People line up at an ice cream stall on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail during ViVa Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Voter Registration Deadline Is Today — “The deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration for the Democratic & Republican primaries is Tuesday, May 28. Note: You may register after May 28, through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot.” [Fairfax County/Twitter]

Body Pulled From Potomac River Near Great Falls — “A body recovered from the Potomac River on Monday is believed to be a young man who went missing last Friday while attempting to swim from Virginia to Maryland. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer told WTOP two swimmers near Great Falls tried to cross from Virginia into Maryland on Friday evening.” [WTOP]

Hidden Cameras Found in Falls Church Cafe — “Falls Church police are investigating hidden cameras found in the bathrooms of Northside Social. Police say someone placed cameras in two first floor restrooms, facing the toilets, at the popular Clarendon cafe’s Falls Church outpost, which opened in 2018 at 205 Park Avenue.” [ARLnow]

Arrest Made in 2013 Sexual Assault — “After over a decade on the run, a 2013 sexual assault suspect was arrested in El Salvador and extradited back to Fairfax County to face justice. On October 21, 2013, officers responded to the 7200 block of Commerce Street in Springfield for a sexual assault report. The victim was sexually assaulted by an unknown male while inside a residence.” [FCPD]

Solar Projects Hampered by New Rules — “Fairfax had completed six projects before Dominion Energy changed the requirements for midsize solar in December 2022. Since then, the county has downsized two projects to fall below the requirements’ parameters, while five others — including a police station, stormwater complex and library — are on hold.” [Washington Post]

County Affected by Dental Hygienist Shortage — “Dentists across Virginia are scrambling to fill a statewide shortage of dental hygienists. The gap is most acute in Northern Virginia, according to the Virginia Dental Association. ‘There’s a huge imbalance in the number of hygienists to dentists right now and Fairfax County is feeling it the worst,’ Dr. Justin Norbo, the association’s president-elect” said. [WTOP]

Food Delivery Driver Assaulted in Springfield — “A man has been arrested and faces charges for allegedly assaulting a food delivery driver in a road rage incident in Fairfax County…[The driver] is still shaken up after the suspect strangled him near a Wendy’s in Springfield” on the night of Monday, May 20.” [FOX5]

New Tysons Firm Lands Big Investment — “Veteran Ventures Capital (VVC) secured a $10 million institutional investment from Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC). This investment fuels VVC’s Veterans Fund II,” which will support veteran-owned companies. The venture capital firm relocated from its original home in Tennessee to The Boro in Tysons in April. [FCEDA]

It’s Tuesday — There is a slight chance of showers from 2pm to 5pm, followed by possible storms after 5pm. With sunny skies, the high temperature will be near 83°F. Precipitation chances are 20%. For Tuesday night, expect mostly clear skies and a low of around 61°F. [NWS]


Signature at Reston Town Center, viewed from Reston Parkway (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Lane Closures Lifted for Holiday Weekend — “VDOT will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Friday, May 24, until noon on Tuesday, May 28. While lane closures will be lifted in most locations, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time.” [VDOT]

D.C. Man Charged With Belle Haven Shooting — “A 44-year-old D.C. man has been charged with murder after a Tuesday morning argument at a gas pump in Fairfax County, Virginia, escalated into a fatal shooting, according to police.” The man is “charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the shooting death of 38-year-old Arthur Edward Mann II.” [WTOP]

Busy Hurricane Season Expected — “The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its forecast for the upcoming 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. According to NOAA, conditions are favorable for above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Burke Resident Wins Big in Lottery — “A construction worker from Burke, Virginia was the winner of $1 million from a Powerball ticket purchased April 1 at the Safeway supermarket at Engleside Plaza. Virginia Lottery announced the news May 23, noting that the man, Nicholas Perez,” was one of only six people in the U.S. to match the first five numbers. [On the MoVe]

Lincolnia Taco Restaurant Now Open — Taco Zocalo, which started in Reston in 2017, officially opened its new Lake Barcroft Plaza location yesterday (Thursday). “The menu features chimichangas, tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, and salads. Diners select among several types of meat, shrimp, or grilled veggies.” [Annandale Today]

Franconia Park Courts to Be Refurbished — “The Fairfax County Park Authority expects to begin athletic court revitalization work at the Franconia District Park on May 28.” The project will level out the asphalt, adjust gates and fencing as needed, and apply new seal and color coats and playing lines for the basketball and shared pickleball/tennis courts. [FCPA]

Herndon Mayoral Candidate Kicks Off Campaign — Councilmember Pradip Dhakal kicked off his campaign to become the town’s next mayor last Saturday (May 18). “We had more than 100 people attend our campaign kickoff at Arts Herndon despite the challenging weather!” he said in a follow-up Facebook post, thanking supporters. [Pradip for Herndon Mayor/Facebook]

Actors Wanted for Film in McLean — “A not-for-profit trilingual Japanese/Korean/English movie is being filmed in McLean and looking for Japanese actors ages 17-25 yrs old especially males who look like students. Also looking for locals to be a part of the large audience during the Jpop vs. Kpop competition scene.” [Patch]

It’s Friday — Expect a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms early in the day between 8am-11am. Later, mostly cloudy skies will slightly clear up, reaching a high near 82°F. Precipitation chance is 20%. In the evening, partly cloudy skies and a low around 65°F are anticipated. [NWS]


Countywide

Completion of Route 7 Widening Celebrated — Local and state officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday (Wednesday) to celebrate the completion of “driver, bicycle and pedestrian improvements along seven miles of Route 7 (Leesburg Pike)…The project widened Route 7 from four to six lanes between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive” and added a shared-use trail. [VDOT]

Tree Falls on Car in Lake Barcroft — “It’s been more than a week, yet still, giant chunks of tree trunk remain embedded in a car in Lake Barcroft. The tree fell, according to neighbors, around 6 p.m. last Tuesday.” The vehicle’s owner “told WUSA9 that first responders arrived quickly, and luckily no one was injured, but several vehicles were destroyed.” [WUSA9]


Countywide

Audit Identifies Metro Safety Issues — “Metro has deployed rail cars that failed operations tests and neglected to follow occupational safety guidelines, according to an audit the transit agency’s regulator released Tuesday. The audit…provides a damning portrait of Metro operations, though it doesn’t suggest the system poses a significant danger to riders.” [Washington Post]

Dulles Greenway Toll Hike Discouraged — “A State Corporation Commission senior hearing examiner recommends the agency deny a proposed toll hike on the Dulles Greenway that would increase the toll to $8.10 during peak hours.” A report found that the toll road operator hadn’t proven that the proposed increases “are reasonable to the user in relation to the benefit obtained.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]


Countywide

Governor Vetoes Dozens of Bills — “Last week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed 48 more bills passed by the Democratic-led General Assembly, blocking legislation aimed at preserving contraception access, ending state perks for Confederate heritage groups and legalizing slot machine lookalikes known as skill games.” [Virginia Mercury]

Developer Buys McLean Hotel — “Hunter Hotel Advisors has arranged the sale of the Staybridge Suites Tysons-McLean. SAK Developers acquired the five-story property for an undisclosed price.” Hunter Hotel Advisors says the move will allow SAK to “further expand their D.C. Metro portfolio and capitalize on the unique location and dynamic demand centered around this hotel.” [Hotel Business]


Countywide

UAE Eyes Diplomatic Compound in McLean — “The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government dropped $55 million for 18 acres stretching along the Potomac River in McLean, where it plans to build a diplomatic compound, reports the Washington Business Journal (WBJ).” [Axios DC]

Two Charged in Bailey’s Crossroads Shooting — “Detectives have charged two men in connection with [Friday’s] shooting in Bailey’s Crossroads that left one man dead.” A 20-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Alder Perez Argueta from Bailey’s Crossroads, and a 25-year-old faces charges of robbery resulting in death and gang participation. [FCPD]


Countywide

Man Killed in Bailey’s Crossroads Shooting — “Officers are on scene of a shooting in the 6000 blk of Argyle Dr in Bailey’s Crossroads. An adult man was taken to the hospital and pronounced deceased. Preliminary, involved parties appear to be known to each other. Detectives are on scene investigating.” [FCPD]

Congress Approves More National Airport Flights — “More long-haul flights are coming to Reagan National Airport. And people annoyed by helicopter noise will continue to have their voice heard. Those are two of the main local impacts from the FAA reauthorization bill just approved by Congress. The bill now awaits President Biden’s signature.” [ARLnow]


Countywide

Northern Lights Seen Over National Mall — “Rare, possibly one-of-a-kind video has emerged of the northern lights dancing over the National Mall and Washington Monument. Even though clouds in the D.C. area mostly obscured the epic display of auroras…a short window opened up just before dawn Saturday when the clouds parted. [Washington Post]

Tysons Auto Dealerships Up for Sale — The Koons dealership site at 2000 and 2050 Chain Bridge Road, which was considered for redevelopment by Comstock, “is now being marketed for sale as a Home Depot-anchored mixed-use district.” Marketing materials say the property is available “for three different opportunities: a ground lease, a sale and a joint venture.” [Bisnow]


Countywide

Depression-Era Building in Groveton Set for Demoliton — “A historic building in Groveton will soon be demolished in preparation for the construction of the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit system. The property at 6821 Richmond Highway…is described in Fairfax County documents as a two-story Colonial Revival commercial building of domestic origin that was built in 1934.” [On the MoVe]

Virginia to Study College Policies After Protests — “The Virginia House of Delegates has formed a select committee on maintaining campus safety and allowing students to exercise their First Amendment rights, after more than 125 arrests at four of Virginia’s college campuses” where students staged protests of Israel’s war on Gaza. [Virginia Mercury]


Countywide

Feedback Sought on National Airport Noise — “Alexandria, Fairfax County and Prince George’s County have hired Vianair Consulting to spearhead a collaborative effort with members of the community and staff from various airport agencies to recommend changes to DCA airspace and flight procedures. Vianair is currently running a survey of residents south of DCA.” [ALXnow]

Gov. Youngkin Signs New State Budget — “Weeks of Virginia state budget drama ended Monday with pledges of bipartisan goodwill as the General Assembly passed a compromise two-year spending plan that boosts funding for education and other priorities without increasing taxes.” [Washington Post]


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