• More than 4,000 Arlingtonians lost power along Columbia Pike Monday evening. Dominion crews started restoring electricity after a widespread outage hit Penrose, Arlington Heights, Arlington Village, and Columbia Heights. No cause announced yet. Full details
• A water valve leak in North Arlington disrupted service for 100 customers and detoured traffic. Crews are fixing a 15-inch valve near Old Dominion Drive and Little Falls Road. Water should be restored later today. Read more

• The Justice Department will monitor Fairfax County's August primaries. Federal observers will be on hand as early voting begins July 25, keeping an eye on election procedures. Get the details
• Fairfax County schools only get renovated every 40 years. County leaders are considering allowing a vote for a local sales tax hike to speed up the cycle and tackle a massive backlog of aging buildings. What's on the table

• Virginia Railway Express secured a $25 million federal grant for the L'Enfant Station project. The funding will help expand and modernize the region's busiest commuter rail hub. Project overview
• Fairfax County's housing market is running hot. Home sales and prices jumped in the first half of 2026, with 6,289 properties changing hands and prices up across the board. Market stats
• Noodles & Company is closing its last Loudoun location and shutting down in Herndon. The chain's Village at Leesburg restaurant is already closed. Herndon's is next. Closure details

• MOTW Coffee & Pastries opened its first area shop in Reston. More info
• El Warike Peruvian Restobar opens Wednesday in Sterling. See the menu
• Hakiki German Doner now serves doner kebabs in South Riding. Grand opening
• Cirque Italia's water circus lands at Fair Oaks Mall this week. Showtimes

NoVA is in the thick of summer: power outages and water leaks test patience, but the region's growth engine keeps humming. The housing market sizzles, new restaurants pop up, and election season is already heating up.

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