morning notes

Va. Could Remove Allegedly Ineligible Voters — “The U.S. Department of Justice has sent a confidential draft agreement to more than a dozen states that would require election officials to remove any alleged ineligible voters identified during a federal review of their voter rolls … The states [acting voting section chief Eric] Neff identified are led by Republicans — Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.” [Virginia Mercury]

Some N. Va. See Success as Kennedy Center Struggles — “Leaders of local groups say that it’s difficult to tell whether they’ve directly benefited from this year’s upheaval across the Potomac … But while Kennedy Center audiences have dwindled amid artists’ and theatergoers’ boycotts of the venue whose board elected Trump as chair in February, several Arlington organizations pulled off a strong year.” [ARLnow]

Virginia ICE Facility Over Capacity — “One of Virginia’s two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities is over capacity, while the other is getting very close, according to the most recent data from ICE and TRAC Immigration … As of Nov. 28, the Caroline Detention Center has surpassed its maximum capacity — and the Farmville Detention Center is less than two dozen detainees away from doing the same.” [WRIC]

Mutual Aid Groups Respond to ICE Detentions — “Throughout the commonwealth, a wave of mutual aid has come from community foundations, grassroots organizations and neighbors who quietly built their own support systems for families caught in detention and deportation proceedings.” [VPM News]

Reston Contractor Makes Big Acquisition — “CACI International Inc., one of Greater Washington’s largest federal IT contractors, is buying defense technology company ARKA Group LP for $2.6 billion cash in what would be the Reston company’s largest acquisition to date.” Connecticut-based ARKA’s fighter plane sensors would help CACI “expand its tech capabilities on existing and future contracts with the U.S. Space Force and other defense and national security agencies.” [Washington Business Journal]

License Plate Readers Used to Find Missing People — “Since the launch of the department’s expanded LPR program in November 2022, both Flock Safety and Axon Fleet 3 LPR technology have directly assisted in locating 50 missing persons across Fairfax County and the surrounding region.” The 50th person was located on Dec. 19 when they drove past a reader, alerting an officer at Route 50 and Galesbury Lane in Chantilly. [FCPD]

Library Hosts Free Signed Books Giveaway — Fairfax County Public Library is holding a drawing for 14 different free signed books. Through Jan. 16, patrons can enter by filling out a form and sharing how much money they’ve saved by checking out materials from their local library. Winners will be chosen on Jan. 20. [FCPL]

Publishing Pause for Holidays — FFXnow will be taking a break from publishing tomorrow (Wednesday) and on Christmas. Barring breaking news, we’ll be back with more reporting on Friday (Dec. 26). Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and to those who don’t, we hope you’re still able to enjoy some time to relax before the new year.

It’s Tuesday — Rain is possible, mostly before 9am, followed by cloudy skies that will gradually clear up to become mostly sunny. The high will be around 53 degrees. The chance of precipitation stands at 30%. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 39 degrees. [NWS]

Missing Herndon Man Found Dead — “The body of missing 79-year-old Leonard Thompson was found in Troutville, Va. on Saturday, ending a multi-day search for the Herndon man. Thompson had been missing since Monday, with Virginia State Police putting out a critically missing adult alert the following day.” [DC News Now]

Dozens Charged With Crimes in Fairfax City — “Fairfax City Police recently arrested an 18-year-old man and served nine juvenile suspects a combined total of 24 juvenile petitions in connection to a string of events that started at Fairfax High School’s homecoming football game on Oct. 17, according to authorities.” The incidents included disorderly conduct at the game, a McDonald’s robbery, a gun being discharged at a party and a theft at Wawa. [Patch]

South Run House Fire Under Investigation — “Firefighters in Fairfax County responded to a two-alarm house fire early Saturday morning in the South Run area. The blaze was reported around 4:48 a.m. in the 9300 block of Castle Hill Road, officials said … One resident was taken to the hospital for evaluation.” [WJLA]

New Advanced Academic Center Approved — “The Fairfax County School Board approved a motion on Dec. 18 to create a full-time Advanced Academic Program at Poe Middle School … A phasing option allows third through sixth-grade students currently attending the AAP Center at Canterbury Woods Elementary School to stay there through the sixth grade.” [Annandale Today]

Police Investigate Credit Card Skimmers — “Detectives from our Financial Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the United States Secret Service (USSS), conducted a countywide skimmer-detection operation at more than 100 locations across Fairfax County resulting in the recovery of 20 credit card skimming devices … Skimming devices were located at multiple convenience stores, discount stores, and grocery stores throughout Fairfax County and the Town of Herndon.” [FCPD]

Virginia Dems Highlight Affordability Agenda — “Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and top Virginia Democrats are aiming to lower costs through programs with little impact on the state budget, they said in a press conference Thursday … Youngkin’s $72 billion budget proposal, released Wednesday, forecast more revenue for the state than predictions released by state legislators.” [VPM News]

Police Investigate Vienna Mailbox — The U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office and Fairfax County police investigated a Postal Service mailbox outside Navy Federal Credit Union’s Vienna branch on Thursday (Dec. 18) after a security officer reported hearing a suspicious noise. “As a precaution, the bank’s branch and the immediate surrounding outdoor area were evacuated. Once it was determined that the noise was coming from a safe device and there was no threat to the public, the bank branch was reopened.” [Vienna Police]

Change in FFXnow’s Newsletter — “ARLnow and its sister sites are about to embark on a significant change: switching to a new email service provider. After 16 years of delivering our daily newsletters from the same email provider we are switching to Beehiiv.” [ARLnow]

It’s Monday — The skies will gradually become cloudy, reaching a high temperature of around 44 degrees, accompanied by a light southwestern wind of about 6 mph during the afternoon. On Monday night, there is a 40% chance of rain and snow occurring from 1 am to 4 am, followed by a possibility of rain after 4 am. With an expected low of 35 degrees, the light south wind will intensify to 5-10 mph later in the evening. [NWS]

U.S. Admits Fault in DCA Crash — “The U.S. government admitted Wednesday that the actions of an air traffic controller and Army helicopter pilot played a role in causing a collision last January between an airliner and a Black Hawk near the nation’s capital, killing 67 people.” [Associated Press/ARLnow]

Va. Schools Expected to Need Over $1B — “Virginia’s recently published enrollment data indicates that state schools will need about $1.2 billion over the next two years, more than was projected just weeks ago amid challenges in funding other key areas … While enrollment is projected to decline, presumably lowering overall funding needs, the education agency said the cost to fund Virginia’s schools is driven by several factors.” [Virginia Mercury]

How Fairfax Stacks Up for Livability — “For the second year in a row, AARP has ranked Arlington as the most livable large community in the country … AARP rated Fairfax County No. 5 for very large populations (more than 500,000). The index noted the county’s access to grocery stores, farmers markets, and parks and its diversity of destinations.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Tysons Santa Returns for 37th Year — “Accompanied by a security guard, Santa — real name Michael Graham — makes his way to Santa’s Chalet, which is tucked at the end of a hallway near an eyebrow salon. Dozens of children are lined up, waiting to take a photo with Graham and tell him what they want for Christmas.” Even after 40 years performing as Santa, 37 of them at Tysons Corner Center, Graham remains enthusiastic about the gig. [Washington Post]

Pop-Up Library Planned for Culmore — “Fairfax County Public Library is in the process of nailing down a location in Culmore for a pop-up library during the time the Culmore Community Library will be closed for an entire year. The Culmore Library will close on Jan. 17, 2026, for an HVAC replacement project and won’t reopen until January 2027.” [Annandale Today]

Winning Lottery Ticket Bought in Merrifield — A Powerball ticket purchased at the Safeway (3043 Nutley Street) in Merrifield’s Providence Place shopping center was one of five to win $50,000 in a drawing on Wednesday (Dec. 17). “Since no ticket in Virginia or anywhere else matched all six numbers, the jackpot for the Saturday, December 20, drawing grows to an estimated $1.5 billion.” [Virginia Lottery]

Record Holiday Travel Projected — With 3.4 million Virginians expected to travel over the coming week, “AAA predicts that this year’s holiday travel will break last year’s record and set a new 24-year high. VPM News’ Hannah Davis-Reid talked to AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean about what to expect ahead of the holidays.” [VPM News]

New Take on ‘Into the Woods’ Debuts in Lorton — “The Workhouse Arts Center will present a new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning musical ‘Into the Woods’ beginning Dec. 20, offering a reimagined take on the modern theatrical classic in the W-3 Theatre. The limited run includes 17 performances through Jan. 25, highlighted by a New Year’s Eve show at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31.” [Inside NoVA]

It’s Friday — Expect rain and potentially a thunderstorm before 1pm. Temperatures will drop to around 38 by 5pm with winds shifting west and gusting up to 47 mph. There is an 80% chance of precipitation, with amounts ranging from a quarter to half an inch. Friday night will be mostly clear and breezy, with lows around 27. [NWS]

McLean Sisters Fear Deportation — “Two sisters who were detained by border patrol agents while traveling back to the U.S. in early December fear they could be persecuted for their Christian faith if they are deported back to Iran, their pastor in Northern Virginia told News4.” An attorney representing the Motahari sisters says “they both have legal status, no criminal record and they had recently renewed their work permits until 2030.” [NBC4]

D.C. Region Sees Drop in Consumer Spending — “Consumers are spending less in the DMV — and D.C. is taking the biggest hit, according to a new Brookings report … The nonpartisan think tank says the administration’s policies have been “notably bad” for visitor spending — a big deal in a city where sales taxes make up nearly 17% of revenue.” [Axios DC]

Fairfax Therapy Startup Plans Expansion — Origin Therapy, which launched in August 2024 to help “speech, occupational and physical therapists launch and operate private practices,” has raised $2.6 million that it hopes to use to explore “other geographies and therapies where the need is also high.” The company has supported 19 therapy practices so far and is aiming to surpass 100 over the next year. [Washington Business Journal]

Cost-of-Living Concerns Pushed Voters Left — “Post-election research of Trump or third-party 2024 voters who flipped to Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia last month found that economic concerns were top of mind for these voters. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) made cost-of-living the centerpiece of their campaign messaging, and it helped propel them to double-digit victories.” [Politico]

Restaurant Opens in Former Falls Church Motel — “Stratford Garden opened yesterday (Tuesday) at the long-vacant Stratford Motor Lodge at 300 W. Broad Street, abuzz with local officials including Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi. The business, which promised a wide selection of beers and wines, offers a range of sandwiches, salads and pastas for brunch, lunch and dinner.” [ARLnow]

S’mores Hot Chocolate Creation Goes Viral — The Chantilly-based dessert cafe SoftSpot “is filling feeds and faces with their campfire-inspired concoction … The shop has flown through as many as 400 in a day, partner Neal Miglani tells Axios. And yes, ‘It’s as indulgent as it looks.'” [Axios DC]

Vienna Eatery Seeks Blood Drive Participants — Social Burger “is looking for residents to sign up for its blood drive on Dec. 23, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. All those who donate will get a free milkshake from Social Burger. The blood drive will benefit Inova Blood Donor Services and is being held in partnership with Somervilles Homes.” [Patch]

New Laws Coming in New Year — “Beginning January 1, 2026, a slate of new laws will kick into effect in Virginia. Here are some to be aware of,” including restrictions on telemarketing calls, a one-hour limit on social media for kids under 16, and increases to the minimum wage and unemployment benefits. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Rain is likely after 4pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 54. There’s a 30% chance of precipitation. Night will see temperatures rise to around 55 by 3am. Rain is expected, with a 100% chance of precipitation and new rainfall amounts ranging between half and three-quarters of an inch. [NWS]

Federal Agency Investigating Fatal Taxi Crash — “The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced Tuesday that it would be launching an investigation into a fatal crash in Fairfax County that happened one day earlier. One person was killed and three people were injured in a crash involving a Metrobus, a taxi cab and a minivan.” [DC News Now]

ICYMI: Bulova Wins Democratic Primary — Democratic voters in Virginia’s 11th House District nominated Gretchen Bulova in a quick firehouse primary yesterday (Tuesday) “to succeed her husband, David Bulova, after the delegate resigned last Friday (Dec. 12) to accept an appointment in Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration.” [FFXnow]

D.C. Region Joins Uber Lawsuit — “Nineteen states, including Virginia, Maryland and D.C., filed a joint lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission against Uber on Monday. The complaint says Uber didn’t follow through on advertised savings, charged consumers during their free trial periods, and signed up users for Uber One without their consent.” [WTOP]

Virginia Honors Civil Rights Activist With Statue — A statue of Barbara Rose Johns was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol yesterday (Tuesday), replacing one of Confederate General Robert E. Lee as a representation of Virginia in the visitor center’s Emancipation Hall. At 16, Johns organized a walkout at her high school in Farmville to protest conditions at the segregated facility, setting the stage for the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. [NPR]

Metro Funding Question Goes to General Assembly — “As the Virginia legislature prepares to return to Richmond, the ball is in lawmakers’ court to respond to what Metro and regional officials say is a crucial moment for transit in Northern Virginia and the D.C. region. They will also have to weigh Metro’s needs with a panoply of other budget pressures facing the commonwealth.” [WAMU]

Local Soldier Reunites With Family — “Volunteers were hard at work inside the American Red Cross office in Fairfax Monday night. They were packing stockings and writing cards for patients at military hospitals at Fort Belvoir and Walter Reed. Little did the Konczal family know, as they arrived, that their son, US Army PFC Patrick Konczal, was there too.” [WUSA9]

Tysons Event Planning Company Buys Startup — “Cvent, a portfolio company of private equity giant Blackstone, announced Monday it has acquired Goldcast, a fast-growing Boston startup that uses artificial intelligence to produce video content for events and webinars. A deal price was not disclosed, but Axios reported Cvent paid just under $300 million in cash.” [Washington Business Journal]

Pickleball Tournament Raises Funds for Youth — “A pickleball tournament on Saturday at the Down the Line Sports Center in Annandale raised funds for Asian American LEAD, an organization that supports after-school leadership development programs for Asian American youths. The event featured a pickleball clinic, recreational games, and a tournament for competitive players.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny conditions today, as the temperature reaches a high near 49 degrees. The southwest wind of about 7 mph will shift west in the afternoon. For Wednesday night, the sky will be partly cloudy, with the temperature dropping to around 30 degrees, accompanied by a light and variable wind. [NWS]

Democratic Primary Today for House Seat — Polls will be open at three locations until 7 p.m. today (Tuesday) for the Democratic Party’s firehouse primary to select its nominee to succeed former 11th House District delegate David Bulova. Five candidates qualified for the ballot, with the winner potentially facing a Republican in a special election on Jan. 13. No Republican candidates have been announced so far.

Fox Rescued After Getting Stuck in Fence — “Last week, our Animal Services Officers received a call from a concerned community member about a fox stuck in a fence. It was believed the fox had been there for several hours before being found. Our officers safely freed the fox and consulted with professional rehabilitators to address the injuries to their rear legs.” [Fairfax County Animal Shelter/Facebook]

Annandale Man Sentenced on Drug Charges — “A federal court sentenced an Annandale man to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, the FBI reported Dec. 11.” The 28-year-old man was arrested on June 3 after Fairfax County police stopped his vehicle and seized drugs as well as a handgun he had purchased illegally as a previously convicted felon. [Annandale Today]

Metro Expands New Bike Lockers — “The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority installed the first of 450 new covered bike storage lockers at the Eastern Market and Foggy Bottom Metro stations in late November. As of Saturday, a total of nine stations now have the new lockers. It’s part of an effort to get over 3.5 percent of Metro riders biking to stations by 2030.” [Washington Post]

Youngkin Quiet on Future Plans — “Almost from the moment that Glenn Youngkin became Virginia’s governor four years ago, the political world has wondered what’s next for a Republican who seemed to keep one foot in the MAGA movement and the other in the party’s traditional country club establishment. He’s still not ready to say.” [Associated Press/WTOP]

Shenandoah Valley Trail Proposed — “The Virginia Department of Transportation stunned Virginia’s transportation community by proposing a plan last Tuesday to potentially develop a multi-use trail and restore a deteriorated rail corridor in the Shenandoah Valley, with a possible price tag of nearly $700 million.” [Virginia Mercury]

GMU Serves Hot Sauce Concocted by Graduates — “Who knew that 10 years after three George Mason University students were just trying to get through their classes, they’d create a hot sauce that would become the official staple of the GMU dining hall? … Ask the founders what makes SOSS special, and they’ll tell you it’s the flavor balance no one else has mastered.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Police Academy Welcomes New Recruits — Yesterday, “Assistant Chief Eli Cory welcomed 48 recruits at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, marking the start of their 25-week basic training and the initiation of their careers in law enforcement.” At the academy, recruits will learn “basic instruction in the procedures, techniques, principles of law enforcement, incident report writing, criminal law, traffic enforcement, and first aid.” [FCPD]

New Legal Notice — Day spa seeks Retail Marketplace on-premises wine and beer license. [Public Notices]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 37 degrees, accompanied by light and variable winds. The night will be mostly clear, with lows around 28 degrees, and a south wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

Plane Returns to Dulles After Engine Failure — “A United Airlines flight out of Dulles International Airport made an emergency landing after one of the plane’s engines failed during takeoff on Saturday afternoon. One of the engines of the Boeing 777-200ER suddenly failed at takeoff around 12:20 p.m., the FAA said, producing sparks and smoke.” [NBC4]

GW Parkway Rehabilitation Progresses — “From Spout Run Parkway up to the Beltway in McLean, paving is done and mainline construction is on track to conclude by the end of the month as a major rehab project announced in 2021 draws toward a close.” [ARLnow]

Man Charged With McLean-Area Burglaries — “Investigators have linked a Maryland man arrested in Tysons on Tuesday to multiple attempted burglaries in the McLean earlier this month, according to authorities.” A woman reported that the man had trespassed on her backyard on Dec. 9, and police believe he’s also behind two home burglaries that occurred in McLean on Dec. 5. [Patch]

Passenger Injured by Dulles Baggage Claim — “A passenger got stuck in baggage claim equipment at Washington Dulles International Airport on Thursday morning and is hurt, authorities say. The adult made ‘an unauthorized entry into the baggage delivery system’ and got trapped, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.” [NBC4]

Longfellow Students Aim to Extend Science Olympiad Win Streak — “Kim is one of 30 students who secured a spot on Longfellow Middle School’s prestigious Science Olympiad team. Over 100 competed for one, taking tests and building devices, with the hope of keeping the Fairfax County school’s reputation in tact. Longfellow’s team has won 13 consecutive state titles, and is eyeing a 14th. The school has won the state championship 19 times.” [WTOP]

Food Delivery Robots Enter Alexandria — “California-based Serve Robotics Inc., in partnership with Uber Eats, recently launched its autonomous sidewalk delivery company across the city. That means that folks ordering food in Old Town, Del Ray, Potomac West and nearby neighborhoods now have the option to get their orders delivered by a driverless robot.” [ALXnow]

Nonprofit Plans Bar Crawl Fundraiser — “The community is invited to a bar crawl on Saturday, Dec. 20, at four locations in Annandale. The event is a fundraiser for Me & You, a nonprofit organization that supports projects at nine schools in the metropolitan D.C. area, including Braddock Elementary School in Annandale.” [Annandale Today]

Park Authority Hires Planning Deputy Director — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce the appointment of Nigel A. Fields to the position of deputy director for Planning and Development. Fields is a leader in conservation, park development and programming, and land use planning and management. He began his new role on Dec. 1 and succeeds Aimee Vosper, who is retiring from the Park Authority on Dec. 26 after 12 years of service.” [FCPA]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny conditions and a high temperature of around 30 degrees during the day, with the northwest wind of 7 to 11 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon. Tonight, you’ll experience partly cloudy skies, with the temperature dropping to a low of about 21 degrees. The south wind will be blowing at 5 to 7 mph before becoming light and variable after midnight. [NWS]

Virginia Dropping Sweet Drinks From SNAP Coverage — “Virginia is among six states approved for SNAP food choice waivers under a new initiative launched by the Trump administration that will deny some items to those who use the program … According to the USDA, Virginia SNAP benefits will restrict the purchase of ‘sweetened beverages.'” [WUSA9]

GMU Students Advocate for Increased Voter Turnout — George Mason University freshman Rithvik Hari “was part of a research experiment to figure out ways to increase turnout among college students … The experiment was a success: George Mason was the only precinct in Fairfax County to see an increase in voter turnout [this year] compared to the 2024 presidential election.” [WVTF]

Man Charged With Trespassing at CIA HQ — “An Uber passenger who flew from Puerto Rico to Virginia was arrested early Monday morning after he tried to gain entry to CIA headquarters in McLean, according to court documents.” The man has been “charged with trespassing on an agency installation and failing to obey an order to leave an agency installation.” [Patch]

State of Data Centers in D.C. Region — “With the explosion of AI, the demand for data processing power is growing exponentially, sparking debate over the growth of data centers nationally and regionally … WAMU’s Regional Politics team dug into the debate in each of the three jurisdictions,” from the established data center hub of Northern Virginia to D.C., which has no sites but could still feel the effects of rising energy costs. [WAMU]

Facility Issues Close Libraries — “Burke Centre Library and Richard Byrd Library will remain closed through Friday, December 12 due to ongoing facility issues. Holds and due dates will be extended for customers of both facilities. We will provide further updates soon regarding anticipated reopening timelines.” [Fairfax County Public Library/X]

Santa Visits Inova Hospital — The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department “was honored to bring the big guy himself, Santa, to Inova Children’s so he could assist Fairfax County Police Department with donating some of the toys collected through this year’s Santa’s Ride. We were grateful to be part of the holiday cheer!” [FCFRD/Facebook]

FCPS Tweaks Boundary Changes for Annandale Area — “Bren Mar Park Elementary School families concerned about a boundary change have been given a reprieve. At a Dec. 10 community meeting on recently announced changes to the Fairfax County school boundary review process, Superintendent Michelle Reid said students at Bren Mar Park (BMP) will stay at the middle and high schools to which they are already assigned.” [Annandale Today]

Trucking Company to Deliver Memorial Wreaths — “On Friday, December 12, 2025, over 200 participants will be present to execute this annual initiative. Interstate employees, their families, and community partners, including the new Driver Ambassador, CJ3 Foundation, will gather at the company’s Springfield headquarters to salute and send off over 70 drivers, who will deliver wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery and other area cemeteries, joining thousands of volunteers nationwide who carry forward Wreaths Across America’s legacy of remembrance.” [Interstate Moving]

Capital Craft Festival Returns — “The Capital Art and Craft Festival features more than 300 juried artists at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. From Friday through Sunday, expect everything from glass and metal works to jewelry and clothing to pottery and printmaking.” With Dulles Expo closing this month, the festival’s director says a new venue for 2026 “will be announced ‘soon.'” [WTOP]

It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high near 38 degrees with a light west wind of 3 to 6 mph. As night falls, the sky will turn mostly cloudy with the temperature dropping to a low of around 28 degrees. The wind will remain calm throughout the night. [NWS]

DCA Crash Families Object to Waivers — “Family members of those killed in the January midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet are raising alarms about a provision in the defense funding bill that they say would allow the military to potentially restore flying procedures that may have been factors in the crash.” [Washington Post]

Next VDOT Leader Named — “Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday tapped transportation expert Nick Donohue as Virginia’s next transportation secretary, selecting the VCU graduate to help steer her administration’s policies over the next four years … The former deputy transportation secretary was recently heavily involved in developing a funding plan to create a new revenue stream to stabilize Metro service in Northern Virginia,” among other initiatives. [Virginia Mercury]

Legislator Preparing Gaming Commission Bill — “Efforts are underway to establish one regulatory board to oversee gaming in the Commonwealth as conversations about a possible plan to construct a casino in Fairfax County re-enter the spotlight … Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax County, emphasized the importance of establishing the commission before expanding gaming, which includes future proposals for a casino in the Tysons area.” [WUSA9]

School Board Approves New Courses — “Fairfax County students will get the opportunity to take classes on artificial intelligence, personal finance and cybersecurity in the 2026-27 school year. The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved the middle and high school course offering changes during a meeting” last Thursday (Dec. 4). [WTOP]

Former Tysons Furniture Store Finds New Home — “Patrick’s Elegant Living, a high-end furniture brand, will move into a new store at Dulles Town Center, Washington Business Journal reported. It will occupy the space of the former Nordstrom, which closed in 2017. Patrick’s Elegant Living vacated its former Tysons Corner Center location in October after a legal dispute with the landlord.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Viral Drunk Raccoon Boosts Animal Shelter — “The Hanover County Animal Protection & Shelter in Virginia has raised $170,560 in just 72 hours by selling over 15,000 pieces of ‘Trashed Panda’ merchandise — hoodies, mugs, stickers, and T-shirts, all featuring a raccoon sprawled on its stomach, paws splayed in every direction, next to a toppled bottle of booze.” [Washingtonian]

Researchers Help Track Monarch Butterflies — “This fall, a massive international effort called Project Monarch used new technology to track hundreds of monarchs from Canada to Cuba, providing the most comprehensive look yet at the famous journey. Researchers in Virginia helped make it happen.” [VPM News]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high temperature near 37 degrees and northwest winds blowing at 13 to 15 mph, occasionally gusting up to 29 mph. Cloud cover will increase during Thursday night, bringing the temperature down to around 27 degrees while a gentle west wind blows at 5 to 9 mph. [NWS]

Driver in Fatal Burke Crash Pleads Guilty — “A driver pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for a crash that killed a 17-year-old girl in Burke, Virginia, in 2023. He was speeding nearly 90 mph in a 40 mph zone at the time, prosecutors said.” Jose Zelaya could face between one and six years in prison under the plea agreement, but Rebekah Zarco’s family says it’s hard for them to see the outcome “as justice.” [NBC4]

More Reston Parkway Ramp Closures Planned — The southbound Reston Parkway ramp to the eastbound Dulles Toll Road will close overnight from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily through Dec. 20-21. The closures, which began at the start of December, are needed to allow repairs on the parkway’s northbound bridge over the toll road, a project expected to finish in early 2026. [VDOT]

Dems Criticize Park Police Hiring Spree — “Democratic senators are demanding the U.S. Park Police suspend their D.C. recruitment blitz and accuse the Trump administration of ‘hijacking this federal police force for its own authoritarian purposes,’ according to a letter sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Monday morning.” The federal agency has set a goal of doubling its workforce in the District over the next six months. [Washington Post]

Guilty Plea in Pokemon Card Theft — “A California man pleaded guilty Monday in a case in which he was accused of breaking into his friend’s Fairfax County, Virginia, home and stealing more than $50,000 worth of rare Pokémon cards. Mohammad Asif was caught on home surveillance camera in July breaking into a Fair Oaks home where his friend and friend’s girlfriend live, prosecutors said … Minutes before the burglary, the girlfriend was held up with a rifle outside of her workplace in Tysons, police said.” [NBC4]

School Board Nixes Facilities Advisory Group — “Fairfax County’s school board has approved a plan to end the group of volunteer community members responsible for providing feedback on long-term plans for school facilities. The division’s Facilities Planning Advisory Council is scheduled to be disbanded by April 1, after Thursday’s 8-3 vote in support of the move.” [WTOP]

Solar and Wind Energy Bills Revived — “With Democrats in full control of the General Assembly and Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger preparing to take office, lawmakers are reviving familiar proposals they hope will finally earn a governor’s signature. Chief among them are bills aimed at expanding renewable energy use and strengthening Virginia’s clean-energy workforce.” [Virginia Mercury]

Man Charged With Attempted Bank Robbery — A 38-year-old Fairfax resident was arrested after he allegedly tried to rob a bank at Fair Lakes Shopping Center on Monday (Dec. 8). “A man entered the bank and displayed a note to the teller demanding money. No weapon was displayed. The man was asked to leave and he left on foot. No one was injured.” [FCPD]

New CEO for VRE — “Virginia Railway Express will see leadership change hands after a new CEO was appointed. Effective January 20, 2026, Katie Choe was named CEO of VRE, effective Jan. 20, 2026.” Appointed by the Northern Virginia and Potomac Rappahannock transportation commissions last Thursday (Dec. 4), she “replaces former CEO Rich Dalton, who retired in early October.” [Patch]

New Legal Notice — Establishment seeks hotel mixed-beverage, on/off-premises ABC license; objections 30 days. [Public Notices]

It’s Wednesday — Expect rain between 8am and 2pm, with cloudy skies and a high near 45. There will be south winds of 11-14 mph, gusting up to 25 mph, and a 40% chance of precipitation. The night will be mostly cloudy, with lows around 32 and west winds of 10-13 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. [NWS]