morning notes

Watch Olympics Opening Ceremony at Library — “Let the games begin! Join us to watch a live steam of the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Games in Paris at the library! Light refreshments will be provided. No registration required. All ages.” The viewing begins at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) in the Centreville Regional Library meeting room. [Fairfax County Public Library]

Part of GW Parkway to Close Temporarily — The George Washington Memorial Parkway’s northbound lanes will temporarily close between Spout Run Parkway and Route 123 “to install drainage systems and conduct other required rehabilitation work.” The closures will last from 8 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday for the weekends of July 26-29 and Aug. 2-5. [ARLnow]

Fairfax City 7-Eleven Robbed at Knifepoint — “City of Fairfax Police arrested a 28-year-old man they say robbed a city convenience store at knifepoint early Monday morning. Officers responded around 12:54 a.m. to the 7-Eleven at 3810 University Drive for the report of a robbery.” [Patch]

Korean Bar Opens in Annandale — “1943 Classic, a Korean fusion bar and restaurant at 7220 Columbia Pike in Annandale, is having a soft opening. The vibe is dark and classy, with a low-hanging chandelier at the entrance. 1943 Classic is a popular nightspot in Korea, where the franchise has dozens of locations.” [Annandale Today]

Vida Fitness to Host Grand Opening in Reston — Vida Fitness will throw a grand opening party for its new Reston Row location from 7-11 p.m. this Saturday (July 27). The dress code calls for cocktail party attire “with black, gold, silver, and white strongly encouraged, and the festivities will include craft cocktails, live music and appetizers. [Vida Fitness]

Update on Dulles Airport Development — “At their July 17 meeting, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board members were briefed by chief capital development officer Roger Natsuhara on the status of a number of key projects at Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International airports.” [Gazette Leader]

LGBTQ Center Creates Community Hub in Oakton — “The NoVA Prism Center in Oakton has emerged as a hub for LGBTQ community engagement in Northern Virginia. Leon van der Goetz, a transgender man, founded NoVA Prism Center in 2022 after he returned to the U.S. from Japan where he had been an English teacher. The organization has steadily grown since.” [Washington Blade]

Local Evangelical Pastor Embraces Tough Topics — “As lead pastor for megachurch McLean Bible Church, [Rev. Mike] Kelsey draws parallels between biblical context and current events for the thousands of congregants who call him their pastor. Provocative issues — race, social injustice, and politics — are on people’s minds and in his sermons.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, increasing in likelihood after 5pm, under cloudy skies with a high near 85. At Thursday night, shower chances dwindle after 11pm, with skies turning from cloudy to partly cloudy and a low of 69. [NWS]

Pedestrian Injured in Herndon Crash — A pedestrian was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries after being hit by the driver of a car on Sterling Road near Herndon Parkway last night (Tuesday). Sterling Road reopened around 3 a.m. [Herndon Police/Twitter]

Idylwood Man Battles Damaging Golf Balls — “For more than half his life, Forrest Hatcher has dealt with near-daily damage from errant golf balls flying from Jefferson Park Golf Course. The balls have shattered his windshield, dented his van, and damaged his home’s siding, trim and windows…Netting was put up to stop the golf balls, but Hatcher said it’s not high enough.” [NBC4]

Va. Democrats Back VP for Nomination — “Nearly all of Virginia’s 119 delegates to next month’s Democratic National Convention have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the party’s presidential ticket in November, after President Joe Biden abandoned his reelection bid.” [Virginia Mercury]

Capital One Reports Drop in Profits — Tysons-based Capital One Financial Corp. reported a profit of $597 million for the second quarter of 2024, down 54% from the first quarter and 57% from Q2 2023. The decline reflects an increase in “credit card chargeoffs” and “the termination of its credit card partnership with Walmart Inc.” [Washington Business Journal]

Annandale Commercial Building Up for Sale — “A small commercial building at 7229 Little River Turnpike in Annandale is up for sale. The current tenant, HanmiPost, has a three-year lease. HanmiPost moved to that space in April 2023 after its previous building on Columbia Pike burned down.” [Annandale Today]

Reston Realtor Collects Backpacks for Students — “Nicki Moravitz, a Realtor with Century 21 New Millennium in Reston, will be celebrating her birthday on Saturday by collecting new backpacks for local children in support of Cornerstones’ Annual Back-to-School Backpack Drive…Cornerstones will be accepting in-person donations of new backpacks from Monday, July 29-Friday, Aug. 2.” [Patch]

Vienna Planning Commissioner Wins Award — “Stephen Kenney, a member of the Vienna Planning Commission, has been presented with the 2024 Chandler Award for Citizen Planner of the Year by the Virginia chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Virginia).” [Gazette Leader]

It’s Wednesday — The day will be mostly cloudy, reaching a high near 85 and a 70% chance of precipitation. Showers and possible thunderstorms are expected before 8pm, continuing with a chance afterward. The night will remain mostly cloudy with a low around 74. [NWS]

FCPD Officers to Provide Security for Olympics — “A group of 12 Fairfax County police officers, including a K-9 unit, will work to secure the Olympics,” which start this Friday, July 26 in Paris, France. The Fairfax County Police Department was invited, along with other U.S. law enforcement agencies, to help French police secure venues and Metro stations. [NBC4]

Reston Town Center Bridge Work to Affect Buses — “Heads up! The Reston Town Center Transit Station will be closed July 26-28” due to construction on a pedestrian bridge over the W&OD Trail. “Regular service at RTC resumes on Monday, July 29. All impacted bus stops will be relocated along Bluemont Way.” [Fairfax Connector/Twitter]

Madison HS Student Under Investigation — “Town of Vienna Police are investigating whether a student at James Madison High School uploaded and sent images of child pornography using his Instagram account, according to court documents.” [Patch]

West Falls Church Homes to Be Demolished for Flood Project — “Fairfax County plans to demolish nine houses on Barrett Road in the Falls Church area of Mason District as part of a project to reduce flooding along Tripps Run…Those properties would be excavated and replaced with an environmental corridor with a passive recreational area.” [Annandale Today]

Rep. Connolly Calls for Secret Service Leader’s Resignation — Rep. Gerry Connolly says it was “unacceptable” that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle didn’t express a stance on how the accessibility of guns affects the agency’s ability to do its job during a House committee hearing yesterday (Monday) on the agency’s handling of the July 13 campaign rally where former president Donald Trump got shot. [Gerry Connolly]

Arrest Made in Mount Vernon Plaza Burglaries — “On July 20 at 7:49 a.m., officers responded to a burglary in progress at Mount Vernon Plaza in the 7600 block of Richmond Highway in Hybla Valley.” A preliminary investigation found that a 22-year-old man used an “unlocked roof fire hatch” to get into a building at the shopping center, where “he proceeded to burglarize five businesses.” [FCPD]

Day Care Approved in Vienna — “Vienna Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) members on July 17 unanimously granted a conditional-use permit for a family daycare serving up to 12 children at 430 Old Courthouse Road, N.E…Happy Hive Daycare LLC will operate the facility out of an existing 4,006-square-foot single-family detached house at the 0.3-acre site.” [Gazette Leader]

It’s Tuesday — There is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 89. Expect a 70% chance of precipitation at night, mainly between 8 and 11 pm. It will remain mostly cloudy with a low around 74. [NWS]

Man Found Dead in Oakton — Fairfax County police were called to the 9500 block of Route 29 in Oakton on Saturday (July 27) for an unresponsive person who was later declared dead. The death is being investigated as a homicide, and as of yesterday (Sunday) morning, the scene at a commercial townhouse complex just east of Fairfax City remained blocked by police tape. [Patch]

Springfield Man Sentenced to Jail for Jan. 6 Assault — “A 24-year-old Fairfax County man was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 18 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol Building. He also was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.” [Patch]

Man Arrested for Child Exploitation in Fairfax City — “A man from Centreville, Virginia, is under arrest after police say he coerced a teenager in Minnesota to send sexually explicit photographs of herself to him and then tried to meet her in person.” The 41-year-old man “was arrested in Fairfax City on Monday after a grand jury indicted him” on counts of producing and receiving child pornography and coercing a minor. [WTOP]

Dunkin’ Donuts Under Construction in Annandale — “Dunkin’ Donuts is expected to open on Columbia Pike in Annandale the first week of August, according to the general contractor working on renovating the building…The Annandale location, at 7025 Columbia Pike, is the site of a former flower shop. The building has been vacant since it was heavily damaged in a fire two years ago.” [Annandale Today]

McLean Softball Team Wins State Title — “With a 6-0 record, the McLean Little League age 9-11 All-Stars won recent District 4 and state tournaments, dominating the competition along the way. McLean outscored its opponents, 84-7 with two shutouts. McLean was 2-0 in the district tourney, defeating Great Falls by 12-1 and 13-2 scores.” [Gazette Leader]

Mount Vernon Police Station Has a New Commander — “The Mount Vernon Police District has a new station commander — Maj. Matthew Luik. Luik comes to the Mount Vernon District Police Station after having served as Major of the Criminal Investigations Division within the Major Crimes Bureau of the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD).” [On the MoVe]

Reston Tech Company Plans West Coast Expansion — Neovera Inc., a cybersecurity and cloud services provider based in RTC West, “is eyeing national expansion” after aquiring Emagined Security Inc., a California-based company. The deal “will allow it to extend its security operations center, which is primarily located on the East Coast, to one that can better handle clients throughout the whole country.” [DC Inno]

Merrifield T-Shirt Maker Hires New CEO — “Custom Ink LLC’s Marc Katz is stepping down as CEO at the printed shirt and swag maker he co-founded nearly 25 years ago with his Harvard University classmates after graduating. David Doctorow, the former CEO of Realtor.com parent company Move Inc., has been tapped to succeed Katz, who will remain chairman of Custom Ink’s board.” [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Monday — Expect showers and thunderstorms mainly before 5 p.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 83°F. At night, there’s a 60% chance of precipitation, particularly before 11 p.m., with a low temperature around 72°F with southeast winds at 3-6 mph. [NWS]

Fairfax Man Killed in Stabbing — “A man died after a stabbing in broad daylight in the parking garage of a Safeway in D.C.’s Glover Park neighborhood. Anvar Guliyev, of Fairfax, Virginia, was the man who died, the Metropolitan Police Department said. He was 36.” Officers responded around noon on Wednesday (July 17) after a reported fight. [NBC4]

Tire Slashings Reported in West Falls Church — “Police are investigating after more than two dozen cars were found with slashed tires early Wednesday morning in Fairfax County…Fairfax County Police confirmed to WUSA9 Wednesday night, that the tires on at least 27 cars were slashed” in the West Falls Church area. [WUSA9]

Incumbents Raise More in Va. Congressional Races — “Money is flowing into Virginia’s most competitive congressional races this year, with the latest campaign finance reports showing a cash advantage for incumbents but Democrats outpacing Republicans in a pair of open seats in Northern Virginia.” [Washington Post]

Investigation into Huntley Meadows Fire Continues — “The cause of the July 6 brush fire at Huntley Meadows Park is still under investigation, according to Ashley Hildebrandt, director of public information at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD). The fire burned around three acres of wooded area in a remote section of the park.” [On the MoVe]

Herndon Contractor to Be Sold — “Chicago private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners said Tuesday it has reached an agreement to sell Herndon’s LinQuest Corp. to Houston technology giant KBR Inc. for $737 million…LinQuest specializes in digital transformation and other mission systems work in the national security sector.” [DC Inno]

Inova Tops Va. Hospital Rankings Again — “For the fourth consecutive year, Falls Church-area based Inova Fairfax Hospital has taken the No. 1 spot in Virginia on the U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of best hospitals in the nation, released Tuesday. The Inova Health System hospital also ranked first in the Washington, D.C., metro area for the fourth straight year.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]

Study Questions Metro Escalator Etiquette — “It might be the biggest unwritten rule of Metro — when you’re on the escalators, you stand to the right, and walk to the left. It’s a message we holler at tourists and make memes about. But a professor from the University of Maryland just released some research that suggests ‘stand right, walk left’ isn’t actually always the best idea.” [NBC4]

Taste of Annandale Festival Seeks Vendors — “The Taste of Annandale is just two months away and spaces for sponsors and vendors are filling up fast. The Taste is happening on Sept. 21, at a new location — the Eileen Garnett Civic Space, at 7200 Columbia Pike and the Annandale Fire Station’s social hall next door. The 2024 event will also have extended hours, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 88°F during the day. As for Friday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low temperature around 72°F and a gentle south wind of 3-6 mph. [NWS]

Covid Cases on the Rise — “COVID-19 activity is increasing across the U.S. and Virginia, including in the Fairfax Health District. Emergency department visits for individuals who are diagnosed with COVID-19 have increased to 3.3% of all emergency department visits — up from 1.2% in early June. Although still low overall, this is the highest proportion reported since late January 2024.” [Fairfax County Health Department]

Compass Coffee Workers Vote in Union Election — “All 22 workers whose ballots went unchallenged voted in favor of a union, according to tallies from the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday. But union organizers and Compass representatives challenged 101 ballots, which puts the issue in the NLRB’s hands.” [Washington Post]

Reston Contractors Engage in Court Battle — “CACI International Inc. sued Science Applications International Corp. in Fairfax County Circuit Court on July 8, alleging SAIC did not fulfill its commitments as the prime contractor on an Air Force contract…CACI is seeking monetary damages of $16.8 million plus interest for the lost revenue and $25,546 per employee per month for each CACI employee” who was “solicited” by SAIC. [Washington Business Journal]

Fairfax City Plan to Reduce Water Pollution Approved — “The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality reviewed and approved Fairfax City’s draft third-phase Chesapeake Bay TMDL (total maximum daily load) Action Plan. The action plan outlines the city’s strategies to reduce pollutant discharges to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.” [City of Fairfax]

New Summer Programs at Mount Vernon — With its education center closed for renovations on top of an ongoing preservation project for its main mansion, George Washington’s Mount Vernon is shaking up its programming with “a series of themed weekends, each one highlighting a specific aspect of 18th century life.” [Washingtonian]

Results of Vienna Police Stop-Sign Crackdown — “In one of their yearly targeted-enforcement campaigns, officers with the Vienna Police Department Operations Division this past month cracked down on stop-sign violations within the community and issued 236 stop-sign citations and 153 citations for various other traffic violations, officials announced July 16.” [Gazette Leader]

McLean Restaurant Owner Discusses Journey — “Fahrenheit Asian is steeped in the Szechuan traditions that owner and chef Lilly Qin grew up with in her parents’ restaurant in Chantilly. But she is also charting a new path, constantly experimenting with new riffs on classic dishes.” [Washington Post]

Area Country Clubs Report Revenue Increases — In the D.C. area, International Country Club in Chantilly reported the biggest revenue jump (54.5%) from 2020 to 2022, though the Belle Haven (49%), Springfield (28.9%) and Army Navy (27%) country clubs also saw increases. However, “for many clubs nationwide, the pandemic-era revenue surge came along with skyrocketing expenses.” [WBJ]

It’s Thursday — Skies will be partly sunny with a high near 89 before thunderstorms potentially arrive after 5pm. At night, skies will be partly cloudy with a low around 69 and a 30% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

County Activates Heat Plan — With a Heat Advisory issued for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., “Fairfax County has activated its Heat Plan for Wednesday, July 17. When Fairfax County’s heat plan is activated, cooling centers around the county will be available during normal operating hours for individuals needing relief from the heat.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Police Department Shares Quarterly Crime Report — The Fairfax County Police Department has issued its First Quarter 2024 Crime Report for the period from Jan. 1 through March 31. Notable findings include an increase in traffic fatalities, declines in motor vehicle part thefts and carjackings, and an uptick in assaults. [FCPD]

Youngkin Speaks at Republican Convention — “With the 2024 talk fully behind him, the 74th governor of Virginia started anew — by appearing to lay the groundwork for a potential run in 2028. At least that’s how political analysts saw his speeches Tuesday to party activists in South Carolina and California over breakfast at their suburban Milwaukee hotels.” [Washington Post]

Virginia Backs Challenge to Transgender Rights — “Attorney General Jason Miyares is spearheading an amicus brief requesting the U.S. Supreme Court hear a case centered on protecting parental rights to ‘make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children.'” A group of Wisconsin parents filed the lawsuit in a bid to overturn a school division’s policy “allowing students to change their gender identity at school without parental consent or notification.” [Virginia Mercury]

Route 28 Project Gets More Funding — “Transportation planners have approved a second round of funding in long-range plans to improve the commute on Virginia Route 28 between Manassas Park and Fairfax County.” The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has allocated $40 million for road improvements between Manassas and Yorkshire. [WTOP]

County’s First Black High School Marks 70th Anniversary — “Reaves and Taylor were among the alumni who came to Luther Jackson Middle School on July 14 for the school’s 70th anniversary celebration.” The occasion featured a “living wax museum,” a student art exhibit, music, games and “discussions of the school’s history.” [Annandale Today]

Langley HS Hires New Baseball Coach — Rob Hahne, who led the Westfield Bulldogs to a regional championship last year, was hired on July 11 as the new head coach for Langley High School’s baseball team. “Hahne had unique interest in the position because he graduated from Langley in 1987, where he was a standout player, plus he grew up in that neighborhood.” [Gazette Leader]

It’s Wednesday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms starting at noon, with a high near 97 and heat index values up to 107. At night, the low will be around 74, with southwest winds at 5-7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%. [NWS]

Poll Shows Trump Lead in Virginia — “Former president Donald Trump leads President Biden in Virginia by three percentage points in a new Virginia Commonwealth University-Wilder School poll, but the numbers reflect an anemic showing for both candidates and a decline in Biden’s support instead of a surge in Trump’s.” [Washington Post]

Annandale Pickleball Advocates Plan Legal Action — “The Broyhill Crest pickleball players are still fighting for the chance to play the sport at their neighborhood courts. They are in the process of hiring legal counsel to help them advance their argument that the Park Authority didn’t follow its own guidelines and policies when it banned pickleball from Kendale Woods Park.” [Annandale Today]

TJ Students Seek to Prevent Deer-Related Crashes — “A pair of seniors at Thomas Jefferson High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, have been hard at work on a device that could steer deer away from cars. Anmol Karan and Shaurya Jain are in the process of developing a prototype incorporating artificial intelligence, ultrasonic pulses, and animal or human sounds.” [WTOP]

Man Charged in Fairfax City Stabbing — “A 37-year-old Alexandria man is facing an aggravated malicious wounding charge in connection with a stabbing that took place last December at a Fairfax City motel…A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was stabbed by an acquaintance following an argument.” [Patch]

GMU Studies Potential Solar Flare Impacts — Researchers at George Mason University, led by astronomy and physics professor Peter Becker, and the Naval Research Laboratory “recently secured a $13.6 million federal grant to continue their work studying solar flares and so-called coronal mass ejections that can wreak havoc on Earth’s electromagnetic field.” [Washingtonian]

Herndon Police Donate Bicycles to School — “The Herndon Police Department is donating used patrol bicycles to the Herndon Middle School Bike Program, where students will disassemble, assemble and repair them for other children to ride.” [WJLA]

Vienna Theater Group Stages ‘Newsies‘ — The Vienna Youth Players will have chosen “Newsies,” the stage adaptation of Disney’s 1992 musical movie, as their summer production. “The show opens on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 7 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. Tickets are $18 each and can be purchased in advance online” or at the door until showtime. [Town of Vienna]

It’s Tuesday — Sunny and hot conditions marked by a high near 101 and heat index values reaching up to 108. There’s a 20% chance of precipitation, namely isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. At night, there’ll be partly cloudy skies and a low around 78. [NWS]

Two Injured in Clifton Crash — “The Fairfax County Police Department responded to a crash at the intersection of Old Yates Ford Road and Henderson Road in Clifton, Virginia, on Saturday.” A driver and a passenger were taken to the hospital, with the latter, an adult man, sustaining life-threatening injuries. [WUSA9]

Sentence Reduced for Fatal Lorton Hit-and-Run — “The family of a Fairfax County, Virginia, man killed by a hit-and-run driver says they’re devastated after a judge dramatically reduced the driver’s sentence on Friday. In April, Guillermo Vasquez pleaded guilty to the hit-and-run crash that killed 28-year-old Joey Lanza outside his home in Lorton in 2020.” [NBC4]

Fire Chief Condemns Violence after Fatal Shooting at Trump Rally — As president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Fairfax County Fire Chief John Butler expressed his “deepest condolences” to the family of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief in Buffalo, Pennsylvania who was killed in the shooting at former president Donald Trump’s rally on Saturday (July 13). [Fire Chief John Butler/Twitter]

Lost Dog Found in Sewer — “Mack is back home resting following an adventure that almost sounds too unreal to be true! After he escaped his backyard and somehow ended up in the sewer system, he traveled two miles before peeking out of a curb inlet near a police station.” [Fairfax County Animal Shelter/Facebook]

Work Group Planning 250th Independence Day — “As a young man growing up in Philadelphia, Scott Stroh was thrilled with the red-white-and-blue extravaganza celebrating the nation’s bicentennial in 1976…Stroh, who now is director of historic Gunston Hall, is leading a Fairfax County group that for three years has been gearing up” to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. [Gazette Leader]

Inside Oldest Building on CIA Campus — “When buying a house on 30 wooded acres in northern Virginia, the last thing you might expect to get is a nosy neighbor. But after Margaret Scattergood and Florence Thorne moved into their new home in 1933, they got more than they bargained for – an entire campus full of spies.” [CBS News]

Potomac River Experiencing ‘Flash Drought’ — “The probability of releases from backup reservoirs to ensure an adequate drinking water supply in the Potomac River is higher than normal this year, according to the group that coordinates the three major water providers in the Washington, D.C. area.” [WTOP]

Annandale Office Building Sold — “Windows Plus has sold its building at 4321 Markham Street in Annandale. The buyer paid $1.72 million for the two-story, 3,600-square-foot commercial building, says Chris Bernard, a real estate broker with CRES Inc…The buyers, who wish to remain anonymous, do not have immediate plans to redevelop the property, Bernard said.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Monday — Showers and thunderstorms may develop after 2pm, accompanied by sunny, hot conditions with a high temperature near 100°F and heat index values reaching up to 109°F. Monday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 75°F. [NWS]

Scam Warning From County Animal Shelter — “SCAM ALERT! We’ve become aware of scammers falsely claiming to represent our shelter, calling pet owners alleging that we have their pets and requesting funds for urgent medical expenses. If you receive any suspicious communications, please hang up and contact us directly.” [Fairfax County Animal Shelter/Twitter]

McLean Rower Has Qualified for Olympics — “Fifteen athletes from Virginia have qualified for the Paris Summer Olympic Games as Team USA continues to take shape. Among those 15 Virginians is 27-year-old Claire Collins of McLean, who is a member of the U.S. Women’s Rowing Team.” [Patch]

Culmore Library Renaming Approved — “The Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees voted on July 10 to rename the Woodrow Wilson Library the Culmore Community Library…Over the past few months, the Library Board received numerous comments from the community urging the board to change the name citing Wilson’s support for racial segregation.” [Annandale Today]

Dulles Ranked Among World’s Best Airports — “Dulles International Airport ranks as the 11th best airport in the world, a ranking by AirHelp finds. AirHelp, a passenger rights tech company that assists passengers with flight disruptions, crunched data for 239 of the world’s busiest airports in 69 countries.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Local Delegate Reflects on General Assembly Session — “Active, highly partisan and ultimately productive are how Del. Rip Sullivan (D-McLean) described this year’s General Assembly session at the McLean Citizens Association’s July 3 board meeting.” His adopted bills included ones that address tree preservation and allergic reaction awareness training. [Gazette Leader]

Park Authority Recognizes Top Volunteers — “At its meeting on July 10, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a resolution honoring 23 individuals as outstanding volunteers. These peer-nominated individuals were recognized for their dedication to their community and their invaluable service to the Fairfax County park system.” [FCPA]

Virginia Named No. 1 State for Business — “With the nation’s best education system and policies that give companies room — both literally and figuratively — to grow, Virginia is America’s Top State for Business in 2024. This is the Old Dominion’s sixth time at the top of CNBC’s rankings, and its third win in five years.” [CNBC]

It’s Friday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, increasing after 7am with a high near 81. Precipitation likelihood is 90%, with new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch. Friday night brings a 70% chance of showers. Temperatures dip to around 73, and another quarter to half an inch of rain is expected. [NWS]