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Construction Nearly Done on the 95 Express Lanes

The construction on the 95 Express Lanes is 90 percent complete and on schedule to open in early January 2015.

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New Analysis of Accotink Creek Underway

Department of Environmental Quality resumes project after EPA lawsuit.

When Meghan Walker paddles a canoe upstream from Lake Accotink looking for garbage, not much surprises her anymore. “The sky’s the limit for odd trash,” she said. “A big find last time was a wheel and tire -- still attached. That’s impressive.”

Later High School Start Times for 2015?

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza will propose later high school start times at the Fairfax County School Board’s business meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18, for the Board’s formal consideration at its business meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23.

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Area Schools Celebrate New Beginning

What’s new at Irving Middle, Lake Braddock Secondary and Sangster Elementary?

Rising seventh grade students at Washington Irving Middle School are not the only ones preparing for changes this upcoming school year. “This is the first year that we’re going to teach the Civics and Economic class to all eighth grade students at the honors level,” said Assistant Principal Rick Mondloch in an interview on Aug. 18.

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"Change the World Day" At Messiah United Methodist Church

More than 350 members of Messiah United Methodist Church in Springfield took church to the community Sunday, Sept. 7, performing 30 mission projects including repairing a boardwalk maintenance at Hidden Pond Nature Center; serving meals at Rising Hope UMC (Route 1 corridor) , Capitol Hill UMC (DC) and Fisher House (military veterans); sorting donations at area charity thrift stores and building fences at picnic tables at Camp High Road, a United Methodist camp in Manassas.

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Extreme Politics

Foust, Comstock stake out opposing positions during first debate in hyper-partisan 10th district Congressional race.

Forget first-debate politeness. Republican Barbara Comstock and Democrat John Foust — the candidates vying to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf in Virginia’s 10th Congressional district — sustained the hyper-partisan tenor of their campaigns during a debate-style forum hosted by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce in Herndon last week.

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$12 Million Suit Against Fairfax County Police

2013 shooting victim’s family seeks damages in wrongful death case.

The year-long silence surrounding the police shooting of John Geer has been broken — but not by Fairfax County Police or the U.S. Department of Justice. John Geer was shot to death by Fairfax County Police on Aug. 29, 2013.

Top Issues to Follow in the Area

According to Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield).

First up is getting a long-term fix to I-66 underway in 2017. “I66 congestion impacts Braddock Road,” said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield), “and it impacts congestion on 29 as people look to avoid and get around 66.” Then there is a quarter improvement study on the Fairfax County Parkway “so we can get the interchanges and widening that we need.” A final major transportation issue is getting secondary roads paved, such as Rolling Road.

A County of 186,785 Students

Welcome to the 2014-15 school year. The start of a new school year is always an exciting time for students, parents, and educators. Our dedicated staff has been working hard to prepare for another school year that builds on our tradition of excellence at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

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Springfield Celebrates 13th Annual BridgeWalk

Local leaders renew Army Community Covenant.

On a minimally muggy, late night on Aug. 22, hundreds of Springfield community members walked south across Veterans Bridge and over Old Keene Mill Road.

Foster Parents Needed

For more than 114 years, United Methodist Family Services (UMFS) has empowered children, their families, and the community.

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Around the World in One Day

Greenspring focuses on culture and heritage with Diversity Expo.

On Thursday, July 31, Greenspring hosted the 4th Annual Diversity Expo at the Springfield retirement community. The event, spearheaded by the community’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, provided for an eclectic cultural experience with international foods, clothing, food, music and dance.

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FCPS Inducts 1,200 New Teachers

“Great Beginnings” program at South County High School prepares new and transferring teachers for their first week.

As summer vacation in Fairfax County winds down, the hallways and classrooms at South County High school are already buzzing. Beginning Aug. 18, roughly 1,200 new and returning teachers — as well as those new to the school system — took part in a week-long induction program called “Great Beginnings: The Next Generation.”

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Springfield Schools Prepare for an ‘Exciting Year’

Full-day Mondays the biggest change in a new school year.

With the first day of school, Sept. 2, approaching --elementary schools are hard at work preparing for the new school year.

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Safety at a Crossroads in Poor Communities Across Northern Virginia

Less affluent neighborhoods in Northern Virginia suffer from higher pedestrian fatalities.

A national database of pedestrian crashes compiled by Governing Magazine shows 95 pedestrian fatalities in Northern Virginia between 2008 and 2012. While 26 of the pedestrian fatalities occurred in wealthy neighborhoods, where the per capita income is more than $53,000, a much larger number happened in poor communities like this stretch of Route 1 in Mount Vernon.