The State of NoVa: Virginia


Posted at 05:10 AM ET, 04/09/2013

Ashburn to get new baseball-soccer stadium at intersection of Route 7 and Loudoun Co. Parkway
By Tom Jackman
Loudoun supervisors approve park for minor league baseball and soccer.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:10 AM ET, 04/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Ashburn, Loudoun County, Sports | Tags:  Loudoun stadium, Loudoun Hounds, Virginia Cavalry FC, Loudoun Board of Supervisors

Posted at 05:12 AM ET, 03/25/2013

Fairfax, Loudoun and Arlington top the rankings as three healthiest counties in Virginia
By Tom Jackman
New national study considers many health factors, finds NoVa healthiest.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:12 AM ET, 03/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County | Tags:  Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Arlington County, Virginia Department of Health, health rankings

Posted at 05:03 AM ET, 03/21/2013

Don’t hate Saul Tejada of Sterling just because he won $1 million on a Va. Lottery scratch-off ticket
By Tom Jackman
Saul Tejada will actually only pocket about $400,000, though.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:03 AM ET, 03/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Sterling, Gambling, Annandale | Tags:  Saul Tejada, Virginia Lottery

Posted at 05:09 AM ET, 03/05/2013

Centreville’s Spa World at center of controversy, lack of anti-discrimination laws for LGBT customers noted
By Tom Jackman
Virginia, Fairfax County have no laws prohibiting discrimination vs. gays

By Tom Jackman  |  05:09 AM ET, 03/05/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Spa World, Centreville, Va., LGBT, Equality Virginia, Virginia New Majority, James Lee

Posted at 05:12 AM ET, 03/04/2013

VDOT announces $34 million tech upgrade for I-66, but is that really going to help? Maybe, kinda.
By Tom Jackman
More signs, more sensors, more cameras. But not more lanes.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:12 AM ET, 03/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Traffic, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County | Tags:  Interstate 66, Virginia Department of Transportation

Posted at 12:22 PM ET, 03/01/2013

News for Degenerates, Vol. 3: Poker in Virginia loses shot at legalization in Va. Supreme Court
By Tom Jackman
Va. Supreme Court folds on issue of whether poker is game of skill

By Tom Jackman  |  12:22 PM ET, 03/01/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Gambling | Tags:  Poker, Virginia gambling, Charles Daniels, Earle Mobley, George Pitsilides, Virginia Supreme Court

Posted at 05:05 AM ET, 02/25/2013

Bryan Glenn, missing W.T. Woodson student, committed suicide, medical examiner rules
By Tom Jackman
Bryan Glenn was object of intense search by police and community

By Tom Jackman  |  05:05 AM ET, 02/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Fairfax City | Tags:  Bryan Glenn, Fairfax County police, Virginia medical examiner, teen suicide

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 02/19/2013

Loudoun baseball-soccer stadium faces first big test Tuesday, both sides rallying supporters
By Tom Jackman
Supporters of project and neighbors who oppose it both plan to be there

By Tom Jackman  |  06:00 AM ET, 02/19/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Ashburn, Sports, Development | Tags:  Loudoun Hounds, Virginia Cavalry, Ashburn stadium, No Stadium on 7, One Loudoun, Loudoun County, Ashburn, Va.

Posted at 04:00 PM ET, 02/15/2013

UPDATE: NoVa income tax defeated in Va. House
By Tom Jackman
Requirement of referendum removed, tax targeted for transportation

By Tom Jackman  |  04:00 PM ET, 02/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Walter Stosch, local income tax, transportation, transportation tax, Northern Virginia, Virginia Senate

Posted at 05:05 AM ET, 02/14/2013

Fairfax senator’s ‘dooring’ cyclist safety bill fails on tied committee vote; seven delegates are no-shows
By Tom Jackman
Virginia remains one of only 10 states with no law protecting cyclists

By Tom Jackman  |  05:05 AM ET, 02/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  dooring, Virginia General Assembly, bicycle safety, Chap Petersen, Tom Rust, Rich Anderson, Michael Gilbert, Mark Blacknell

Posted at 05:09 AM ET, 02/07/2013

Who should be on the new Virginia coins? A State of NoVa poll
By Tom Jackman
Modern-day icons such as Ashe, Wolfe, Grohl deserve honor

By Tom Jackman  |  05:09 AM ET, 02/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Politics, Prince William County | Tags:  Virginia currency, Bob Marshall, Arthur Ashe, Tom Wolfe, Dave Grohl, Patsy Cline

Posted at 05:02 AM ET, 02/07/2013

New Loudoun pro soccer team to be called Virginia Cavalry FC
By Tom Jackman
To play in Ashburn in the NASL, now a minor league

By Tom Jackman  |  05:02 AM ET, 02/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Ashburn, Loudoun County, Sports | Tags:  Virginia Cavalry FC, Ashburn, Va., North American Soccer League, VIP Sports and Entertainment, Sporting Delgaudio

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 01/31/2013

Prince William man to take “polar plunge” for charity Saturday — in Afghanistan
By Tom Jackman
Steve Costa promised Special Olympics kids he’d do it in Bagram

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 01/31/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County, Reston | Tags:  Steve Costa, Polar Plunge Winter Festival, Special Olympics, Freezin for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip, Bagram, Afghanistan, Triangle, Va.

Posted at 05:05 AM ET, 01/28/2013

In case of emergency, Pr. William delegate wants to study a separate Virginia currency
By Tom Jackman
In case the U.S. currency collapses, Bob Marshall wants state to consider making its own gold and silver coins.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:05 AM ET, 01/28/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County, Politics | Tags:  Del. Bob Marshall, Virginia alternate currency, Federal Reserve System, Clarence Clemons

Posted at 05:19 AM ET, 01/25/2013

NoVa real estate back to booming? $600K houses in short supply, condos in high demand
By Tom Jackman
$7.2 million house in western Loudoun tops sales list

By Tom Jackman  |  05:19 AM ET, 01/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Prince William County, NoVa | Tags:  Northern Virginia real estate, Loudoun real estate, Upperville, Va., Michael Elias, Lisa A. Sturtevant

Posted at 01:01 PM ET, 01/10/2013

My life as a cover model
By Tom Jackman
My day at a fancy photo shoot for a Post Magazine cover piece.

By Tom Jackman  |  01:01 PM ET, 01/10/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Virginia vs Maryland, Washington Post magazine, Cade Martin

Posted at 05:05 AM ET, 01/09/2013

Arlington’s Jarrod Nagurka helped Congress, country avoid fiscal cliff as Senate page
By Tom Jackman
Jarrod Nagurka, 19, worked over holiday break, lauded by Harry Reid

By Tom Jackman  |  05:05 AM ET, 01/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Jarrod Nagurka, Senate page program, Washington-Lee High School, University of Virginia, Harry Reid

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 12/31/2012

Prince William to get a second newspaper; Times Community Media launches Prince William Times
By Tom Jackman
Times Community Media enters void of departing News & Messenger

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 12/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County, Media | Tags:  Prince William Times, Times Community Media, Peter Arundel, Prince William Today, InsideNoVA.com, Northern Virginia Media Services

Posted at 11:51 AM ET, 12/19/2012

We don’t like each other so much: End of recession in Northern Va. spells D-I-V-O-R-C-E for many
By Tom Jackman
Up 18 percent in NoVa in two years vs. 7 percent rise statewide.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:51 AM ET, 12/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  NoVa | Tags:  Divorce, Northern Virginia, National Marriage Project, Joe Condo

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 11/27/2012

John Frey, longtime Fairfax circuit court clerk, drops out of race for Virginia attorney general
By Tom Jackman
The Fairfax circuit court clerk entered race last year.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 11/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  John Frey, Virginia attorney general, Fairfax County Circuit Court

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 11/12/2012

Northern Virginia delivered Virginia to Obama
By Tom Jackman
Obama’s 231,000 vote margin overwhelmed Romney’s RoVa win

By Tom Jackman  |  05:30 AM ET, 11/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Northern Virginia election, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, NoVa, RoVa

Posted at 05:37 AM ET, 11/09/2012

Loudoun County to host NASL minor league soccer
By Tom Jackman
Unnamed franchise hopes to start at One Loudoun in 2014

By Tom Jackman  |  05:37 AM ET, 11/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Ashburn, Loudoun County, Sports | Tags:  Loudoun County NASL, NASL Virginia, One Loudoun, VIP Sports & Entertainment

Posted at 01:37 AM ET, 11/02/2012

Rain, erosion from Sandy did not harm NoVa water
By Donna Peterson
Utilities were ready for heavy rain and erosion

By Donna Peterson  |  01:37 AM ET, 11/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County, Alexandria, Fairfax County | Tags:  Potomac River, Northern Virginia water, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Alexandria

Posted at 01:11 AM ET, 10/10/2012

Nationals fans on Metro head back to NoVa in large numbers after games, WMATA data shows
By Tom Jackman
Analysis of WMATA data show Vienna, Arlington are popular exits.

By Tom Jackman  |  01:11 AM ET, 10/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Metro, Sports, NoVa, Vienna | Tags:  Metro, WMATA, Washington Nationals, Northern Virginia

Posted at 02:05 PM ET, 07/27/2012

Northern Virginia well represented at London Olympics
By Tom Jackman
Swimmer Kate Ziegler, taekwondo’s Terrence Jennings among possible medalists.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:05 PM ET, 07/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Sports, NoVa | Tags:  Northern Virginia Olympians

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/18/2012

Former NVCC President Richard Ernst becomes senior track star, piles up medals in sprints
By Tom Jackman
From acclaimed educator to sprinter of 50 meters in eight seconds or so.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:30 AM ET, 07/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Northern Virginia Community College, Sports, Springfield | Tags:  Richard Ernst, Virginia Senior Games

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 05/09/2012

NoVa’s poor have been hurt disproportionately by recession, new economic analysis says
By Tom Jackman
The gap between top household incomes and bottom household incomes increased, and the number of people living below the poverty level is substantial.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 05/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  NoVa, Social Services | Tags:  Northern Virginia economy, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 04/12/2012

Prince William climate change debate centers on FOIA
By Tom Jackman
Does Freedom of Information law apply to the e-mails of university professors? A significant moment in the climate change debate may hinge on that.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 04/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County, Courts | Tags:  global warming, University of Virginia, Michael Mann, David Schnare, Kathi Westcott

Posted at 04:21 PM ET, 04/11/2012

Alexandria trolley: Battling names and routes
By Patricia Sullivan
Why is the proposed new trolley route named for Del Ray and not Arlandria? And why wasn’t the City Council consulted?

By Patricia Sullivan  |  04:21 PM ET, 04/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The State of NoVa, Alexandria | Tags:  Alexandria, Transportation, Northern Virginia

Posted at 09:46 AM ET, 03/27/2012

Housing costs trouble many Arlingtonians
By Patricia Sullivan
The biggest problem facing Arlingtonians, by many measures, is the cost of housing.

By Patricia Sullivan  |  09:46 AM ET, 03/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County | Tags:  Arlington County, Virginia, Northern Virginia, housing

Posted at 02:27 PM ET, 02/28/2012

Herndon’s Tortilla Factory says ‘no mas’ after 37 years
By Tom Jackman
The very popular restaurant on Elden Street closes. Will you miss it?

By Tom Jackman  |  02:27 PM ET, 02/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Herndon | Tags:  Tortilla Factory, Virginia

Posted at 02:53 PM ET, 02/27/2012

Writing the Dave Sharrett story, Vol. 7: In print
By Tom Jackman
The process of compiling a story about a friendly fire death and its four-year aftermath.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:53 PM ET, 02/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Dave Sharrett | Tags:  David H. Sharrett II, David Sharrett Sr., Virginia

Posted at 12:20 PM ET, 02/27/2012

Fairfax’s Dave Albo explains his viral video
By Tom Jackman
The delegate tells why he discussed his love life before the Va. General Assembly.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:20 PM ET, 02/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Politics, Fairfax County | Tags:  Dave Albo, Virginia

Posted at 10:36 AM ET, 02/24/2012

In Manassas, Prescott Avenue neighbors look to shake up Old Town to save house from demolition
By Jeremy Borden
A small protest emerges as neighbors pressure the mayor not to knock down 9300 Prescott Ave.

By Jeremy Borden  |  10:36 AM ET, 02/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Manassas, Northern Virginia

Posted at 12:11 PM ET, 02/15/2012

Manassas hires state official John Budesky as new city manager
By Jeremy Borden
John A. Budesky, who now heads a Virginia state agency, has been hired to take over as city manager of Manassas.

By Jeremy Borden  |  12:11 PM ET, 02/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Manassas, Virginia

Posted at 11:08 AM ET, 02/06/2012

Nuns victimized in Prince William drunk driving crash discuss their life after tragedy
By Tom Jackman
They survived a drunk driver, though their fellow nun did not. Now the nuns speak publicly.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:08 AM ET, 02/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County | Tags:  drunk driving, Denise Mosier, Charlotte Lange, Connie Ruth Lupton, Virginia

Posted at 12:37 AM ET, 02/03/2012

Writing the Dave Sharrett Story: Vol. 6, Writing It
By Tom Jackman
After months of interviews and research, it’s time to focus on writing the story.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:37 AM ET, 02/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Dave Sharrett, Oakton | Tags:  Dave Sharrett, friendly fire, Iraq war, Virginia

Posted at 12:07 AM ET, 01/30/2012

Wolf Trap, Barns of Rose Hill settle suit
By Tom Jackman
The Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville will drop “the” from its name and Wolf Trap will drop its federal suit.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:07 AM ET, 01/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Vienna, Nightlife, Courts | Tags:  Barns of Rose Hill, Barns of Wolf Trap, Virginia

Posted at 10:20 AM ET, 01/26/2012

Loudoun FOIA battle expands into costly power struggle
By Tom Jackman
A reporter’s shot at an assessment appeal leads to a lawsuit county supervisors don’t want to pay for.

By Tom Jackman  |  10:20 AM ET, 01/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Politics | Tags:  Loudoun Board of Equalization, Beverly Bradford, Virginia

Posted at 06:45 PM ET, 01/24/2012

News for Degenerates, Vol. 2: DC moves closer to online poker, Md. stumbling, Newt rumbling
By Tom Jackman
NoVa gamblers may get their opportunity in D.C., Maryland lags, and President Gingrich could be good for gambling.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:45 PM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Nightlife | Tags:  Gambling, Virginia

Posted at 04:32 PM ET, 01/24/2012

Wolf Trap lawsuit vs. Barns of Rose Hill looks good, from a legal viewpoint
By Tom Jackman
A veteran of intellectual property law says Wolf Trap did the right thing by suing The Barns of Rose Hill.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:32 PM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Nightlife, Courts | Tags:  Barns of Rose Hill, Barns at Wolf Trap, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 01/24/2012

Could Va. reap $500 million per year by legalizing pot?
By Tom Jackman
A NoVa legislator wants to know. Existing studies say tax revenue and law enforcement savings add up.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Politics, Alexandria | Tags:  Marijuana, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 01/23/2012

Annie McCann’s parents keep pushing death probe
By Tom Jackman
They believe they’ve identified a woman last seen with the 16-year-old Groveton girl before she died in Baltimore.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 01/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Crime, Fairfax County | Tags:  Annie McCann, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 01/20/2012

Loudoun rethinking courthouse holiday displays
By Caitlin Gibson
The county board is pondering public displays on the courthouse lawn after another season of controversy.

By Caitlin Gibson  |  05:00 AM ET, 01/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Leesburg | Tags:  Loudoun holiday displays, Virginia

Posted at 07:49 PM ET, 01/19/2012

Wolf Trap responds, but won’t back down
By Tom Jackman
Wolf Trap issues a statement about its federal lawsuit against The Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville, seeking amicable resolution.

By Tom Jackman  |  07:49 PM ET, 01/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Nightlife, Vienna, Courts | Tags:  Barns at Wolf Trap, Barns of Rose Hill, Virginia

Posted at 09:58 PM ET, 01/18/2012

Wolf Trap sues tiny non-profit over ‘The Barns’ name
By Tom Jackman
In Berryville, The Barns of Rose Hill just opened. The Barns at Wolf Trap say they have a trademark to protect. Would anyone really confuse the two?

By Tom Jackman  |  09:58 PM ET, 01/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Nightlife, Courts, Vienna | Tags:  Barns of Rose Hill, Barns at Wolf Trap, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 01/18/2012

Wolf Trap ticket sales ranked third in world
By Tom Jackman
Among amphitheaters from Colorado to Chile, the Filene Center in Vienna had the third-best sales last year.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 01/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Vienna, Nightlife | Tags:  Wolf Trap, Filene Center, Virginia

Posted at 12:15 PM ET, 01/17/2012

Fairfax rape case leads to national database upgrade
By Tom Jackman
The fingerprints of a man who had been previously deported weren’t in the database. Now old prints will be digitized.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:15 PM ET, 01/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Immigration, Fairfax County, Loudoun County | Tags:  Secure Communities, Frank Wolf, Virginia

Posted at 04:15 AM ET, 01/17/2012

Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis stepping down
By Tom Jackman
Steve DeBenedittis, elected during the 2006 day laborer uproar, won’t seek a fourth term.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:15 AM ET, 01/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Herndon, Politics | Tags:  Steve DeBenedittis, Virginia

Posted at 08:02 PM ET, 01/13/2012

Reston a ‘soulless ant colony,’ columnist says
By Tom Jackman
In Norfolk, ‘writer’ Kerry Dougherty blasts Reston. From Norfolk? Really?

By Tom Jackman  |  08:02 PM ET, 01/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Reston | Tags:  Kerry Dougherty, Reston, Virginia

Posted at 06:09 PM ET, 01/13/2012

Michelle Obama busts a move at Hayfield
By Tom Jackman
The First Lady did some “random dancing” with the cast of iCarly at Hayfield Secondary School Friday.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:09 PM ET, 01/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Media, Fairfax County | Tags:  Michelle Obama, iCarly, Virginia

Posted at 12:57 AM ET, 01/13/2012

Loudoun supervisor’s anti-gay campaign crashes the mainstream
By Tom Jackman
Gay rights groups are calling on Weekly Standard editor William Kristol to renounce an ad by Loudoun Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:57 AM ET, 01/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Politics | Tags:  Eugene Delgaudio, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 01/12/2012

Northern Virginia creating even more soccer stars
By Tom Jackman
A 15-year-old from Manassas Park is being courted by the pros, and an Ashburn teen is playing in Colombia.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 01/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Sports, Ashburn, Manassas Park | Tags:  Lina Granados, Herbert Mejia-Flores, Virginia

Posted at 04:15 AM ET, 01/12/2012

Birchmere, Jammin Java among top 100 clubs on Earth
By Tom Jackman
The two Northern Virginia music clubs outranked better-known venues in ticket sales last year.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:15 AM ET, 01/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Nightlife, Alexandria, Vienna | Tags:  Birchmere, Jammin Java, Virginia

Posted at 04:15 AM ET, 01/11/2012

Herndon council decides against Dranesville Road roundabout
By Tom Jackman
It took four and a half hours of traffic facts, engineering analysis and school bus information to sway the Herndon town council away from a roundabout and instead toward new medians.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:15 AM ET, 01/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Herndon, Traffic | Tags:  Dranesville Road roundabout, Virginia

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 01/10/2012

Arlington’s Iwo Jima Memorial at sunrise
By Tom Jackman
One of the great memorials of Northern Virginia, or anywhere, was captured in beautiful color and depth Sunday by Angela B. Pan using high dynamic range photography.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:40 PM ET, 01/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County | Tags:  Iwo Jima Memorial, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 01/09/2012

Herndon traffic roundabout causes an uproar
By Tom Jackman
The town approved a traffic device for a major thoroughfare without a public hearing. The neighbors protested, and now the town council will hold a public vote Tuesday.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 01/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Herndon, Traffic | Tags:  Dranesville Road roundabout, Virginia

Posted at 01:29 PM ET, 01/05/2012

Alexandria’s Old Town Theater closing this weekend
By Tom Jackman
Roger Fons tried for nine years to make the theater work financially. In the end, it didn’t.

By Tom Jackman  |  01:29 PM ET, 01/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria, Nightlife | Tags:  Old Town Theater, Virginia

Posted at 06:34 AM ET, 01/05/2012

Live Nation Disaster Hole relents, permits tailgating
By Tom Jackman
The parking lot at the Venue Formerly Known as Jiffy Lube Live is still chaotic, a two-lane road is the only way to get there, and beer will still be $11. But last year’s ban on tailgating is gone.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:34 AM ET, 01/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Nightlife, Prince William County | Tags:  Live Nation Disaster Hole, Virginia

Posted at 06:18 AM ET, 01/05/2012

Fairfax again embroiled in treehouse controversy
By Tom Jackman
For the second time in three months, Fairfax zoning inspectors have targeted a homemade treehouse constructed by a military veteran. The first one survived. Will this one?

By Tom Jackman  |  06:18 AM ET, 01/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Springfield | Tags:  Blevins treehouse, Virginia

Posted at 11:05 PM ET, 01/03/2012

Fairfax lawyer Glenn Lewis plummets from limelight
By Tom Jackman
He was one of the most widely known, and most expensive, divorce lawyers in the D.C. area. Now Glenn Lewis’s practice has collapsed, he’s filed for bankruptcy and facing fraud and malpractice claims.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:05 PM ET, 01/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Courts, Fairfax County | Tags:  Glenn Lewis, Virginia

Posted at 09:22 PM ET, 12/22/2011

Should Prince William Board have ‘discretionary funds?’
By Tom Jackman
Some are questioning the large “discretionary funds” given to each Prince William County supervisor.

By Tom Jackman  |  09:22 PM ET, 12/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County, Politics | Tags:  discretionary funds, Virginia

Posted at 12:15 PM ET, 12/22/2011

Fairfax City Mayor Robert Lederer to step down
By Tom Jackman
The Fairfax City native said after 10 years as mayor, and 10 years on the City Council, it’s time for someone else to take the reins.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:15 PM ET, 12/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax City, Politics | Tags:  Robert Lederer, Virginia

Posted at 12:44 PM ET, 12/21/2011

McLean man making strong bid for presidency; Newt Gingrich rally in Arlington tonight
By Tom Jackman
Newt Gingrich can’t deny it — he’s been living and voting in Fairfax County for years. Will that help him politically? Uh, maybe not so much.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:44 PM ET, 12/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  McLean, Politics, Fairfax County | Tags:  Newt Gingrich, Virginia

Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 12/21/2011

Purcellville high school principal resigns suddenly
By Tom Jackman
Loudoun news sites and blogs are buzzing about the sudden departure of Woodgrove High principal Ric Gauriloff.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:13 PM ET, 12/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Purcellville, Loudoun County, Loudoun County | Tags:  Ric Gauriloff, Virginia

Posted at 01:27 PM ET, 12/20/2011

Holiday rap videos take on Hanukkah, airport security
By Tom Jackman
Local rappers have been busy lately, with Fairfax Station’s B-Boyz doing their fourth annual Hanukkah video, and Arlington comic Remy busting out his take on “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.”

By Tom Jackman  |  01:27 PM ET, 12/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Arlington County, Music | Tags:  B-Boyz, Remy Munasifi, Virginia

Posted at 06:57 AM ET, 12/20/2011

Annie McCann death case takes more odd turns
By Tom Jackman
The 16-year-old girl from West Potomac High School in Fairfax County was found dead in a Baltimore housing project. Now, a suspect in her case has reportedly admitted killing another young woman.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:57 AM ET, 12/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Crime, Fairfax County | Tags:  Annie McCann, Virginia

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 12/19/2011

UPDATE: NoVa’s Asian massage parlors raided
By Tom Jackman
The Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force visited 61 massage parlors last Wednesday and found only licensing violations, no apparent unwilling employees.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:53 AM ET, 12/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  NoVa, NoVa | Tags:  Massage parlors, human trafficking, Virginia

Posted at 04:16 PM ET, 12/16/2011

Sterling’s Patton Oswalt starting to make something of himself
By Tom Jackman
He’s starred in movies and TV, and now is getting award recognition. But he hasn’t forgotten Broad Run.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:16 PM ET, 12/16/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Sterling, Media | Tags:  Patton Oswalt, Virginia

Posted at 12:18 PM ET, 12/15/2011

Vandals smash Fairfax Station Christmas display
By Tom Jackman
Michael Lester’s large light display was vandalized by someone with a baseball bat, and then run over by a car, on Sunday night. He has surveillance video, which may help identify the culprits.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:18 PM ET, 12/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Crime | Tags:  Christmas vandalism, Michael Lester, Virginia

Posted at 11:11 AM ET, 12/15/2011

George Mason names Angel Cabrera new president
By Tom Jackman
The selection of an engineer with deep experience in the global business community may signal Mason’s desire to expand its reach in the science and business worlds.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:11 AM ET, 12/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Mason University | Tags:  Angel Cabrera, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 12/15/2011

I-66 merge to Beltway no longer a dance with death
By Tom Jackman
Starting Saturday, drivers heading east on I-66 to the northbound Beltway will no longer be dumped into the left lane of high speed traffic at one of the region’s busiest interchanges. Whew.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 12/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Traffic, NoVa | Tags:  I-66, Capital Beltway, Virginia

Posted at 04:45 AM ET, 12/15/2011

George Mason aims to diversify its police force
By Donna Peterson
After an incident last March in which a minority student was arrested and then quickly cleared, a task force said the police force needed to embrace GMU’s multiculturalism. But have they?

By Donna Peterson  |  04:45 AM ET, 12/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Mason University | Tags:  George Mason University, Virginia

Posted at 08:32 AM ET, 12/13/2011

Eden Center raid still looms large in Falls Church
By Tom Jackman
The wounds from the Aug. 11 gang task force raid led to a town hall meeting between the Vietnamese community and Falls Church officials. But bigger criminal charges are coming.

By Tom Jackman  |  08:32 AM ET, 12/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Falls Church, Crime | Tags:  Eden Center, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 12/13/2011

Loudoun’s ‘Skeleton Santa’ dismantler speaks
By Tom Jackman
Mary Czarnecki knew she was offended, but she didn’t know that she would walk right up to the ‘Skeleton Santa’ on the grounds of the Loudoun County courthouse and take it down. Then, she did.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 12/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Leesburg | Tags:  Skeleton Santa, Mary Czarnecki, Virginia

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 12/09/2011

Thomas Jefferson High to be outfitted by Under Armour?
By Tom Jackman
The top-rated Fairfax County science and technology school is in second place so far in a national spirit competition to win free uniforms and gear.

By Tom Jackman  |  01:00 PM ET, 12/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Schools, Sports | Tags:  Thomas Jefferson High School, Virginia

Posted at 06:43 PM ET, 12/08/2011

Redskin Rickie Harris again ruled competent for DUI trial
By Tom Jackman
After one Fairfax County judge ruled that the former player was competent, the Redskins sent him to a new expert, who said he wasn’t competent. A second judge disagreed, again.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:43 PM ET, 12/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Courts, Sports | Tags:  Rickie Harris, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 12/08/2011

VDOT mangles spelling of Sycamore Street on I-66
By Tom Jackman
A new third lane opened up on I-66 between Sycamore Street and Fairfax Drive, and a new sign for the Sycamore exit in Falls Church is gonna need a little work. Green-out?

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 12/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Traffic, Falls Church | Tags:  misspelled signs, I-66, Virginia

Posted at 12:51 PM ET, 12/07/2011

Fairfax Clerk John Frey announces run for Virginia attorney general (UPDATE: Democrats demand he resign)
By Tom Jackman
The longtime clerk of the Fairfax County Circuit Court becomes the third Republican candidate in the race. He is not stepping down from the clerk’s office.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:51 PM ET, 12/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Politics | Tags:  John Frey, Virginia

Posted at 12:18 PM ET, 12/07/2011

Loudoun’s ‘Skeleton Santa’ renews annual drama (UPDATE: Video of Santa’s dismantling)
By Tom Jackman
If it’s Christmas, it must be time for someone to put up a provocative display on the grounds of the Loudoun County courthouse. Here’s a photo of the crucified Kringle for your consideration.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:18 PM ET, 12/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Leesburg | Tags:  Loudoun courthouse displays, Skeleton Santa, Virginia

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 12/07/2011

Springfield WWII vets receive Congressional Gold Medal
By Tom Jackman
George Nakamura and Yukio Kawamoto were born two weeks apart in California, served in the Army during World War II and retired to Springfield. Now both have received the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:30 AM ET, 12/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Springfield | Tags:  George Nakamura, Yukio Kawamoto, Virginia

Posted at 06:24 AM ET, 12/06/2011

Herndon’s Scottie Reynolds still has NBA dreams
By Tom Jackman
One of the greatest basketball players ever to emerge from Northern Virginia, and Villanova’s second all-time leading scorer, is bouncing around between leagues hoping for a shot at the NBA.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:24 AM ET, 12/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Herndon, Sports | Tags:  Scottie Reynolds, Virginia

Posted at 06:55 AM ET, 12/05/2011

Annandale violinist nominated for pop Grammy
By Tom Jackman
Jenny Oaks Baker, a former first violinist for the National Symphony Orchestra, recorded an album of Disney movie classics and is now up for best pop instrumental album of the year.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:55 AM ET, 12/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Annandale, Music | Tags:  Jenny Oaks Baker, Virginia

Posted at 06:45 AM ET, 12/05/2011

Arlington’s Remy Munasifi’s ‘brilliant’ video
By Tom Jackman
The prolific rap comic takes on the tragic demise of the incandescent light bulb, and has also done a recent video on free speech that was filmed in part at his alma mater, Langley High School.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:45 AM ET, 12/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County, Music | Tags:  Remy Munasifi, Virginia

Posted at 01:29 PM ET, 12/02/2011

Vienna visited by (lame) parkour enthusiasts
By Tom Jackman
A man and a teenager were jumping around on top of the Jammin Java shopping mall, and the teen couldn’t find a way down when he reached the Virginian Restaurant.

By Tom Jackman  |  01:29 PM ET, 12/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Vienna | Tags:  parkour, free running, Virginia

Posted at 10:21 PM ET, 12/01/2011

Army on BRAC: “Traffic? We’ve got this Plan, see...”
By Tom Jackman
When the Army decided to build a new office for 6,400 people in Alexandria, it also came up with a Transportation Plan. And a look at The Plan reveals it was really, uh, not so good.

By Tom Jackman  |  10:21 PM ET, 12/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria, Traffic | Tags:  BRAC, Mark Center, Virginia

Posted at 09:25 PM ET, 12/01/2011

Fairfax Water looking at impact of uranium mining
By Tom Jackman
While Virginia considers whether to lift a moratorium on uranium mining, for a site in southern Virginia, Fairfax Water has commissioned a study, and one board member thinks that’s a bad use of taxpayer money.

By Tom Jackman  |  09:25 PM ET, 12/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Politics | Tags:  Fairfax Water, uranium mining, Virginia

Posted at 09:03 PM ET, 11/20/2011

Manassas profits from mass casualties (reenactment)
By Tom Jackman
Despite heat that cancelled some events, and the likelihood that the 150th anniversary won’t be repeated, the July reenactment of First Manassas helped fill Manassas cash registers.

By Tom Jackman  |  09:03 PM ET, 11/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Manassas | Tags:  Battle of Bull Run, Virginia

Posted at 04:14 PM ET, 11/18/2011

Loudoun man: I killed my wife with a sledgehammer to put her out of her misery
By Tom Jackman
Steven Combs-Lafleur admits he struck his wife in the back of the head with a sledgehammer, but only after she was injured after he fell on her. A jury says murder one.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:14 PM ET, 11/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Crime, Courts | Tags:  Steven Combs-Lafleur, Catherine Combs-Lafleur, Virginia

Posted at 03:59 PM ET, 11/17/2011

Fairfax police sued in David Masters shooting
By Tom Jackman
A wrongful death suit was filed on behalf of the unarmed man killed by a Fairfax officer, but the dead man’s ex-wife and stepdaughter say it was done without their knowledge or consent.

By Tom Jackman  |  03:59 PM ET, 11/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Police, Courts | Tags:  David Masters, Jon Shields, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 11/17/2011

Springfield’s green ReBuild Warehouse set to close
By Tom Jackman
Launched in 2009 as a place to recycle building materials, educate the public on sustainable living and provide jobs, the depressed economy never let Rebuild get off the ground.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 11/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Springfield | Tags:  ReBuild Warehouse, Virginia

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 11/16/2011

Loudoun teacher: I drank the night before school, not on a school day
By Tom Jackman
Radhakirishnan Sivaramapillai, middle school physics teacher, said he had a little the night before and he didn’t know what happened. He got arrested for being drunk in public, that’s what happened.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:30 PM ET, 11/16/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Schools | Tags:  Radhakirishnan Sivaramapillai, Virginia

Posted at 01:21 PM ET, 11/16/2011

Falls Church is king of Virginia recycling, again
By Tom Jackman
Statewide, localities in Virginia are recycling about 40 percent of their waste. But the city of Falls Church is doing way better, with 60 percent recycling last year, its second year at the top.

By Tom Jackman  |  01:21 PM ET, 11/16/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Falls Church | Tags:  Falls Church recycling, Virginia

Posted at 05:55 AM ET, 11/15/2011

Haymarket makes land grab for chunk of P.Wm.
By Tom Jackman
The town doubled in size, to 1,782, in the last decade, so it wants to annex a piece of Prince William County. Prince William says no dice. Trouble ahead?

By Tom Jackman  |  05:55 AM ET, 11/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County | Tags:  Haymarket, Virginia

Posted at 11:04 PM ET, 11/13/2011

Alexandria’s Stacy Hoeflich is National History Teacher of Year
By Tom Jackman
The fourth grade teacher at John Adams Elementary School is recognized both for her innovation in the classroom and her willingness to spread her experience to others.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:04 PM ET, 11/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria, Schools | Tags:  Stacy Hoeflich, Virginia

Posted at 11:00 PM ET, 11/13/2011

Alexandria tavern owner Pat Troy publishes his memoir
By Tom Jackman
The widely beloved owner of Ireland’s Own in Old Town, and overseer of the city’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities, writes his memoir of a journey from Ireland to Detroit to Alexandria.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:00 PM ET, 11/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria, Books | Tags:  Pat Troy, Virginia

Posted at 05:15 AM ET, 11/11/2011

Arlington gets its own glossy magazine
By Tom Jackman
In an age where print publications would seem to be declining, Greg Hamilton and Steve Hull launch the bimonthly Arlington Magazine and bet that people still like to curl up with a good magazine.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:15 AM ET, 11/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County, Media | Tags:  Arlington Magazine, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 11/11/2011

NoVA Wonders, new ABA team, opens here Sunday
By Tom Jackman
With the NBA locked out, the ABA is the only game in town, and Northern Virginia’s got a men’s team playing in Chantilly. The home opener is Sunday.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 11/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Sports, NoVa, Chantilly | Tags:  NoVA Wonders, Virginia

Posted at 10:13 AM ET, 11/09/2011

Loudoun sheriff ousted; Fairfax sheriff hangs on
By Tom Jackman
Sheriff Steve Simpson, running as an independent, was swept under the Republican tide by former DEA Agent Mike Chapman, while Fairfax Sheriff Stan Barry won a fourth term handily.

By Tom Jackman  |  10:13 AM ET, 11/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Politics | Tags:  Mike Chapman, Steve Simpson, Stan Barry, Bill Cooper, Virginia

Posted at 12:49 PM ET, 11/07/2011

Springfield company enlists in ICE program
By Tom Jackman
Thesis Painting of Springfield recently became the third company in Virginia to join a program that enables it to check the immigration status of its mostly immigrant work force.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:49 PM ET, 11/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Immigration, Springfield | Tags:  ICE IMAGE program, Virginia

Posted at 09:53 PM ET, 11/06/2011

Fairfax sheriff candidate’s ad draws angry responses
By Tom Jackman
Republican challenger Bill Cooper published an ad on the eve of the election that says he is supported by deputies, officers and firefighters, though no unions or associations endorsed him.

By Tom Jackman  |  09:53 PM ET, 11/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Politics | Tags:  Bill Cooper, Stan Barry, Virginia

Posted at 08:31 AM ET, 11/03/2011

Fairfax sheriff still fending off pension allegations
By Tom Jackman
He entered a three-year county retirement program in 2009, then decided to run for reelection this year, drawing GOP attacks.

By Tom Jackman  |  08:31 AM ET, 11/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Politics | Tags:  Stan Barry, Bill Cooper, Virginia

Posted at 10:19 AM ET, 11/02/2011

Prince William hosts important global warming case
By Tom Jackman
In Manassas, a conservative environmental group is making headway in a possibly landmark fight to obtain the e-mails of a U-Va. professor who has theorized that global warming is caused by humans.

By Tom Jackman  |  10:19 AM ET, 11/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County, Courts | Tags:  global warming, Michael Mann, Virginia

Posted at 04:01 PM ET, 10/31/2011

Loudoun GOP puts bullet hole in zombie Obama’s head
By Tom Jackman
An invitation to a Halloween parade in Leesburg features an image of President Obama as a zombie with a bullet hole in his forehead.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:01 PM ET, 10/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Politics | Tags:  Loudoun County Republican Committee, Virginia

Posted at 01:03 PM ET, 10/31/2011

Fairfax board candidate DeCarlo raps, ‘dances’
By Tom Jackman
Christopher DeCarlo, running for chairman of the county board, launches his first foray into music.

By Tom Jackman  |  01:03 PM ET, 10/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Politics | Tags:  Christopher DeCarlo, Virginia

Posted at 04:02 PM ET, 10/10/2011

Writing the Dave Sharrett Story: Vol. 5, Digging in
By Tom Jackman
THE STATE OF NOVA | Tom Jackman taking a break from blogging to focus on the story of Dave Sharrett, the Oakton soldier killed by friendly fire.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:02 PM ET, 10/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Dave Sharrett, Oakton | Tags:  Dave Sharrett, Virginia

Posted at 05:45 PM ET, 10/07/2011

Loudoun candidate Speakman sends woman lewd photo
By Tom Jackman
Ronald Speakman, running for sheriff of Loudoun County, sent a photo of a man’s genitalia to a woman who was working for his campaign last week. He says it was intended as a joke. The woman didn’t take it that way.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:45 PM ET, 10/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Politics | Tags:  Ronald Speakman, Virginia

Posted at 10:19 AM ET, 10/04/2011

The sad, terrible death of Exit 49C on the Beltway
By Tom Jackman
The Beltway/I-66 interchange was bearable because there were two northbound exits. Now there’s one. Do the traffic gods hate us?

By Tom Jackman  |  10:19 AM ET, 10/04/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Traffic, Fairfax County | Tags:  Interstate 66, Capital Beltway, Virginia

Posted at 06:38 PM ET, 10/03/2011

NoVa’s Asian massage parlors can be fronts for human sex trafficking, authorities say
By Tom Jackman
Some authorities, including Rep. Frank Wolf, think so, and are pushing the Justice Department to do more to shut down places which import and then trap young women into years of servitude.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:38 PM ET, 10/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  NoVa, Crime | Tags:  Massage parlors, Human trafficking, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 09/30/2011

NoVa Roller Derby launches Saturday in Loudoun
By Tom Jackman
It’s not your father’s roller derby, but it is full contact, its skaters have cool names like Debi Does Dulles and Loudoun Dirty, and they are dedicated to helping a different charity every month.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 09/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Sterling, Sports | Tags:  NoVa Roller Derby, Virginia

Posted at 04:45 AM ET, 09/30/2011

Stanley Mehr is McLean’s flower guy for 60 years
By Tom Jackman
Determined to grow dahlias amongst the ever-developing McLean community, Mehr Brothers launched in 1952 and has been an anchor in the area ever since.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:45 AM ET, 09/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  McLean | Tags:  Stanley Mehr, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 09/30/2011

Woodbridge flood cleanup slowed by red tape
By Tom Jackman
Three weeks after the flood at the Holly Acres mobile home park in Woodbridge, one contractor’s offer to clean up the damaged site has been rejected because he doesn’t have the right type of license.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 09/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Woodbridge | Tags:  NoVa flood, Virginia

Posted at 05:47 PM ET, 09/29/2011

Dale City 2nd grader drinks hand sanitizer, hospitalized
By Tom Jackman
A 7-year-old girl at Neabsco Elementary School apparently drank a quantity of hand sanitizer, outraging the girl’s father, who said she should have been better supervised.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:47 PM ET, 09/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Dale City, Schools | Tags:  Hand sanitizer, Virginia

Posted at 06:28 PM ET, 09/28/2011

Arlington, Fairfax bringing streetcars back to life
By Tom Jackman
As part of its redevelopment of Columbia Pike, Arlington and Fairfax counties hope to launch a 4.7-mile streetcar route from Baileys Crossroads to Pentagon City, then expand to Crystal City and beyond.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:28 PM ET, 09/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County, Fairfax County, Development, Traffic | Tags:  Streetcars, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 09/28/2011

Only Falls Church is The Little City,™ no one else
By Tom Jackman
The city trademarked the phrase last year, and has now been selected to spread the word at the National Trademark Expo in Alexandria next month.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 09/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Falls Church | Tags:  The Little City, Falls Church, Virginia

Posted at 08:49 AM ET, 09/27/2011

Holly Mitchell completes Ragnar Relay in memory of husband
By Megan Buerger
Holly Mitchell, whose husband died during last year’s Ragnar Relay race, completed it in his memory this year, running 13 of the 200 miles.

By Megan Buerger  |  08:49 AM ET, 09/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Sports | Tags:  Holly Mitchell, Shane Mitchell, Ragnar Relay, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 09/27/2011

Loudoun, Fairfax remain top two wealthiest counties in America
By Tom Jackman
Newly released census figures show that Loudoun County, with a median household income of more than $119,000, remains the wealthiest county in the country, Fairfax County is second and Arlington County is fifth.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 09/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Fairfax County | Tags:  Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Virginia

Posted at 03:00 AM ET, 09/26/2011

Tysons Corner City? Its past and its future
By Tom Jackman
Fairfax County wants 100,000 people to live in Tysons Corner, which would make it one of Virginia’s bigger cities, and between the Metro and planned development, it’s happening.

By Tom Jackman  |  03:00 AM ET, 09/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Tyson's Corner | Tags:  Tysons Corner, Virginia

Posted at 02:00 AM ET, 09/26/2011

UPDATE: Vienna’s ‘Wrong Spy,’ Brian Kelley, dies at 68
By Tom Jackman
Investigators looking for a Russian mole wrongly focused on, and threatened, Kelley and his family before uncovering his neighbor, FBI agent Robert Hanssen.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:00 AM ET, 09/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Vienna | Tags:  Brian Kelley, Virginia

Posted at 04:58 PM ET, 09/23/2011

Northrop Grumman opens its HQ in Falls Church
By Tom Jackman
The giant defense, aerospace and IT firm relocates its headquarters from Los Angeles to the Fairview Park office park just off Route 50 and the Beltway in the Falls Church area.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:58 PM ET, 09/23/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Development | Tags:  Northrop Grumman, Virginia

Posted at 04:07 PM ET, 09/22/2011

Loudoun sheriff candidate Ron Speakman has eventful past
By Tom Jackman
When independent sheriff candidate Ron Speakman was a married, 27-year-old Leesburg police officer, he began an affair with a married woman who eventually shot him.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:07 PM ET, 09/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Politics | Tags:  Ron Speakman, Virginia

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 09/22/2011

One year after tragedy, Fairfax wife runs relay again
By Megan Buerger
Holly Mitchell‘s husband died during last year’s Ragnar Relay. This weekend, she’ll run in his honor.

By Megan Buerger  |  11:53 AM ET, 09/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Sports | Tags:  Holly Mitchell, Shane Mitchell, Ragnar Relay, Virginia

Posted at 11:06 AM ET, 09/21/2011

74 Woodbridge flood victims remain at shelter
By Tom Jackman
Nearly two weeks after the Holly Acres mobile home park was swamped by Tropical Storm Lee, dozens of people are still staying in the First Mount Zion Baptist Church. You can help.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:06 AM ET, 09/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Woodbridge | Tags:  NoVa flood, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 09/21/2011

Vote Evan Moss for People magazine’s ‘Hero’
By Tom Jackman
The 7-year-old author from the Alexandria area of Fairfax County is one of nine nominees for People’s “Reader’s Choice Hero” award, which carries a $10,000 grand prize.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 09/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Books, Fairfax County | Tags:  Evan Moss, Virginia

Posted at 12:24 PM ET, 09/20/2011

George Mason’s Alessandra Luchini officially brilliant
By Tom Jackman
The researcher at the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine at GMU has helped devise a way to spot cancer and other diseases earlier.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:24 PM ET, 09/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Mason University | Tags:  Alessandra Luchini, Virginia

Posted at 05:15 AM ET, 09/20/2011

Arlington’s Zap-a-tat now open, removing tattoos
By Tom Jackman
Christian Slavin has gone from an empty storefront in Ballston to a full service tattoo removal parlor on Wilson Boulevard in just two months. And he’s already pulling in dozens of clients.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:15 AM ET, 09/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County | Tags:  Tattoo removal, Zap-a-tat, Virginia

Posted at 03:30 AM ET, 09/19/2011

Fairfax’s Gary Gaal gets his own day, and ‘new’ house
By Tom Jackman
The retired Army colonel’s volunteerism got him his own day, and a $100,000 exterior home makeover.

By Tom Jackman  |  03:30 AM ET, 09/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Franconia, Fairfax County | Tags:  Gary Gaal, Virginia

Posted at 11:54 AM ET, 09/16/2011

The Eden Center raid: The rest of the story (so far)
By Tom Jackman

By Tom Jackman  |  11:54 AM ET, 09/16/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Falls Church, Crime | Tags:  Eden Center, Virginia

Posted at 02:20 PM ET, 09/14/2011

Falls Church’s Eden Center controversy heating up (UPDATE: First five defendants cleared in court)
By Tom Jackman
After a raid of the Vietnamese shopping center on Aug. 11, police said a gang named ‘Dragon Family’ dominated the mall. Merchants, customers say that’s not true, and police overreacted.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:20 PM ET, 09/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Falls Church, Crime | Tags:  Eden Center, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 09/13/2011

Nice guys finish...in the Loudoun jail? Leo Durocher arrested for murder
By Tom Jackman
The famed baseball manager, who is credited with coining the phrase “Nice guys finish last,” is not the same Leo Durocher who is now charged with a 2001 home invasion murder near Purcellville.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 09/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Crime | Tags:  Leo Durocher, Virginia

Posted at 01:03 PM ET, 09/12/2011

Did Arlington have a more ominous link to 9-11?
By Tom Jackman
A new story in the Miami Herald reports that Esam Ghazzawi owned a house in Sarasota visited frequently by 9-11 hijackers, and that Ghazzawi fled the country from Arlington shortly before the attacks.

By Tom Jackman  |  01:03 PM ET, 09/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County | Tags:  Esam Ghazzawi, Virginia

Posted at 09:58 PM ET, 09/09/2011

Scenes from NoVa’s devastating flood
By Tom Jackman
Residents in Huntington, in Fairfax County, and Woodbridge in Prince William County appeared to suffer the brunt of the floods, which killed three people in Northern Virginia.

By Tom Jackman  |  09:58 PM ET, 09/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  NoVa, Woodbridge, Fairfax County | Tags:  NoVa flood, Virginia

Posted at 10:27 AM ET, 09/09/2011

Harrowing experiences in NoVa flooding? Share yours here.
By Tom Jackman
The raging waters that hit Northern Virginia Thursday have killed at least two people, and stranded or terrified many more. How did you fare?

By Tom Jackman  |  10:27 AM ET, 09/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  NoVa, Annandale | Tags:  NoVa flood, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 09/09/2011

UPDATE: Evan Moss raises $42,000 for service dogs
By Tom Jackman
The 7-year-old author of a book, trying to raise $13,000 to buy a service dog to help him with severe epileptic seizures, has now raised enough money for seven other children to get dogs too.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 09/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Books, Fairfax County | Tags:  Evan Moss, Virginia

Posted at 11:02 AM ET, 09/07/2011

BRAC federal building at Alexandria’s Mark Center vulnerable to terrorists, Pentagon study says
By Tom Jackman
A Pentagon internal study of the possible damage that could be done by a truck bomb to the new BRAC building at Mark Center is quite horrifying, Time magazine reports.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:02 AM ET, 09/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria | Tags:  BRAC, Mark Center, Virginia

Posted at 11:31 AM ET, 09/05/2011

Children in NoVa homeless shelters start school too
By Tom Jackman
As school starts in Northern Virginia, it’s a particularly hard time for kids who don’t have a home, either to start the day or return to at school day’s end. And space at local shelters for families is full.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:31 AM ET, 09/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  NoVa, Loudoun County | Tags:  Homelessness, Virginia

Posted at 04:54 PM ET, 09/02/2011

Buffett fans avoid Live Nation Disaster Hole
By Tom Jackman
Jimmy Buffett fans were unhappy with Jiffy Lube Live’s no-tailgating policy. But when the show was rescheduled, Live Nation had to offer refunds, and thousands of Buffett fans took advantage.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:54 PM ET, 09/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County, Nightlife, Music | Tags:  Live Nation Disaster Hole, Virginia

Posted at 05:24 PM ET, 09/01/2011

The earth moved, but USGS printer in Reston didn’t
By Tom Jackman
The lobby seismograph at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Reston headquarters was the obvious place for employees to go for news last week. Wrong decision.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:24 PM ET, 09/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Reston | Tags:  USGS, Virginia

Posted at 03:52 PM ET, 09/01/2011

Doug Green, Potomac Falls grad, killed in Afghanistan
By Tom Jackman
Green was a popular actor and football player at Potomac Falls, and had been in the Army for four years.

By Tom Jackman  |  03:52 PM ET, 09/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Sterling, Loudoun County | Tags:  Douglas Green, Virginia

Posted at 12:38 PM ET, 09/01/2011

Ashburn becoming a hotbed of football QBs
By Tom Jackman
Three high school quarterbacks in a five-mile radius in Loudoun County are rated blue-chip prospects, further burnishing Loudoun’s status as a football powerhouse.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:38 PM ET, 09/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Ashburn, Sports, Loudoun County | Tags:  Ryan Burns, Connor Jessop, Trace McSorley, Virginia

Posted at 06:01 PM ET, 08/31/2011

Springfield’s Jaxx rock club sues Gunnar Nelson, alleging slander
By Tom Jackman
Jay Nedry, longtime owner of the venerable headbanging venue, was outraged when Nelson claimed that Nedry stiffed them after a 2008 show. And Nelson’s own records show they received at least partial, if not full, payment.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:01 PM ET, 08/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Springfield, Music, Nightlife | Tags:  Jaxx, Gunnar Nelson, Jay Nedry, Virginia

Posted at 04:49 PM ET, 08/30/2011

Sean Lanigan sues Fairfax schools for his legal fees
By Tom Jackman
The former Centreville elementary school teacher, acquitted of molesting a 12-year-old girl, asked the school board to repay $107,000, but the board only offered $60,000, conditional on a waiver of future liability.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:49 PM ET, 08/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Centreville, Fairfax County, Schools | Tags:  Sean Lanigan, Virginia

Posted at 11:17 AM ET, 08/30/2011

Alexandria’s GenOn coal-fired electric plant to close
By Tom Jackman and Patricia Sullivan
The plant and Alexandria have reached a deal to shut it down next year, which will thrill environmentalists and open up prime real estate on the waterfront.

By Tom Jackman and Patricia Sullivan  |  11:17 AM ET, 08/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria | Tags:  GenOn plant, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 08/30/2011

Loudoun becoming The King of Data (Centers)
By Tom Jackman
A boom in computer companies locating their servers and data centers in Loudoun County, particularly Ashburn, is renewing the relevance of the Dulles Corridor after AOL’s rise and fall.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 08/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Development | Tags:  data centers: Virginia

Posted at 04:45 AM ET, 08/30/2011

How did Loudoun schools start early? Here’s how
By Tom Jackman
Virginia is stubbornly sticking to its No School Before Labor Day law, but Loudoun had accumulated so many snow days it got a waiver. Will Virginia ever extend its school year? Maybe.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:45 AM ET, 08/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Schools | Tags:  summer vacation, Virginia

Posted at 02:50 AM ET, 08/29/2011

Writing the Dave Sharrett story: Vol. 4, The Report
By Tom Jackman
The family of Pfc. David H. Sharrett II of Oakton, killed in a friendly fire incident in Iraq in 2008, has finally received the third investigation into their son’s death, but they feel it raises as many questions as it answers.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:50 AM ET, 08/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Dave Sharrett | Tags:  Friendly fire, Dave Sharrett, Virginia

Posted at 02:00 AM ET, 08/29/2011

Dumfries council member has had it with Pr. William ‘momma’
By Tom Jackman
Kristin Forrester says the Prince William Board of Supervisors, and Supervisor Maureen Caddigan in particular, treat them like children, and Caddigan is the mother. And she’s fed up.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:00 AM ET, 08/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Dumfries, Prince William County | Tags:  Kristin Forrester, Maureen Caddigan, Virginia

Posted at 05:04 PM ET, 08/26/2011

Alexandria’s waterfront before the storm
By Tom Jackman
Photographer Angela B. Pan snapped a remarkable shot at sunrise this morning on the waterfront in Alexandria.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:04 PM ET, 08/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria | Tags:  Alexandria waterfront, Virginia

Posted at 06:46 PM ET, 08/24/2011

In Loudoun, struggling with sudden, senseless tragedy
By Tom Jackman
William and Cynthia Bennett had no reason to think that a Sunday morning walk in Lansdowne would end with a brutal assault. No reasons have emerged. But the Bennett family is fighting on.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:46 PM ET, 08/24/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Crime | Tags:  William Bennett, Cynthia Bennett, Jaime Ayala, Virginia

Posted at 02:05 PM ET, 08/24/2011

Loudoun teen gets life sentence in Lansdowne murder
By Tom Jackman
Cynthia Bennett, who was brutally attacked along with her husband as they went on a morning walk in 2009, testifies at the sentencing hearing of one defendant.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:05 PM ET, 08/24/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, Crime | Tags:  Jaime Ayala, William Bennett, Cynthia Bennett, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 08/24/2011

Tysons Corner second hottest place for rich singles?
By Tom Jackman
Money magazine ranks the NoVa shopping and traffic mecca as the second best place in the land to meet rich single people. During work hours. In line at the mall. Huh?

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 08/24/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Tyson's Corner | Tags:  Rich singles, Virginia

Posted at 06:11 PM ET, 08/23/2011

Earthquakes in NoVa? Nothin’ new here
By Tom Jackman
We just had an earthquake in Annandale in 2008. Well, a microquake. And one in Manassas in 1997.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:11 PM ET, 08/23/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Earthquakes in NoVa, Virginia

Posted at 05:15 AM ET, 08/23/2011

University of Northern Virginia: What is it? Part 1
By Tom Jackman
Immigration authorities raided them, the chancellor just quit, and the University of Northern Virginia is now out in the open, after 13 years of quiet, unaccredited education of mostly foreign students.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:15 AM ET, 08/23/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Annandale, Schools | Tags:  University of Northern Virginia, Virginia

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 08/23/2011

Arlington memorializes Deep Throat spot in Rosslyn
By Tom Jackman
Outside the parking garage where FBI official Mark Felt met with Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward, a historical marker has been placed.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:00 AM ET, 08/23/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County | Tags:  Watergate, Deep Throat, Virginia

Posted at 04:15 AM ET, 08/22/2011

Fairfax County homelessness gets in-depth look
By Tom Jackman
The Connection newspapers compile an issue with dozens of stories, editorials, photos and video about the effort to end homelessness in Fairfax County by 2018.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:15 AM ET, 08/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County | Tags:  Homelessness, Virginia

Posted at 03:45 AM ET, 08/22/2011

Alexandria envisions future without GenOn coal plant
By Tom Jackman
A plan for an environmentally friendly, mixed use residential and business development has been planned for the spot of the coal plant. Though the plant’s not going anywhere. Yet.

By Tom Jackman  |  03:45 AM ET, 08/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria | Tags:  GenOn coal plant, Virginia

Posted at 03:15 AM ET, 08/22/2011

Loudoun Valley High war vet stars in documentary
By Tom Jackman
Rob Jones, despite losing both of his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan, has quickly become a remarkable athlete and the subject of a new documentary.

By Tom Jackman  |  03:15 AM ET, 08/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County | Tags:  Rob Jones, Ivan Kander, Virginia

Posted at 02:53 AM ET, 08/22/2011

Vienna’s Sam Savia does 70 years on the fire line
By Tom Jackman
He joined the volunteer fire department at age 15, and 70 years later, he’s still donating his time. The town honors him by renaming the fire station’s apparatus bay after him.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:53 AM ET, 08/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Vienna, Firefighters | Tags:  Sam Savia, Virginia

Posted at 10:46 PM ET, 08/12/2011

Fairfax chief’s apology in Masters case: The rest of the story
By Tom Jackman
Fairfax County Police Chief David M. Rohrer apologized to the mother, father, sister and ex-wife of David Masters for his death at the hands of a Fairfax police officer. But they’re still unhappy. Here’s why.

By Tom Jackman  |  10:46 PM ET, 08/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  David Masters, Virginia

Posted at 12:23 AM ET, 08/12/2011

Arlington prosecutor candidates differ on death, drugs and experience
By Tom Jackman
Arlington’s chief deputy prosecutor, Theo Stamos, has 24 years of experience over defense lawyer David Deane. But can Deane’s anti-death penalty stance win him votes?

By Tom Jackman  |  12:23 AM ET, 08/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County, Falls Church | Tags:  Theo Stamos, David Deane, Virginia

Posted at 10:17 AM ET, 08/11/2011

McLean man hits $107 million lottery jackpot
By Tom Jackman
Brian McCarthy, 25, will collect $68.4 million. He bought the ticket at the Giant in Herndon, and has already given $50,000 to Herndon charities.

By Tom Jackman  |  10:17 AM ET, 08/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  McLean | Tags:  Brian McCarthy, Virginia

Posted at 10:51 PM ET, 08/10/2011

Writing the Dave Sharrett story: Vol. 3, Background
By Tom Jackman
The friendly fire death of Oakton soldier Dave Sharrett is not a new story. Here are some previous stories about the case, and also a preview of an upcoming documentary.

By Tom Jackman  |  10:51 PM ET, 08/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Dave Sharrett, Oakton | Tags:  Dave Sharrett, Virginia

Posted at 05:25 PM ET, 08/10/2011

BRAC: Alexandria’s four-letter word for ‘carmageddon’?
By Tom Jackman
This week, the first of the 6,400 new full-time Defense Department employees began moving into the BRAC building near Seminary Road. Many, many questions remain about how this will not turn into “carmageddon.”

By Tom Jackman  |  05:25 PM ET, 08/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria, Traffic | Tags:  BRAC, Virginia

Posted at 04:46 AM ET, 08/09/2011

From naked on highway to thankful postpartum survivor
By Tom Jackman
Heather Coleman wants to warn people about the severe effects of postpartum syndrome. But she also wants to find the motorists who stopped her, probably saved her, and thank them.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:46 AM ET, 08/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Mental Health | Tags:  Heather Coleman, Virginia

Posted at 11:06 AM ET, 08/08/2011

Virginia’s Aaron Vaughn among Navy SEALs killed in Afghanistan
By Tom Jackman
Vaughn, a father of two small children, was on the NATO helicopter that was shot down Saturday, killing 30 American troops, including 22 Navy SEALs.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:06 AM ET, 08/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  McLean | Tags:  Aaron Vaughn, Virginia

Posted at 12:51 AM ET, 08/08/2011

Alexandria’s Sasha DiGiulian is world champ rock climber
By Tom Jackman
At 18, the Potomac School graduate won a gold medal for her overall performance in Italy, and she’s traveling the world like a rock star.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:51 AM ET, 08/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria, Sports | Tags:  Sasha DiGiulian, rock climbing, Virginia

Posted at 04:15 AM ET, 08/05/2011

Writing the Dave Sharrett story: Vol. 2, Homework
By Tom Jackman
A FATHER’S FIGHT | Follow reporter Tom Jackman as he researches the story of an Oakton man’s death in Iraq and his father’s struggle for information and accountability. Read the first installment.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:15 AM ET, 08/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oakton | Tags:  Dave Sharrett, Virginia

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 08/05/2011

Annandale Salvation Army food drive comes up short
By Tom Jackman
The local Salvation Army’s food bank shelves are empty sooner than usual, so they launched a ”Christmas in July” food drive Saturday. That didn’t help much. You can help.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:00 AM ET, 08/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Annandale | Tags:  Salvation Army food bank, Virginia

Posted at 06:23 PM ET, 08/04/2011

Arlington’s Martha Ann Miller is turning 100
By Tom Jackman
Martha Ann Miller won a college scholarship at 13, raised four children in Arlington and played a pivotal role in the county’s educational history as a teacher at Stratford Junior High School.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:23 PM ET, 08/04/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County, Schools | Tags:  Martha Ann Miller, Virginia

Posted at 12:10 PM ET, 08/02/2011

Evan Moss raises more than $13,000, will get seizure dog
By Tom Jackman
Evan Moss, 7, has severe epileptic seizures; the money he raised will be enough to get several other children seizure dogs, too.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:10 PM ET, 08/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Books | Tags:  Evan Moss, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 08/02/2011

Lee Malvo tries, fails to change his name
By Tom Jackman
Sniper Lee Boyd Malvo tried in court to change his name to Joseph Lee Ostrierre, saying he feared for his safety. A Wise County judge said people would know him, whatever his name.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 08/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Crime, Courts | Tags:  Lee Boyd Malvo, Virginia

Posted at 08:35 AM ET, 08/01/2011

NoVa gets its own pro hoops team — the Nova Wonders
By Tom Jackman
The ABA is back, with more wacky rules innovations and an expansion team that will play its games in Chantilly starting this fall.

By Tom Jackman  |  08:35 AM ET, 08/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  NoVa, Chantilly, Sports | Tags:  Nova Wonders, Virginia

Posted at 04:25 AM ET, 07/29/2011

Reston store ‘not a sex shop,’ owner says
By Tom Jackman
Tiana Cutturo, owner of Maria’s Passion Paradise on Lake Anne Plaza, says the store will sell sexy clothes, and edible candles, but is not a full-blown sex shop.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:25 AM ET, 07/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Reston | Tags:  lingerie, Virginia

Posted at 04:35 AM ET, 07/28/2011

Arlington rapper wants to ‘Raise the Debt Ceiling’
By Tom Jackman
Remy Munasifi adds to NoVa’s canon of deep-thinking economic theory rap, as well as his own collection of hilarious rap vidoes.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:35 AM ET, 07/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County | Tags:  Remy Munasifi, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 07/28/2011

Great Falls assisted living home approved by Fairfax
By Tom Jackman
Over some vociferous neighborhood opposition, a 94-bed assisted living home was approved by Fairfax supervisors for Colvin Run Road in Great Falls. Opponents say they may appeal to the courts.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 07/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Great Falls, Development, Politics | Tags:  Brightview, Virginia

Posted at 04:49 PM ET, 07/27/2011

Nas in Fairfax City sports bar? Believe it
By Tom Jackman
The mega hip hop star from Queens is set to appear, not perform, at Icons Sports Lounge in Fairfax City Friday night.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:49 PM ET, 07/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax City, Nightlife, Music | Tags:  Nas, Virginia

Posted at 12:12 PM ET, 07/27/2011

Ashley’s Law: The rest of the story
By Tom Jackman
The death of Ashley McIntosh in 2008 set her mother, Cindy Colasanto, on a journey with crushing lows, gradual highs and then a remarkable accomplishment: a new Virginia law

By Tom Jackman  |  12:12 PM ET, 07/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, Police | Tags:  Ashley McIntosh, Cindy Colasanto, Virginia

Posted at 11:32 AM ET, 07/27/2011

Prince William launches hoarding task force
By Tom Jackman
Thousands of Prince William residents are suspected of keeping dangerous levels of junk and stuff in their homes, so the county is launching a multi-agency approach to dealing with cases.

By Tom Jackman  |  11:32 AM ET, 07/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County | Tags:  Hoarding, Virginia

Posted at 07:27 PM ET, 07/26/2011

In Mt. Vernon, Gov. McDonnell signs ‘Ashley’s Law’
By Tom Jackman
The death of Ashley McIntosh, in a car crash with a Fairfax County police cruiser in 2008, spurred a new law governing how emergency responders may enter intersections with a red light.

By Tom Jackman  |  07:27 PM ET, 07/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Police | Tags:  Ashley's Law, Cindy Colasanto, Virginia

Posted at 09:58 AM ET, 07/26/2011

So THAT’S what that house on the Beltway is
By Tom Jackman
The house sticking through the sound barrier overlooking the Gallows Road on-ramp must have some serious sound issues, right? Here’s what’s really going on in there.

By Tom Jackman  |  09:58 AM ET, 07/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Annandale | Tags:  Beltway house, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 07/26/2011

Arlington’s last working farm, Reevesland, lays dormant
By Tom Jackman
Reevesland hasn’t been a dairy farm since 1955, but its neighbors want to transform the property into a farm and local history learning center.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 07/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County | Tags:  Reevesland, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 07/25/2011

Evan Moss update: Hundreds turn out, thousands raised
By Tom Jackman
Evan Moss sold 400 copies of his book “My Seizure Dog” as he strived to raise the $13,000 needed to buy a service dog to help him with his severe epileptic seizures.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 07/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Books, Fairfax County | Tags:  Evan Moss, My Seizure Dog, Virginia

Posted at 04:15 AM ET, 07/25/2011

In Haymarket, the Senators and their wood bats play ball
By Tom Jackman
Haymarket has taken its team of college baseball players to heart, spurred by scrappy owners who handle everything from contracts to radio play-by-play to grilling the burgers.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:15 AM ET, 07/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Prince William County, Sports | Tags:  Haymarket Senators, Virginia

Posted at 04:59 PM ET, 07/22/2011

Evan Moss, 7-year-old with epilepsy, has his first book-signing Sunday
By Tom Jackman
Evan Moss needs $13,000 to purchase a specially trained seizure dog to help him, and he had the idea to write a book to raise the money. Then he did it. Now he’s ready to sign and sell them.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:59 PM ET, 07/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County, Books | Tags:  Evan Moss, My Seizure Dog, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 07/22/2011

Leesburg’s amazing new movie theater (fancy food, drinks, and moving seats!) opens today
By Tom Jackman
The new Cobb Village 12 Cinemas, behind the Wegman’s on Route 7, features not only fancy food and drinks but D-Box seats that move with the movie. If you’re into that.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 07/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Leesburg, Nightlife | Tags:  Leesburg movies, Virginia

Posted at 04:15 AM ET, 07/22/2011

Fairfax’s Gum Springs residents fear traffic onslaught
By Tom Jackman
In the historically black neighborhood just east of Route 1, the approval of a big expansion for Inova Mount Vernon Hospital raises fears that traffic will overrun the area.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:15 AM ET, 07/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Mount Vernon, Traffic, Hybla Valley | Tags:  Gum Springs, Virginia

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 07/21/2011

Loudoun has the most nuclear families in Virginia
By Tom Jackman
Northern Virginia leads the nation in the percentage of homes with conventional — mother-father-2.2 children — families, and Loudoun County is tops in all of Va.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:00 PM ET, 07/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Loudoun County, NoVa | Tags:  nuclear families, Virginia

Posted at 01:44 PM ET, 07/21/2011

Arlington’s 18-foot topless mermaid can be yours for $3,000
By Tom Jackman
An 18-foot wooden mermaid was a landmark of sorts in the Arlington front yard of Paul and Nancy Jackson. Now, the remainder of a 100-year-old white ash tree is for sale.

By Tom Jackman  |  01:44 PM ET, 07/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Arlington County | Tags:  Arlington mermaid, Virginia

Posted at 02:05 PM ET, 07/20/2011

Reston’s Lake Anne Plaza getting a sex shop?
By Tom Jackman
The declining former heart of Reston may be getting an injection of sexy with the proposed opening of an adult toy store at Lake Anne Plaza.

By Tom Jackman  |  02:05 PM ET, 07/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Reston | Tags:  Reston sex shop, Virginia

Posted at 10:48 AM ET, 07/20/2011

MWAA wants $7 million expansion? Really? Now?? (UPDATE: Station going above ground)
By Tom Jackman
As the controversial decision to locate the Dulles Metro station above ground reaches a turning point, The Post reveals that MWAA wants to build itself a $7.2 million addition.

By Tom Jackman  |  10:48 AM ET, 07/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Dulles International Airport, Metro | Tags:  Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Dulles Metro, Virginia

Posted at 12:10 PM ET, 07/19/2011

Virginia leads nation in reporting to gun background system
By Tom Jackman
Virginia tightened its laws after the Virginia Tech shootings and now has filed more mental health reports per capita to a national database than any other state.

By Tom Jackman  |  12:10 PM ET, 07/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Mental Health | Tags:  Gun background checks, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 07/19/2011

Alexandria’s Liam and Eliza Malakoff dominate whitewater
By Tom Jackman
The brother and sister team both had huge success at the recent national canoe and kayak team trials, but 18-year-old Liam says he thinks he’s done with the sport. Eliza, 13, carries on.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 07/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria, Sports | Tags:  Liam Malakoff, Eliza Malakoff, Virginia

Posted at 04:30 AM ET, 07/18/2011

Virginia aiming to become Hollywood East
By Tom Jackman
Virginia has $3 million in incentives to offer film production crews to come to the Old Dominion, and it’s working. Clint Eastwood just finished, and Steven Spielberg’s on the way.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:30 AM ET, 07/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Media | Tags:  Virginia Film Office, Virginia

Posted at 04:20 AM ET, 07/18/2011

Fairfax’s Alliance Theatre pulls off ‘Hairspray’ flash mob
By Tom Jackman
It’s basically just a live commercial for their upcoming show, but in the middle of Fairfax Corner on a Friday evening, it’s fun to watch it unfold.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:20 AM ET, 07/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Fairfax County | Tags:  Alliance Theatre, Virginia

Posted at 04:15 AM ET, 07/18/2011

Alexandria hospital working to identify human skulls
By Tom Jackman
Inova Alexandria Hospital and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children teamed up to identify a human skull, and they are hoping other hospitals use their CT scanners to help solve cold cases.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:15 AM ET, 07/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Alexandria | Tags:  Inova Alexandria Hospital, Joe Mullins, Virginia

Posted at 05:03 PM ET, 07/15/2011

Groveton oral history project from ’70s now online
By Tom Jackman
Two teachers at the old Groveton High sent their students out into the community in the late 1970s and had them record and transcribe oral histories of the area. Now it’s all online.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:03 PM ET, 07/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Mount Vernon | Tags:  Groveton, Virginia

Posted at 12:06 PM ET, 07/15/2011

Gerry Connolly is a Harry Potter fanatic
By Tom Jackman
Rep. Gerry Connolly first used Harry Potter books to teach his daughter to read, and now he’s one of those fanatics who has parties before the movies’ midnight releases. Who knew?

By Tom Jackman  |  12:06 PM ET, 07/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Politics | Tags:  Gerry Connolly, Virginia

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 07/14/2011

Was there Honesty in guns-for-drugs deal?
By Tom Jackman
ATF says it had a deal with Irving C. “Swerve” Honesty, but no one knows where to find him anymore.

By Tom Jackman  |  06:30 PM ET, 07/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Manassas Park, Crime | Tags:  Irving "Swerve" Honesty, Virginia

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 07/14/2011

Battle of Bull Run? Yep, there’s an app for that
By Tom Jackman
A smartphone app that uses GPS technology to narrate your way around the battlefield in Manassas is now available for free, but only for Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iTouch.

By Tom Jackman  |  05:30 AM ET, 07/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Manassas | Tags:  Battle of Bull Run, Virginia

Posted at 04:45 AM ET, 07/14/2011

Dale City man sets dog, house on fire (UPDATE: Man charged)
By Tom Jackman
A man attempted to dispose of his deceased Rottweiler by setting it on fire. Instead, the flames leapt onto his house and caused $70,000 worth of damage.

By Tom Jackman  |  04:45 AM ET, 07/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Dale City | Tags:  Dale City dog fire, Virginia