Metro Police Presence, Retail Closures, Small Earthquake: Top VA News

VIRGINIA — The second week of February is wrapping up as locals prepare for Super Bowl watching and Valentine's Day outings in the coming days. There was a variety of news that Northern Virginia Patch readers were paying attention to in the last week.

Top news stories in Northern Virginia from the past week included more Bed Bath & Beyond closures coming, increased police presence prompted by Metro shootings, Fairfax County's Virginia Task Force 1 assists after Turkey and Syria earthquake, Super Bowl players with a Virginia connection, local support for new FBI headquarters, a rapper's guilty plea for a shooting inside a mall, and more buyers returning to the Northern Virginia real estate market.

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4 More VA Bed Bath & Beyond Stores To Close As Retailer Seeks Funds

Four more Virginia Bed Bath & Beyond stores are targeted for shutdown, according to an announcement on Tuesday that more retail locations are closing as the company tries to stave off bankruptcy. The closings are just the latest for the company, which began cutting stores last fall.

Metro Transit Shootings Prompt Officials To Up Police Presence

A week after a gunman fatally shot a Metro Transit employee and injured three others during a seemingly random shooting, Washington, D.C. officials announced a new initiative that will increase police presence at public transportation hubs throughout the city.

Rapper Who Opened Fire At Tysons Corner Mall Pleads Guilty: Report

A D.C. rapper accused of firing a gun inside Tyson's Corner Mall in June pleaded guilty to four charges this week in connection with the shooting, which prompted the mall to close and customers to flee, according to authorities.

NoVA Homes Getting Multiple Offers In 2023 With Mortgage Rate Retreat

Homebuyers are returning to the market in Northern Virginia in early 2023, with mortgage rates steadily declining over the past two months, according to real estate experts.

VA Task Force 1 Members Heading To Turkey, Syria After Quake

Members of Virginia Task Force 1 in Fairfax County are making plans to head to Turkey and Syria after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit parts of the countries, killing thousands of people and leaving thousands of others missing among the rubble.

• VA Search And Rescue Team In Turkey: 'We Still Have A Lot Of Hope'

Loyal Companion Closing 11 VA, DC Stores After Bankruptcy Filing

The Loyal Companion pet store chain will close all 11 locations in Virginia and Washington, D.C., by the end of the month after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week.

Uniform Punishment Of 'Disruptive' Students Opposed By NoVA Groups

Parents and teacher groups in Northern Virginia are opposing a state education bill they contend would disproportionately affect students with disabilities, students of color and those who are low-income.

2.6 Earthquake Off MD/VA Coast Confirmed By USGS

A few residents along the Virginia-Maryland coast felt a small earthquake Wednesday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Super Bowl LVII: 3 Chiefs, Eagles Players Have Virginia Connections

When the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs face off Sunday for Super Bowl LVII in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, fans in Virginia may see some familiar faces.

‘Still Some Winter Left’: First VA, DC Spring Forecast By AccuWeather

After hinting at it in a spring preview recently, AccuWeather suggests with its spring 2023 forecast, released last week, that winter isn’t quite done with us in Virginia and the District, where snow has been in short supply.

Springfield Site For FBI Headquarters Backed By Fairfax County Board

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion on Tuesday to send a new letter to federal officials reiterating the county's support for Springfield serving as the new location for the FBI’s headquarters.

Killing Of Alexandria Woman With Down Syndrome Leads To Conviction

The man charged with the murder of an Alexandria woman with Down syndrome was convicted by a jury in court Thursday.

Boy, 6, Choked Another VA Teacher 'Until She Couldn't Breathe': Lawyer

A 6-year-old boy accused of shooting his teacher at a Newport News elementary school reportedly choked another teacher “until she couldn’t breathe" and tried to whip other students with his belt, according to legal records obtained by The Associated Press.

8 School Zone Speed Cameras Activated Friday Across Fairfax County

Motorists speeding near a Fairfax County school on Friday morning may have been photographed by one of the speed cameras installed in eight school zones around the county.

COVID-19 Declaration Of Local Emergency Canceled By Fairfax Board

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously at its meeting on Tuesday to end the declaration of local emergency enacted nearly three years ago to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Fairfax County Selects 6 Historical Markers To Honor Black Experience

Fairfax County identified six historical markers on Tuesday that were chosen to honor the Black and African American experience in the county.

VCU Hazing Victim's Family Sues Delta Chi Fraternity For $28M: Report

The family of Adam Oakes, a Virginia Commonwealth University freshman and Loudoun County native who died from alcohol poisoning after attending a fraternity party,is suing Delta Chi for $28 million, according to a report from The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Sterling House Fire Hospitalizes Residents, Kills Pets: Authorities

One person was hospitalized after a house fire in Sterling on Monday morning, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue officials said. Authorities have not announced what could have caused the blaze.

Housing Reparations Policy Viewed As Better Option Than Missing Middle

Arlington residents and their descendants who were harmed by past housing policy decisions could see greater benefits from a reparations program than from a policy that calls for simply increasing the number of housing units in the county, according to an opponent of the county’s Missing Middle housing plan.

Retiree Wins $1M Powerball Prize From Ticket Bought In Kingstowne

A Fairfax County man claimed the $1 million Powerball prize he won after purchasing the winning ticket in Kingstowne, according to the Virginia Lottery.