Fairfax County plans to make its co-responder model pairing police with mental health crisis specialists for certain 911 calls permanent.
The county began developing the program last year with a micropilot that was extended with $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The proposed fiscal year 2023 budget includes more than $2.1 million to retain 17 behavioral health specialists and nine police positions approved in January as part of the fiscal year 2022 mid-year review.
Herndon Police officers are investigating a report of an assault, the department tweeted this morning (Thursday).
Police are in the 1100 block of Dublin Place and said the suspect is in custody. The status of the victim is not known.
Spokeswoman Lisa Herndon said around 9:15 a.m. the incident was still unfolding and the department will share more details once they become available for release.
INCIDENT ALERT: Officers are in the 1100-block of Dublin Pl investigating a report of an assault. The suspect is in custody and status of the victim is unknown at this time. Updates as available. #HerndonPD pic.twitter.com/JY4xtzAiaN
Man Charged With Assault on Police Officer — “Yesterday, Michael Vaughn, 34, was charged with five felonies and two misdemeanor charges stemming from the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Feb. 15 in 8300 block of Fitt Court in Lorton. He remains held at the Adult Detention Center without bond.” [FCPD/Twitter]
FCPS to End Virtual Learning This Year — With vaccines now available for school-age children, Fairfax County Public Schools will discontinue a limited virtual program for students with medical concerns due to the pandemic. At-home instruction will only be for students with significant health risks that prevent them from attending school in-person after this academic year. [FCPS]
Vienna Approves Police Body Cameras — “Vienna Town Council members on Feb. 28 unanimously agreed to allow the police department to use $223,732 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to implement the camera program.” [Sun Gazette]
Shake Shack Sets Sights on Smithsonian — Construction is underway on a new Shake Shack that will replace the McDonald’s at the the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. The burger chain is also adding a location at the Mosaic District in Merrifield. [The Burn]
Assaults Up, Drug Offenses Down in Mason Police District — “The assaults, including domestic violence, have mostly taken place in residences, which [Commander Capt. Sean] Adcock suspects could be due to stress caused by the Covid pandemic. The decrease in drug arrests is possibly due to the legalization of small amounts of marijuana.” [Annandale Today]
Private Foundation to Operate Historic Hall — “The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Great Falls Grange Foundation will ratify an agreement, which permits the Great Falls Grange Foundation to operate and maintain the historic property. The Grange will serve as a community meeting place, a potential location for classes and planned activities, and a venue for public and private special events.” [FCPA]
Transportation Group to Talk Route 7 Bus Project Tonight — The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) will discuss a timeline and financing for the Envision Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit project at its meeting tonight (Thursday). The planned bus service will run from Tysons to Mark Center in Alexandria, with stops at Seven Corners, Falls Church, and the East Falls Church Metro station. [ALXnow]
Community Outreach on Reston Comprehensive Plan Begins — “My office and Task Force members are beginning the first phase of community outreach of the Task Force’s interim recommendations on the 14 areas of the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study…Input by the county agencies is expected by spring/early summer and community outreach will continue through the summer.” [Supervisor Walter Alcorn]
It’s Thursday — The forecast indicates that it’ll be mostly sunny today, with a high temperature near 51 degrees and a low around 25. Wind gusts could reach 22 miles per hour during the day. The sun will rise at 6:37 a.m. and set at 6:04 p.m. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County’s Police Civilian Review Panel approved its annual report Monday (Feb. 28) and hosted its new executive director for his first meeting in the role.
Appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 22, Richardson is the first executive director for the panel, which was established in 2016 to review completed investigations of complaints alleging police abuse of authority or serious misconduct.
The long-delayed 11.4-mile Silver Line extension to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County will not open until this summer.
Last month, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) maintained that trains would run this spring, but at a Tuesday meeting with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, transportation officials said they anticipate a summer 2022 opening.
A highly contagious virus spread among birds has been detected in Virginia, but there is no evidence yet that it has reached Fairfax County.
There have been five confirmed cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Virginia this year, four in wild birds and one in a domestic flock in Fauquier County, U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows.
Job vacancies at the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, which provides mental health, substance use and developmental disability services, have more than doubled since January 2021.
The CSB reported last week that the 193 vacancies have led it to consolidate two programs in recent months: a partial hospitalization program and New Generations, a treatment program for mothers and pregnant women. In January 2021, there were 91 vacancies.
Walgreens in Reston has officially closed its doors.
The business, located at 2260A Hunters Woods Plaza, had its last day of business on Monday (Feb. 28), a company representative told FFXnow.
“As we continue to execute our strategy to expand Walgreens role as a leader in the delivery of healthcare, we are focused on creating the right network of stores in the right locations to best meet the needs of the communities we serve,” spokesperson Kris Lathan said. “There are a number of factors that we take into consideration when opening and closing locations, including dynamics of the local market and changing buying habits of our customers.”
Expanded DMV Service Starts Today — “The Virginia DMV will offer both appointments and walk-in service Monday through Friday at all 75 locations starting Wednesday, March 2, Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller said in a news release. Walk-in service will still be an option at some offices on Saturdays.” [WTOP]
Local Students Learn About Russia-Ukraine Conflict — A political science and current affairs class at Langley High School has turned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine into a central topic of discussion. Teacher David Kuhn says his students, some of whom have lived in Russia, have shared “perspectives…beyond what their [years] would indicate.” [WUSA9]
Worker Rescued from Tree in Chantilly — For the second time in as many weeks, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units helped free a person caught in a tree. A worker stuck 20-30 feet up a tree in the 4300 block of Warner Lane was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries yesterday afternoon (Tuesday). [FCFRD/Twitter]
McLean Community Center Encourages Masks — “Per current metrics, Fairfax County’s COVID-19 Community Level is low, and masks are now optional in county facilities. While masks are no longer required, MCC highly recommends that patrons continue to use masks while in its facilities to protect those too young or unable to be vaccinated in our communities.” [MCC]
Reston Condo Fire Displaces One — The condominium fire in the 1400 block of Northgate Square that ended in a cat’s death displaced one resident and caused an estimated $93,750 in property damages. Investigators say the fire started accidentally in a bedroom when “unattended incenses” burned “too close to ordinary combustibles.” [FCFRD]
Reston Tech Company Lands Millions in Funding — “GridPoint, a building energy management and optimization technology that decarbonizes commercial buildings, announced Tuesday that it has closed a $75 million investment round. Goldman Sachs Asset Management led the round, with Shell Ventures, another veteran investor in GridPoint, also participating.” [Commercial Observer]
Reston Association Election Begins — “Voting is now open for members of Reston Association to cast their ballots for the 2022 Board of Directors’ election. Ballots are due by April 1 at 5 PM. Members of RA, both property owners & renters can cast their vote in the election.” [RA/Twitter]
Public Meeting on McLean Central Park Tonight — The Fairfax County Park Authority will present a revised development concept for the park by Dolley Madison Library with a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. An initial concept included an amphitheater and dog park but drew some skepticism from community groups. [Patch]
It’s Wednesday — Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 61 and a low around 44. Sunrise will be at 6:38 a.m. and sunset at 6:03 p.m. [Weather.gov]
A federal judge’s ruling that recent changes to the admissions process for Fairfax County Public Schools’ prestigious magnet school were discriminatory has inspired both praise and condemnation.
As first reported by The Washington Post, U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton issued an opinion on Friday (Feb. 25) finding that the elimination of a standardized test and other alterations to how students are admitted into Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) were made “to the detriment of Asian-Americans.”
Another building is slated to go up as part of Dulles Station, a 63-acre, mixed-use project near the Innovation Center Metro Station.
Developer DSVO Dulles is seeking Fairfax County’s approval to build a 510-unit, 525,000-square-foot apartment building with ground-floor retail, according to a Feb. 22 application submitted to the county.
The Herndon Town Council is considering its first pay increase in nearly 15 years.
If the proposal is approved, the next town council would see its annual pay switch from $4,000 per council member to $10,000 and change from $6,000 to $12,000 for mayor.
Town spokesperson Anne Curtis told FFXnow that the current town council authorized exploration of the pay increase.
“A review of the council pay policy was requested by the town council as one of their strategic initiatives,” Curtis said.
Reminder: Old Metro Cards Stop Working Today — “SmarTrip cards purchased before 2012 are no longer compatible with new, faster, modern faregates already installed in many stations. In an announcement more than 10 months ago, Metro advised customers that the old cards would need to be replaced as stations are equipped with new faregates.” [WMATA]
County Circuit Court Ends Mask Requirement — Fairfax County Circuit Court Chief Judge Penny Azcarate announced yesterday (Monday) that masks will be optional to enter the Courthouse effective immediately in accordance with the county’s new policy. Rules in courtrooms “are at the discretion of the presiding judge.” [Circuit Court]
Masks Now Optional on School Buses — Fairfax County Public Schools confirmed that its shift to a mask-optional policy starting today (Tuesday) includes school buses and vans. FCPS will also stop contact tracing for individual COVID-19 cases, but a livestreaming option is still available to students who have to isolate. [FCPS]
No Injuries Reported in Wolf Trap House Fire — Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 1500 block of Snughill Court around 8:45 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 26). Investigators determined that the fire was started by improperly discarded ashes from a fire pit. It displaced five people and caused approximately $187,500 in damages. [FCFRD]
Fear of Reston Golf Course Development Persists — “A recent proposal to establish a pilot program to remove invasive plant species around Reston National Golf Course is seen by some as a first step to garner support for redeveloping the land.” [Patch]
Historic McLean Estate to Be Conserved — “An 8-acre Civil War-era McLean property known as Elmwood recently became the 129th conservation easement for the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT)…Elmwood most recently was the home of the late television journalist Roger Mudd, whose family lived in the house for nearly half a century.” [Sun Gazette]
Reston Blogger Digs into History of Maryland Pizza Hut — Addison Del Mastro, who writes a Substack newsletter about urbanism and land use, noticed some unusual architectural features on a Pizza Hut in Landover. His investigation found that it started life in the 1970s as a franchise in a now-defunct chain called English’s Chick’n Steak House. [The Washington Post]
It’s Tuesday — Today will be mostly cloudy, then gradually become sunny, with a high near 58 and a low around 40. Sunrise will be at 6:39 a.m. and sunset at 6:01 p.m. [weather.gov]
For the first time since early August, face masks are no longer required for staff or visitors inside most Fairfax County facilities.
County Executive Bryan Hill shared the news in an email to all local government workers yesterday (Sunday) after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced new metrics for measuring community COVID-19 transmission levels on Friday (Feb. 25).
The opening of Pupatella, a Neapolitan pizzeria, in 2020 marked the end of an era for McTacoHut, the name Restonians had for a block of fast food outlets on Wiehle Avenue with Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and McDonald’s.
More changes could be on the horizon, as Taco Bell proposes to rebuild its current location at 11257 Roger Bacon Drive with a more modern restaurant with an additional drive-thru lane.
