Drivers in snow approach a Washington & Old Dominion Trail crossing in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

National Airport Runways Reopen — “Two runways were reopened at Reagan National Airport and a section of the Potomac River was restored Tuesday following a deadly midair collision last month, according to officials … In addition to the reopening of Runways 4/22 and 15/33, the Federal Aviation Administration has increased the hourly arrival rate to 28 aircraft for DCA.” [WTOP]

VHSL to Ban Transgender Female Athletes — “The Virginia High School League (VHSL) has announced that it will comply with the executive order banning transgender athletes assigned male at birth from competing in girls’ sports … This announcement comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin posted on Facebook urging the league to comply” with the order signed by President Donald Trump on Feb. 5. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Bird Flu Spiking in Virginia — “Virginia is facing the worst bird flu spike since the nationwide outbreak started in 2022, USDA data shows … The Commonwealth has the seventh highest number of birds in the U.S. affected by avian influenza, per confirmed reports from Jan. 4 to Feb. 3.” [Axios Richmond]

Carjacking Attempted Near Huntington Metro Station — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau have charged a 30-year-old man with carjacking in Huntington. On February 9, at 10:45 p.m., officers responded to the 5700 block of Metroview Parkway in Huntington for a robbery. The victim reported that a man assaulted him and attempted to take his vehicle.” [FCPD]

Fresh World Supermarket Nears Opening — “The much-anticipated international supermarket at the Mount Vernon Square retail center is officially slated to open the second week of March, said Joshua Kim, property manager of Mount Vernon Square … More details on the grand opening will be forthcoming.” [On the MoVe]

County Offers Free Tax-Prep Resources — “Eligible residents and their families can get free assistance filing their federal and state income taxes at locations around the county through the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.” [Fairfax County Government]

Environmental Improvements Recommended for Mason District — A Greener Mason Advisory Committee convened last April presented a final report at a community meeting on Monday (Feb. 10). “The committee was charged with proposing both long-term and short-term actions for making the environment in Mason District more sustainable, greener, healthier, and more attractive.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — Snow, freezing rain, and sleet are expected, with rain becoming likely after 4pm. The day will be cloudy with a high near 36. Precipitation probability is 70%. For Wednesday night, rain will persist mainly before 4am, with a low around 34 and a 100% chance of precipitation. [NWS]


Countywide

With winter weather currently blanketing the D.C. region, Fairfax County Public Schools has declared tomorrow (Wednesday) a snow day.

All schools and offices will be closed tomorrow, and activities on school grounds have been canceled. Students were dismissed three hours early today (Tuesday) in anticipation of snow starting to fall this afternoon into the evening.


News

Virginia’s attorney general is apparently seeking to revive a Fairfax indecent exposure case against a person who was subsequently charged with allegedly exposing himself in a girls’ locker room at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington.

In a Feb. 11 letter to Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, Attorney General Jason Miyares accused the county’s top prosecutor of undermining public safety after a case charging Richard Kenneth Cox with indecent exposure at a Planet Fitness in Fairfax City was dismissed last summer.


News

Its future remains uncertain, but legislation in Richmond could bring the towns of Herndon, Vienna and Clifton more money to spend on environmental and social-service initiatives.

A bill patroned by Del. Marty Martinez (D-29) would allow Virginia towns to get a portion of the plastic bag tax revenue collected by their surrounding county. After passing the House of Delegates on a 52-45 vote on Jan. 23, the measure advanced from a Senate Committee on Local Government on a party-line tally of 8-7 on Monday (Feb. 10).


Countywide

A new program launched by the Fairfax County Police Department hopes to take advantage of the increasing popularity of Ring doorbells and other at-home security systems.

Connect Fairfax County, announced by the department at the end of January, will allow law enforcement to leverage surveillance cameras to hopefully speed up investigations.


Around Town

An initial calendar for Wolf Trap National Park’s summer season has arrived.

After teasing a couple of shows with early announcements, including “You’re Beautiful” singer James Blunt and a reunion of The Swell Season for fans of the movie “Once,” the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts unveiled a more complete line-up of events that will grace the Filene Center stage once the weather heats up.


A deer crosses a neighborhood street in Vienna treated with brine in preparation for snow (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Franconia Supervisor Announces Opposition to Casino — “During an open house in the Franconia District on Saturday, Supervisor Rodney Lusk (D-Franconia) told attendees he had contacted Speaker of the House Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) to express his opposition to the Tysons casino referendum bill currently making its way through the Virginia General Assembly.” [Patch]

Delegate Sues Over Sexual Assault Allegations — “Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, is hitting back. Months after facing sexual assault allegations that surfaced just days before his congressional primary, Helmer has filed a $15 million defamation lawsuit, claiming the accusations were politically motivated and knowingly false.” [Virginia Mercury]

Elected Officials Address Federal Government Concerns — “Several public officeholders hailing from or representing the Mount Vernon area devoted their presentations at the 38th Annual Mount Vernon Town Meeting to defending constituent groups that have been impacted by current White House policies, and pledged support to protect the affected groups.” [On the MoVe]

Tysons Consultant Pulls Out of Pride Event — “Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) has withdrawn as a sponsor for WorldPride 2025, to be held this spring in D.C. for the first time.” The company said it dropped out of the LGBTQ Pride celebration in response to the Trump administration’s recent executive order threatening to withhold contracts from firms that promote diversity. [Washington Business Journal]

UVA Begins Classes at Merrifield Campus — “Workers are making some final tweaks, but classes have begun at the Fairfax campus of the University of Virginia. The new campus covers two floors in the Inova Center for Personalized Health complex … The campus will hold its grand opening on February 28.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Future of Helicopter Flights at DCA Still Unclear — “As safety restrictions tighten around Reagan National Airport, Arlington’s congressman is pushing to ensure this doesn’t mean more aircraft noise over residential areas … The FAA has stopped almost all helicopter traffic over the Potomac River near DCA, pending the results of an investigation into the crash that killed 67 people.” [ARLnow]

Falls Church Theater Group to Open New Venue — “Creative Cauldron has announced that it will officially open the doors to a brand-new theater in the Broad and Washington Development on February 13, 2025. A ribbon cutting and reception will take place Thursday February 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the new theater [at] 127 East Broad Street.” [Tysons Today]

McLean Community Center Seeks Board Members — “The McLean Community Center is looking for district residents to serve on its Governing Board.” Three adult seats and two youth seats will be open in this year’s election, which will start absentee voting on April 2 and conclude after McLean Day in mid-May. [MCC]

It’s Tuesday — Snow is expected, mainly after 1pm, with a high near 34. Precipitation chances are at 90% with a potential 1-3 inches of new snow. At night, the low will be around 31, and there’s a 100% chance of precipitation with an additional 2-4 inches of snow accumulation possible. [NWS]


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools is joining the growing roster of D.C.-area school systems planning to close early tomorrow (Tuesday) in anticipation of a snowstorm.

All schools and offices will close three hours early tomorrow, and morning and afternoon classes for preschool special education students have been canceled, FCPS announced.


News

The Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants and loans has left early childhood education programs like Higher Horizons in Bailey’s Crossroads facing financial uncertainty, even after a court ruled the funding must resume.

On Friday (Feb. 7), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) met with staff and educators at the nonprofit Head Start provider to discuss the lingering effects of the freeze, which was triggered by a White House directive pausing federal aid while the administration reviewed how the funds align with its policy goals.


Countywide

Fairfax County and other localities across the state may get more time to address state-mandated limits on public accessibility for some criminal records.

Legislation moving toward likely adoption in the Virginia General Assembly will give local governments an additional 12 months — until July 1, 2026 — to implement changes to the current expungement process that had been mandated four years ago.


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