Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

Inova seeks plasma from people who recovered from COVID-19 for research study

Inova Fairfax Hospital If you’ve had COVID-19 and recovered, Inova Health System wants to study your blood. Actually, what Inova wants is your plasma, the colorless fluid part of blood, which contains immunoglobulins (immune protection), and could be used by researchers working on treatments for patients currently sick with COVID-19we. To qualify for plasma donation, … Continued

Fairfax County schools went digital – with a few glitches

Teachers at Braddock Elementary School in Annandale were ready for online learning. Updated, April 15: FCPS announced “due to ongoing technical issues with the Blackboard 24/7 system, teacher-led instruction is canceled for the remainder of today, April 15. FCPS is working closely with the Blackboard technical team to address these issues. The first day of … Continued

Long list of new laws signed by Northam

Northam Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed dozens of bills into law in recent days, on criminal justice, marijuana decriminalization, voting, energy, Confederate monuments, discrimination, clean energy, workers’ rights, and more. The bills take effect July 1. The General Assembly plans to reconvene on April 22 to consider Northam’s amendments to some of the bills. Northam … Continued

Fairfax County proposes more flexibility for home-based businesses and accessory dwellings

A photo of an illegal accessory dwelling in Arlington published by Greater Greater Washington. (Radcliffe Dacanay licensed under Creative Commons) Fairfax County is proposing to loosen the zoning rules for accessory dwellings and home-based businesses. The changes are part of the Department of Planning and Development’s multiyear effort, known as zMOD, to rewrite the county’s … Continued

Revised school budget reflects impact of COVID-19

A screen shot from a virtual school board work session April 9. From the left: school board chair Karen Corbett Sanders (Mount Vernon), Tamara Derenak Kaufax (Lee), Megan McLaughlin (Braddock), and Superintendent Scott Brabrand. Fairfax County Public Schools will have far less revenue and more expenses than previously anticipated, due to the coronavirus pandemic. As … Continued

Southern Towers tenants call for rent strike

Southern Towers Residents of the Southern Towers apartment complex in Alexandria’s West End are organizing a rent strike. According to a story published by WAMU, many tenants have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic and can’t afford rent and are also concerned about unsanitary conditions in the building’s common areas. A petition circulated … Continued

Historic gun safety legislation enacted in Virginia

Members of Moms Demand Action (right) watch the General Assembly consider gun legislation in January. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed into law several bills passed by the General Assembly aimed at reducing gun violence, including the following: Senate bill 70 (incorporating House bill 2) requires background checks for all firearm sales and transfers, including those … Continued

Virginia repeals overly restrictive abortion rules

Tarina Keane, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice VA, speaks in January in support of legislation to overturn restrictive anti-abortion laws.  Legislation enacted in Virginia, signed by Gov. Ralph Northam April 9, repeal medically unnecessary restrictions on women’s reproductive health. Senate Bill 733 and House Bill 980 eliminate the requirement of an ultrasound and a mandatory … Continued

Real Food for Kids provides free pizzas in Annandale

Pizzas from Pizza Paradaiso. Real Food for Kids, an organization that promotes healthy food for schoolchildren, launched the Chefs Feeding Families initiative last month to provide free meals to children in need and families affected by job losses while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic. This weekend, the program expands to the Annandale area, … Continued

Census jobs available

Census jobs are still available in the Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax areas, even though the U.S. Census Bureau has suspended field operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. 2020 Census field offices are still open and operating with reduced staff. Full and part-time jobs are available. The hourly pay rate ranges from $22.50 to $27.50 an … Continued