morning notes

Fairfax County Was Eyed for ‘Sphere’ — As suggested by state Sen. Scott Surovell in his response to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s veto of his bill to allow a casino in Fairfax County, the Las Vegas concert venue reportedly “flirted with picking Fairfax County” for its second location before selecting Maryland’s National Harbor in January. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority declined to comment when asked by FFXnow if it was aware of those discussions. [Axios DC]

Renderings Released for Trump’s Proposed Arch — “The Trump administration has submitted detailed architectural plans for a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch at Memorial Circle, drawing strong pushback from Arlington’s congressman … The renderings show a massive neoclassical stone arch topped with a 60-foot gilded statue of a winged figure — which Trump has called Lady Liberty — flanked by two smaller golden eagles.” [ARLnow]

Longtime AP Reporter Dies in Reston — “Bill Mann, a reporter and editor who covered the Philippines, Cairo, India, Scandinavia and Washington, D.C., over a nearly 50-year career at The Associated Press, died Thursday in Reston, Va., his family said. He was 83.” [Associated Press]

Fees Drive Up Va. Electric Bills — “Virginians’ power bills have increased 14.5% since 2022 and doubled in 25 years. But Dominion Energy customers scrutinizing their bills to understand why are likely confused … The bill does not show charges for numerous power and clean-energy projects. Known as rate adjustment clauses, or ‘riders,’ these are the fastest growing part of the bill.” [Fauquier Times]

Herndon Satellite Provider to Go Public — “Fast-growing Herndon defense contractor HawkEye 360 Inc. filed plans for an initial public offering following a series of big capital raises over the past few years … It has yet to identify the number of shares it plans to issue, the price it will seek or a timeline for when it expects to go public,” but the company said Friday (April 10) that it will trade under the ticker name “HAWK” on the New York Stock Exchange. [Washington Business Journal]

Update on Regional Jobs Initiative — “D.C. Deputy Secretary for Education Paul Kihn said the creation of a job search board is helping make sure that area residents are prepared for shifts in the rapidly changing job market.” Talent Capital AI launched in October specifically to support “displaced federal workers,” Kihn told the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and has drawn over 100,000 unique users so far. [WTOP]

Annandale Hosts First Asian Night Market — “A large crowd gathered in Annandale on April 11 for food and entertainment at an Asian Night Market presented by Neon District DMV. The event, on the parking lot at the ACCA Child Development Center on Columbia Pike, featured 32 food vendors – most of them offering Thai specialties – and 32 non-food vendors.” [Annandale Today]

Preview of D.C. Region’s 250th Anniversary Plans — “Organizers for the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday bash discussed some of the plans for the national and local celebrations in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.” Fairfax County 250th Commission chair Gretchen Bulova, now also a state delegate, said mobile museums and “events from Mount Vernon to Monticello” will lead up to July 4 in Virginia. [WTOP]

It’s Monday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 83 degrees and a southwest wind at 14 mph, with gusts up to 26 mph. Night will be partly cloudy with a low around 63 degrees and a southwest wind blowing at 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]

More Early Voting Sites to Open — “Starting this Saturday, April 11, early voting on the proposed [redistricting] constitutional amendment expands to 13 more locations around the county. Voting by mail? Application deadline is tomorrow, Friday, April 10.” [Fairfax County Votes/X]

Minimum Wage Increase Signed — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed legislation to gradually raise Virginia’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2028, delivering on a top Democratic priority and setting in motion a series of wage increases that will affect workers, businesses and the state budget for years to come.” [Virginia Mercury]

N. Va. Business Owners on Edge — “On Tuesday, the Northern Virginia Chamber (NVC) released a NVC and Pinkston Business Leader Survey showing most Virginia business owners are pessimistic about the economy, and they’re concerned about several bills that were introduced this year in Richmond.” [WJLA]

Warner Launches Reelection Bid in Tysons — “President Trump must be held accountable for the war in Iran, Sen. Mark Warner told the crowd at a re-election campaign event in Tysons on April 8, where he was joined by Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Rep. James Walkinshaw.” The three-term senator, who is facing three Democratic primary challengers, also shared his views on artificial intelligence. [Annandale Today]

Some 7th District Candidates Make Pitches — “J.P. Cooney, Dave Kennedy, Del. Adele McClure and State Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim join a field of Democrats for the 7th District that includes State Sen. Dan Helmer, who spoke to [Arlington] Democrats in March, and former Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, who has yet to make an appearance. Another contender, Joe Schiarizzi, announced his candidacy today (Thursday).” [ARLnow]

State Education Leaders to Slow Changes — “Parents, teachers, administrators and school district leaders from across Northern Virginia gathered in Alexandria on Wednesday night, brainstorming ways schools can better support students and families and retain teachers.” Fairfax County School Board Chair Sandy Anderson attended the session, where the state superintendent acknowledged a need to be “thoughtful about change.” [WTOP]

Olympics Speedskaters Visited Local Kids — “Thank you to the US Speedskating team for stopping by Mount Vernon Rec Center as part of the Tour of Olympians! It was an honor to witness their skill, dedication, and love for the sport up close last weekend (3/27).” The visitors included Thomas Jefferson High School alum Brandon Kim. [Fairfax County Park Authority/Facebook]

Tips for Protecting Dark Skies — “During International Dark Sky Week, April 13-20, the Fairfax County Park Authority invites the community to experience the beauty of dark skies and take simple steps to protect them.” Recommended actions include dimming lights at night to accommodate migrating birds, reducing glare in your neighborhood, and checking out “night-sky experiences at county parks.” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — After some early morning fog, partly sunny skies turn fully sunny, with temperatures reaching a high near 75°F. A light south wind will pick up to 5 to 9 mph by morning. Night will see increasing clouds and a low around 56°F. [NWS]

Metro Seeks Funding for New Fare Machines — “Over the decades Metro’s fare vending machines have not changed very much, but this Thursday the transit agency’s board of directors will vote on a plan that would get rid of them. Metro wants to spend more than 93 million dollars to buy and install new machines” that could also be used to “plan trips and receive alerts.” [WJLA]

Dulles Toll Road Closures in Tysons This Weekend — “Beginning on or about Friday night, April 10, and continuing nightly through Sunday night, April 12, all lanes of eastbound Dulles Toll Road (Route 267) will be closed and detoured between Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) and the I-495 (Capital Beltway) interchange … These closures are to accommodate overhead sign work as part of the 495 NEXT project.” [VDOT]

Spanberger Tries to Balance Governing and Campaigning — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday pushed back against criticism from some fellow Democrats who say she has not done enough publicly to rally support for Virginia’s April 21 redistricting referendum. Spanberger argued that she has been clear in her support while prioritizing governing in the early months of her administration.” [Virginia Mercury]

Great Falls Family Cheers on Tanking Wizards — “Erin-Michael Gill and his son Nicholas had tickets just behind the scorer’s table. Good ones. They got up Sunday morning in Great Falls, Va., went to Easter Mass at 7 a.m., and then drove four and a half hours from the D.C. area to get [to Barclays Center in New York City] for the 3:30 p.m. tipoff.” They were among the hundreds crowding the arena for a Kids’ Day game between the Wizards and Nets, despite the teams’ dire records. [The Athletic]

Park Service to Restore GW Parkway Vistas — “A major phase of the years-long repaving project on the George Washington Parkway is finally winding down. And now the National Park Service will focus on rehabbing the roadway’s trademark views,” considering several options for 15 locations along a 2.65-mile segment of the roadway. [Axios DC]

Annandale Cafe Eyes Second Location — “Underdog Coffee & Bread, the café that opened on Columbia Pike in Annandale a year ago, is opening a second location on Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads next to REI.” [Annandale Today]

Wonder Wagon Coming to Vienna — “Join us to explore with the Parks & Rec Department’s Wonder Wagon at Patrick Henry Library’s Temporary Location (Cedar Park Shopping Center)!” The mobile nature center will stop by the temporary library at 262 Cedar Lane from 10:30-11:30 a.m. tomorrow (Friday). [Fairfax County Public Library]

New Look for Falls Church Pottery Studio — “A paint-your-own-pottery studio in Falls Church has received a freshly glazed look under new ownership. Jessi Cash, who has worked at Clay Cafe Studios since 2019, took over the reins from retired owner Gayla Hassett in January.” [ARLnow]

New Legal Notice — Establishment seeks mixed beverage, wine and beer on/off-premises license. [Public Notices]

It’s Thursday — The day will be mostly sunny with a high of around 62°F. Winds will be calm initially, becoming southeast at about 6 mph in the afternoon. Night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 42°F and southeast winds between 3 and 6 mph. [NWS]

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Chantilly-Based Company Providing Tech to ICE — “Immigration and Customs Enforcement is using spyware tools that can intercept encrypted messages as part of the agency’s efforts to disrupt fentanyl traffickers, according to a letter sent last week by the agency’s acting director, Todd Lyons.” Last year, the Trump administration revived a $2 million contract with Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company with a U.S. branch in Chantilly, to use Graphite. [NPR/VPM News]

Opposition to Vienna Pool Surfaces — “Local officials said the community has been asking for a pool for decades, and the demand intensified when one wasn’t added during renovations to the Vienna Community Center … But critics of the project are frustrated about the cost, and have questioned whether a pool is needed. In some pockets of Vienna, lawn signs that say ‘small pool, BIG cost’ have gone up.” [WTOP]

Elections Could Make Case for Ranked Choice Voting — “Backers of ranked-choice voting (RCV) believe this fall’s congressional races may bolster their case for changing the format of statewide elections. If Virginia voters approve the congressional redistricting constitutional amendment on April 21, crowded ballots in many parts of the state” could expose flaws in the current winner-take-all approach, RCV supporters say. [ARLnow]

Va. HIV Health Clinics Strained — “People living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus — and safety net clinics that serve them — have spent the past year on edge, squeezed by federal funding cuts and a state health department billing error that has made critical medication harder to access.” [Virginia Mercury]

ICE Arrests Up in Virginia — “Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made nearly 20,000 arrests in D.C., Maryland and Virginia from the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second administration last year through March 10, according to a Washington Post analysis of recent federal data. By comparison, in the last full year of President Joe Biden’s administration, ICE recorded nearly 3,800 arrests in the region.” [Washington Post]

Wexton Endorses Former Va. First Lady — “Former U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton has thrown her support behind former Virginia first lady Dorothy McAuliffe in the latter’s bid for Congress in the proposed 7th Congressional District under Democrats’ redistricting plan.” [Inside NoVA]

Annandale Chicken Restaurant Rebrands — “Restaurateur Eddie Ryu wants the public to know his restaurant has a new name, but the food has not changed. K Chicken, located at 6653-H Little River Turnpike in the Willow Run retail center in Annandale, was formerly known as Chi Mc.” [Annandale Today]

Sisters Thai to Pair Dining and Dancing — “Sisters Tysons will host a weekly Songkran dining event on Fridays in April, pairing a family-style Thai menu with live traditional dance performances at its Capital One Center restaurant … The event is tied to Songkran, the Thai New Year.” [Patch]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny weather with a high near 54°F and a northeast wind around 6 mph. Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with a low around 35°F and areas of frost developing after 3 a.m. The southeast wind will range from 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.

Parole Denied for Woman Involved in Killing — “Convicted murderer Erika Sifrit has been refused parole in connection with the killing of a Fairfax, Virginia, couple in Ocean City, Maryland, in 2002, WTOP has learned … Sifrit appeared in her first parole hearing since she was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for her role in the 2002 murders of Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley.” [WTOP]

Route 28 Widening to Be Considered — Today (Tuesday), the Prince William Board of County Supervisors “will discuss whether to move forward with plans to widen Route 28 from Liberia Avenue, in Manassas, to the Fairfax County line. Last year, the board voted to cancel the Route 28 bypass project” that had been in the works since 2019, frustrating some Fairfax County leaders. [WTOP]

Va. News Coverage Declining — “The number of ‘news deserts’ in Virginia more than doubled between 2023 and 2025, per Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism’s ongoing State of Local News project … As of last year, 16 Virginia counties didn’t have a local news source. Another eight were at high risk of losing theirs.” [Axios Richmond]

AI Already Shaping Virginia Job Market — “Virginia is quickly becoming a national hotspot for AI adoption — and disruption, according to a Virginia Chamber Foundation report released last year, looking at the effect of the technology on statewide jobs … The Virginia report estimates 1.5 million jobs statewide could be affected.” [Axios DC]

State to Rejoin RGGI — “Virginia is poised to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative this summer, a move that could again add a monthly charge to electricity customers’ bills as utilities resume buying carbon credits.” The General Assembly passed legislation directing the Department of Environmental Quality and Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources David Bulova to finalize regulations for participating in the program by May 21. [Virginia Mercury]

Springfield Library Reopens After Emergency Closure — “We are pleased to announce that Richard Byrd Library will reopen with normal operating hours beginning Monday, April 6 at 10 a.m. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked to replace the branch’s heating system,” which forced the library to temporarily close in December. [Fairfax County Public Library]

FCDOT Seeks Input on Proposed Tysons Street — The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is gauging interest in a public hearing on the planned Lincoln Street that would connect Old Meadow Road and Magarity Road in Tysons. Requests for a hearing must be submitted via written letter to FCDOT project manager Sonia Shahnaj by the end of this Friday (April 10). [Patch]

Glass-Blowing Studio Planned in Lorton — “Lorton’s Workhouse Arts Center is in the process of creating a new public glassblowing studio called the Hot Shop. This new studio will transform Workhouse’s Building W-7A into a space with specialized glass-working equipment and facilities.” Other upcoming additions to the former prison campus include a pizzeria partnered with Bunnyman Brewing. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a sunny day with a high around 53°F and northwest winds blowing at 10 to 14 mph, gusting up to 26 mph. Tonight will be clear, with temperatures dropping to about 33°F and a north wind at 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]

Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.

Va. Sees Big ACA Enrollment Drop — “A new federal report indicates 1.2 million fewer Americans signed up for ACA insurance during the most recent open enrollment period nationwide. In Virginia, about 33,000 people have dropped off, State Health Exchange Director Keven Patchett said at a forum with the State Corporation Commission.” [Virginia Mercury]

Herndon Deck Fire Under Investigation — Fairfax County firefighters responded around 3:51 p.m. on Saturday (April 4) “to the 2600 block of Jetstream Road in Herndon for multiple calls of a deck fire that was rapidly spreading. Units arrived to find a middle unit townhouse with fire and smoke showing from the rear … There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Voters Mixed on Redistricting Proposal — “A slim majority of Virginia voters favors a redistricting measure to give Democrats as many as four extra seats in Congress this November, with 52 percent of likely voters saying they support redrawing state political maps and 47 percent opposed, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll.” [Washington Post]

Route 29 Lane Closures in Centreville — “Weather permitting, Route 29 between Union Mill Road/Centreville Farms Drive (Route 8285) and Summit Drive/Buckleys Gate Drive (Route 1257) will have lane closures on weekdays from Tuesday, April 7, through Friday, April 17, for Route 29 widening project work … Drivers should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes.” [VDOT]

Martial Arts Studio Reopens After Fire — “After UMS Martial Arts was destroyed by a fire on New Year’s Day, the studio has been operating in a temporary space at the same Barcroft Plaza shopping Center … The martial arts studio’s temporary location is a vacant storefront formerly occupied by Pearle Vision at 6343 Columbia Pike.” [Annandale Today]

Assistant Police Chief Leaving — “Assistant Chief Robert A. Blakley will retire from the Fairfax County Police Department after more than two decades of dedicated service.” Nearing five years as the assistant chief of operations for the Fairfax County Police Department, he will begin a new job as a deputy county executive position for Prince William County on April 13. [FCPD]

Textile Recycling Pilot Expands Again — “Fairfax County has expanded its textile recycling program to three new locations, including the West Springfield Government Center, at 6140 Rolling Road. Residents can drop off clothing, shoes, and household textiles in blue Helpsy bins,” which can also be found at the I-66 Transfer Station, I-95 Landfill Complex, Jim Scott Community Center and Sully Government Center. [Annandale Today]

Vienna Community Potluck Returning — “After a successful debut last year, The Longest Table Vienna is returning for its second annual potluck. On Saturday, May 9, 500 community members will gather along the Vienna Town Green on Mill Street SE to share a meal. The free, public event will be held from noon to 2 p.m.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

New Legal Notice — ABC permit sought: restaurant/caterer, beer, wine, mixed beverages, on/off-premise. [Public Notices]

New Legal Notice — Applying for off-premises beer-wine license; objections due within 30 days. [Public Notices]

It’s Monday — Expect increasing clouds today with a high of 62°F and west winds at 10 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with a low of 42°F and northwest winds at around 7 mph. [NWS]

Potomac Interceptor Upgrades Backlogged — “The D.C.-area utility responsible for a massive sewer line that failed catastrophically in January had planned to reinforce the aging section years ago but repeatedly delayed construction as federal officials studied potential environmental impacts.” [Washington Post]

School Safety Legislation Signed — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed a new batch of legislation centered on school safety, student well-being and expanded support systems in Virginia’s public schools, alongside measures addressing public health protections and food insecurity among children.” [Virginia Mercury]

Data Vague on Police Use of License Plate Readers — More than six months after Virginia adopted a law requiring law enforcement agencies to report “specific purposes” for their use of automated license plate readers, a “VCIJ at WHRO analysis of 200,000 search logs from Flock Safety data … shows that officers across the Commonwealth frequently relied on broad or vague justifications when searching the systems.” [VCIJ at WHRO]

McKay Outlines County’s Top Priorities — In a March 31 episode of the Connect With County Leaders podcast, “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said affordable housing, economic development, public safety and school funding remain among the county’s top priorities, while county leaders continue to focus on transportation investment and a broader tax base.” [Patch]

Free Film Festival in Tysons — “The 12th annual Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival will take place April 9 and 10 in Tysons. Screenings are free to the public, but registration is required. LOOK Dine-in Cinemas at the Boro in Tysons will host the event.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Szechuan Restaurant Coming to Bailey’s Crossroads — “Yeshi Kitfo, the Ethiopian restaurant at 3400 Washington Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads, has permanently closed. The restaurant is undergoing a complete renovation.” Comments from a construction worker and a building permit indicate that the space will be filled by Chili Wok, which has a location in Vienna. [Annandale Today]

Park Authority Intern Program Lauded — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is proud to announce that we have been recognized for the second year in a row as a 2026 Top Employer for Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. This recognition highlights FCPA’s dedication to providing meaningful work-based learning experiences that empower the next generation of leaders.” [FCPA]

Nominations Open for Park Volunteers Award — “The Park Authority is now accepting nominations for the annual Elly Doyle Park Service Awards Program, recognizing the outstanding contributions of volunteers … Nominations are due by Friday, May 22, 2026.” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — Expect fog in the morning before 10 a.m., then mostly sunny skies with a high near 82°F. Winds from the south will range from 7 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. Overnight, there is a 20% chance of showers before 2 a.m., with partly cloudy skies and a low around 65°F. [NWS]

Gov. Signs Affordability Legislation — “After more than 1,200 bills passed in the Virginia General Assembly, Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed the first set of bills tackling several areas of affordability … The signed bills address housing, health care and energy.” [ALXnow]

Vienna Power Outage Caused by Fire — More than 1,000 homes and business in the Town of Vienna lost power yesterday (Wednesday) morning due to a fire at an electrical substation near Town Hall. Dominion Energy restored power to most customers before 11 a.m., addressing the remaining locations by mid-afternoon. [Town of Vienna/Facebook]

Virginia Delays SNAP Restriction — “Initially, recipients were expected to lose the ability to purchase ‘sweetened beverages’ with SNAP funds starting in April 2026, per a Dec. 10, 2025 announcement. The change had been scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, April 1.” The Virginia Department of Social Services, however, says the ban has now been delayed until October. [WAVY]

Video of Alleged Nude Burglar Released — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division have released new surveillance video of the suspect connected to the London Towne burglary investigation following an attempted burglary early [yesterday] morning.” Filmed by security cameras, the man appears to have tried to break into a home in the 14800 block of Palmerston Square in Centreville shortly after 5 a.m. [FCPD]

Police Officer Charged With Public Drinking — “An off-duty Fairfax County Police Department officer was arrested on a charge of Drunk in Public in Fair Oaks. On March 31 at approximately 6:23 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 11000 block of Route 50 in Fair Oaks for the report of an intoxicated man refusing to leave the area and acting disorderly.” The 31-year-old officer is now on administrative leave. [FCPD]

Gas Prices Strain Food Nonprofits — “Gas prices have jumped about a dollar per gallon in the past month across the D.C. region, and it’s unclear how much more prices could still climb. That makes it harder to plan, harder to attract volunteers and get donations and, ultimately, harder to get food to the people who need it most.” [NBC4]

Data Centers Risk Potomac Water Supply — “The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, abbreviated ICPRB, describes some of the ways in which data center growth, which is primarily located in Virginia’s Loudoun and Prince William counties, can affect whether there is enough drinking water to serve Fairfax Water, WSSC Water and the Washington Aqueduct.” [WTOP]

Historic Villa Added to Underground Railroad Network — Historic Huntley in Groveton is now part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, which was created by Congress in 1998 to recognize the network of sites, individuals and organizations that helped enslaved people escape. “Sully Historic Site and Riverbend Park preceded Historic Huntley as Fairfax County Park Authority sites to attain the designation.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — There’s a 30% a chance of showers and thunderstorms primarily after 3 PM, with patchy fog clearing before 11 AM. The day will be partly sunny, reaching a high of about 76°F. Night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 54°F. [NWS]

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Frying Pan Carousel Damaged — “A 108-year-old carousel enjoyed by generations of families in Northern Virginia has gone forever silent and still. The Fairfax County Park Authority said January’s winter storm left the antique carousel at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon severely damaged … Efforts are getting underway to bring a new carousel to the park, hopefully in the spring of next year.” [WTOP]

FCPS Calendar Changes Considered — “To address the logistical challenges frustrating some parents, several school board members, including Dunne, Melanie Meren, Ricardy Anderson and Ryan McElveen, are proposing changes. One would allow schools to remain open on Veterans Day and Indigenous Peoples Day. Another would limit early-release days at elementary, middle and high schools to no more than four per year.” [WTOP]

Pennino Building Won’t Reopen Before Summer — “The Pennino Building, which houses many of the county’s human services agencies and was damaged in February by flooding, will continue to be closed for the next couple of months, at least. The earliest the building will reopen will be in the summer,” though the county says “significant progress has been made” on repairs. [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

White House Ballroom Construction Halted — “U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon ruled Tuesday that construction on President Trump’s White House ballroom ‘must stop until Congress authorizes its completion.’ Using a notable number of exclamation points, Leon said … the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States is likely to succeed in their lawsuit and therefore he is granting a preliminary injunction to halt construction.” [NPR]

Clinics Advocate for State Contraception Funding — “Planned Parenthood clinics are urging lawmakers to move a key contraception access program back to state funding as uncertainty grows around federal health care support. Despite currently being state funded, the budget introduced by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin … shifted the Virginia Contraceptive Access Initiative to a federal funding stream.” [Virginia Mercury]

Springfield Plaza Adding EV Chargers — Electrify America has leased a portion of Springfield Plaza’s parking lot for a “large-format” electric vehicle charging station that will have about 20 chargers. The site had been used by commuters for slugging until Fairfax County opened its new parking garage in 2024, and efforts to market the space for a new retail building found no takers. [Washington Business Journal]

New Thai Restaurant in Falls Church — “After nearly a year of preparations, My Home Thai Bistro plans to host a grand opening this Saturday for its new restaurant at 1009 W. Broad Street. The new eatery aims to bring ‘a modern take on Thai cuisine with a refined yet welcoming atmosphere,’ co-owner Anuchit ‘Andrew’ Suthus-na-Ayuttaya told ARLnow.” [ARLnow]

Walk and Win Challenge Begins — “The 2026 Fairfax County Walk & Win Challenge returns April 1, inviting residents, employees, and visitors to get moving, explore their community, and win prizes — just by walking … Submit your walk by uploading a photo or screenshot along with your name, email and chosen route to be entered into weekly prize drawings.” [Supervisor Rodney Lusk/Facebook]

It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny conditions with a high near 86, and a 30% chance of precipitation after 3 pm. Southwest winds will be 8 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph. Chances of showers and possibly a thunderstorm are 70% at night until 2 am. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.

Teen Charged in Reston Stabbing — A teen has been arrested and charged with malicious wounding after allegedly stabbing another teen during a fight at South Lakes Village Center in Reston last Friday (March 27). “The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” police said. [FCPD]

Resident Trapped in Home by Fallen Tree — Firefighters from the Fairfax County and Fairfax City departments helped rescue a resident in the 10300 block of Darby Street last night (Monday) after they were trapped by a “large tree” that fell onto their two-story house. “Firefighters made entry and assisted the occupant out. No injuries. Units remain on scene.” [FCFRD/X]

Fire Consumes Lorton Boathouse — Fairfax County firefighters responded early yesterday morning to “a boathouse fire in the 10700 blk of Old Colchester Rd in Lorton. Units arrived to a fully involved boathouse with extension into nearby brush.” No injuries were reported. [FCFRD/X]

Hospitals Concerned by Health Care Changes — Hospital chains in Virginia have largely avoided publicly commenting on any concerns they’re feeling about the changes to health care imposed by last year’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “But that’s changing, as the reality of reduced federal funding and spiking insurance costs has set in for facilities statewide.” [Virginia Mercury]

Arabian Leopard Coming to National Zoo — “Make way, pandas, there’s a new emissary coming to town: The Saudi royals are bankrolling a $51.6 million habitat for the Arabian Leopard in the largest donation ever to the National Zoo … Construction aims to begin in late summer — with a target opening for 2029.” [Axios DC]

Commercial Landlord Files for Bankruptcy — “Broad Street Realty Inc., a publicly traded Reston real estate company that owns grocery-anchored retail centers, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation on March 20 after a turbulent year in which it lost control of its portfolio.” Its 15 properties were taken over last year by an investor affiliated with Fortress Investment Group, which planned to market them for sale, according to regulatory filings. [Washington Business Journal]

Reston Contractor Closes $2.4B Acquisition — “Fortune 500 government contractor Leidos announced Monday that it has completed its $2.4 billion acquisition of Illinois-based utilities infrastructure design firm Entrust Solutions Group … With the purchase, Leidos will effectively double its presence in the energy infrastructure market and gain more than 3,100 Entrust employees.” [Virginia Business]

Herndon Brewery Owner on Career Pivot — “After more than 20 years working at the White House, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, he’s just opened a brewery … [Monte] is the owner of Hawkley Brewing, a newly opened craft beer hub in Herndon that represents a major career shift — and a personal reset.” [WJLA]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of 82°F and a southwest wind blowing at 11 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. At night, the weather will be partly cloudy with a low of around 64°F. [NWS]

Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.