Escalating costs have convinced an advisory board that Fairfax County should scale back its ambitions for funding transportation projects with special taxes collected from Reston property owners.
The Reston Transportation Service District Advisory Board voted at its Sept. 16 meeting to recommend taking three intersection improvement projects out of consideration for funding from the service district:
Fairfax County’s October home-sales market had its best showing since July, with total sales volume up 10% month over month and 12.8% year over year.
A total of 1,027 residential properties went to closing in October, according to figures reported Nov. 11 by Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service. That’s up 6.6% from 963 sales in October 2024.
Trump Nominee Opposes Dulles Mobile Lounges — Former White House personnel office deputy director Trent Morse wants Dulles International Airport to eliminate its people movers, “saying the passenger-transport shuttles that drew headlines this week for a crash that sent 18 people to the hospital are slow, outdated and dangerous.” Morse’s nomination to the MWAA board is being considered by the Senate Commerce Committee in Congress. [Washington Post]
Man Charged With Threatening CIA Head — “A man armed with a box cutter who is accused of threatening to kill CIA Director John Ratcliffe was stopped on Nov. 5 by police as he tried to enter the agency’s headquarters in McLean, according to court documents.” The man was charged the following day with making threats against a federal official and was denied bond on Monday (Nov. 10). [Patch]
North Shore Drive Residents Frustrated by Crashes — “A drive along North Shore Drive in Reston shows one damaged car after another. Car parts and other debris line the side of the roadway. Fairfax County police say that in the past two years, 31 accidents and an additional 15 hit-and-runs have been reported along the well-traveled stretch.” [FOX5]
Virginia Introduces Digital IDs — “Virginians can now use a digital version of their driver’s license at the DMV, TSA, some ABC stores and a handful of police departments … Virginia is the first state in the nation where a digital ID will be accepted in lieu of a physical ID in multiple places, Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles announced this week.” [Axios Richmond]
Community College Students Walk Out — “Dozens of students staged a walkout at Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale campus Nov. 12 to protest NOVA’s plan to convert the Humanities Building into HR and administrative offices … Students suspect NOVA’s goal is to cut costs by moving more courses online,” though NOVA President Anne Kress says the college has “no desire to displace classrooms.” [Annandale Today]
New Candidate for Potential Braddock School Board Race — “Annandale resident Alexa Krezel has announced plans to run for the Braddock District seat on the Fairfax County School Board, assuming current school board member Rachna Sizemore Heizer wins the special election for Braddock supervisor on Dec. 9.” Krezel and previously declared candidate Tom Dannan are both seeking an endorsement from the Fairfax County Democratic Committee. [Annandale Today]
Potomac River Cleanup Progress Stalls — “It’s not fishable or swimmable yet, but according to the Potomac Conservancy, the Potomac River earned a grade of ‘B’ for the fifth year in a row.” While the river’s water quality has come a long way from the “D” it earned in 2011, officials identified “development that results in the loss of forest land” as one hurdle keeping the region from achieving an “A” rating. [WTOP]
Wellness Expo Returns to Vienna — The Vienna Business Association’s “Wellness Wonderland” expo will return for a third year this Saturday (Nov. 15) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. The event will include a resource fair with 50 health, wellness and fitness exhibitors as well as presentations by experts, including a keynote address by author and chef Amy Riolo. [Press release]
It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of around 58 degrees and a west wind of 6 to 9 mph. For Friday night, the weather will be mostly cloudy with a low of approximately 43 degrees, accompanied by calm wind conditions. [NWS]
Though the peak season for chilly treats has passed, Meadows Frozen Custard still intends to open its new Reston location by the end of 2025.
After initially aiming for an early summer launch, the frozen custard shop is now eyeing early December to officially open its doors at 11130 South Lakes Drive in the South Lakes Village Center.
Two people were injured in a major house fire in the Wolf Trap area this morning (Thursday) amid a warning of elevated fire danger for Northern Virginia.
Firefighters were dispatched to the 1900 block of Hunter Mill Road around 10:13 a.m. for the fire at a single-family home. Upon arriving, responders observed “a large volume of fire,” per scanner traffic, and smoke from the blaze could reportedly be seen from Tysons.
It’s nearly that time of the year: Folks are ready to give back as the holidays approach. Even with the federal government shutdown ending after a final House vote last night (Wednesday), families need assistance more than ever in Northern Virginia.
Local organizations and Fairfax County supervisors alike are collaborating on ways to provide meals, cooking essentials and more during this tough season.
While acknowledging a request for more funding is on the horizon, the chair of Fairfax County’s School Board says she is eager to avoid a repeat of budget clashes earlier this year between her body and the Board of Supervisors.
Springfield District School Board member Sandy Anderson, who rotated in as chair over the summer, said Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) leaders need to be realistic about the current state of fiscal affairs, and considerate of the choices supervisors will need to make next spring.
Federal Government Shutdown Ends — “The House passed a bill Wednesday to end the nation’s longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families,” including their pets. [Associated Press/ARLnow]
Economic Challenges Await New Governor — “The strains resulting from federal cuts to the social safety net will likely be the biggest challenge facing the new Democratic leadership in Richmond. After Democrats’ resounding wins on Election Night last week, what to do about it will fall to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.” [WAMU]
Fairfax City Affordable Housing Plan Unveiled — “Many City of Fairfax residents said they had faced affordable housing challenges over the previous year, according to a new Affordable Housing Strategic Plan presented to the Fairfax City Council last Tuesday.” Nearly half of all renters and 13% of homeowners reported experiencing affordability challenges over the past year. [Patch]
Utility Work to Close West Springfield Road — “Taft Drive (Route 4167) between Rolling Road (Route 638) and Smithfield Avenue (Route 4147) will be closed from 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, to 4 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, for water main tie-in work as part of the Rolling Road widening project … Drivers are asked to follow posted detour signs.” [VDOT]
Kingstowne Condiment Maker Files for Bankruptcy — “Alexandria condiment company True Made Foods Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it faces a lawsuit filed by snack food manufacturer and distribution partner PIM Brands Inc.” True Made, whose products can be found in many area grocery stores, says the lawsuit over a 2020 distribution contract is “baseless,” but “the legal costs are too high” for the company to continue fighting it. [Washington Business Journal]
Annandale Fashion Boutique Closed — “Thauma, the Korean fashion boutique at 7224 Columbia Pike in Annandale, closed at the end of October, and the property is available for lease. Thauma owner Yoon Lee is focusing on her small shop, K Fashion, at the food court inside the K Market grocery store on John Marr Drive.” [Annandale Today]
Meet WaPo’s New Food Critic — Elazar Sontag, formerly the restaurant editor for Bon Appétit, introduced himself this week as the Washington Post’s new food critic, taking over a position held for 25 years by Tom Sietsema. Among Sontag’s first meals for his new gig was an “over-order of such hilarious proportions at Mama Chang in Fairfax, that my next five breakfasts were all lion’s head meatballs and glossy seafood-rice stew.” [Washington Post]
Veteran Oversees Reston Hospital Heart Surgeries — “Twenty miles outside the nation’s capital, Reston Hospital Center is developing a world-class cardiac surgery program with a decorated Army veteran at the helm. 7News Anchor Victoria Sanchez spoke with Dr. William Cooper about how his decades of military service and clinical work will help reshape Northern Virginia.” [WJLA]
New Legal Notice — Salt + Light Hair Co. seeks ABC Marketplace license for a Fair Lakes location; objections due within 30 days. [Public Notices]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 56°F. Northwest winds will blow at 7 to 14 mph, and may gust up to 26 mph. In the evening, the sky will be mostly clear, and the temperature will drop to around 35°F. A gentle west wind at approximately 6 mph is expected. [NWS]
By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — When Jim Sanborn was commissioned to create a sculpture at CIA headquarters, he wanted to do something that spoke to its world of spies and secret codes.
The Herndon Police Department is lobbying local lawmakers to allow the installation of red light cameras across the town.
“We want to make sure that we’re staying up with technology and we’re leveraging technology to work for us, because we want to be self-sufficient as a police department,” Herndon Police Chief Steven Pihonak told the town council last week (Nov. 5).
