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

Health experts call for aggressive actions to halt COVID

Hundreds of scientists and health experts are urging Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to take more aggressive action to stamp out coronavirus. An open letter to Northam calls for the following “low-cost, high-impact actions to zero out COVID-19 in Virginia”: Empower local governments Maximize social distancing Require mask usage Deploy approaches that have worked elsewhere to … 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

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

Dulles Expo Center to be transformed to a medical facility to handle COVID-19 patients

Gov. Ralph Northam tries on a face mask made by a Department of Corrections inmate.  Construction will begin this week on three temporary alternative medical sites to handle the overflow of COVID-19 cases in Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam announced April 6. One of those sites, at the Dulles Expo Center can accommodate 315 acute or … Continued

All Fairfax County parks closing, trails to remain open

Families enjoy a sunny day at Green Spring Gardens March 22.  Updated 6:30 p.m.: The Fairfax County Park Authority is closing all parks, as of midnight, March 24, in order to comply with Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order on closing recreational facilities to slow the spread of coronavirus by requiring social distancing. Park Authority closures … Continued

Northam executive order lists businesseses that must close

Like all restaurants statewide, Super Pollo at Barcroft Plaza, can provide takeout meals only.  An executive order issued by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam March 23 lists the types of businesses that must close and those that can stay open under restricted circumstances. Executive Order 53, aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus, also bans gatherings … Continued

Gov. Northam announces more restrictions in face of COVID-19 emergency

Metro ridership is way down, as WMATA announces more service cuts. [WTOP] Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced more restrictions March 23 aimed at flattening the curve of new coronavirus cases. All schools statewide will remain closed at least through the end of the academic year. Gatherings of 10 people or more are banned. Northam signed … Continued

Lt. Gov. urges bolder state action on coronavirus

Fairfax Virginia is not doing enough to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax charges. Fairfax urges Gov. Ralph Northam to “implement much bolder and swifter measures to flatten the curve and combat this unprecedented health and, consequently, economic threat.” Here are Fairfax’s recommendations: Join Maryland and the District of Columbia … Continued

More coronavirus cases in Northern Virginia, Metro announces cutbacks

The most recent coronavirus cases in Northern Virginia involve a nursing home resident in Falls Church, a female in her 60s in Fairfax County who was exposed during travel in Iran, and a female in her 30s in Fairfax County whose situation is under investigation. A resident of the Kensington, an assisted living and memory … Continued