COVID Cases In Decline, Gun Outside School Incident | Top News

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

LGBTQ+ Group Decries Efforts To Ban 2 Books From School Libraries

A group representing more than 425 LGBTQIA students from over 30 schools sent a letter Thursday to the Fairfax County School Board calling on its members to reject the effort by some parents to remove two books from school libraries.

Delta Wave Peaks In Virginia With COVID-19 Cases In Decline: VDH

The number of COVID-19 cases in Virginia has entered a sustained period of decline, with 20 out of the state's 35 health districts reporting declining positive case numbers, according to the University of Virginia Biocomplexity Institute and the Virginia Department of Health.

• COVID Cases In Prince William Plateau After Mid-September Peak

Proposed Vaccine Mandate Elicits Concern From Leesburg Police

Employees of the Leesburg Police Department voiced concerns about a proposed vaccine mandate at a recent meeting of the Leesburg Town Council. The employees noted that many police officers may quit if the mandate is implemented.

Alexandria City High School Lockdown Lifted, Student In Custody

Alexandria City High School's secure the building status and lockdown have been lifted after a student with a gun outside is in police custody Wednesday.

• School Canceled At Washington-Liberty; No Shooter Found
• Report Of 2 Students With Firearms Investigated By Fairfax Police
• Alexandria Superintendent Seeks School Resource Officer Return

Delays On Southbound I-95 Expected Prior To New Traffic Pattern

Travelers on Interstate 95 in the Fredericksburg area can expect major southbound delays next week as the Virginia Department of Transportation closes lanes to allow crews to conduct paving work.

• All Southbound Lanes Of Beltway To Be Closed In NoVA This Weekend

COVID-19 Vaccination Mandated For All Civilian DoD Employees

All civilian Defense Department employees are now required to be vaccinated for COVID-19, according to a new order signed by the Secretary of Defense. The deadline for DoD employees to be fully vaccinated is Nov. 22.

VA DMV Offers Appointments, Walk-In Service On Alternating Days

Starting Tuesday, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles switched to appointments only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and walk-in service on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

VA Girl's Death From COVID-19 Investigated By School District

Virginia school officials in the Hampton Roads area are investigating claims that a 10-year-old girl died from complications related to COVID-19 after an elementary school teacher instructed the student to accompany sick students to the school nurse.

Loudoun County Ranks No. 1 For Purchasing Power In Virginia

Residents of Loudoun County have the most purchasing power in Virginia, more than residents of Falls Church and Fairfax County, the other Northern Virginia jurisdictions to make the top 10 places in the state with a favorable cost of living, according to a new study by SmartAsset.

River Farm No Longer For Sale By American Horticultural Society

River Farm, a community attraction that was once one of George Washington's farms, is no longer listed for sale by the American Horticultural Society.

Plastic Bag Tax Under Consideration By Fairfax City Council

Fairfax City residents may soon have to pay a 5-cent tax on every disposable plastic bag they are provided when buying groceries or other merchandise at city stores. City Council members discussed the proposal during a work session Tuesday night.

Halloween In Virginia 2021: Submit Your Scary Haunted Yard Photo

It's that time of year again, when goblins and zombies start popping up on lawns all across Northern Virginia and the Fredericksburg area.