Latest stories

Community Mourns Girl, 16

Missing since Sunday, she was found dead in park.

Just a month before her 17th birthday, friends, family members and classmates from Chantilly, Centreville and Fairfax are mourning the loss of a local girl.

‘15,000 Hot Dogs To Break Even’

Permit costs spur gas station’s request to sell alcohol, too.

Raj Gupta just wanted an OK to add hot dogs to his convenience store’s offerings at the Centre Ridge Exxon station.

18 Days: Hannah Graham Still Missing

Charlottesville police are still looking for second year University of Virginia student and West Potomac High School alumna Hannah Graham. The 18 year old was last seen and heard from early in the morning on Saturday, Sept. 13 around Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall.

Tougher Tests, Tough Results

Local schools receive warnings from the state.

“Test scores do not define our schools. They never have and never will,” said Mount Vernon District School Board member Dan Storck. Earlier this month the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released accreditation results based on student performance in the 2013-2014 school year. The ratio of Fairfax County Public schools receiving full accreditation to those not making the grade dropped from 94 percent a year ago to 89 percent.

State Accreditation Status a ‘Snapshot’

Schools in Mount Vernon and Lee districts receive warnings from VDOE.

“Test scores do not define our schools. They never have and never will,” said Mount Vernon school board member Dan Storck. Earlier this month the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released accreditation results based on student performance in the 2013-2014 school year. The ratio of Fairfax County Public schools receiving full accreditation to those not making the grade dropped from 94 percent a year ago to 89 percent.

A Taste of Outdoors

The feline residents of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter will soon be glimpsing blue sky and breathing some fresh air. A “catio” under construction on the shelter grounds will be the animals’ new playground — a fenced outdoor area with a specially curved top that will prevent escape.

Suzanne Scholte Fighting for Recognition in 11th District

Suzanne Scholte knows she has her work cut out for her. “This isn’t a race anybody's thinking is worth looking at,” she said at a meet and greet event in Montclair last weekend. “I think it was described as ‘Quixotic.’”

Brandishing Near School Unfounded

The Alexandria Police Department has investigated the reports of a subject brandishing a weapon toward school children at Maury Elementary School on Tuesday, Sept. 16, and determined that the reports were false.

Discussing Mental Health Issues

A series of free presentations addressing mental health issues will be offered Monday, Oct. 6, through Thursday, Oct. 9, in the large meeting room of the Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St.

Clifton Day Turns 47

Festival returns with 200 vendors, crafts, food and music.

When Mike Belote of Manassas first brought his Ryder truck full of Pappy’s Wooden Dreams to Clifton Day more than 10 years ago, he almost didn’t make it out.

Herrity Calls for Heroin Problem Update

“Heroin is here, it’s on our doorstep, it’s in our communities and it often goes unnoticed,” said supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield). Citing a 163 percent rise in heroin overdoses in Northern Virginia between 2011 and 2013, Herrity proposed a successful motion to the Board of Supervisors last week, asserting the County Executive report back to the board on just how bad the heroin problems in Fairfax County are and how they could be dealt with.

Editorial: Does Change in Voter ID Laws Matter?

More than 22,000 active voters in Northern Virginia are without the required ID.

For the current election, new, more stringent voter identification laws are in effect.

Woman Convicted of Embezzlement

Julissa Rauhut, 45, formerly of Springfield, was convicted Sept. 24 on five counts of wire fraud after embezzling over $186,000 from her employer from 2008 to 2011.

No One Injured in Burke Nursery Fire

Smoldering burlap ignited decorative dried corn stalks.

In nearly 40 years, there’s never been a fire at the family-owned Burke Nursery and Garden Centre. That is, until last Monday, Sept. 22. Owner Hope Schmid said they received a delivery of dried corn stalks about 11 a.m. that morning. By 3 p.m., the stalks had lit up, along with the large wooden lean in which they were being stored.

141 Pounds of Drugs Collected

News Briefs

The Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office collected 141 pounds of unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.