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J&J Vaccine Pause, Traffic Stop Involving Army Officer | Top News

Top VA, DC news includes school renamings, guilty plea over fake stimulus checks, and pre-2012 Metro cards to be phased out.

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Use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is paused in Virginia until a CDC and FDA investigation into rare blood clot cases is completed.
Use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is paused in Virginia until a CDC and FDA investigation into rare blood clot cases is completed. (Rachel Nunes/Patch)

Patch has 32 sites in communities in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Here are some of the top posts from the past week related to the new coronavirus and other topics.

Army Officer's Lawyer Seeks Funds For Suit Against VA Town Police

A law firm representing U.S. Army officer Caron Nazario, who can be seen in a video as he was pulled over and threatened by two police officers in Windsor, Virginia, has created a GoFundMe page to pay for the lieutenant's legal fees.

Finalists Picked To Replace George Mason HS, TJ Elementary School

The Falls Church City School Board on Tuesday narrowed down the list of names for George Mason High School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary. The school board voted in December to rename the two schools.

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Wakefield High Community Seeks Apology From Marshall High School

Members of the Wakefield High School community are pushing for more accountability and action in the wake of a March 5 football game where players on George C. Marshall High School's football team allegedly used racial slurs against Wakefield players.

Fake COVID-19 Checks Worth Thousands Created By Reston Man

Jonathan Drew, 38, of Reston pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, as part of a plot to create counterfeit COVID-19 stimulus checks, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release. He also admitted to trying to execute a series of fraudulent financial transactions.

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Slain Capitol Police Officer Lies In Honor In Capitol Rotunda

Capitol Police Officer William "Billy" Evans, who was killed in an attack outside the Capitol earlier this month, became the sixth private citizen to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

Pre-2012 SmarTrip Cards To Be Phased Out By Metro

Metro SmarTrip cards made before 2012 look very similar to the newer cards, but soon the older cards won't be usable on the DC transit system.

Ashburn Boy To Distribute Toiletry Kits To Needy Across DC Area

An Ashburn boy who distributed much-needed protective equipment to medical workers in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is now planning to help other people in need in the Washington, D.C., area on Global Youth Service Day.

Local COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

Self-Scheduling COVID-19 Vaccinations Starts Sunday In Virginia

When Virginia opens up COVID-19 vaccinations for all adults 16 and older on Sunday, people looking to book an appointment will encounter a different scheduling process, according to a Virginia Department of Health spokeswoman.

Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus Vaccine Use Paused In Virginia

As the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday due to blood clot concerns, Gov. Ralph Northam said Virginia will temporarily pause use.

Virginia Waiting For Confirmation If Woman Died After J&J Vaccine

A woman who died in mid-March shortly after getting a Johnson & Johnson vaccination may have resided in Virginia, according to reports.

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