http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/ en Copyright 2009 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:46:53 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.21-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Today Focus on Fairfax bids farewell but stay tuned to the print edition and to washingtonpost.com for other features, notably this. Focus on Fairfax launched in August 2005 and has logged more than 1,500 entries and nearly 10,000 reader comments. It served as a one-stop depository for Fairfax readers. Readers of Focus on Fairfax should know that washingtonpost.com offers numerous blogs where they can get their daily fix of news and information, in particular the Virginia Politics blog. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/focus_on_fairfax_bids_farewell.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/focus_on_fairfax_bids_farewell.html Misc. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:46:53 -0500 The county's all-star high school football game kicks-off at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at West Springfield High School. Check out this article from today's Fairfax Extra to get the stories behind some of the players. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/county_allstar_football_game_s.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/county_allstar_football_game_s.html Sports Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:14:41 -0500 This article and video from today's Fairfax Extra introduces readers to Paul McCray, the man who was its steward for the better part of twenty years and knows the popular 45-mile path for bikers, walkers like no other. Read the article and share your trail stories here. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/a_special_insight_into_the_wod.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/a_special_insight_into_the_wod.html Parks and Recreation Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:07:04 -0500 Crime rose by 6 percent in Fairfax County in 2007 according to statistics released last week. The spike is largely driven by an increase in larcenies. Today's Fairfax Extra has the details. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/crime_up_6_percent_in_2007.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/crime_up_6_percent_in_2007.html Crime Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:00:44 -0500 In a step that would aim to help consolidate the administrative headquarters for Fairfax County Public Schools officials are considering spending $52 million to purchase a building in Merrifield, just weeks after approving one of the system's tightest budget in years. Read about it in this article from the Metro section. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/schools_consider_purchase_of_o.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/schools_consider_purchase_of_o.html Schools Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:42:30 -0500 Updated 6/19 Read about the governor's decision here. Originally posted 6/3 The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is characterizing a Virginia plan to rent empty prison beds to other states as an insult to local governments like the county's that have overcrowded jails. The board is considering a lawsuit against the Commonwealth if the plan is approved. Read about it in today's metro section. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/supervisors_consider_suit_agai.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/supervisors_consider_suit_agai.html Government Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:38:30 -0500 Updated 6/18 The latest on this story was detailed in this morning's Metro section: a state trooper testified in court yesterday that police later identified as Jeffrey Koger pointed a shotgun at him during the the February incident. Updated 2/5 The Post's reporting on the charges against Koger is here. Updated 2/4 Fairfax County police have released information that the suspect in the shootings near the Springfield Mall on Saturday was Jeffrey Koger of Koger Management. Koger has been charged with attempted capital murder of a police officer. More updates to follow. Updated 11/29 According to a lawsuit filed last month, some of it may have gone to a hip steak and sushi place in the District. Read about it in this article from yesterday's Metro section. Updated 7/20 The latest news comes from a report from a forensic accountant to state regulators. The story is here. Updated 3/23 According http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/management_co_worker_may_have.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/management_co_worker_may_have.html Crime Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:05:37 -0500 Update 6/18 The Traditional Values Coalition staged a small protest yesterday at the academy, alleging that the school teaches intolerance and hatred of Jews and Christians. The story is here. Updated 5/22 Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerald W. Hyland (D) said he reviewed the school's textbooks and found no reason for concern. The story is here. Updated 12/10 The latest on the scrutiny the Islamic Saudi Academy is facing is in today's Metro section. Updated 11/16 The latest news is in today's Metro section. Originally posted 10/19 The U.S. State Department is being urged by a federal panel, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, to shut down a Fairfax school that is supported by the government of Saudi Arabia until the school can prove that it is not teaching religious intolerance. The story is on today's front page. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/panel_urges_shut_down_fairfax.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/panel_urges_shut_down_fairfax.html Schools Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:53:27 -0500 According to this article, for many years Fairfax County's police department has had no rules with regard to how its official vehicles were used or how they far they could travel when officers were off duty. Now chief David M. Roher is warning that with fuel costs soaring and the county facing a budget crunch, the days of the taxpayer-funded personal use of police cars might soon be ending. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/officers_personal_use_of_polic.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/officers_personal_use_of_polic.html Public Safety Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:05:32 -0500 A news release from the city: UPDATE: Eastbound Route 7 Closed in Falls Church City for Water Main Break Repairs; Southbound Route 29 Reduced to One Lane. FALLS CHURCH, VA. - Eastbound route 7 in Falls Church City is closed between Maple Avenue and Washington Street as crews repair a 6-inch water main break at the intersection of routes 7 and 29. Traffic is being detoured onto Maple Avenue, to Annandale Road, and to South Washington Street (route 29). Southbound route 29 is reduced to one lane. The closures will remain in effect until approximately 6 p.m. The break occurred at approximately 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, June 17 when a commercial truck struck a fire hydrant, which in turn broke the water main. Service has been restored to water customers affected by the break. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/water_main_break_in_falls_chur.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/water_main_break_in_falls_chur.html Traffic Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:06:04 -0500 From today's Metro section: After five consecutive years of decreases, serious crime in Fairfax County rose more than 6 percent in 2007, according to statistics released yesterday. The increase was due almost entirely to an increase of nearly 1,200 larcenies last year over 2006. Larcenies and robberies reached all-time highs in the county, statistics show, while burglaries fell by nearly 11 percent and homicides dropped from 19 to 13. Police departments measure their crime rates, in part, by seven crimes: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft. The total number of crimes in 2006 was 17,108, and in 2007 it as 18,156. In 2006, the total number of crimes was the lowest recorded in Fairfax police statistics dating to 1970, when the county population was half of the 1 million people living in Fairfax now. -- Tom Jackman http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/serious_crime_up_more_than_6.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/serious_crime_up_more_than_6.html Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:23:05 -0500 A new study report questions whether better test scores and Advanced Placement performance correlates to higher graduation rates at area high schools. Read the story in today's Fairfax Extra. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/graduation_rates_examined.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/graduation_rates_examined.html Schools Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:53:16 -0500 Today marks the first day of the inaugural three-week Mason Festival of the Arts at George Mason University. Read all about it in today's Fairfax Extra. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/mason_festival_of_the_arts_beg.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/mason_festival_of_the_arts_beg.html Arts, Entertainment Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:45:49 -0500 According to this article from today's Fairfax Extra, transportation projects in Fairfax County have received only 3.6 percent of the money granted to Virginia under a federal program despite having 14 percent of the population, a situation that Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly calls, "inconceivable". The board plans to write a later of complaint to the Commonwealth Transportation Board. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/county_critical_of_vas_distrib.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/county_critical_of_vas_distrib.html Government Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:31:50 -0500 Because of the oppressive weather, the Fairfax County government is offering these tips to help beat the heat. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/staying_cool.html?wprss=fairfaxfocus http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fairfaxfocus/2008/06/staying_cool.html Weather Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:05:51 -0500