• A loud blast rattled Leesburg Friday night, and investigators are still working to explain it. Residents reported a bright flash alongside the blast. No injuries were confirmed, but the incident drew significant attention across Loudoun County. WTOP report

• D.C.'s cherry blossoms hit Stage 4 of 6 over the weekend. Peduncle elongation is underway, meaning peak bloom is close. NoVA residents planning a trip to the Tidal Basin should watch conditions closely this week. Washington Post tracker

• Virginia lawmakers are sketching out how the state budget should absorb potential federal health care funding cuts. The proposals reflect real anxiety in Richmond about Medicaid exposure and what a federal pullback would mean for the state's most vulnerable residents. WTOP via Virginia Mercury

• Manassas City Council is asking residents whether Manassas Regional Airport should get a new name. The council opened a community input process Sunday. Some names have been floated publicly. WTOP report

• A man wanted on multiple felonies led Fairfax County police on a car chase, then sprayed officers with bear spray after the pursuit ended. Officers from the Mount Vernon District Station arrested him. The incident unfolded Friday in the southern part of the county. Fairfax County Police statement and WTOP report

• Temperatures drop sharply today before a midweek warmup arrives. Pack a layer this morning. Washington Post weather
• D.C.'s Taco Bell 50K ultra marathon is back for 2026 and already accepting registrations. Yes, it's real. Yes, people run it. Secret DC

Monday feels unsettled: a mystery explosion still unexplained in Loudoun, a bear spray arrest in Fairfax, and a cold snap hitting just as spring was starting to feel real. NoVA is awake, if a little on edge.

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