A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until midnight on Tuesday
(7News) — Wednesday morning commuters in the Fort Hunt area of Fairfax County
will see delays following an overnight water main break
Fairfax County police said both directions of Fort Hunt Road and Croton Drive are closed as crews work to make repairs
SEE ALSO | 'Running the water is really your main line of defense': Frigid temps, protect your pipes
The roads will be shut down for an extended period and officials urged drivers to expect early morning delays
No other details surrounding the water main break were released
Strake Jesuit edged Brother Martin 12-10 on Wednesday
It was a vary hard-hitting game and a bit of a heartbreaker for Brother Martin
They got a try from flanker and their player of the game
and then a clearance kick bounced somewhat awkwardly and wing Caden Flanagan raced in
and outpaced everyone else to make it 10-0
Just before halftime Strake was able to score to make it 10-5
For Brother Martin it was a frustrating game as they got close to the goalline
several times only to be penalized instead of getting the try they hoped for
the day had been a bit trying after a long trip from Houston to New Orleans
The game kicked off earlier than originally planned because a tornado warning was expected for later in the evening
and kicked off in heavy winds and periodic rainstorms
Strake's comeback was paced by senior flanker Bennet Hughes
Patrick Chilman can play almost any position and he needed to be
He started and performed well at fullback but moved around and was effective at all positions
Loose forward Gabriel Esponosa came off the bench and provided a nice spark
He also charged down a clearance kick that led to Strake scoring the game-tying try
"Needless to say it was a very physical match that either team could have won; we have Woodlands next week and then Dallas Jesuit
so we needed quality minutes to get ready for that," said Strake Jesuit Head Coach Jason Kimball
Another midweek game was Fort Hunt facing DeMatha in the DMV
Like the Strake-Brother Martin game this was a "friendly" with somewhat deemphasized seriousness that saw the seriousness ramp up when the players took the field
This was the first game for both teams and Fort Hunt came with on the positive side of the scoresheet
"Teams in our region have been off to a slow start due to snow and field closures," said Fort Hunt Head Coach Dale Roach
whose team squeezed in this game before another snowstorm was due
and organized for as early as it is in the season."
Fort Hunt is set to play Gregory the Great this coming Saturday
The Goff Rugby Report is run by Alex Goff and concentrates on HS and college rugby
See our Re-Print and Re-Post policy
Traffic shift between Windy Run Bridge and Spout Run Parkway will close one southbound lane on March 7 through late 2025
Contact: Erin Barlow
— As part of the next phase of the North Parkway Rehabilitation Project
the National Park Service (NPS) will temporarily close the southbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) between Route 123 and Spout Run Parkway
This is to prepare the work zone for the upcoming traffic shift between Windy Run Bridge and Spout Run Parkway anticipated to begin on March 7
All southbound traffic will be rerouted via Route 123 and Glebe Road to re-enter Spout Run Parkway
✅ Barrier relocation & new work zone setup
✅ Traffic shift to newly constructed northbound lanes (between Windy Run Bridge and Spout Run Parkway)
🔸 Only one southbound lane will remain open between Route 123 and Spout Run Parkway
🔹 Two lanes open during evening rush hour (2:45 – 7:15 p.m.)
🔹 One lane in each direction at all other times
📢 Follow message boards & signs for updates
Check construction updates and sign up for email alerts about traffic changes
Proceed with caution through work zones, watch out for crews and road debris and observe the speed limit. View construction updates and opt-in to receive emails about traffic changes, meetings and major project milestones on the project webpage
Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go
A poster advertising the 2024 Fort Hunt Summer Concert Series
Weekly concerts start at 7:00 PM every Sunday in June
See the full lineup and learn about the bands here: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/forthuntconcerts.htm
Alexandria Living Magazine is your go-to source for exploring the past
At its core, “Frankenstein” is not a pretty story
and new artwork on display in Fort Hunt doesn’t shy away from highlighting the darker
A new exhibit at the Nepenthe Gallery and Frame Shop at 7918 Fort Hunt Road shows off the artwork in a new, illustrated edition of “Frankenstein” from publisher Bond & Grace
Artist Michele Gagliano was brought onto the project after creating an illustrated edition of Dante’s Inferno.
“I didn’t want it to be pretty,” Gagliano said, “I wanted it to be raw and tell the story.”
Gagliano, who is also working on a project at Raphael’s home in Urbino, said she wanted the artwork to feel as tactile as the descriptions in the book.
“I decided with illustrating Frankenstein that I wanted this to be very raw because this story is raw,” Gagliano said. “It’s not pretty … I used rusted metal for the introduction because it’s cold; you think of the rivets and the monster.”
Gagliano said she was also inspired by learning more about Frankenstein author Mary Shelley’s life.
“Her story is as fascinating, if not more, than what she brought to the table with Frankenstein,” she wrote. “The amount of angst and grief and mourning that she went through by the time she wrote this, it’s very impactful and tender.”
Gagliano’s “Frankenstein” work previously went on display at a pop-up in Alexandria before arriving at the Nepenthe Gallery, which features local, national and international artists as well as works from founders Carrie and Jim Holland’s private family art collection.
NCAA Title Hunt Begins Thursday in Fort Worth April 16
Motorists may access Turkey Run Loop Road from the southbound parkway
Contact: Erin Barlow
As March hits its second half we start to see many of the leagues start to get going and some important games in HS rugby
including play-ins for the Boys HS Rugby National Championships
So far the Play-Ins have kind of shown why the BHSNC Committee wanted the game in the first place
New Trier vs Pendleton was decided by two points
Berks vs Aspetuck was decided by one point
That's good for the game that these types of matches happen
Judging from the results so far Fort Hunt might have the edge this year
Both teams have had flashes of good rugby and moments they'd like to have back
although it's tough to tell because their opponents have been so different
this game could potentially be another nailbiter
this game has been moved up to give the winner more time to prepare
that a team losing a play-in isn't necessarily out of it
While The Woodlands has been wading its way through its opposition in Texas
With a couple of players who come from overseas and some more experienced players
explosive backs,” said Head Coach Ryan Marshall
“And we’ve combined that with a very large tight five
Justin Whiripo has looked good at outside center
he brings a bit more game understanding to the threequarter line
has shown ability at flyhalf and at fullback
and he’s been brought into the Houston Sabercats Academy system
His kicking ability and understanding of the flow of the game helps put pressure on the opposition and put teammates into space
He began his rugby journey as a flanker so he tackles well
And behind that imposing tight five is a back row that drives the Katy bus
8 Maui Peters-Alo is a huge presence and very difficult to tackle
Openside flanker Kaikane Napoleon is an athletic presence who can cover the field
Captain and blindside flanker Adam Thomson has the fundamentals down and keeps it all together
Charlotte Cardinals vs Richmond is another matchup of strong teams
Outside observers are very impressed with the Cardinals
More matchups of two highly-regarded teams include Gregory the Great at Berks
Strake looks to be on top of the Texas-Louisiana School league
and will have a nice challenge against Brother Martin and also Jesuit NOLA in New Orleans in a couple of weeks
The Cut Butchery is coming to the Fort Hunt area next month
Mount Vernon-area resident Alex Kilroy wanted to celebrate his birthday by grilling a high-quality steak
but he could not find one nearby that met his gastronomic requirements
That set him on a mission to bring a high-end butchery to the Mount Vernon area
7 with a ribbon cutting in the former Top It Off shop in the Hollin Hall Shopping Center
Kilroy has partnered with some Virginia farmers and vendors and will sell fresh
he has analyzed the area’s demographics and believes his consulting experience has helped him zero in on potential customers’ needs
The Hollin Hall Shopping Center on Fort Hunt Road is a perfect spot
a dynamic that’s different from Old Town and Arlington,” he said
He believes that long-term establishments like the classic Hollin Hall Barber Shop and Village Hardware will help attract eager customers to the butchery
To educate himself and fully understand his trade
he visited 20 butcheries on the East Coast and took a butchering class in Sperryville
He visited farms to learn about cattle’s genetic lines
“It’s important to shake the hand of the farmer and step on his land,” Kilroy contends
Spending time on farms gave him “great respect for what goes into farming and a better understanding of the life cycle of an animal,” he offered
will be able to “round out their meal at this one-stop shop,” he argues
is painting an eight-by-50-foot mural of a Virginia landscape for one wall of the shop
Two of Kirwin’s murals are now displayed in Alexandria
at the Union Street Public House and the Dogs of Del Ray
A large window at The Cut will let passersby observe the shop’s inside activity
The Cut Butchery will be located at 7968 Fort Hunt Rd.
next to River Bend Bistro and Walgreens Pharmacy
Contact: Erin Barlow
Vernon Flea Market - Arts & Crafts Bazaar
(RAIN OR SHINE) INDOOR AND OUTDOOR VENDORS!!
FEATURING Cake Faith Bakery & Grilled delights
Community Event: Many vendors will be selling -- with a variety of antiques and vintage items
from the very impractical (but lovely) to the extremely practical - we have it all
This is a flea market with all the normal flea-market
but will additionally include arts & crafts items
and handcrafted lavender sachets with fine
There will be a good variety of items for sale - come take a look
The Mount Vernon Flea Market features: Antique and vintage wares; used good-quality household items
beautiful plants and Bonsai trees from a local gardener
wreaths & more by Sandy; practicals and impracticals
and so much more…up to 45 vendors will be set up
Georgetown Flea Market and DC Flea vendors will be on hand selling their unique and unusual items
Vendors from the former Mount Vernon Antique Store (Thieves Market)
as well as your neighbors who are downsizing with yard sale items
Come join the community and browse around to find great deals and one-of-a-kind items for sale
The lodge at this address is located on the original land track owned by George Washington
so it's important to take some results with a grain of salt
Doylestown's win over Vienna gets them in the rankings for now
but we need to see consistency from them and we'll see if Vienna adds to their roster or puts that result behind them
Danville's win over the Wolverines is fine in part because it didn't conflict with the rankings
But it's important to remember that this game is a non-league game featuring San Mateo players who are not with St
The club season starts for the Wolverines after St
which is when we're really going to worry about them
While we have touched on a few leagues and contests around the nation
Scores Around the Nation
Thomas of Houston logged their first win of the season with a 51-5 defeat of HCYA
8 Matthew Brolan was forced to step in about 15 minutes into the match and exploded
capping it off with a 65-meter run for his second try of the day
AH Green was very good at flyhalf and scored two tries
Faith Family Academy showed well in a win over Great Hearts
Senior Center Isaac Whittle scored three long-range tries for FFA
The Woodlands … well we haven’t seen much from them
The club is potentially so far ahead of everyone else in the region that no one
They beat their own 2nd side to open the season
but last week’s game was canceled and the next league game seems to be off
Woodlands looks to be playing a non-league day o’ rugby with Strake Jesuit and that’s a good thing
NorCal Single-School Latest: DLS Over Jesuit and More
South Meck Wins NC Final
Key Biscayne is 3-0 now now after a 43-19 win over Tampa
Last week’s win over Okapi White was a head-turner
Okapi White is now 2-1 and Jacksonville has quietly started 2-0
Jacksonville and Okapi White play next week
“They were very good and we had a bad day,” said Fort Hunt Head Coach Dale Roach
“They were very good in the breakdown and had excellent tactical kicking that kept us bottled up all day.”
GGA had beaten Vienna earlier this month 7-3
and Head Coach Garret van Beek said his team had a tough time getting into their offensive flow
and that prevented us from putting the points on the board,” Van Beek told GRR
“We tightened things up for the Fort Hunt match
Fort Hunt was physical and relentless and made us work for everything.”
Also, Marin took the trip north to the Eastside Lions in Washington and that was an entertaining match. Full report here>>
Pendleton visited St. Xavier: Pendleton Opens Account With Win at St. Xavier
AYR Golden Eagle beat the Roswell Rebels 27-14 on a damp day in Atlanta
with hooker Gio Duke earning player-of-the-game honors
He worked hard all day and scored two tries
The club season is in action for a few teams that don’t have players in single-school teams
It’s a way of getting some of the league games in early
This week the Danville Oaks beat Mother Lode 40-5
The Oaks got tries from Nieshan Okour and Kayvon Foreman with a Chris Leibbrandt conversion for a 12-0 lead at halftime
Foreman’s try was a nifty long-range run highlights by a dummy around the cover defense to finish it off
Tommy Ashton scored two in quick succession
one from an eightman pick and one finishing off a well-taken team sequence
Patrick Sullivan powered over and Ryan Vaupen scored the final one
with Leibbrandt ending the day 5-for-6 from the tee
Mother Lode added a try at the end from a scrum center where they executed nicely
A solid showing from Danville who look ahead to a busy March
Things were fairly predictable this week with Brother Martin beat East Jefferson 65-14 and New Orleans Jesuit beating St
Brother Martin is slated to visit Tennessee for a quick tour
Pius X resulted in a forfeit win for Jesuit
We are now officially into the league schedule for Arizona
Desert Legion won 63-10 over Red Mountain in what Head Coach Chris Gray called a fairly complete performance
the competitive balance in Arizona has changed markedly this year and that’s a good thing
and Desert Legion all in with a chance to win on any weekend
The lead changed multiple times in this match and it took a try in the final minute for Phoenix to break a 31-31 tie and win it
Alex Markley scored two really nice tries for Scottsdale on the day but Phoenix pulled it out Flyhalf Max Cauley was outstanding
Center Robby Perry was good on attack and on defense
He was strong in contact but also had a good sidestep
His third try of the game was the game-winner
Head Coach Rob Speers praised his forwards
8 and hooker Quintin Russo also had high work rates
Next up in league action is Phoenix vs Tempe on Saturday
The school season in SoCal Youth Rugby is split between exclusively single-school and then teams that might have players from other schools in their lineup
They are not really school teams and not really clubs
and as such you won’t find their names in the GRR rankings
there’s plenty of ability there … and competitive balance
Oceanside is looking good at 5-0 and Murrieta is now 4-1
The playoffs for this league wraps up February 28
Fort Hunt Man Revived Elaborate Christmas Display — “Christmas displays that inspire awe take effort. But arguably none put up this year took as much effort as the one that [Bill] Vaughan has spent nearly four years working on while recovering from a devastating injury that occurred the last time he tried to put up his display.” [Washington Post]
Woman Injured in Newington Crash — Fairfax County police officers responded around noon on Tuesday (Dec. 24) to “a single vehicle crash on Pohick Road near Havenbrook Way in Newington. The driver, an adult female, was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.” Pohick Road was closed for a couple of hours while detectives investigated. [FCPD/Twitter]
Annandale to Get New Cafe — “A coffee and sandwich shop, called Coffee & Bread, is expected to open in Annandale in January. The standalone building, at 7109 Columbia Pike, has been empty since December 2023 when Tobacco Luxe closed.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Thursday — The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, having a high close to 42 degrees and calm wind conditions. By Thursday night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low near 29 degrees and a continued calm breeze. [NWS]
Vernon Masonic Lodge Flea Market - Arts & Crafts Fair - unusual items for sale
Great Community Event with something for everyone
Vendors and crafters are set up both inside and outside
handsewn gift items available for purchase
Many vendors will be selling -- with a variety of antiques and vintage items
from the very impractical (but lovely) to the extremely practical - they have it all
There will on certain dates be a Mount Vernon-area beekeeper
with jars of delicious honey and beeswax products; a visiting artisan with fantastic hand-made pottery; beautifully hand-sewn multi-color tote bags
as well as handcrafted lavender sachets with fine
figures); and original art work and hand-crafted items of many kinds
You can browse to see these and other handmade items
while enjoying the controlled temperature of the lodge building
Refreshments are available for purchase inside and outside the lodge
FEATURING: Cake Faith Bakery - offering scrumptious baked goods to take home or eat on site -what a treat!
Delicious lemon or vanilla Pound Cake and Madeleines
There will be fine and interesting antique and vintage items
There will be a great variety of items for sale -- come take a look
Schedule for 2024: This event takes place every third Saturday of the month from March- December (bonus holiday market in December)
https://patch.com/virginia/mountvernon/calendar/event/20241019/6e7a11a2-d97e-4d89-9566-c290f58d1a76/mount-vernon-masonic-lodge-fall-flea-market-arts-crafts-fair
(7News) — A man is dead after a pedestrian-vehicle hit-and-run crash that closed a portion of southbound lanes on Route 1 in Fairfax County Thursday morning
according to Fairfax County police officials
The incident happened at Route 1 and Woodlawn Trail in Fort Hunt
was declared dead at the scene when officers arrived
according to Fairfax County police at around 7:10 a.m
MORE | INTERACTIVE TRAFFIC MAP
The driver fled the scene before police arrived
All southbound lanes are closed in the area with vehicles being diverted to Belvoir Drive as police investigate
A 75,000 square foot expansion will bring National Hockey League sized ice rinks and much more
After two and a half years of a massive renovation
the 42-year old Fairfax County Mount Vernon Rec Center will reopen to the public in June
The facility has undergone a transformative 75,000 square-foot expansion
The expansion was paid for with voter-approved Park Bonds in 2008
Fairfax County Park Authority looks forward to welcoming the community back to Mount Vernon Rec Center
The renovated facility features some exciting additions:
Read more about the project here.
Traffic shift between Route 123 and Windy Run Bridge will close one southbound lane on January 31 through 2025
Contact: Christopher Hershey
Vendor will be selling handcrafted lavender sachets with fine
Other vendors will bring original art work and hand-crafted items of many kinds
FEATURING: Cake Faith - scrumptious handcrafted sandwiches
and baked goods to take home or eat on site -what a treat!
We hope to see you there - and have a cup of cheer
2025 Schedule: Every THIRD Saturday of the month from March-November
with holiday markets first two Saturdays in December 2025
Hunting is an important wildlife management tool that we recognize as a healthy
Hunting can instill a unique understanding and appreciate of wildlife
trapping and fishing do not pose a threat to wildlife populations
and in some instances are necessary for sound wildlife management
deer populations will often grow too large for the Refuge habitat to support
Hunting programs can promote understanding and appreciation of natural resources and their management on lands and waters in the Refuge System
State hunting regulations, seasons, shooting hours, bag limits, and license requirements apply to all hunting on the Refuge. Additional refuge-specific regulations may be found in the Fort Niobrara NWR Hunting and Fishing Brochure.
Hunting is allowed on Refuge lands located North and West of the Niobrara River (approximately 5,100 acres)
The Niobrara River is not open for hunting
Hunting is prohibited within 200 yards of any public use facility
The following species are open for hunting on the Refuge (see additional species-specific regulations below): badger
Hunters must park in designated parking areas
Gates opened to enter the hunting area from designated access points must be closed immediately after passing through
Access to the Refuge from private property is prohibited
Hunters may access the Refuge 2 hours before legal sunrise until 2 hours after legal sunset
and float tubes capable of carrying no more than four people on the Niobrara River below Cornell Dam
All public entry is prohibited upstream of Cornell Dam
All River users must purchase a wristband at the kiosk located at the Refuge launch area as indicated on the map
Only state-permitted archery and muzzleloader weapons can be used to take elk
The use of centerfire or rimfire rifles is prohibited
Portable tree stands and ground blinds can be used from August 16 through January 31
or other items that penetrate the outer bark of a tree are prohibited
Tree marking/flagging and the use of trail cameras is prohibited
Game carts or any other mechanized device used for retrieving game or transportation are prohibited in the Wilderness Area portion of the Refuge that is open for hunting
State-permitted shotguns shooting non-toxic shot
and muzzleloader weapons can be used for badger
Possession of toxic shot in the field is prohibited
To find out more about hunting opportunities, seasons and regulations on Fort Niobrara NWR
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people
Close to 50 games are on the slate in HS rugby this weekend
One key note is that North Caroline's school-league final has been moved to Sunday due to weather
"We've had a great week of practice," said South Meck Head Coach Rick Norvell
"I rate the practice and often use the phrase 'championship teams have to have championship practices.' The board have embraced that despite the cold."
Bad weather in North Carolina have led to mistakes in training
but that's OK as they have to get used to these conditions
"The rain hasn't helped but the boys have been dialed-in," said Charlotte Catholic Head Coach Jason Zehmke
We are really looking forward to being a part of the big dance."
The weather is warming and a few more HS Clubs are in action
We saw Elsie Allen beat Granite Bay and we had those two teams ranked very close anyway
Raptor gets a boost after a good win over a ranked AYR Golden Eagles team
Florida and Arizona will probably see someone break out very soon
This coming weekend Scottsdale plays Phoenix
Gregory the Great (single-school team) plays Fort Hunt
Xavier (single-school team) plays Pendleton
St John's (single-school team) plays Richmond
and the San Mateo Wolverines play Granite Bay
and we've got a full slate in Florida and Texas
This is a good time to talk about younger players—freshmen and sophomores—as well as players in the middle of their college search
signing up for your Next Phase Rugby premium membership
which is worth it to get all the rugby-related resources for your college search
Go to NextPhaseRugby.com>>
Today’s promised warning shot of snow has begun to fall in Fairfax County
The National Weather Service has issued at “Snow Squall Warning” for parts of the county after one was spotted at 3:27 p.m
A snow squall is defined as an intense but quick “period of moderate to heavy snowfall
gusty surface winds and possibly lightning,” according to the NWS
“Intense bursts of heavy snow,” the alert said
“Gusty winds leading to blowing snow and visibility rapidly falling to less than one-quarter mile
West Springfield and the I-395 and I-495 interchange in Springfield
the squall had moved over Fort Hunt at a speed of 35 mph
The warning is scheduled to expire at 4:30 p.m.
particularly for those hitting the road for the afternoon rush-hour
“Reduce speed and turn on headlights
the visibility may suddenly drop to near zero in whiteout conditions,” the NWS said
“Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes your location.”
With freezing temperatures potentially continuing into the early morning, Fairfax County Public Schools has canceled all activities on school grounds tonight through 9 a.m
Even more snow is expected to come this weekend. The Capital Weather Gang is currently forecasting four to eight inches to fall Sunday night into Monday (Jan
* Snow Squall Warning for… The south central District of Columbia… West central Prince Georges County in central Maryland… The southeastern City of Fairfax in northern Virginia… East central Fairfax County in northern Virginia… The southern City of Alexandria in northern Virginia…
a dangerous snow squall was located over Lincolnia
Gusty winds leading to blowing snow and visibility rapidly falling to less than one-quarter mile
IMPACT…Dangerous and life-threatening travel conditions are expected to develop rapidly in the warning area
This includes Interstate 95 in Maryland between mile markers 1 and 3
Locations impacted include… Alexandria
the visibility may suddenly drop to near zero in whiteout conditions
Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes your location
Rapid changes in visibility and slick road conditions may lead to accidents
Almost seven years after his death, federal officials have determined that the two U.S. Park Police officers who pursued and shot McLean resident Bijan Ghaisar complied with department policies
The officers’ decision to draw their guns and fire at Ghaisar after they brought his vehicle to a stop at the Alexandria Avenue and Fort Hunt Road intersection in Fort Hunt was also reasonable
according to the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of the Interior (DOI)
“The preponderance of the evidence showed the officers reasonably believed that Ghaisar posed an imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm to [Amaya] based on the facts and circumstances confronting them at the time
which is the standard permitting the use of deadly force under the USPP’s use of force policy,” the report said
The Park Police policies in place at the time of the shooting generally give officers “broad — though not unbounded — discretion” in how they carry out their duties
including when conducting vehicle pursuits
Amaya did violate the agency’s firearms policy when he hit the driver’s window on Ghaisar’s SUV during an attempted stop
Use of a gun as an “impact weapon” is banned except “to protect an officer or another person from death or serious injury when no other reasonable means of protection is available.”
Amaya and Vinyard fired a total of 10 shots within 25 seconds
Five of the shots hit Ghaisar — four in the head and one in the wrist — and he died at a hospital on Nov
In interviews with the inspector general’s office
Amaya and Vinyard said they believed Ghaisar might have been impaired by drugs or a medical condition based on his driving
but they never shared their suspicions with anyone else involved in the pursuit
A toxicology screening conducted after Ghaisar’s death tested positive for marijuana but not any other substances
Police found marijuana and a glass pipe in his SUV
and at least one FCPD officer who responded after the shooting reported “a strong smell of marijuana.”
For months, most details about the incident were gleaned from in-car video footage shared in January 2018 by the Fairfax County Police Department
which assisted with the pursuit but didn’t have any officers firing shots
Amaya and Vinyard weren’t identified as the officers who shot at Ghaisar until March 2019, and the information emerged only after Ghaisar’s family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the U.S
government and individual Park Police officers
The U.S. agreed in April 2023 to settle the wrongful death lawsuit for $5 million — money that the family said would go to their nonprofit Bijan Ghaisar Foundation to address police brutality and help victims of gun violence
objected to the inspector general’s conclusions
arguing that the officers shouldn’t have pursued her son
She also questioned the timing of its release so close to the seventh anniversary of the fatal shooting
lawyers for Amaya and Vinyard welcomed the report’s findings
but it’s unclear what it will mean for their future with the Park Police
The officers sued the Interior Department in July over an “unreasonable delay” in its determination of whether their employment would be terminated
They had both been on paid administrative leave since the shooting
The Interior Department declined to comment on the inspector general report
including on its implications for the officers’ employment status
Elected officials call for policies to improve investigations
In a joint statement
Don Beyer (D-8) called Ghaisar’s death “a great tragedy” that never should’ve occurred
despite the finding that it didn’t violate Park Police policies
Park Police policy at the time of Bijan’s killing was outdated and inconsistent with the goal of safeguarding lives,” they said
“This report … underscores that these officers’ actions would not have been acceptable under the DOI guidelines that govern vehicular pursuits today.”
The Park Police updated its vehicular pursuit policy on June 8
2018 to restrict pursuits to individuals wanted for or suspected of a felony “involving violence or the threat of violence to another person,” and to individuals who’ve committed a felony and are known to be in possession of a gun
As confirmed in the inspector general report
Ghaisar was unarmed when he was shot and killed
“As we approach the seven-year anniversary of Bijan’s death
we will continue to urge DOI to put policies in place to ensure that investigations around use of force incidents are handled with greater urgency and transparency,” the senators and Beyer said
Ghaiser’s family dedicated a library to him inside the Iranian American Community Center in Tysons on Sept
which would’ve been his 32nd birthday
This work, U.S. Army Veterans Hunt on Ft. Bliss, by SSG Wheeler Brunschmid, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright
This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks
The action you just performed triggered the security solution
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked
Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page
Fort Worth will soon have a new congressman
Voters in Texas’ 12th Congressional District will decide between Republican Craig Goldman and Democrat Trey Hunt as their next U.S
to represent western Tarrant County and most of Parker County
Goldman is a six-term Texas House member
while Hunt is a My Health My Resources of Tarrant County homeless housing coordinator who previously ran against Granger in 2022
The 2024 election marks the first open race for the seat since Granger’s election in 1996. She has served nearly three decades in Congress
President Donald Trump won the 12th Congressional District by 18 percentage points
“Flipping Texas’ 12th District blue in 2024 is possible, but we need a winning strategy,” Hunt said in a September Facebook post
Goldman has leaned into his record in the Texas Legislature
where he has been a top lieutenant to Speaker Dade Phelan
look at my record and look at what I’ve done
I’ve been able to do it at the Texas Legislature
I’m certainly going to do it as a member of the U.S
and I’d be honored to have your vote,” Goldman said during a primary election victory party May 28
Goldman has focused on securing the U.S.-Mexico border. The federal government under President Joe Biden has not paid attention to the border, leading the Legislature to approve $5 billion for border security in 2023
The Fort Worth Republican has said the issue will be his top priority in Washington
according to finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission
This article first appeared on Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons license
Northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway traffic to be detoured between Spout Run Parkway and Route 123 the weekends of July 26 and August 2 for rehabilitation project
Contact: Christopher Hershey
— The National Park Service (NPS) will temporarily close the northbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) between Spout Run Parkway and Route 123
This is to install drainage systems and conduct other required rehabilitation work
If it rains or there is some other bad weather
The Alexandria-area home is on the market for $60 million
a 20% increase from its purchase price in 2021
Former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder is trying to sell his record-setting property in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County
Snyder bought the River View property, 7979 E. Boulevard Drive, in 2021 for $48 million. He has since sold the Washington Commanders football team following a series of management controversies. Now, he's trying to sell the home for $60 million, a 20% increase from just three years ago, Axios reported
The home is on 16.5 acres along the Potomac River is just southwest of River Farm, the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society. See photos of the home here
home theater and a variety of smart home features
Earlier this year, Snyder had difficulty selling another large house in Potomac, Maryland. He eventually cut the price and then donated it to the American Cancer Society
northbound traffic will be detoured between Spout Run Parkway and Route 123 from 8 p.m
Contact: Christopher Hershey
Vienna defeated Fort Hunt in a game that likely secured a place at HS Nationals for the winner
Fort Hunt started the game kicking deep into the Vienna 22
but Vienna answered with some good ball-handling and running the ball back
but a tackle into touch from Fort Hunt fullback Miguel Lopez—who was a Vienna youth player and played for Vienna's HS team through last year
Vienna kept on the pressure and after regaining possession flanker Luke Jarvis charged back into the Fort Hunt end
Once again Lopez swooped in to make a key tackle
Finally a 40-meter line break by lock Martin Keller got Vienna back on the front foot
Quick ball led to a grubber through and hooker Sawyer Behind raced in to gather the ball and pass to Jarvis
Fort Hunt pressured and forced a penalty that resulted in Vienna No
but the shorthanded Vienna held firm on defense and flyhalf Ryan Vagoun was able to kick clear
More chances came for Vienna but they continued to make little errors at key moments
Taking a lineout 10 meters from the Vienna line
Fort Hunt flanker Carter Brown took the weak side off the back of the ensuing maul and was in at the corner to tie the game
With Fort Hunt challenging Vienna at the contact area
neither team could shift the scoreboard as halftime approached
it was Vienna kicking and Fort Hunt running it back
Good defense by Tanner Hall and Matthew Vojta helped win the ball back for Vienna
And it was a counter-ruck from Vojta and a tackle by lock Martin Keller that allowed Vojta to scoop up a look ball and take off downfield
who was tackled just short of the tryline but he popped the ball up to center Oscar Espanol
Another line break and long run by Vienna Keller looked like a potential try
Under pressure Fort Hunt defended doggedly and were patient enough to wait for their moment
The result was the Warriors almost getting over for a try of their own
only to be pushed into touch one meter from the tryline
Vienna's ill-advised tap off the top in the lineout went over their scrumhalf Charlie Gilbert's head and was touched down by Vienna
Once again Vienna got out of it and were able to kick clear and chase
Vienna was able to get the ball back with Vagoun setting up Vojta for a 40-meter gallop for the try
With the conversion it was now a two-score game
They almost added to that when Espanol nabbed a shanked Vienna kick with no one in front of him
Fort Hunt kept coming and scored late and converted to finish the scoring 19-12
Keller was Vienna's forward of the game while Vojta was their top back
making several key defensive plays at fullback
Vienna garners an invitation to the Boys HS National Championships
Ramp closing for work related to the George Washington Memorial Parkway Rehabilitation Project
Contact: Christopher Hershey
Owners of a nearby office building propose constructing a restaurant at the busy intersection right before the Beltway on-ramp
A new restaurant building may be coming to Alexandria along Route 1 near the Beltway
At the June 7 Fairfax County Board of Supervisor’s meeting
members of the board voted to approve site modifications to build a new 6,000 square foot retail building on land located at the intersection of Richmond Highway and Fort Hunt Road
The new building will likely be used for a restaurant
The 4.67 acre site is owned by Huntwood L.L.C
and an 8-story office building is currently located on the site adjacent to the proposed restaurant
According to the application
“this new building will feature an outdoor dining area and an outdoor plaza area that will connect the existing office building with the proposed retail building
The existing surface parking and drive aisles between the retail building and the office building will be reconfigured.” The building will be constructed with glass
metal paneling and other quality materials and will be no more than 25 feet high
There will also be extensive landscaping of the site and pedestrian improvements
Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck explained why he approved the project in an email he sent out to constituents last week
“After many discussions with the community
I moved this project forward as it is consistent with our Richmond Highway redevelopment and revitalization efforts
supports the property owner and brings new dining options to the area,” Storck said
Storck acknowledged that many residents in the area are concerned whether the new restaurant will impact the already-congested traffic at that intersection
particularly when making a right from Fort Hunt Road to Richmond Highway
he moved that the Board of Supervisors direct Fairfax County Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Transportation to come up with short-term and long-term solutions to congestion at the intersection
A short-term solution could be the installation of flexi-post bollards on Richmond Highway to help prevent merge issues at the 1-495 ramp
A construction timeline and tenant for the new restaurant building have not been announced
Contact: Mark Maloy
Online: You can submit comments online or view additional information at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/GWMP_South
The public meeting recording will be posted at this site for you to review if you are not able to attend the live session
Please be aware that the entire comment submitted – including personal identifying information such as address
and email address – may be made publicly available
Requests to withhold such personal identifying information from public release will be considered
but there is no guarantee that they will be withheld
Contact: Christopher Hershey
Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go.