• Amazon bought GWU's Ashburn campus. George Washington University quietly sold its Northern Virginia campus in Ashburn to Amazon Data Services — no surprise given the county's data center appetite, but still a notable land grab. The buyer was undisclosed at first; Loudoun Now confirmed it was Amazon, and the Washington Post has the fuller picture. GWU gets cash; Loudoun gets more servers.

• Wintry mix made yesterday a mess. A wintry mix hit the region Monday afternoon, prompting a Special Weather Statement for Arlington and snow-related commute warnings across Loudoun. FCPS started two hours late Tuesday. Roads were slick enough to cause real harm — see Safety below.

• FCPS approved a new bus plan — but not everyone's on it. The newly adopted transportation plan leaves out some elementary and middle schoolers, raising questions about equity and logistics. FFXnow has the details on who gets left at the curb.

• Arlington is moving to ban gas-powered leaf blowers. After a phaseout period, the county is poised to prohibit gas leaf blowers entirely. Landscapers will need to adapt; neighbors near weekend lawn crews will not be complaining. ARLnow has the breakdown.

• Fairfax City budget proposal: up 4.5%. The city manager is asking for a 4.5% spending increase to cover school needs, debt service, and staff costs. FFXnow has the proposal — budget season is officially underway.

• Loudoun energy bills head to the governor. Legislation from Delegates Reid and Singh on energy policy cleared the General Assembly and is now on the governor's desk. Loudoun Now has the rundown.

• Loudoun FY2027 budget public comment: housing and school resource officers dominated. Residents showed up with strong feelings on both fronts at the public hearing. Loudoun Now has the highlights.

• Two injured in a Route 29 crash as snow fell. A multi-vehicle crash on Route 29 in Fairfax County sent two people to the hospital Monday as the wintry mix was coming down. FFXnow was on the scene.

• Pedestrian killed in Annandale BMW crash. A pedestrian has died from injuries sustained in a crash involving a BMW on an Annandale road. FFXnow has the report. Details remain limited.

• Loudoun parks staff party flagged for purchase violations. County Parks Department staff are under scrutiny after an internal review cited improper purchases tied to a staff party. Loudoun Now broke the story. Not exactly a scandal, but not a great look.

• Loudoun wants $600 to release 2025 crime stats. A FOIA request for last year's crime statistics from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office came back with a $600 price tag attached. Loudoun Now's FOIA Files column has the story. Transparency, but make it expensive.

• Arlington median sign ban draws a lawsuit threat. A County Board candidate is threatening to sue over a proposal that would ban political signs in road medians. First Amendment arguments incoming. ARLnow has the dispute.

• Waymo in Arlington: dreaming or planning? ARLnow digs into what it would actually take to bring Waymo robotaxis to Arlington — infrastructure, regulation, political will. Worth a read if you've ever missed your Uber surge.

• That Reston JW Marriott sign is still too bright. Comstock is being urged to dim the mistakenly permitted sign on the Reston JW Marriott further. Neighbors aren't done complaining, and honestly, fair enough. FFXnow has the latest.

• Bagel wars come to Ballston. Bagel Uprising is planning a May opening in Ballston, putting it in direct friendly competition with Call Your Mother. ARLnow has the carb-forward details. NoVA bagel discourse is about to intensify.

• Merrifield office site becomes apartments. Construction is underway on a residential project on a former office site in Merrifield — another data point in the office-to-residential conversion trend. FFXnow has the update.

• A Richmond restaurant concept is coming to Arlington. A Richmond-based restaurant and bar is expanding north into Arlington. ARLnow has the name and concept.

• Sweetgreen closes in Crystal City after a decade. The salad chain has shuttered its Crystal City location after 10 years. ARLnow has the goodbye. Amazon HQ2 foot traffic, apparently, was not enough.

• Yorktown High's swim and dive team won the state championship for the fourth consecutive year. ARLnow has the celebration.
• A Yorktown High grad is appearing on Jeopardy! today (Wednesday, March 4). Set your DVR.
• Fairfax County students swept the statewide aviation art competition — again. FFXnow has the winners.
• An Anytime Fitness in the Twinbrooke Shopping Center is closing due to a landlord dispute. FFXnow has the details.

NoVA is shaking off a slick Monday and stepping into a week that feels heavier than the weather: a pedestrian is dead, Amazon just swallowed another piece of Loudoun, and budget season is officially open in multiple jurisdictions. The region is busy, a little tense, and very much awake.

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