Store Closings, Police Shooting, Dog Poisoning Attempt: Top VA News

VIRGINIA — From the return of Virginia Task Force 1 after its work finding people trapped in the ruins after Turkey's earthquake to a support for a controversial AP African American Studies course, we're taking a look back at the top stories in Northern Virginia in the last week.

Top news stories in Northern Virginia included a fatal police shooting of an alleged sunglasses thief; another threat at a school where 6-year-old reportedly shot a teacher; a rally in support of "missing middle" zoning changes; an attempted dog poisoning by a neighbor; a toll road is set to eliminate the cash payment option; a longtime state delegate plans to retire; closing sales are set for a discount home goods retailer; and a Realtor's tips for the Northern Virginia real estate market.

Police Fatally Shoot DC Man Suspected Of Stealing Sunglasses At Tysons

A Washington, D.C., man accused of stealing a pair of designer sunglasses from Nordstrom at Tysons Corner Center Wednesday night was shot and killed in a wooded area near the shopping mall, police said Thursday.

5th-Grader Threatens Same VA School Where Boy, 6, Shot Teacher: Report

A fifth-grade student at the Newport News school where police say a 6-year-old boy shot his teacher last month told other students in a group text last weekend they planned to “pop some bullets” and “tell someone to shoot up the class," according to an ABC News report.

• Prosecutor Reviewing Case Of Boy, 6, Accused Of Shooting VA Teacher

Attempted Dog Poisoning In Del Ray Draws Call For Prosecution

An attempted dog poisoning in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood drew a call for prosecuting the suspect.

Pro-Missing Middle Housing Groups To Hold Rally In Arlington

Community groups are holding a rally at Arlington’s Courthouse Plaza Saturday afternoon in support of the county adopting zoning changes that would allow multifamily housing units in areas currently zoned for single-family homes.

Dulles Toll Road Electronic-Only Tolling Begins In March

Cash payments will no longer be an option on the Dulles Toll Road in March, the toll road operator Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced.

Student Left Package With Bomb Threat On Teacher's Desk: Police

A student left a bomb threat and a package on a teacher's desk at Potomac High School on Thursday, the Prince William County Police Department said.

Calling VA, DC Home: More People Moved In Than Out For 2022

The trend of families moving to lower-density areas because of a career change, retirement and family ties continued in 2022, with both Virginia and the District of Columbia luring more people to the area than those who moved out, according to a report from a major moving company.

7 VA Cities Ranked Safest Places To Live In U.S.

Two Northern Virginia cities earned a place among the most safe among the largest 200 major cities in the United States in 2022, according to research by SmartAsset.

Dos and Don'ts Of Buying A Home: NoVA Realtor Shares Mistakes To Avoid

According to real estate experts, more homes will be hitting the Northern Virginia market this spring than at the same time in 2022. There were more active listings of homes available for sale in January — an increase of 41.5 percent — compared to January 2022, according to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.

• Loudoun Real Estate Market Sees Record Low Sales: Realtors Report

VA Search And Rescue Team Returns Home After Turkey Earthquake

Members of Virginia Task Force 1, a Fairfax County-based search and rescue team, returned home this week after spending days searching for survivors in the rubble of earthquake-devastated buildings in Turkey.

Tuesday Morning Store Closings Could Affect 12 In Virginia

The discount home goods retailer Tuesday Morning Corp., which has 18 stores in Virginia, plans to close some of them after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month.

As Weapons Screening Considered In Alexandria Schools, Survey Opens

As a pilot program on weapon screening through metal detectors is considered at Alexandria City Public Schools, a public survey opened Friday.

Driver In Stolen Vehicle Dies In Capital Beltway Express Lanes Crash

A driver in a stolen car was killed in a Capital Beltway Express Lanes crash in Fairfax County early Friday, according to Virginia State Police.

Real Estate Assessment Increases 6.97% For Fairfax County Homeowners

More than 357,000 Fairfax County homeowners can expect to find an average increase of 6.97 percent in their updated real estate assessments for 2023. This means that the average assessment for homes countywide is $719,522, which is up from the $672,639 in 2022.

Housing, Workforce Among Top Priorities In Arlington's Budget Proposal

Arlington's homeowners can expect to pay about $454 more in annual property taxes and fees under a fiscal year 2024 county budget proposal, released Saturday, totaling $1.54 billion.

Overall Property Value Increases Less Than Last Year In Falls Church

City of Falls Church property values continue to increase overall, although the increase wasn't as significant as the previous year. But one type of property saw a higher increase.

Amid Youngkin Review, FCPS Reps Support AP African American Course

As several Fairfax County high schools plan to pilot an AP African American Studies course, some Fairfax County School Board members asked Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration not to block the course.

Carjacking Charges Levied Against 15-Year-Old Herndon Girl: DC Police

A 15-year-old girl from Herndon was arrested Sunday in connection with a pair of carjacking incidents and a stabbing that occurred over the weekend in Washington, D.C., according to a police release.

Police Find Unsecured Guns, Narcotics In Apartment With 4 Children

A Woodbridge woman was arrested Saturday after authorities found unsecured guns and illegal narcotics in an apartment with four children, the Prince William County Police Department said.

Reston Democrat Ken Plum Will Not Seek Re-Election In November

Democrat Ken Plum, who has represented Reston in the Virginia House of Delegates since 1982, will not be standing for re-election in November. Plum is the longest-serving member of the House of Delegates, serving a total of 44 sessions.