Key Republican leaders have Fairfax County in their sights over a proposal that would introduce instruction on gender identity at an elementary school level.
Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and a close ally of Donald Trump, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) shared a video of a parent who said they didn’t want to send their child to Fairfax County Public Schools as a result of the possible change.
Construction is underway to redevelop the longstanding Kohl’s store in Herndon.
The exterior walls of the building, located at 2100 Centreville Road, now feature gaping holes, as construction crews work to accommodate three new tenants in the space.
By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Monday that he hoped to bolster Virginia’s rainy-day fund by $300 million in light of economic uncertainty surrounding the White House’s overhaul of federal jobs and its impact on the state’s workforce.
The steady stream of visitors who descended on Great Falls Park this past weekend likely noticed little amiss, as they enjoyed a hike, picnic and scenic views of the Potomac River on a balmy spring day.
But the couple dozen protestors who lined a path near the McLean park’s visitor center on Saturday (March 22) fear that may soon change, if the Trump administration’s plans to terminate hundreds of federal workers and open up more public lands for resource extraction move forward.
A dish inspired by one gathering among friends will now be served in schools across Fairfax County.
With a “Creamy Dream” gnocchi soup complemented by sides of whole wheat garlic soup dippers and a Zesty Sunshine Salad, four students from Herndon High School won the competitive lunch category at the 13th annual Culinary Challenge, held this year at Hayfield Secondary School (7630 Telegraph Road) on March 8.
Where to See Cherry Blossoms in D.C. Area — “D.C.’s most famous cherry trees along the Tidal Basin are approaching peak bloom, and you can see beautiful cherry blossoms throughout D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia.” Fairfax County options include Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Wolf Trap and the Van Gogh Bridge at Lake Anne in Reston. [NBC4]
Foul Play Not Suspected in Prosecutor’s Death — “Jessica D. Aber, the former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia who died at age 43, had long suffered from a serious medical condition, and police have told those close to her that they do not suspect foul play, two family friends told The Washington Post.” [Washington Post]
Youngkin Vetoes Minimum Wage, Gun Bills — “Monday was Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s deadline to take action on the roughly 900 bills that Virginia’s legislature approved to send his way. Monday afternoon saw over 300 signatures and a handful of vetoes,” including of legislation that would’ve raised the state’s minimum wage and banned assault weapons in public spaces. [Virginia Mercury]
Fairfax County Hires New I.T. Director — “Matt Harrison has been appointed director of the Department of Information Technology (DIT), effective Monday, April 21. Harrison will succeed Greg Scott, who is retiring after decades of service to Fairfax County.” He most recently led the IT department at Stafford County. [Fairfax County]
Staff Move into New Seven Corners Fire Station — “The Fort Buffalo Fire Station has finally been completed. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department posted a short video on Facebook on March 20 showing staff moving in. A grand opening is expected to be scheduled in May.” [Annandale Today]
Forthcoming Restaurant Offers Food Truck Preview — “Flavor Hive, the restaurant coming to a former Wells Fargo building in Annandale, is under construction, but it’s already ‘open.’ Flavor Hive food trucks parked on the site are attracting long lines of customers drawn by the company’s huge social media presence and its signature dish – the ‘walking taco chips bag.'” [Annandale Today]
Recently Opened Clothing Store Reports Steady Business — “Mayor Catherine Read joined local business leaders for a ribbon cutting ceremony on [March 20] to welcome the new J.Crew Factory store to Fairfax City Mall … Since its opening on Feb. 13, the J. Crew Factory store at 9650-42 Main St. has already seen a steady influx of customers, according to store director Helen Hajibadri.” [Patch]
Nearby: New State Park Could Be Established in Loudoun — “After initial efforts to have the home of President James Monroe turned into a state park hit resistance in the Senate, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday morning announced he would include funding to support the park through a budget amendment.” [Loudoun Now]
It’s Tuesday — Clouds will increase throughout the day, reaching a high of around 61 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind blowing at 7 to 11 mph. On Tuesday night, there is a 50% chance of rain before 2 am, followed by mostly cloudy conditions and a low temperature of around 41 degrees. The west wind will be around 7 mph. [NWS]
Founder’s Day is out, Celebrate Reston! is in.
The annual festival honoring Reston founder Robert E. Simon’s birthday will return to Lake Anne Plaza on April 5 from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. under a new name that organizers believe more clearly conveys the event’s “spirit of enjoyment and celebration,” Reston Museum Executive Director Lisa Watts says.
With the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival getting started last week, multiple Fairfax County restaurants are getting in on D.C.’s fun.
Some eateries across the county are offering special dishes, drinks and more, while others are offering celebratory discounts.
Community members will now get their first chance to weigh in on dozens of pitches submitted to Fairfax County earlier this year for potential future developments.
The county will host a series of community meetings over the next month so the developers can share information about their proposals with the public, who can then ask questions and provide feedback.
Man Charged After Firing Gun Outside CIA HQ — “A man who authorities say fired a handgun repeatedly at CIA headquarters on Wednesday morning in an hours-long barricade situation has been charged with a single federal firearms count, court records show.” The 28-year-old man allegedly “fired ‘several rounds’ at the facility before turning the gun on himself.” [Washington Post]
Former U.S. Attorney Found Dead in Alexandria — “Jessica D. Aber, who served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has died at 43, officials say. Alexandria police responded to a call about an unresponsive woman in the 900 block of Beverley Drive in Alexandria around 9:18 a.m. on Saturday (March 22). They found Aber dead at the scene.” [ALXnow]
Fairfax Station House Fire Under Investigation — Fairfax County firefighters responded to a house fire Saturday (March 22) afternoon in the 7100 block of Laketree Drive. “Crews immediately went to work to extinguish the fire and conduct searches. All occupants safely evacuated. No firefighter or civilian injuries. Fire investigators are on scene working to determine the cause of the fire.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department/Facebook]
Restaurant Advocacy Group Warns of Potential Closures — “The D.C. area’s restaurant community is warning of closures as economic pressures and federal actions raise fears of less spending and higher costs … An RAMW survey released this week found that 44% of ‘full-service casual restaurants’ in the region say they are ‘somewhat likely’ or ‘very likely’ to close this year.” [ARLnow]
County Cheers Newly Naturalized Citizens — “The Office of Elections cheered on new citizens at the USCIS naturalization ceremony held at the Government Center on Thursday. With the help of the League of Women Voters, staff assisted all 75 new citizens in registering to vote and even several citizens in the audience.” [Fairfax County Office of Elections/X]
Google Expands Reston Station Footprint — “Google continues to grow at Comstock’s Reston Station, expanding into another floor in the mixed-use development’s signature trophy office” at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza. “Google will now occupy more than 168,000 square feet in the tower, the [Comstock] spokesperson said.” [Washington Business Journal]
Richmond Highway Sign Company Closes — “A longtime family-owned business on Richmond Highway closed at the end of January, according to a recent media advisory from the Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce. FASTSIGNS of Alexandria was acquired by Howard Newman in 1991, and his son Kirby joined him in the business eight years later.” [On the MoVe]
Forever 21 to Shutter U.S. Stores — “The current plan is for Forever 21 stores to hold liquidation sales, and the website will continue to run while operations wind down. There are currently six Northern Virginia store locations, including Arlington, Fairfax, Leesburg, Springfield, Woodbridge, and the Dulles Town Center.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Monday — Showers mainly before 8am, followed by cloudy skies clearing to become mostly sunny with a high near 66. There is a 60% chance of precipitation, with new amounts potentially reaching less than a tenth of an inch. At night, anticipate increasing clouds and a low around 43. [NWS]
