Cat Shelters, 'Dancing Doctor,' Dog Bite, Flu Ban: News Nearby

There was plenty of news across Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia on Tuesday. If you missed any of it on your local Patch, here's a roundup of some of the top stories from the past 24 hours.

• Pre-Labor Day Start Considered In School District
• Owner Sought In Off-Leash Dog Bite Case
• Shoppers Grocery Store To Close In February

Woman Builds Shelters For Stray Cats To Stay Warm

Mo Galbraith understands one person can make a difference in their community, no matter how small, by taking the time to do something good. She is running a program called The Cat Shelter Project of Fredericksburg, and providing cat shelters in the area.

Flu Outbreak Leads Hospital System To Bar Visitors 12 And Under

Novant Health UVA Health System is asking the community to keep visitors age 12 and under out of its hospitals in the region, unless seeking treatment, because of a widespread outbreak of the flu virus throughout the area.

'Dancing Doctor' Struts His Stuff Right Into Sick Kids' Hearts

Tony Adkins isn't a full-fledged doctor, but don't tell that to the gravely ill children whose hearts he struts into as the "Dancing Doctor." A physician assistant in pediatric neurosurgery from California, Adkins owes his internet fame to cell phone video posted on social media by a mom cheered by how his spontaneous dance returned the light to her son's eyes. Adkins brought his dance moves to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters Monday while he was in Norfolk.

African American Community Wins Court Battle In VA Pipeline Saga

A federal appeals court in Richmond threw out a permit needed by developers of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to build a natural gas compressor station in a historically African American community in central Virginia.

Traffic Jams, 1 Fatality Reported As Snow Starts In NoVA, DC

As snow began to accumulate in Northern Virginia and DC, so did the traffic backups and power outages Tuesday afternoon. One traffic death has been reported near the immediate DC region.

Pier 1 Imports, With 28 VA Stores, Closing Up To 450 Sites

Home accessories chain Pier 1 Imports said Monday it would close hundreds of stores around the country. There's no list yet of the locations to close, or information on the fate of the retailer's estimated 28 Virginia sites.

City To Buy Freedom House For $1.8 Million

Freedom House, a historic building once part of the headquarters for the largest domestic slave trading firm in the U.S., will be purchased for $1.8 million.

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• Emergency Water Main Repairs Underway In 2 Neighborhoods
• DC Police Arrest 2 Suspects In 2 Fatal Shootings
• Man Pleads Guilty In 2016 Shooting Death In Manassas
• Head-On Collision Kills 2 People In Stafford County
• Loudoun Wants Feedback On Proposed Commuter Bus Changes Into DC
• Looking For A Calamity Of Western Fun? Head To Herndon Artspace
• Police Release Video Of Downtown Church Vandalism
• Adoptable Alexandria Pet: Fees Paid For Friendly Gray Cat

Across America

• 'Y'all Are Heroes': Carpenters Save Drowning Boy
• Cuomo Rescues Man Trapped In Crashed Van
• Walmart: Bed Bug Help To Men's Clothing Aisle
• Harvey Weinstein Trial Begins In New York City
• Tom Brady On Retirement: 'Pretty Unlikely'