• Fairfax County police received warnings about the Hybla Valley stabbing suspect before the killing happened. Investigators say it was "not a question of if" the man would become violent. The revelation raises hard questions about what FCPD did with those warnings. FFXnow has the details

• A fire at a homeless encampment shut down the South George Mason Drive bridge in Arlington Thursday. The closure snarled traffic and spotlighted the ongoing challenge of encampments near the bridge corridor. ARLnow covered the closure

• Virginia's Supreme Court cleared the redistricting referendum, and early voting starts today. The amendment would overhaul how Virginia draws its legislative maps. If you care about who draws your district lines, this one matters. FFXnow explains what's on the ballot

• The Virginia Senate killed a bill that would have allowed by-right multifamily development in commercial zones. The defeat is a setback for housing advocates pushing to streamline apartment construction near retail corridors across the state. ARLnow reports on the vote

• Loudoun's school board wants to talk about expanding school resource officers but won't put money behind it yet. The board voted to open discussions with the sheriff's office rather than commit funding. Loudoun Now has the breakdown

• Loudoun County's $4.3 billion capital project plan moves to the full Board of Supervisors. The plan covers schools, roads, and public facilities over the coming years. The full board now decides what gets built and what gets cut. Loudoun Now reports

• The General Assembly is weighing changes to data center tax policy, and Loudoun County is watching nervously. Data centers drive a massive share of Loudoun's tax base. Any shift in how the state taxes them ripples directly into county budgets. Loudoun Now breaks it down

• A bounty hunter who flashed a fake ICE warrant lost his license but walked away without jail time. The case drew attention during a period of heightened anxiety about immigration enforcement in Northern Virginia. No prison time for presenting fraudulent federal documents. ARLnow has the ruling

• The Potomac River sewage spill advisory is partially lifted, but Chain Bridge area remains under warning. Swimmers and boaters near Chain Bridge should still stay out. The rest of the affected stretch has been cleared. ARLnow has the update

• Arlington firefighters are pushing back hard against proposed cuts to rescue units. The firefighter union says the cuts compromise public safety response times. County budget writers say they're looking for savings. This fight is not over. ARLnow reports on the backlash

• Fairfax City lost a federal grant for a sidewalk project, and the timing stings. The rejection lands as federal infrastructure funding grows increasingly uncertain. The city will need to find another path forward or drop the project. FFXnow covers the rejection

• Fairfax County approved loans to keep two affordable housing projects alive after federal funding dried up. The county is stepping in where HUD money used to flow. Both projects were at risk of stalling without the local bridge financing. FFXnow reports on the vote

• A Fair Oaks-area office building gets rezoned for apartments. The vote converts underused commercial space into residential units, part of a broader regional push to squeeze housing out of aging office stock. FFXnow covers the rezoning

• Oracle wants more parking at its Reston campus. The tech giant filed plans to add a surface lot. In a county that keeps pushing transit-oriented development, the ask runs against the grain. FFXnow has the story

• A Mediterranean restaurant with a bar is coming to the Capital One Center in Tysons. No name announced yet, but the space continues to fill out as a dining destination. FFXnow has the first look

• Pizzeria Paradiso opens at Water Park in Crystal City this spring. ARLnow
• Brazilian-Lebanese fusion restaurant Tio Pelé is coming to Langston Blvd in Arlington. ARLnow
• Arlington's senior population grew nearly 50% in ten years, reshaping demand for county services. ARLnow
• Silver Diner's "Mama D" retires after 26 years at the Arlington location. A genuine institution. ARLnow
• Loudoun County leaders raised concerns about a George Washington University property sale. Loudoun Now
• Early voting on Virginia's redistricting amendment starts today. Find your early voting site before the weekend. Loudoun Now

NoVA is doing a lot of patching this week: patching budgets where federal money used to be, patching public safety gaps, patching the question of who actually keeps residents safe. The weekend can't come soon enough.

Have a good one. Stay sharp out there.

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