four years ago.” [On the MoVe]

Learn About Fairfax City School Bond Projects — “There will be a school bond referendum on the city ballot for the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election — and you can learn more about it at community engagement sessions on Aug. 22, Sept. 30, and Oct. 15.” The requested $220 million in bonds will be used to renovate the Providence and Daniels Run elementary schools and replace Fairfax High School’s roof. [City of Fairfax]

Kristin Chenoweth Teases Wolf Trap Show — “You’ve seen her on Broadway and on TV. Ahead of her September 13 show at Wolf Trap, this Emmy- and Tony Award–winning actress talks about what she’s been up to and the magic you’ll see on stage,” where she’ll perform with fellow movie, TV and theater actor Alan Cumming. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunshine and a high around 79°F with a northwest wind at 5 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, reaching a low of approximately 58°F with calm winds. [NWS]

Arrest Made in Reston Shooting — A suspect in yesterday’s fatal shooting at Gold’s Gym in Reston has been arrested and is now in custody, Fairfax County police announced last night. Charges are expected today. [FCPD/Twitter]

Army Horses Not Going to Live at Mason Neck — The U.S. Army has decided not to stable “the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment’s famed Caisson horses at Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area.” After Mason Neck residents raised concerns, a search for a long-term home for the ceremonial animals continues. [On the MoVe]

Temporary Baking Shop Coming to Fairfax Corner — “King Arthur Baking Company, which started out as a flour company in 1790, is opening a pop-up restaurant next month in Fairfax Corner. The bakery chain’s new location is set to operate for a limited time as a pop-up shop next door the REI outlet at 11948 Grand Commons Drive.” [Patch]

Tysons Coffee Shop Eyes Loudoun Expansion — “The Burn has learned that Shotted will be taking a spot in the food court at the Dulles Town Center mall. It will be going into a vacant spot…previously occupied by a cupcake business.” The coffee shop can be found at Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center, where it recently moved from a kiosk to a storefront. [The Burn]

McLean Defense Startup Lands Big Investment — “Defcon AI, a McLean startup that aims to simplify logistics operations in complicated and dynamic military environments, has raised $44 million in funding led by prominent San Francisco investment firm Bessemer Venture Partners. It brings the company’s total outside funding to $47 million following the startup’s 2022 spinout from Tysons investment and incubation firm Red Cell Partners LLC.” [Washington Business Journal]

Annandale Mural Design Revealed — “The community got a sneak peek at the mural design for the ACCA Child Development Center building at the Art Appreciation Festival Aug. 17 at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space in Annandale. The mural should be mostly completed in time for the Taste of Annandale, which will be held at the civic space on Sept. 21.” [Annandale Today]

Winter-Themed Playground Open in Franconia — “Parents who are looking for ways to beat the heat can now take their kids to a new winter-themed indoor playground in Franconia. Hyper Kidz Alexandria opened [on Aug. 1] in the Festival at Manchester Lakes shopping center.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Lake Accotink Park Celebration Coming Up — “Join the Fairfax County Park Authority and Friends of Lake Accotink Park for a free day of family fun at Lake Accotink Park on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Celebrate summer with free amusements, boat rentals, hikes, mini golf, face painting, history activities and more!” [FCPA]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny conditions with a high near 76 degrees and a northwest wind blowing at 7 to 11 mph. For Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low around 57 degrees and a gentle north wind at 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]

Fairfax County Students Start New School Year — “Samia was among the nearly 200,000 students who headed back to school Monday as Alexandria City and Fairfax County Public Schools opened for the new year.” Changes in FCPS include additional early-release Mondays and a cell phone storage pilot set to launch after Labor Day. [Washington Post]

Man Arrested for Church Burglaries — “A 56-year-old Sterling man was arrested and charged in connection with burglaries at seven Fairfax County churches since April, according to police.” The man was identified as a suspect following an overnight break-in at an Annandale church on Aug. 5, and police later connected him to incidents in Burke, Fairfax Station, Chantilly and Oakton. [Patch]

Korean Bar Now Open in Annandale — “Annandale has a relatively new late-night gathering place — an izakaya — with craft cocktails and a small-plate menu featuring traditional and fusion Korean food. JMT Kitchen & Bar is located at 4316 Markham Street in the building that also houses A&J Restaurant.” [Annandale Today]

Area Families Grapple with Costs of Youth Sports — “As the price to participate in high-level youth competitions continues to skyrocket, public school athletics are considered an affordable alternative. However, there are some hidden costs families should be prepared for as their child tries out for the school team.” [WTOP]

Shwarma Truck Relocates to Oakton Restaurant — “Fans of Yalla Pita, the popular food truck that used to operate out of a Shell gas station in Vienna, will soon get the chance to dig into the eatery’s shawarma and falafel again. After closing in May, Yalla Pita is set to reopen this Saturday, August 17, in a permanent new space in Oakton.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Reston School Celebrates New Mural — “It was a joy to celebrate Lake Anne Elementary School’s new mural with students, parents and teachers. It’s a statement of Reston’s shared values and diversity. Thanks to Public Art Reston, Lake Anne Elementary and mural artist Shawn James of Mural Masters Inc. for making it possible!” [Supervisor Walter Alcorn/Facebook]

Herndon to Host First Pickleball Tournament — “Our first-ever pickleball tournament is happening on Sept. 21 at Bready Park! Beginner & intermediate divisions. Register your team now and enjoy a day of friendly competition! Spots are limited — don’t miss out!” [Town of Herndon/Twitter]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high of approximately 77°F, accompanied by a northwest wind at 10 mph and gusts reaching up to 18 mph. Tuesday night will bring mostly clear skies and a low of about 56°F, with north winds at 7 mph. [NWS]

Capital Beltway Passes 60th Anniversary — This Saturday (Aug. 17) marked 60 years since the final stretch of the Capital Beltway opened to traffic on Aug. 17, 1964. “The Beltway has been widened several times, become a well-known political reference, been supplemented with high occupancy toll lanes and become synonymous with congested commutes in and around the nation’s capital.” [WTOP]

Kingstowne Fire Response Disrupted — “Firefighters who put out a two-alarm fire inside a Fairfax County residence were evacuated around noon on Friday after officials said they lost access to water at one point.” Smoke was seen issuing from the front of the townhome when firefighters responded to the Kingstowne area that morning. [WJLA]

Virginia Delayed Corporate Tax Refunds — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration failed to provide timely tax refunds worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Virginia corporations two years in a row, an error made public…after Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears inquired about an odd footnote in a financial presentation to the House and Senate money committees.” [Washington Post]

Police Cite Thousands During Traffic Safety Campaign — “The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) has successfully wrapped up the fourth wave of our ‘Road Shark’ traffic safety campaign. Working with the Virginia State Police, our officers issued over 7,000 citations and warnings between August 5 and August 11, targeting reckless driving and other dangerous behaviors in traffic-heavy areas.” [FCPD]

Research Nonprofit Plans Fair Lakes Office — “Riverside Research will relocate its regionally-based business operations to Fairfax County in September 2024, as part of its strategy to centralize Northern Virginia operations and accommodate growth. This move will merge its current facility in Arlington with its Centreville office.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]

GMU Students Move in This Week — “Parking and traffic closures will occur on the Fairfax Campus from Wednesday, Aug. 21, to Sunday, Aug. 25, to facilitate the move-in of nearly 6,000 residential students…Traffic impacts will occur around campus, particularly near Braddock Road, Roanoke River Road, Lots J and K, and Rappahannock Deck.” [GMU]

Korean Community’s History in Annandale — “How did Annandale come to be known as ‘Koreatown’? Community activist, business owner, and longtime Annandale resident Steve Lee offered an explanation at a recent discussion session at George Mason Regional Library.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny conditions with a high near 83 until after 2 pm, when there’s a 70% chance of precipitation until 8pm. Night will bring mostly cloudy skies and a low around 63 with a 60% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

How Mars Sealed Deal for Pringles Maker — Interviews detail how McLean-based Mars Inc. “decided to place its biggest ever bet on expansion — the $36 billion acquisition of snack and cereal maker Kellanova…The deal is the culmination of a flurry of Mars’ dealmaking over the last three decades, totaling at least 185 transactions collectively worth $81 billion.” [Reuters]

GMU Board Member Scrutinized for Project 2025 Role — “Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) recently called for the ouster of a member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors over what he called ‘alarming’ and ‘extreme’ views. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) refused, citing the appointee’s extensive set of academic credentials.” [Washington Post]

Dulles Airport Ticks Up in Passenger Rankings — “Two local airports moved up from 2022 to 2023 in the national passenger-total rankings, while another fell, according to new federal data…Reagan Washington National Airport fell from 23rd to 24th while Washington Dulles International Airport rose from 26th to 28th in the rankings.” [Gazette Leader]

Nearby: Arlington to Add Speed Cameras — Following Fairfax’s lead, Arlington County will soon install speed cameras in school zones “next month, more than two years after officials approved their installation. The 10 cameras will begin operating on Sept. 25, with the owners of speeding vehicles receiving a $100 fine per infraction.” [ARLnow]

Grants Awarded to Local Arts Groups — ArtsFairfax, the county’s nonprofit arts agency, will award $591,900 to 58 community arts organizations under its fiscal year 2025 Operating Support Grants program. “While ArtsFairfax saw a 20% increase in total requested funds, the available funding for this grant category remained flat from FY24 to FY25.” [ArtsFairfax]

County Library Celebrates Summer Reading — “Come one, come all, to our annual FREE event to kick-off Fairfax County Public Library’s summer reading program! Our 2nd Annual Children’s Summer Reading Celebration is designed to encourage young readers to continue their enthusiasm for reading straight into summer vacation.” [Eventbrite]

Timing of VRE Saturday Service to D.C. Unclear — A Virginia Railway Express spokesperson says implementation of passenger rail service on Saturdays into D.C. “is being held up by contract negotiations with CSX, which owns the tracks on the Fredericksburg line, and Norfolk Southern Railroad which owns the tracks on the Manassas line.” [FXBG Advance/Inside NoVA]

It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 90°F. At night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2am-5am, changing to possible showers after 5am. It’ll be mostly cloudy with temperatures around 71°F. [NWS]

Driver Charged in Fatal Clifton Crash — Fairfax County police have charged a 21-year-old man from Woodbridge with failure to maintain proper control in connection to a July 15 crash that killed a passenger in his car. Police say the man was driving west on Old Yates Ford Road in a 2003 Honda Accord when he veered over the yellow line and collided with a Volkswagen SUV. [FCPD]

Man Convicted for 2022 Fatal Shooting — “Jordan Cochran was found guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding. He was 20 at the time of the shooting. Kebbren Leigh-Gaye, who was just 18 years old, died after the shooting on Jan. 8, 2022, on Richmond Highway (Route 1) at Dart Drive, in the Hybla Valley area.” [NBC4]

Judge Orders Release of Defense Department Engineer — “A Defense Department engineer accused of mishandling highly classified records should be released from jail to home confinement pending trial, a federal magistrate judge ruled Tuesday…[Gokhan] Gun during the hearing agreed to put up a nearly $500,000 home in Fairfax as bond collateral.” [Washington Post]

Vienna Figure Skater Reflects on Journey — “Now a student at George Mason University, [Ilia] Malinin still lives with his family in Vienna and trains under his parents, former Olympic skaters Roman Skorniakov and Tatiana Malinina, at SkateQuest in Reston…We recently caught up with Malinin during his off-season to talk about his accomplishments and what to expect next.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Road Closure in Centreville Postponed — A planned closure of Stringfellow Road (Route 645) between Route 29 and Centreville Farms Road has been postponed due to weather. Originally set for Saturday, Aug. 17, the paving work is “part of the Route 29 Widening Project, which is making improvements…between Union Mill Road and Buckleys Gate Drive.” [VDOT]

Georgetown Pike Bridge Closure Rescheduled — “RESCHEDULED: All lanes of Georgetown Pk Bridge over I-495 in #McLean will shift to new northern portion of bridge 8/23-8/26. Motorists are urged to stay away from the area, as lanes will be reduced, and Beltway ramps closed all weekend for work.” [VDOT/Twitter]

New School Board Student Rep Shares Priorities — “Earlier this year, Megan Sawant — a rising senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology — was elected by the countywide Superintendent’s Advisory Council (SAC) to serve a one-year term as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board.” Her goals include ensuring “two-way communication” between students and the board. [Gazette Leader]

Vienna Community Center to Close for Cleaning — “All events and activities at the Vienna Community Center will be paused starting one week from today, next Monday, Aug. 19 through Sept. 2, for an annual deep clean and facility maintenance. The lobby, including the front desk and restrooms, will remain open on a modified schedule.” [Town of Vienna/Facebook]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny conditions and a high near 88, accompanied by a mild north wind at about 5 mph. The evening will transition to partly cloudy skies with a low temperature around 68 and a gentle south breeze. [NWS]

Affordable Housing Dropped from Penn Daw Project — Architect BKV Group is revising the design for Fairfax County’s project to replace Penn Daw’s fire station and homeless shelter  after a fiscal analysis found “it would be more fiscally feasible and beneficial for the community to eliminate the affordable housing component…while increasing the number of permanent supportive housing units from 20 to 30.” [On the MoVe]

Man Arrested in Fairfax City Stabbing — Police officers arrested a 22-year-old man on Sunday (Aug. 11) and charged him with aggravated malicious wounding after he allegedly stabbed an acquaintance in the stomach during an argument in 7-Eleven (10810 Fairchester Drive) on Aug. 7. [City of Fairfax Police]

Armed Robbery by Teens in Reston — “Fairfax County Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Monday night in Reston. Five teens approached the victim in the 12200 block of Laurel Glade Court, displayed a gun and took the victim’s phone before fleeing the scene on foot, according to an 8:38 p.m. social media post.” [Patch]

Cybersecurity Firm Leases Reston Station Office — Reston Station developer Comstock announced on Monday (Aug. 12) that it has signed a 7,700-square-foot office lease with GuidePoint Security at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza. “This lease marks a milestone accomplishment for Reston Metro Plaza, as all three of its trophy-class office towers are now 100% leased.” [Business Wire]

New Businesses and Events Coming to Eden Center — “Forty years since its founding, the Eden Center remains a community pillar of Falls Church and thriving destination for visitors from throughout the D.C. area and beyond…In addition to the center’s historical gems, you’ll find a handful of newer destinations that remain committed to authenticity.” [ARLnow]

Firefighters Distribute School Supplies — “Today #FCFRD hosted its annual Backpack & School Supply Distribution at FS11, Penn Daw. Firefighters, retirees, and volunteers distributed 1,300 backpacks filled w/ school supplies to schools & nonprofits throughout the county. Thank you to everyone who made the event a success!” [FCFRD/Twitter]

Shrevewood ES Welcomes New Principal — “Shrevewood Elementary School students will return this fall to find a repaired air-conditioning system, enhanced positivity and environmental initiatives, and a different, but familiar, face in the principal’s office. Former assistant principal Katie Vandawalker took the helm Aug. 1 and succeeded Joshua DeSmyter, who became principal at Floris Elementary School.” [Gazette Leader]

Get Sneak Peek of Annandale Mural — “The community is invited to meet muralist Giuseppe Percivati (also known as Pepe Gaka) at the Art Appreciation Festival on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space.” Work on the mural will start before the end of this month, depending on the weather, and finish “in time for the Taste of Annandale on Sept. 21.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny conditions with a high near 86 and a north wind of 5 to 8 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 66 and a light northwest wind. [NWS]

CIA Sexual Harassment Case Going to Trial — A jury trial is expected this fall after a former CIA employee appealed a Fairfax County judge’s ruling that found him guilty of misdemeanor assault and battery against a coworker who said “tried to strangle her with a scarf and kiss her in a stairwell” at the spy agency’s McLean headquarters. [Washington Post]

Helicopter Exercise Planned at Reston Park — “Lake Fairfax Park: The Cricket Field will be closed 9-11 am on 8/13 for a public safety training exercise with a helicopter landing and take-off (weather permitting). Other park areas remain open. Call or (703-471-5415) or check the website before visiting.” [Fairfax County Park Authority/Twitter]

Gun Brandished at Fairfax City McDonald’s — “A 33-year-old Fairfax man was arrested on weapons charges after he pointed a handgun and threatened someone that he had been arguing with late Thursday night at a local fast food restaurant, according to City of Fairfax Police.” [Patch]

Recent Rain Eases Drought Conditions — “Debby brought much-needed rain to the D.C. area, but not enough to pull it out of the ongoing drought.” National Weather Service hydrologist says “he expects general improvement of drought conditions across the region, but not as much as people might think.” [WTOP]

Reston Family Returns From Canceled Taylor Swift Concerts — “A Northern Virginia family touched down at Dulles International Airport Saturday night after a European vacation with a stop in Vienna, Austria where they were supposed to see a Taylor Swift concert…All three of Swift’s sold-out Vienna concerts were canceled after threats of a terrorist attack outside the stadium.” [WUSA9]

Annandale Supermarket Welcomes New Shops — “Yes! Buckwheat is the newest vendor at the food court in the K Market grocery store on John Marr Drive in Annandale. The small shop offers noodle and dumpling dishes all made in-house from buckwheat.” The store has also added Chinese and Korean eateries, Annandale Florist, a K-pop pop-up, and beauty and lifestyle shops. [Annandale Today]

GW Parkway Superintendent to Step Down — “Charles Cuvelier, superintendent of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) since January 2019, will be leaving that role later this month to assume a different position with the National Park Service…Cuvelier, who has been with the Park Service for over 30 years, thanked the GWMP’s many partners for their support.” [On the MoVe]

Fairfax City to Replace More Streetlights — “Installation of new LED streetlights in Historic Old Town Fairfax is slated to start Aug. 19 and may take 12 weeks to complete…Phase two of the Old Town Fairfax lighting project started July 14 when Fairfax City removed the gas lamps decommissioned last fall.” [City of Fairfax]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 83 degrees and a gentle northwest wind at 6 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear, with lows near 65 degrees and a light northwest breeze. [NWS]

Local Companies Make Fortune 500 List — Led by Tysons-based Freddie Mac at no. 88, four Fairfax County companies made Fortune magazine’s 35th annual Global 500 list, which ranks businesses by “total revenues for fiscal years ending on or before March 31.” The others were Capital One (no. 304), Reston’s General Dynamics (no. 362) and Northrop Grumman (no. 382) in West Falls Church. [Virginia Business]

Drugs and Guns Seized in Seven Corners — “Fairfax County police detectives seized over 9,400 suspected fentanyl pills and two stolen firearms after arresting a man in Seven Corners early this month. On Aug. 2, detectives with the gang unit were on patrol in the area of Glen Carlyn Drive and Arglye Drive when they spotted a wanted man and quickly took him into custody, police said.” [Inside NoVA]

Tornado Confirmed in Loudoun County — “A storm-spawned tornado climbed the slope of the Blue Ridge in Loudoun County on Thursday night, chewing up several hundred trees, according to the National Weather Service.” No injuries were reported as a result of the tornado, one of three seen as remnants of Tropical Storm Debby passed through the D.C. area. [Washington Post]

Anti-Casino Advocacy Continues — “Local residents used the July 30 meeting of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to advocate against a proposed casino in the Tysons area…Casino opponents appeared at the podium wearing ‘No Tysons Casino’ red T-shirts with white lettering, which have become commonplace at local meetings this year.” [Gazette Leader]

Update on Co-Responder Program for 911 Calls — “Fairfax County’s co-responder program, which expanded last year, has helped respond to over 2,000 calls since its inception, according to the county’s 2023 Diversion First annual report. The program, which launched in 2021 and pairs a Fairfax County police officer with a crisis intervention specialist, expanded last year.” [WTOP]

Reston Media Company Reports Sales Decline — “CEO Jon Carpenter’s efforts to right the ship at Comscore Inc. are not going as quickly as planned. The Reston media analytics company’s stock price plunged Wednesday after second-quarter sales came in worse than expected and its leaders said full-year revenue would fall short of last year’s figure.” [Washington Business Journal]

Lincolnia School Seeks New Principal — “Fairfax County Public Schools is beginning the hiring process for a new principal to succeed Victor Powell at Glasgow Middle School. Powell, who has led Glasgow for the past three years, has accepted a new position as supervisor of Title I programs at Prince William County Public Schools. His last day at Glasgow was Aug. 2.” [Annandale Today]

Golf Photo Contest Underway — “The I Love Golf Fairfax Photo Contest is happening now through Aug. 20 across all Golf Fairfax courses! The Fairfax County Park Authority is giving away tickets to the 2024 Solheim Cup and invites all golf enthusiasts to take their best ‘shot’ at any Golf Fairfax course for a chance to win.” [FCPA]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of around 84 degrees. As night falls, skies will turn partly cloudy and the temperature will dip to a low of 66 degrees, with a northwest wind at 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]

Felony Voting Rights Case Tossed — “A federal court has thrown out a lawsuit challenging Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s process for restoring voting rights for people convicted of a felony, ruling that the suit was filed under an incorrect section of law but also seeming to criticize the governor’s use of power by comparing it to that of a monarch.” [Washington Post]

Falls Church Council Member Resigns — Falls Church City Council member Caroline Lian has resigned after the city found that she hadn’t reported her job as deputy director for D.C.’s buildings department in a recent employment disclosure form. Lian left that post earlier this week after D.C. fined her $25,000 for failing to report her work with Falls Church or Tysons-based Freddie Mac. [ARLnow]

Restauranteur Seeks Help Catching DoorDash Thieves — “Fairfax City Police say thieves are exploiting a loophole in Doordash’s system, where the thieves put in an order, wait until the food is ready, and then cancel the order, but still pick up the food. [Okonomi Asian Grill owner Alex] Kang says thieves have been hitting his restaurant since April.” [WUSA9]

Fatal Food Poisoning Reported in Virginia — “Three people have now died in a listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, federal food safety officials announced Thursday, and the overall number of people sickened rose to 43.” The latest death happened in Virginia, following earlier deaths in New Jersey and Illinois. [Associated Press/WTOP]

How Drought Conditions Are Affecting Local Farms — Despite recent rain from tropical depression Debby, Fairfax County has spent much of the summer under the threat of a drought. Farms and gardens around the Mount Vernon District shared “how the excessively hot and dry conditions have been impacting them and what they’ve been doing to keep plants growing.” [On the MoVe]

Opening Date for Tysons Burger Spot — “We’re so excited to finally announce Char’d is opening its doors at Tyson’s Galleria on 08/18/2024, at 12 PM! Join us for our GRAND OPENING and come hungry! See you there!” [Char’d/Instagram]

Vienna Baseball Facility to Expand — The baseball training facility “Pitchers Edge LLC, located at 516 Mill St., N.E., on July 17 received unanimous approval from the Vienna Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) for a conditional-use permit to expand into the space next door.” [Gazette Leader]

Repairs Coming for Burke Lake Marina — “The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin repairs to the marina parking lot at Burke Lake Park. TMG and Southern Asphalt contractors will mobilize on site, with active construction activities scheduled to begin the third week of August.” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — Expect showers, potential thunderstorms, and a high of 82°F today. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts ranging from three quarters to one inch. Temperatures will drop to around 70°F at night, and the chance of precipitation decreases to 60%. [NWS]