• A 13-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed by a truck near a Fairfax City shopping center Wednesday. First responders reached the 3900 block of Pickett Road around 2:30 p.m., where the child was pronounced dead. It was one of three incidents involving FCPS students on bikes or scooters that day, Superintendent Michelle Reid told FCPS families and staff. The truck and driver were found nearby, and Fairfax City police continue to investigate with help from the county's Crash Reconstruction Unit. FFXnow

• A husband and wife were found dead of gunshot wounds in a Centreville home Wednesday evening. Officers responded to the 6300 block of Sharps Drive around 5:30 p.m. after a family member called 911. Police found a firearm in the house and said there is no threat to the public. The couple's children were home at the time and were not physically harmed. FFXnow

• Two more people were arrested in the Old Town Manassas shooting that killed 16-year-old Ashley. Xavier Wanzer, 19, and Talib Davis, 23, were taken into custody Tuesday night with help from the U.S. Marshals Service. A third man, Tasheem Douglas, 21, was previously charged and fired the shot that killed the bystander during the First Friday festival. WTOP

• Fairfax City voters will decide on a sales tax hike this November, and the school system is holding info sessions. The referendum asks approval for a retail sales tax increase of up to 1% for school and transportation construction. The first meeting runs tonight at Daniels Run Elementary from 7 to 8 p.m., with more scheduled through October. Fairfax City is one of 47 localities that put the measure on the ballot after the General Assembly granted authority. FFXnow

• The Virginia League of Conservation Voters honored Del. Rip Sullivan for his clean energy and data center work. Sullivan, who represents Great Falls and McLean, was one of six General Assembly members recognized for the 2026 session. His push for a study on energy use by high-demand customers was deferred to 2027, but he says the bill "is not dead yet." FFXnow

• Loudoun is asking the public to weigh in on updates to its transit civil rights policy. The county is refining its Title VI Program, which governs nondiscriminatory transit service and public participation. Comments are due by October 14 for consideration in the final 2026 program. Loudoun County

• A Libertarian congressional candidate reposted an antisemitic video depicting Hitler. Shelly Arnoldi, running in Congressional District 8, shared a clip featuring Hitler ranting about "Jewish globalization," then reposted another video defending Nazi book burnings. Jewish leaders and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington have criticized her posts since February. ARLnow

• Arlington County Board candidates clashed on taxes, housing and vacancy at their first debate. Chair Matt de Ferranti called it "a fiscal challenge" and asked voters not to blame the all-Democratic board. Independent David Sisson pressed for stronger action on converting vacant offices to housing, calling the 20% office vacancy rate a long-term problem. ARLnow

• The Burn is pushing back publicly against the owners of Smokin Willy's. After reporting the Purcellville BBQ spot's plans for a new Leesburg location, The Burn says owner Chris Scharrer's wife accused the outlet on social media of getting facts wrong. The outlet published its full email exchange to defend its reporting. The Burn

• Arlington-based AeroVironment beat Wall Street estimates despite posting a quarterly loss. The drone maker reported a $5.1 million loss, or 10 cents per share, with adjusted earnings of 59 cents topping the 22-cent estimate. Revenue hit $480.5 million. Shares are down 42% since the start of the year. WTOP

• Leesburg's first Bricks & Minifigs got its sign, with an October opening in sight. The store, which buys, sells and trades used Lego kits and mini-figures, is going into the Fort Evans Plaza shopping center near Hobby Lobby and Home Depot. It will be one of more than 300 locations nationwide. The Burn

• Pikes Peak Lemonade celebrates its grand opening Saturday in downtown Leesburg with $2 refills and a new "Warm Candied Apple" fall flavor. The Burn
• The 44th Northern Virginia Senior Olympics kick off Sept. 11, with more than 1,000 athletes across roughly 80 events. Arlington Magazine
• ARTECHOUSE D.C. returns Friday after a 16-month pause with "SUBMERGE Project," its largest group show to date. WTOP
• Stevie Wonder brings his "Songs in the Key of Life" 50th anniversary tour to Capital One Arena on Nov. 23. Secret DC
• The Cold War Museum in Warrenton holds a singular collection, from pieces of the Berlin Wall to Kennedy doodles. WTOP

Fairfax parents got the letter no one wants to open: three students hit in a single day and one of them gone. The superintendent's plea to "talk with your children about safety" lands hard in a county where the walk to school keeps colliding with the drive home.

That's the briefing. Hold your people close today. See you tomorrow.

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