• Two dead in Annandale after domestic incident. Fairfax County Police are investigating a deadly domestic situation that left two people dead early Thursday morning. Details remain limited, but authorities say there is no ongoing threat to the public. Full story
• Early voting surges ahead of redistricting referendum. Northern Virginians are turning out in larger numbers as early voting ramps up for a major redistricting referendum that could reshape local political maps. More details

• Secret donors flood key congressional races. Millions of dollars from undisclosed sources are pouring into local elections that could decide control of Congress. Watchdogs warn about the lack of transparency. Read more
• Prince William supervisors threaten $31M cut to schools. The county Board of Supervisors is considering slashing $31 million from the public schools' budget, reigniting a battle with education leaders over funding priorities. Get the details
• FCPS workers' union demands restoration of budget cuts. Fairfax County Public Schools employees rallied for the return of pay and staffing levels negotiated last year but never funded by county supervisors. Union's push

• Pilots' animal noises in cockpit draw FAA scrutiny. A viral audio clip of pilots making animal sounds over Arlington has the FAA listening in and reviewing cockpit communication protocols. More on the story

• Cinder Bed Road Bikeway critics protest at Franconia center opening. Opponents of the bikeway rallied at the Franconia Governmental Center dedication, arguing the project harms the environment. See what happened
• Fairfax City school board debates costly renovations. Board members are wary of adding tens of millions to planned upgrades for Daniels Run and Providence Elementary schools, citing sticker shock and budget constraints. Board's concerns

• Columbia Pike gets a major underground overhaul. Arlington officials say extensive utility work is underway to modernize Columbia Pike's infrastructure, aiming to reduce outages and future-proof the corridor. Project update
• Loudoun homeowners can explore solar options with Solarize Virginia. The county is again partnering with Solarize Virginia to help residents learn about and install solar panels at reduced rates. Program info

• Paris Baguette opens softly today at Reston Town Center. More
• Record heat hits Fairfax, with highs in the 90s and a "moderate heat risk." Forecast
• Life-size Lego Star Wars event lands at Seven Corners. Event details
• Loudoun voters: Six things to know about Tuesday's special election. Guide
• Huge used book sale coming just outside DC next week, with books from $1. Sale info

NoVA is running hot, literally and politically. Tempers and temperatures are both climbing, with budget fights, ballot battles, and a dose of weirdness keeping everyone on their toes.

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