morning notes

Vienna Metro Station Gets New Bikeshare Stop — “We partnered with @fairfaxcounty to install a new Capital Bikeshare Station at Vienna Metro Station and relocate our bike racks under a canopy for increased protection from the elements. This means a better biking experience for all of our customers!” [WMATA/Twitter]

Herndon Robbery Under Investigation — “The victim told police that two men approached him from behind as he was walking on the sidewalk on March 29. One of the men showed what appeared to be a handgun and they demanded the victim hand over his property, according to police. Once he did, the two men drove off in vehicle that was driven by a third suspect.” [Patch]

Reopening Date Set for Metro Yellow Line — “The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced [Tuesday] that the Yellow Line will open again on Sunday, May 7, at the start of rail service. The line has been out of service since September to allow work on the Potomac River tunnel and bridge.” [ALXnow]

Omicron Booster Vaccine Eligibility Expands — “The updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now available as a booster dose for children 6 months-4 years old who completed their primary series of three doses.” Just 13% of Fairfax Health District residents under 5 have completed an initial series of Covid vaccinations. [Fairfax County Health Department]

Inova Ends Mask Requirement — “Effective April 3, masking will be optional at Inova care sites. Exceptions will include high-risk clinical spaces and for anyone interacting with patients identified by their provider as immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19” [Inova Health/Twitter]

Rose Hill Redevelopment Proposal Recommended for Deferral — “The inclusion of the Rose Hill Plaza development plan in the work program, approved on March 29 by the planning commission, came with a condition: the proposal will remain a ‘deferred item’ until the owner of the shopping center, Combined Properties Inc., conducts ‘further community outreach.'” [Patch]

Man Pulled From Mud in Mount Vernon — “Units on scene of a rescue in the 5200 block of Burke Drive in the Woodlawn area. One adult male in the water 30 feet from the shore stuck in mud. Firefighters have successfully extricated the person. No reported injuries at this time.” [FCFRD/Twitter]

Nearby: Suspect ID’d in Dulles Town Center Shooting — “Loudoun County police have identified the suspect in Sunday morning’s shooting inside the Dulles Town Center shopping mall that left one person in serious condition…The mall has been closed for the remainder of the day.” [WTOP]

Virginia Now Requires Slowing Down for Disabled Vehicles — “In Virginia, it is illegal to not move over or slow down when a first responder or construction vehicle is on the side of the roads with their lights flashing. What isn’t illegal is doing the same for a disabled vehicle, but that will change with a new law supported by Hurley’s family.” The state Senate version of the bill was led by Fairfax County’s Dave Marsden. [WTOP]

Five Displaced by Annandale Townhouse Fire — “On Thursday, March 23, at 1:49 p.m., units were dispatched for a reported townhouse fire in the 7800 block of Rectory Lane.” No one was home at the time. Investigators determined that the fire “was caused by an item left unattended on the electric burner of the stovetop,” resulting in approximately $75,000 in damages. [FCFRD]

Police Standoff Ends After 36 Hours — Fairfax County police took a reportedly armed woman into custody shortly after midnight, ending a barricade on Richmond Highway that began before noon on Tuesday (March 29). The standoff closed Route 1 between Lockheed Blvd and Boswell Avenue through multiple rush hours. [FCPD/Twitter]

Helicopters Expected at GMU for Training — “The @GeorgeMasonU Fairfax Campus will host an ROTC training exercise on the morning of Thursday, March 30. Helicopters will be coming on campus at 6:30 a.m. and departing from the West Campus parking lot (closest to Braddock Road) at approximately 8:15 a.m. Please do not be alarmed.” [GMU Police/Twitter]

Flags Lowered After Nashville School Shooting — “The U.S., state and county flags are lowered to half-staff today at all county government facilities as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on March 27 in Nashville, Tenn. The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on March 31.” [Fairfax County/Twitter]

Longtime Vienna Inn Co-Owner Has Died — “Mollie Bass Abraham, who with her late husband owned and ran the Vienna Inn for four decades, died at her home in Alexandria on March 25. She was 96. The couple bought the former Freddie’s restaurant in Vienna in 1960 and renamed it the Vienna Inn.” [Gazette Leader]

Why D.C. Area Could Smell North Carolina Wildfire — “Weather models indicate that low-level winds, around or below 2,500 feet, have been generally blowing from eastern North Carolina toward D.C., Maryland and Virginia at about 20 to 45 mph since early Monday morning. That probably was strong enough to transport the smoke into the D.C. area by about midday” [Capital Weather Gang]

Route 1 Widening Already Displacing Local Businesses — “Stubbs’ angst about his shrinking business is due to the expansion of a 3.1-mile section of Richmond Highway in the Alexandria portion of Fairfax County, near Mount Vernon — a project that is already starting to displace businesses along the strip even though construction isn’t expected to start until 2027.” [DCist]

Vienna Ice Skater Gets Bronze at World Championships — “Japan’s Shoma Uno repeated as world figure skating champion, performing the total package of jumps and artistry immediately after 18-year-old American Ilia Malinin attempted a record-tying six quadruple jumps in his free skate to earn the bronze medal…Malinin is the only person to land a quad Axel in competition and did so again Saturday.” [NBC Sports]

GMU Students Petition Against Youngkin Speech — “George Mason University students are petitioning against the college’s decision to host Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin as the graduation commencement speaker in May. Senior Alaina Ruffin started the petition Thursday…The petition has received more than 4,000 signatures since then.” [WTOP]

Supreme Court Tosses County Zoning Update — “The Virginia Supreme Court has voided a massive zoning modernization plan approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2021 because the board’s approval occurred during a virtual meeting. The court’s ruling, issued Thursday, could call into question scores of routine decisions made by local governing bodies during the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.” [Inside NoVA]

D.C. Cherry Blossoms Reach Peak Bloom — “The National Park Service announced that Washington’s cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin reached peak bloom Thursday. Peak bloom occurs when 70 percent of cherry tree buds are flowering…The National Cherry Blossom Festival started Monday in coordination with the flowering of the cherry blossoms.” [The Washington Post]