• A Fairfax teacher's aide pleaded guilty to forcing an autistic boy to eat hot sauce as punishment. The case drew widespread outrage when it first surfaced; the plea deal closes the criminal chapter but leaves plenty of questions about school oversight. Washington Post

• The FBI doubled its reward to $1 million for a suspect in a brutal doughnut shop murder. The case has lingered without an arrest; the seven-figure reward signals federal urgency to break it open. Washington Post

• Fairfax County Police plan to partially encrypt their radio communications, cutting off the public scanner feeds many residents and journalists rely on. The department says encryption improves officer safety and protects victim information. Critics argue it reduces transparency at a time when police accountability matters most. FFXnow

• New bus funding looks likely for Fairfax County, but a proposed Tysons route got cut from the package. The Tysons corridor is one of the densest transit-dependent areas in the region; its exclusion frustrates advocates who have pushed for better connections there for years. FFXnow

• Maryland's attorney general asked a judge to compel ICE to hand over records tied to a crowded detention facility. The legal fight adds to growing regional friction between state governments and federal immigration enforcement. Washington Post

• Fairfax County Police are hunting a man who burglarized multiple Centreville homes while completely naked. No further explanation was offered, which is probably for the best. FFXnow

• A Great Falls boater filed suit over a Potomac River sewage spill, and a new inspection report flagged additional possible leaks in the same system. The lawsuit targets the utility responsible for the original discharge; the new findings suggest the problem is not resolved. FFXnow

• The Reston Crossing redevelopment project is back on the table under a new property owner. The site had stalled for years; the ownership change brings fresh momentum to a corridor that Reston planners have long wanted to see transformed. FFXnow

• Donatos Pizza signed a deal for a new Northern Virginia location. The Ohio-based chain has been quietly expanding in the region; details on the exact address are still forthcoming. The Burn

• Arlington Magazine rounded up seven new restaurants worth trying in and around Arlington. If your dining rotation has gone stale, this is a useful list. Arlington Magazine

• Kung Fu Tea shut its Dulles Landing location. The Burn
• Loudoun's newest Sheetz is taking shape; a new rendering shows the full footprint. The Burn
• Providence Rec Center in Fairfax closes for two weeks of maintenance starting soon. Plan accordingly. FFXnow
• Tysons Corner Center kicks off spring with Easter Bunny appearances and cherry blossom events. FFXnow
• Today hits record-territory warmth before a powerful cold front rolls through Thursday. Enjoy the windows while you can. Washington Post Weather
• A Trump-Epstein "Titanic" statue appeared on the National Mall and is doing exactly what you'd expect: dividing everyone. Washington Post

NoVA is running warm in every sense. The weather is breaking records, the news is strange, and the region is watching federal-local tensions tighten by the day. Buckle up for Thursday's cold front. It's not just meteorological.

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