An instructional assistant at Orange Elementary School found the gun on Monday afternoon while helping a child who arrived late take items out of their bookbag, Orange County Sheriff Jason C. Smith said in a statement posted on social media. The assistant notified administration and the school resource officer and the gun was removed from the school, Smith said.

It was determined that the 6-year-old brought the loaded Heritage Rough Rider single-action, .22-caliber “Cowboy style” revolver to school, but there’s no indication that the child intended to use the firearm, he said. No arrests have been announced in the case and Smith said the investigation was ongoing.

“This situation is very unfortunate and heartbreaking to this community,” Smith said. “We will get through this together. Situations like these remind us of how fortunate and thankful we are that nothing serious happened. Show your children lots of love and hold them tight!”

In January 2023, a 6-year-old student brought a handgun to school that he used to shoot and critically wound his first grade teacher as she taught class in Newport News, Virginia.

Officials banned swimming, wading and surfing at Assateague State Park Sunday morning after Maryland Park Service rangers found several needles and needle caps, feminine hygiene products and cigar tips along the beach, Maryland Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Gregg Bortz said in an email.

A few more needles were found Monday, and the ban on swimming in the ocean continued at the park, he said.

There have been no reports of injuries or people encountering these items while swimming, Bortz said. The department was working with other local, state, and federal agencies to determine when it’s safe for people to enter the water.

All of Assateague Island National Seashore’s ocean-facing beaches in Maryland and Virginia were closed to swimming and wading.

Maryland’s Department of Emergency Management raised its state activation level to “partial” in support of the incident.

In Ocean City, Maryland, the beach patrol temporarily banned swimming Sunday after discovering medical waste on town beaches. Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald stressed in a statement that the situation was serious and said town officials were working with the Worcester County Health Department to investigate the source.

“Until we are confident that the situation is under control, we recommend wearing shoes on the beach and avoiding the ocean entirely,” he said.

On Monday afternoon, Theobald said the amount of debris had “significantly decreased.” The town was continuing to monitor the situation, particularly as the next high tide cycles approached Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control advised beachgoers to leave the beaches from the Indian River inlet to Fenwick Island Sunday afternoon and to refrain from swimming after reports of waste washing ashore on nearby Maryland beaches, the agency said in a statement. The department confirmed only minimal waste on Delaware beaches, including plastic caps and a single needle found near Dewey Beach.

“Despite the low level of waste observed, DNREC is taking the situation seriously and advising caution,” the agency said in a statement. The department maintains Delaware’s two state park beaches, but decisions about municipal beaches are up to town officials.

Delaware’s Dewey Beach temporarily barred swimming in the ocean Sunday. In an update Monday, the town said it was continuing to address the issue. Fenwick Island officials closed the beach for swimming Sunday and said in a statement that beaches would be inspected again late Monday and on Tuesday morning before a decision would be made on reopening.

Fall season is here so it’s time to pull out boots and jackets to really set the cozy mood.

As the leaves turn orange and prepare to fall from the trees, now is the perfect time to pick some apples, get lost in a corn maze or pick out the perfect pumpkin for decorating or baking!

Here are some fall festivals to check out in Virginia and Maryland.

Maryland corn mazes, pumpkin patches and apple picking

Maryland Corn Maze: Taylor’s Version

📅 Sept. 14 through Nov. 3
📍 389 Gambrills Road, Gambrills, Maryland
💲 $17.95
🔗 Details

Maryland Corn Maze (Taylor’s Version) is open for all Swifties and non-Swifties alike!

Can’t get enough of Taylor? Visit the maze on Oct. 2 to listen to singer Kanin Wren’s Taylor Swift Experience live concert.

Answer Swift-themed quiz questions to find your way out of the maze. Don’t miss out on the Flashlight Nights if you want a challenge.

Pick your own pumpkins and explore the farm yard complete with a bounceyard, rodeo roping area and slingshots.

Gaver Farm Fall Fun Fest

📅 Through Nov. 5 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily)
📍 5501 Detrick Rd Mt. Airy, Maryland
💲 $14.50-$23 (Kids under 24 months are free)
🔗 Details

Gaver Farm has all of your fall fun needs. From sunflowers to pumpkins to apples — there’s just about everything for everyone.

This family-friendly affair offers over 65 attractions including the “Fun to the Core” Corn Maze, animal meet-and-greets, a zipline and pedal karts.

Guests can pick their own pumpkins, apples and sunflowers after riding a free hayride out to the fields. Don’t miss out on the sunflowers — the farm expects blooms through Sept. 22! The farm provides all the tools needed to make picking seamless.

Butler’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival

📅 Sept. 21 through Nov. 3
📍 22222 Davis Mill Road Germantown, Maryland
💲 $11-$22 (Make a reservation ahead of time to avoid higher prices)
🔗 Details

The Butler’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival is bigger and better than ever!

Hunting for the perfect pumpkin? This year, guests have three options. You can drive to the pumpkin patch for the classic picking experience, get a pumpkin at the festival’s market or visit the Pumpkin Yard to get pre-picked pumpkins.

You aren’t just limited to picking your own pumpkin. Once you purchase a ticket, you can take hayrides, visit some backyard buddies, turn through the Twisted Corn Maze and jump in the Corn Pool.

Magnolia Meadow Farms

📅 Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27
📍13001 Creagerstown Road, Thurmont, Maryland
💲 $15 (online)/$20 (walk-in)
🔗 Details

Magnolia Meadow Farms says it is home to Maryland’s largest corn maze along with family-friendly activities like mini ziplines and a barrel train.

Don’t miss out on Moonlit Maze Nights on Oct. 5 and Oct. 26 where you can try out the corn maze under the stars for a good cause.

If you don’t want to stick to just pumpkins, you’re in luck! You can wander into three different fields to have your pick at sunflowers, pumpkins, gourds or cut flowers.

If you tire out from the fun, private campfires are available on-site. Reserve a campfire in case you want to get your own views of the farm away from the crowds.

Montpelier Farms Fall Festival

📅 Sept. 13-Nov. 3
📍 1720 North Crain Hwy, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
💲 $19.95 in advance/$24.95 at the gate
🔗 Details

Spend all day at the Montpelier Farms Fall Festival with its 7-acre corn maze, Barnyard Basketball and other fall activities. Try your hand at pumpkin bowling or tug of war. When it gets chilly at night, cuddle up by the public bonfire with loved ones.

If you want to pick your own pumpkins, you can visit the patch without purchasing a ticket to the festival — just pick your favorite (or favorites) and buy it there!

Virginia corn mazes, pumpkin patches and apple picking

Cox Farms Fall Festival

📅 Sept. 14 through Nov. 5
📍 15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville, Virginia
💲 $10-$25
🔗 Details

Cox Farms has just about everything you can think of when it comes to fall fun. The Fall Festival is a family-fun affair and there are many activities that you can choose from. You can ride the hayride, visit several attractions like themed slides, taste different apples and feed goats.

If you’re looking for a corn maze filled with surprises, the Cornundrum is just for you. Wind through the maze and you’ll come across pirates, caves and the Vortex!

The fun doesn’t stop there. Go back for spooky scares at their Fields of Fear starting on Sept. 20.

Great County Farms

📅 Aug. 31 through Sept. 30
📍 34345 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont, Virginia
💲 $12-$16 (advance tickets are highly recommended for weekends)
🔗 Details

If you’re looking for fresh pressed cider, apple picking and a fun corn maze, Great County Farms is for you!

You can visit the apple orchard, get lost in their 15-acre corn maze and the 15-acre play area that features the Farm Ninja Obstacle Course.

On weekends, guests can enjoy perfect fall activities like live music and visiting a snack bar complete with kettle corn and roasting marshmallows. You can even learn how to learn to press a bushel of apples!

Want to beat the weekend crowds? No worries! Guests can visit the farm during the week along with the weekend.

Wayside Farm

📅 Sept. 21 through Oct. 27
📍 5273 Harry Byrd Highway, Berryville, Virginia
💲 $17-$25 (Depending on ticket type)
🔗 Details

With great power comes great responsibility, and if you have great navigation skills, you can use that power to guide your group out of Wayside Farm’s Spiderman-themed corn maze! Make sure not to get lost in the mazeverse.

There are plenty of fun activities to choose from, including pig races and pumpkin smashing. If you’re interested in the pumpkin patch, reserve a spot in advance. The ticket will cover the first $20 worth of pumpkins.

Leesburg Animal Park’s Pumpkin Village

📅 Sept. 21 through Nov. 5 (closed on Tuesdays)
📍 19246 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg, Virginia
💲 $18.95-$22.25 (weekend tickets must be purchased in advance)
🔗 Details

If you love the zoo and autumn equally, Leesburg Animal Park’s Pumpkin Village might be the place for you. There’s a whole bunch of family-friendly activities to enjoy such as a kiddie hay maze, animal petting and feeding and pony rides (for an extra fee).

Up the fun factor on the weekends and Columbus Day with live entertainment, face painting, free cider, apple and pumpkin cookie tasting.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, students must turn off their phones and keep them stored away all day, including during lunch and between class periods, according to the guidance the Virginia Department of Education released Tuesday.

“This guidance will ensure K-12 Virginia students have a distraction-free environment to focus on learning and reduce the alarming mental health crisis and chronic health conditions from cell phones and social media affecting Virginia students,” the education department said in a release on Tuesday.

How does the cellphone ban differ for Virginia elementary, middle and high schools?

In terms of age-appropriate restrictions, the policy varies for elementary and secondary public schools.

• Elementary: If a parent determines an elementary student needs to take a cellphone or personal electronic communication device to school, it must be stored, off and away from the student during the school day. Students can’t use them on school grounds before or after school.
• Middle school students should not have easily available cellphones or personal electronic communication devices during the bell-to-bell school day. School systems should create local policies to determine whether or not students can use phones and devices on school property before and after school.
• High school students should not have easily accessible cellphones or personal electronic communication devices during the bell-to-bell school day. Students may use their cellphones on school grounds before and after school.

The “bell-to-bell” definition of cellphone-free education was also part of the draft guidance the VDOE put out in August.

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Where will students put their cellphones during the day?

While the VDOE said students cannot have their cellphones “on their person” during the bell-to-bell school day, including in their pockets, it’s up to school districts to decide how and where to store the cellphones.

School districts might allow students to store their phones in backpacks, lockers, locked pouches or in a designated place in the classroom, among other options, the VDOE said.

Some local districts have already put their own restrictions into place. In Fairfax County, schools are using magnetic pouches to keep kids off their phones.

Are there any exemptions to Virginia’s school cellphone ban? What about emergencies?

The education department said it received thousands of public comments and feedback before finalizing the policy.

Parents of children with medical needs, particularly those who use apps for health monitoring, voiced their concerns. The VDOE said those students can get a medical exemption to the bell-to-bell policy included in their Individualized Education Plan, 504 plan and/or individualized health care plans.

Many parents also said in their feedback to the state they were concerned about how to reach their children during emergencies.

“It became very apparent there are general gaps in parent, teacher and school communication resulting in parents feeling like they must communicate directly with their child for both emergency and non-emergency situations,” the VDOE said. “Specifically, concerns focused on the ability for a parent to contact their child in a school-based emergency including during or immediately after lockdowns.”

In cases of emergencies, the VDOE’s guidance states that local school districts must come up with plans to communicate directly with parents and establish reunification plans for children and parents.

School divisions must also publicly share how staff are trained to manage crisis and emergency situations, re-unification plans and the family notification process during crisis situations. Read here for more about the guidance for how schools should handle emergencies.

What’s next for Virginia’s school cellphone ban?

The state education department is set to release an “administrator’s toolkit” on Thursday to help school leaders implement their cellphone policies, and districts must adopt and implement policies that align with the state’s “bell-to-bell” guidance by Jan. 1, 2025.

State education officials plan to review the guidance at the end of the school year to consider ways to refine and improve it, the VDOE said.

Go here to read the VDOE’s complete guidance for cellphone-free education.

Virginia voters will be able to cast their ballots starting that day at their local registrar’s office. You can find yours here.

Then, voter registration offices will be open for early voting from Saturday, Oct. 26 through Saturday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m.

The 2024 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open that day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 7 p.m., you will be able to vote.

2024 Virginia voter registration info:

You can register to vote or apply for an absentee ballot online using Virginia’s Citizen Portal. The deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration is Oct. 15. You may still register after this date, though, and vote using a provisional ballot.

If you think you’re already registered but want to make sure, you can do that online here.

Same-day voter registration is also available.

Requesting a mail-in ballot in Virginia:

The deadline to request a ballot by mail is Oct. 25. Your request must be received by your local voter registration office by 5 p.m. that day.

Here are your options for submitting your completed mail-in ballot:

• Bring it to your local general registrar’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
• Bring it to a drop-off location. (Check the instructions provided in your absentee ballot mailing for the locations.)
• Return it by mail. Your filled-out ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5) and received by your general registrar’s office by noon on the third day after the election.

Virginia voter ID rules:

Voters may provide either an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID confirmation statement at the polls. Here’s a detailed list of other acceptable IDs. Note that you can use a DMV license at any time, even if it’s expired.

Abortion Sep 1

The 10 states where abortion rights will be on the ballot this fall

politics Aug 29

Act fast, be curious when a loved one moves toward political extremism, experts say

Who’s on the ballot in my area?

In addition to the presidential race, Virginia voters will be selecting their choice for one U.S. Senate seat and their U.S. House representative. If you’re not sure what congressional district you live in, you can check on that here.

There are also many local races. Look up candidate lists for your jurisdiction here.

Election Day 2024:

The 2024 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls that day will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 7 p.m., you will be able to vote.

You can find your Election Day polling place here. 

Same-day voter registration is available in Virginia. Here’s info on that.

Millions of people can’t vote every year because they don’t register in time, update their registration or know how to register, according to the National Voter Registration Day website.

In just a few minutes, you can register to vote or make sure your registration is up to date with your current name, address and party affiliation.

With just seven weeks to go before the 2024 election, here’s how to make sure you’re ready to vote.

Find information for your state below. You can also use National Voter Registration Day’s online tool.

When is the 2024 election?

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Washington D.C. voter registration deadline

The deadline to register or update your registration online is Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.

Check your registration status here.

Register or update your registration online here.

Same-day registration is also available during early voting and on Election Day. Make sure you bring proof of residence, such as a utility bill, lease, pay stub, bank statement or government-issued photo ID.

Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 3.

Maryland voter registration deadline

The deadline to register or update your registration online is Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.

Check your registration status here.

Register or update your registration online here.

Same-day registration is also available during early voting and on Election Day. Make sure you bring proof of residence, such as a utility bill, paycheck, bank statement or government-issued photo ID.

Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 24 to Thursday, Oct. 31.

Virginia voter registration deadline

The deadline to register or update your registration online is Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.

Check your registration status here.

Register or update your registration online here.

Same-day registration is also available during early voting and on Election Day. If you register during early voting or on Election Day, you will vote using a provisional ballot. Bring an acceptable form of ID. If you don’t bring an acceptable ID, you can instead sign an ID Confirmation Statement.

Same-day registration is a somewhat new option for Virginia voters; the General Assembly approved same-day registration ahead of the 2022 election.

Early voting runs from Sept. 20 to Nov. 2.

West Virginia voter registration deadline

The deadline to register or update your registration is Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.

Check your registration status here.

Register or update your registration online here.

Make sure to meet the deadline; same-day voter registration is not available, according to Rock the Vote.

Early voting in-person runs from Oct. 23 to Nov. 2, 2024.

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We’re counting down to full-on fall!

The equinox this Sunday marks the official beginning of autumn (although meteorologists count Sept. 1 as the first day of fall. Here’s why.).

D.C.’s biggest neighborhood street fair, H Street Festival, returns on Saturday. This season, every weekend will be packed with fests celebrating music, art, food, culture and more. Here’s a look at festivals happening through November, but keep reading for the highlights for autumn equinox weekend.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

NoMa in Color: Sept. 12-23

NMWA Nights: Weds., 5:30 to 8 p.m., National Museum of Women in the Arts, $22-$25

Cheeseburger in Paradise Walking Tour (vote for your favorite slider): Weds., 6-9 p.m.,  Chevy Chase Main Street, $30

Race the District: Thurs. to Sat., Union Market, free

A Night at the Museum: Celebrating 57 years of Anacostia Community Museum: Thurs., 7-10 p.m., 1901 Fort Place SE, free but registration required 

Live! At The Library of Congress: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Latino Poets Spotlight: Thurs., 5-8 p.m, free but special ticket required

Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever: Thurs., 7 p.m., Capital One Arena, $45+

PARK(ing) Day: Fri., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., free

NC Society BBQ & Bluegrass Festival: Fri., Sept. 20, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Hill Center DC in Southeast, $15 for children under 12, $55 for non-members, $35 for members, $70 at the door

Garden Party de la Rentrée: Fri., 7-10 p.m., Embassy of France in Northwest D.C., $105-$795

Ana Gabriel: “Un Deseo Mas” Tour: Fri., 8 p.m., Capital One Arena

H Street Festival: Sat., H Street Northeast, free entry

Homecoming at President Lincoln’s Cottage: Sat., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 140 Rock Creek Church Rd NW, free

National Dance Day: Sat., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., The Kennedy Center, free

BLOMPPST Festival: Sat., noon to 9 p.m., RHIZOME in Takoma, $15-35

HFStival: Sat., Nationals Park, $150-$250

The World’s Largest Pickle Party: Sat., Baltimore, $24.99+

Try Guys: Eat The Menu Tour: Sat., 7:30 p.m., Warner Theatre, $40+

Jelly Roll: Beautifully Broken Tour: Sat., 7 p.m., Capital One Arena

Hirshhorn Ball: Sat., 6:30-11 p.m., Hirshhorn Museum, $250+

REACH @ 5 Block Party!: Sat., 8:15 p.m. to 11 p.m., The Kennedy Center REACH, free

Don’t Tell Comedy: Sat., various venues, $25

Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers (preseason): Sun., 3 p.m., Capital One Arena

What to do in Maryland

Fall Twilight Concert Series: Weds., 6-7 p.m., Brookside Gardens, free

• FYI: David Bach Consort (World Contemporary/Jazz)

Montgomery County Parks Ale Trail: Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Needwood in Rockville, free to join

Annapolis Baygrass Festival: Sept. 21-22, Sandy Point State Park

Festival del Rio Anacostia: Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bladensburg Waterfront Park, free

Celebrate Africa: Sun., 1-6 p.m., Fairwood Park in Bowie, free

Craig Walsh’s Monuments: Through Oct. 6, Strathmore in North Bethesda, pay what you wish

• FYI: The exhibit is a series of large-scale projections outdoors. Catch live music and lectures on Mondays. Food and drink will be available on Fridays and Saturdays.

Things to Do DC Sep 10

Can't-miss festivals this fall in DC, Maryland and Virginia

Things to Do DC Sep 10

1st Look: New DC arcade puts you in the driver's seat of a Formula One race car

What to do in Virginia

Budweiser Clydesdales at Frying Pan Farm Park: Tues., 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Herndon, free

Fall Movies On The Plaza: “Barbie”:  Weds., 8 p.m., Westpost at National Landing, free

Crossroads Music Festival: Fri. and Sat., downtown Leesburg, Virginia, $10-$120

Fields of Fear at Cox Farms: Sept. 20 to Nov. 2, Centreville, Virginia, $30-$40

Taste of Thai Festival: Sept. 21, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center, free

Claude Moore Park Fall Fest: Sat., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Claude Moore Park in Sterling, free

Pueblo Unido Day: Sat., 1-6 p.m., Sterling Community Center, free

Alexandria Historic Homes Tour: Sat., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., $45+

Taste of Annandale: Sat., 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Eileen Garnett Civic Space, free entry

Middleburg Oktoberfest: Sat., Sept. 21, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., S. Madison and Federal streets, free entry

Coming up soon

National Mall of Pickleball 2024: September 27-29, 2024

Smithsonian Craft2Wear show: Sept. 28-29, National Building Museum, $20

Nats Summer Concert Series: Lady A (and Pups in the Park): Fri., Sept. 27, game starts at 6:45 p.m., Nationals Park, $16+

Oktoberfest at The Wharf: Sat., Oct. 5, Southwest Waterfront, free entry

DC Coffee Festival: Oct. 5-6, Dock 5 at Union Market in Northeast, $24+

Gold Over America Tour with Simone Biles and Team USA gymnasts: Tues., Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m., CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, $71.95+

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Fans posted on social media that they were stuck for hours waiting in lines for buses at Jiffy Lube Live, a concert venue near the course about 40 miles west of Washington, D.C., prompting a statement of apology from the LPGA Tour.

“We recognize and deeply apologize to all fans affected by the challenges with shuttling from parking to the golf course,” the statement said. “We’ve made significant changes to our transportation system to mitigate these issues moving forward, and we’re working on ways to express our regret to those impacted.”

Spectators also said the portable restrooms at the parking site were locked while they waited for buses.

In the 20 minutes before Friday’s matches began, a small trickle of fans speed-walked toward the grandstand, but there was no sign of the record crowds that organizers had promised.

“It’s disappointing. It is what it is. You play in these things for years, and things happen,” U.S. captain Stacy Lewis said. “Unfortunately, it was a big one.”

The LPGA said Friday night that it planned to open the gates earlier on Saturday morning, increase the number of shuttle buses and move parking for volunteers to a different location.

Esther Henseleit struck the opening tee shot for Europe in the team competition against the United States as part of an alternate-shot pairing with Charley Hull. Allisen Corpuz followed for the U.S., paired with top-ranked Nelly Korda.

Players frequently describe the opening tee shot at the Solheim Cup as more nerve-wracking than anything in women’s golf, fueled partly by fans who fill grandstands hours in advance to cheer the home team. But with fewer spectators, the home-field advantage was muted.

“You’ve got to get the people here,” former U.S. captain Juli Inkster said as she followed a match on the fourth hole.

The few hundred fans who made it in time for Friday morning’s opening remained quiet for the European tee shots and cheered throughout as the Americans hit theirs, a departure from golf etiquette that players have come to embrace at team competitions.

Once the fans arrived, they were treated to an American rout as the U.S. tries to prevent Europe from capturing the cup for a record fourth straight time. The grandstands were packed when Korda and Megan Khang were greeted by former President Barack Obama ahead of their afternoon better-ball match.

The Americans led by a record 6-2 margin when Friday’s matches concluded, and they could only hope for a full complement of supporters on Saturday morning.

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

The deli meat company made the announcement Friday, in a press release posted to their website emphasizing the “regret” and “pain” that the outbreak and subsequent plant closure caused.

“We regret and deeply apologize for the recent Listeria monocytogenes contamination in our liverwurst product,” the release begins. “We understand the gravity of this situation and the profound impact it has had on affected families. Comprehensive measures are being implemented to prevent such an incident from ever happening again.”

Those measures include Boar’s Head permanently discontinuing liverwurst, which was the product that was recalled for causing the listeria outbreak. The “root cause of the contamination” was “a specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt facility and was used only for liverwurst,” the company said.

Other measures include “establishing a “Boar’s Head Food Safety Council” comprised of independent industry-leading food safety experts,” the “creation of an enhanced companywide food safety and QA program” and “appointing a new Chief Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer,” the company said in the release.

The most drastic measure is the closure of the Virginia plant.

“Given the seriousness of the outbreak, and the fact that it originated at Jarratt, we have made the difficult decision to indefinitely close this location, which has not been operational since late July 2024,” the company states in the press release.

Included in that release is a link to the USDA’s “notice of suspension,” which stopped production at the plant and which stated that the USDA would “withhold the federal marks of inspection” that are normally printed on to packaging to show that the facility produced food in a safe way.

Documents obtained by the Associated Press through federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests showed that the plant “repeatedly violated federal regulations,” the AP wrote at the end of August.

The violations included instances of mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings, and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment.

Between Aug. 1, 2023, and Aug. 2, 2024, inspectors found “heavy discolored meat buildup” and “meat overspray on walls and large pieces of meat on the floor.” They also documented flies “going in and out” of pickle vats and “black patches of mold” on a ceiling. One inspector detailed blood puddled on the floor and “a rancid smell in the cooler.” Plant staff were repeatedly notified that they had failed to meet requirements, the documents showed.

Recalls Aug 29

Insects and mold found at Boar's Head plant in Virginia amid listeria outbreak, records show

Recalls Aug 15

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Inspections at the plant had been suspended and it was set to stay closed “until the establishment is able to demonstrate it can produce safe product,” U.S. Agriculture Department officials said in a statement Thursday. Boar’s Head officials halted production at the Jarratt, Virginia, plant in late July.

With Boar’s Head announcing the indefinite closure, that plant may never reopen.

The union representing employees at the Virginia plant, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, released a statement on Friday about the plant’s closure.

““Everyone agrees this unprecedented tragedy was not the fault of the workforce, so it is especially unfortunate that the Jarratt plant must close indefinitely and put so many men and women out of work,” the statement reads. Thankfully these workers have a union they can count on to always have their backs. We appreciate the extraordinary efforts Boar’s Head has made to keep our members on the job as long as possible and to ensure everyone is taken care of during this process.”

The union said its members at the plant will be able to transfer to other Boar’s Head plants, or “accept a severance package well above and beyond what is required under the law.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Prince William County officers got a tip about a threat against Unity Braxton Middle School on Sept. 9, police said.

The girl, who police didn’t name due to her age, threatened violence toward the school on TikTok, police said.

After identifying the girl, investigators determined there was no credible threat to students or staff at the school.

Police arrested the girl on Wednesday and charged her as a juvenile with “threats by electronic means.”

The pedestrian was walking near Franconia Road and Elder Avenue in Springfield when the driver hit him. The driver got out and ran, Fairfax County police said before 7 a.m.

The pedestrian was declared dead at the scene of the crash. His name was not immediately released.

No details about the car or the driver who ran were immediately released.

Franconia Road at Elder Avenue was shut down in both directions as of 8 a.m. Friday.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

At least one school district in Virginia closed school Wednesday, and another has increased security to protect students and staff.

Police and school districts across the nation are dealing with a spike in threats in the recent wake of school shootings. At least four school districts in the D.C. area have said they are aware of possible school threats, but nothing has gotten close to materializing.

The public school districts in Loudoun, Spotsylvania and Frederick counties in Virginia, and in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, are warning about potential threats after social media posts about either those districts or specific schools within them.

None of those threats so far have been found to be credible, but Frederick County school officials in Virginia made the decision Wednesday to close their schools out of an abundance of caution. On Thursday, they said the problem is resolved and students were going back to classes.

Several of these school systems say that these threats made online actually originated from out of state.

Nevertheless, they are taking these threats seriously.

In Loudoun County, the superintendent wrote a letter to the school community Wednesday evening about threats, writing: “Over the last week, we’ve seen an increase in these incidents, which unfortunately often happens in the aftermath of school shootings. What I need from parents right now is to talk to your children regarding the seriousness of making threats towards our schools or sharing threats that others have made online.”

Deputies started investigating the 15-year-old suspect, who was not named, on Sept. 10, when someone told them about an online threat made against a Brooke Point High School student, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said.

While combing through evidence, investigators recognized a gun on the suspect’s social media, which matched a weapon that was stolen from a gun rack on a sheriff’s office vehicle the week before, authorities said.

The gun was locked inside the secured gun rack, but the suspect broke a window of the vehicle to get it, according to the sheriff’s office.

On Wednesday, deputies coordinated with school staff at Brooke Point High School and arrested the teen just before school started.

Then, deputies found the stolen weapon inside the teen’s home, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office thanked witnesses for following the rule of “see something, say something.”

Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story.

Mark your calendars for these festivals and special events in the D.C. area. We’ll keep updating this list as we find more great stuff to do!

Subscribe to The Weekend Scene newsletter to see what’s coming up every weekend (it’s free!). Every Wednesday, we share pro tips for the best events, highlight free things to do and spotlight people who make the D.C.-area great.

What to do in September

Cox Farms Fall Festival
Select days from Sept. 15 to Nov. 5, Centreville, $10-$25

How much fall fun can Cox Farm pack in? Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, apple picking, petting zoos and a hayride are just the beginning!

The Great Frederick Fair
Sept. 13-21, Frederick, Maryland, $8 in advance or $10 at the gate for adults, free for kids under 10

Frederick, Maryland, has a classic county fair with rides, funnel cakes and animals, plus a grandstand with music acts including Flo Rida. Heads up: Carnival rides and grandstand shows cost extra.

Race the District
Thurs. to Sat., Sept. 19-21, Union Market, $0 to $27

Watching go-karts race around the Union Market parking lot is the banner event (and you’ll need tickets to get in!), but nightly performances, community races and more are free and open to the public. On Saturday and Sunday, you can play with Events DC’s VR activation, and a Red Bull F1 car will be on display Friday and Saturday.

NC Society BBQ & Bluegrass Festival
Fri., Sept. 20, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Hill Center DC in Southeast, $15 for children under 12, $55 for non-members, $35 for members, $70 at the door

Indulge in a whole hog feast while dancing to live bluegrass as a taste of North Carolina arrives in Capitol Hill.

Montgomery County Parks Ale Trail
Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Needwood in Rockville, free to join

Hike 2.5 miles around Lake Needwood with a stop at the mid-way beer garden, live music and games at Needwood Mansion. Then head to the main festival area for more music, snacks and an archaeology activity for kids,

H Street Festival
Sat., Sept. 21, H Street Northeast in D.C., free entry

The Northeast D.C. thoroughfare is filled with live music, good eats, shopping and tons of activities for one of the District’s largest neighborhood festivals.

National Dance Day
Sat., Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., The Kennedy Center in D.C., free

Celebrate dance with lessons and performances at The Kennedy Center. Stick around afterward for live music at the REACH @ 5 Block Party.

The World’s Largest Pickle Party
Sat., Sept. 21, Baltimore, $24.99+

Pickle lovers can unite in Baltimore for a day of sweet and sour tastings, plus music.

Unwine Festival
Sat., Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Upper Marlboro, $30+

Sip and savor wines while enjoying live music in Patuxent River Park.

Alexandria Oktoberfest
Sat., Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., John Carlyle Square, free

Raise a stein at Alexandria’s own version of Oktoberfest.

Leesburg Air Show
Sat., Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Leesburg Executive Airport, free 

Aviation fans old and young alike will enjoy watching aircraft zip around Leesburg. Aerial performances are set to begin at 1 p.m. You can also explore aircraft right on the ground. Go here for parking and transportation information.

Clarendon Day
Sat., Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Arlington, Virginia, free entry

Live music, inflatables and more are on tap for the whole family across six blocks of this Arlington neighborhood.

Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival
Sun., Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Marian Fryer Town Plaza, free

The celebration of Montgomery County art begins with a parade, then keeps the party going at a festival at Grandview Avenue and Reedie Drive.

Aslin 9th Anniversary Beer, Music & Art Festival
Sat., Sept. 28, 1-7 p.m., Aslin Beer Company – Alexandria, Virginia, $25+ for adults

The brewery celebrates its 9th birthday with brews (including beers from guest breweries), live bands and art.

Virginia Beer Festival @ National Landing
Sat., Sept. 28, 4-9 p.m., Water Park National Landing in Arlington, Virginia, free entry

Band Relaxed Fit will play hits from the ’90s and early 2000s at this inaugural beer festival.

What to do in October

Waterford Fair
Fri. to Sat., Oct. 4-6, Waterford, Virginia, single-day adult tickets $20

One of the region’s premiere juried art fairs returns just a short drive from D.C.

Oktoberfest at The Wharf
Sat., Oct. 5, Southwest Waterfront, free entry

Come for the 12th Annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash (a Wiener dog race!) and stay for steins of beer and polka lessons. It’s just about the closest thing you’ll find to Munich inside the Beltway!

Taste of Bethesda
Sat., Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle, free entry

Bethesda’s best restaurants will serve up bites along Norfolk, St. Elmo, Cordell, Del Ray and Auburn Avenues. Stick around for live entertainment on five stages. there will be kids’ activities, too! Entry is free. It costs $10 for 5 tasting tickets, and food items cost one to four tickets.

College Park Day
Sat., Oct. 5, noon to 6 p.m., College Park Aviation Museum, free

Celebrate College Park, Maryland, with all-day live entertainment, bounce houses, food trucks and more.

Old Town Warrenton Fall Festival
Sat., Oct. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Main Street in Warrenton, free entry

Spend a day strolling Main Street in Historic Warrenton, checking out art, music, crafts and food.

Rosslyn Fall Fest
Sat., Oct. 5, 1-6 p.m., Gateway Park on Langston Boulevard in Rosslyn, Virginia, free

Get in the fall spirit with music, a pie-eating contest, hard cider tastings, music and food trucks. Tickets to the cider tasting are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Make sure to bring your ID!

Art on the Avenue
Sat., Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, free entry

This huge arts festival returns to Alexandria’s Del Ray for its 29th year, featuring more than hundreds of artists, multiple stages of live entertainment and activities for kids. Free trolley transportation will be available from the Braddock Road Metro station.

Historic Downtown Manassas Fall Jubilee
Sat., Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Manassas, Virginia, free entry

This festival has been kicking for 41 years. Enjoy music, bands, dance, martial arts and moer.

DC Coffee Festival
Sat. and Sun., Oct. 5-6, Dock 5 at Union Market in Northeast, $24+

Coffee lovers can sample the goods of specialty roasters and shops with unique beans while enjoying live entertainment.

Mosaic Fall Festival
Sun., Oct. 6, Fairfax, Virginia, free entry

URBNmarket and FRESHFARM are teaming up for a weekend of shopping, kids’ activities, live music and performances at the Mosaic District. Dress up for fall-themed selfie stations!

Takoma Park Street Festival
Sun., Oct. 6, Carroll Avenue, free entry

Dance and shop a Sunday away as the Takoma Park Street Festival returns for its 43rd year. 

Fairfax Fall Festival
Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Old Town Square on North Street, free

Fairfax goes all-out for fall with more than 400 arts, crafts, food and other vendors, children’s activities and entertainment for all ages across three stages. Take a spin on rides or check out the beer garden. Here are directions and parking information.

DC Wine Fest
Sat., Oct. 19, noon to 10 p.m., Dock 5 at Union Market, $35-$55

Sample wines from a selection of winemakers. There are three tasting sessions available.

Springfield Fall Festival
Sat., Oct. 19, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Springfield Town Center, free

Pumpkin decorating, characters and live entertainment are just a few of the fun things you’ll find in Springfield Town Center.

Night of the Living Zoo
Fri., Oct. 25, 7-11 p.m., National Zoo, $65 for nonmembers

The National Zoo has revived its adults-only, after-hours Halloween party.

Home Rule Music Festival
Sat., Oct. 26, Alethia Tanner Park, free

This music festival is all about D.C. music and culture. Expect performances by The Experience Band & Show, Bella Donna and more.

What to do in November

Adams Morgan Fall PorchFest
Sat., Nov. 2, 2-6 p.m., free

It’s the fall edition of one of the neighborhood’s best events. Head to Columbia and 18th for a street fest with live music and plenty more from local businesses, or fan into the neighborhood to see community performances right on porches.

DC Beer Fest
Sun., Nov. 2, Nationals Park, $55

Head to Nationals Park to enjoy as many brews as you care to drink from more than 80 breweries. Dueling pianos, bands and food trucks will make it a day to remember.

Alexandria Fall Fest
Sun., Nov. 3, River Farm

Alpaca petting, singing princesses, pony rides and bounce houses will delight kids, while adults can enjoy a wine and beer garden featuring Port City Brewing and Lost Boy Cider.

Past events

Alexandria Old Town Art Festival
Sat. and Sun., Sept. 14-15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 300 John Carlyle St. in Alexandria, free

John Carlyle Square hosts dozens of art vendors for you to peruse and enjoy.

Washington Ukrainian Festival
Sept. 13-15, St. Andrews Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (15100 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring), $20 (Saturday and Sunday) or $15 (Sunday only)

Immerse yourself in the art, food and culture of Ukraine. Some proceeds support humanitarian organizations helping people impacted by the war.

Celebrate Petworth
Sat., Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 800 block of Upshur Street NW in D.C., free

Explore the best this Northwest neighborhood has to offer by checking out performances, vendors, a dog show and kids’ activities.

Celebrate Van Ness
Sat., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., along Connecticut Avenue, free

Van Ness is throwing an all-day celebration with a Taylor Swift dance party, artisan pop-up, Crush Funk Brass Band and more before settling in for a movie night. There will be a shuttle bus between Van Ness Street, Pierce Mill and Ellicot Street.

Falls Church Festival
Sat., Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Falls Church City Hall and Community Center, free

Free concerts, a children’s stage with magicians and music and beer gardens make for a fun day on Little Falls Street. Come hungry to sample from local restaurants participating in the Taste of Falls Church!

Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival
Sat., Sept. 14, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, free entry, parking is $10 in advance, $15 day-of

Kunta Kinte was an enslaved person brought to Annapolis in the late 1700s but never lost sight of their home culture. Today, the festival named after them celebrates African culture with performances, craft vendors, food and more.

Maryland Seafood Festival
Sept. 14-15, Sat. and Sun., Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, $15+ (kids 12 and under can go for free with a paying adult)

Chow down on tons of seafood right by the Chesapeake Bay.

Hispanic Festival
Sun., Sept. 15, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Lane Manor Splash Park in Hyattsville, Maryland, free

The Maryland-National Capital Park And Planning Commission’s festival for Hispanic Heritage Month includes music, activities and food for the whole family.

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We’re settling into a September with gorgeous weather. Here’s how to get out and enjoy it.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Dvořák Dreams: An Installation by Refik Anadol: Through Sept. 24, Reach Plaza, free

Cirque du Soleil: “OVO”: Through Sun., Capital One Arena

Chocolate & Wine Tasting: Weds., 7-8:30 p.m., The Chocolate House at 1904 18th Street NW, $55

Sunset Cinema at The Wharf: “My Old Ass”: Thurs., 7 p.m., The Wharf’s Transit Pier, free

Live! At The Library: Film Costume Ball: Thurs., Sept. 12, 6-9 p.m., Library of Congress, free but RSVP required

The 1924: A Science Speakeasy: Fri., 6-9 p.m., National Academy of Sciences in Northwest D.C., $20

Nationals 1924 Championship Centennial Weekend: Fri., Sat. and Sun.

Things to Do DC Sep 9

Where to find presidential debate watch parties and specials in DC

The Scene Aug 27

Cirque du Soleil contortionist offers a preview of ‘Ovo' at Capital One Arena

Don’t Tell Comedy: Fri., various venues, $25

Walking Town free tours throughout the District: Sept. 14-21, free

Celebrate Petworth: Sat., Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 800 block of Upshur Street NW in D.C., free

Celebrate Van Ness Main Street: Sat., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Connecticut Avenue NW between Van Ness and Nebraska, free

Library of Congress Family Day: Hispanic Heritage Month: Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Building – Great Hall, free

Paramount+ & NPF Present: “Forrest Gump” at the National Mall: Sat., lawn opens at 5 p.m., movie begins at dusk, National Mall near Smithsonian Metro Station and 9th Street, free

Dancing Queens Drag Brunch: Sun., 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Roof Terrace Restaurant at the Kennedy Center, $98.91 per guest + tax

Washington Spirit vs. Houston Dash: Sun., 1 p.m., Audi Field

• Join the black out at Audi Field by wearing black. Fans will be given blackout rally towels. Plus, all six of Spirit’s Olympians will be presented with a Tiffany necklace.

Washington Mystics vs.Atlanta Dream: Sun., 3 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena

What to do in Maryland

Fall Twilight Concert Series: Weds., 6-7 p.m., Brookside Gardens, free
FYI: YötRöx (70’s & 80’s Rock Hits)

The Great Frederick Fair: Sept. 13-21, Frederick, Maryland, $8 in advance or $10 at the gate for adults, free for kids under 10
FYI: Carnival rides and grandstand shows cost extra

Washington Ukrainian Festival: Sept. 13-15, St. Andrews Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (15100 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring), $20 (Saturday and Sunday) or $15 (Sunday only)

Maryland Seafood Festival: Sept. 14-15, Sat. and Sun., Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, $15+ (kids 12 and under can go for free with a paying adult)

Acoustics & Ales: Fri., 5-7:30 p.m., North Four Corners Local Park in Silver Spring, free entry

Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival: Sat., Sept. 14, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, free entry, parking is $10 in advance, $15 day of

In The Streets festival: Sat., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., downtown Frederick, Maryland, free entry

Latinas in Aviation Global Festival: Sat., College Park Aviation Museum, free

DC Polo Society | End of Summer Social: Sat., Congressional Polo Club in Poolesville, Maryland, $28.45 – $35

Hispanic Festival: Sun., Sept. 15, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Lane Manor Splash Park in Hyattsville, free

Commanders vs. New York Giants: Sun., 1 p.m., Northwest Stadium in Landover

Maryland Restaurant Week: Sept. 13-22

Brushes and Beats: A Go-Go Themed Youth Paint & Sip: Sun., Arts’tination in Oxon Hill, free with RSVP

What to do in Virginia

Cox Farms Fall Festival: Select days from Sept. 15 to Nov. 5, Centreville, $10-$25

Solheim Cup: Through Sun., Gainesville, $65 and up for adults

Dulles Day Plane Pull benefitting Special Olympics Virginia: Sat., 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Dulles International Airport (follow “event parking” signs), free

22nd Annual Alexandria Old Town Art Festival: Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 300 John Carlyle St. in Alexandria, free

Torpedo Factory Art Center’s 50th Anniversary: Fri. to Sun., Alexandria

Virginia Native American Festival: Sat., 10 a.m., Riverbend Park in Great Falls, $12

Falls Church Festival: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Falls Church City Hall and Community Center, free

Fall Family Fest: Sat., noon to 4 p.m., Perch Putt rooftop in Tyson’s Corner, free ticket with registration

NOVA Family Fair: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, free

Moon Festival – Tết Trung Thu at Eden Center: Sat., noon to 5 p.m., Eden Center in Falls Church, free entry

Welcoming Week Family Storytime: Sun., 2-4 p.m., 418 S Washington St. in Alexandria, free

“Encanto” characters at Shipgarten: Sun., noon to 6 p.m., McLean, free entry

Coming up soon

NMWA Nights: Weds., Sept. 18, 5:30 to 8 p.m., National Museum of Women in the Arts, $22-$25

H Street Festival: Sat., Sept. 21, H Street Northeast, free entry

Fields of Fear at Cox Farms: Sept. 20 to Nov. 2, Centreville, Virginia, $30-$40

Correction (Thursday, Sept, 12, 9:47 a.m.): This article originally misstated the opponent in the Washington Spirit game. It has been corrected.

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The Virginia Department of Elections on Wednesday accepted the necessary documents for Earle-Sears to run for governor next year, WRIC was first to report.

Earle-Sears is the first Republican to officially enter the race for the party’s nomination in 2025. She recently said she was exploring a run.

The current governor, Republican Glenn Youngkin, cannot run for reelection because Virginia is the only state that doesn’t allow governors to run for consecutive terms.

U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is the only Democrat currently seeking her party’s nomination to run for governor.

Earle-Sears was part of a Republican sweep of top offices in 2021 that also saw Youngkin and Attorney Gen. Jason Miyares get elected.

A Marine veteran who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica as a child, Earle-Sears defeated Democrat Hala Ayala to become only the second woman in Virginia’s long history to serve in a statewide office. Attorney Gen. Mary Sue Terry, who was elected in 1985, was the first.

A staunch conservative who speaks frequently about her Christian faith, Earle-Sears has made history as a woman in politics before.

She got her start in elected office in 2001 when she stunned both parties by defeating a 10-term Democrat in an overwhelmingly blue district to become the first Black Republican woman elected to the House of Delegates.

She served just one term before deciding not to seek reelection. She also unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott in a race The Associated Press described at the time as “a campaign of raw invective.”

Earle-Sears went on to serve on the State Board of Education and more recently as the national chair of an organization dedicated to reelecting former President Donald Trump. She has also led a men’s prison ministry, served as director of a women’s homeless shelter, and run a plumbing and electrical supply company.

But thanks to a new bus service, it’s about to get easier.

News4 spotted a Fairfax Connector bus training for the new service on the streets of Bethesda on Tuesday, just weeks before the 798 bus line will start running between the two locations.

Fairfax County says the service, which is the first express route of its kind, has been a focus of the transportation department.

“We’re really about trying to get connectivity and mobility throughout the county and throughout the region,” said Gregg Steverson, acting director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

The bus service along the Beltway will be an alternative to a very long train trip on Metro, which requires going into D.C., switching Metro lines, and then heading back out of the District on the other side.

Still, some riders may find the 798 bus line a hard sell, as the bus will need to compete with traffic on the Beltway and the Legion Bridge.

“It takes forever to drive out to Tysons, so I’d rather take the train,” said Edward, one of those riders.

And it’s a long way to go if you don’t have a good reason.

“I have no need to go to Tysons,” said Steve Clark, another bus rider.

Fairfax County Mar 8

Fairfax Connector service resumes after 2-week strike

Bethesda Aug 25

Bethesda Metro Station celebrates 40th birthday

But there are plans to eventually have some buses between Tysons and Bethesda running in dedicated bus lanes or express lanes, speeding up the trip.

And other riders, like Abudnegu, are on board. He says he rides between the two locations all the time.

“I would love to do that,” he said of riding the new bus line. “I think it’s going to be very efficient. So that would be great. I would love to get that.”

The new route is also expected to serve the National Institutes of Health and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The buses will start by running every 20 minutes during the morning and afternoon rush, for $4.80 one way. Service is expected to begin on Sept. 16.

You can learn more about the route here.

Charles F. Koehler Jr. was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication after someone saw him walking down the Leesburg Bypass near South King Street about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the Leesburg Police Department said.

Koehler was sworn in to the Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Aug. 23, according to the Loudoun Times–Mirror.

Officers took Koehler to jail, and he was released later on his own recognizance, police said.

News4 has reached out to a spokesperson for the Loudoun County judicial system for comment, and is awaiting a response.

Stay with News4 for updates to this story.

During former President Donald Trump ‘s administration, her office under the U.S. Department of Agriculture was told it would be moving. About 75 people were going to be relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, Dodson said, but less than 40 actually moved. A rushed process that failed to consider the need to find homes, jobs for spouses and schools for children prompted some retirements, she said, and some took other federal jobs, hurting the agency in the end.

Now, with Trump proposing the relocation of up to 100,000 federal jobs from Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia under his Agenda 47 plan, concerns about being abruptly moved are again troubling federal workers. The Republican’s proposals stir anxiety in the midst of an unusually competitive U.S. Senate race in heavily Democratic Maryland that could determine control of the Senate, with even the Republican candidate calling the plans “crazy.” The proposals also could hinder Trump’s chances to win Virginia, a state he lost in 2016 and 2020, where a U.S. Senate seat widely seen as safely Democratic is also on the ballot.

“It’s causing a lot of anxiety, a lot of discomfort within the workforce, as you are faced with these strong, negative, anti-federal worker stances and this uncertainty of what might happen to your job, your home and your livelihood,” said Dodson, who is acting vice president of American Federation of Government Employees local 3403, which represents the USDA’s Economic Research Service.

And concerns don’t end there. Federal workers also are worried about “Project 2025,” a proposed overhaul of the federal government crafted by longtime Trump allies that would eliminate thousands of jobs and remove civil service protections for some federal workers. The former president has repeatedly distanced himself from the proposal this summer.

But the plan still worries Michael Knowles. He said it calls for making the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ D.C. presence “skeletal, and agency employees with operational or security roles should be rotated out to offices throughout the United States.”

Knowles, who is president of AFGE local 1924, said most of his members took an oath to uphold the Constitution and faithfully administer the laws of the United States. He said the members, who all work in the National Capital Region, are committed to the mission of government service.

“And they would do what they need to do to carry out that mission,” Knowles said. “But I think the employees would look dimly on arbitrary or capricious decisions that didn’t seem to make any business or operational sense.”

Trump’s campaign did not return requests for comment.

The District of Columbia has the largest number of federal civilian employees, with about 160,700 jobs, according to the Congressional Research Service. Maryland and Virginia are in the top four jurisdictions, with about 138,940 in Maryland and 140,400 in Virginia. California has about 142,040.

The proposals to move a large number of federal workers infuriate local leaders in the suburbs of Washington in both Maryland and Virginia. In Maryland, a heavily blue state where Trump is deeply unpopular, it’s viewed by many as retaliation by the former president, who received only 32% of the vote there in 2020.

Trump made headlines while he was in office when he denigrated Baltimore, Maryland’s largest city, as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.”

Angela Alsobrooks, the chief executive of Prince George’s County who is the Democratic nominee in the Maryland U.S. Senate race, described Trump’s positions on the federal workforce “as yet another reason that we absolutely must put Donald Trump in the rearview mirror.”

“Former President Trump is a ruthless leader, retaliatory in all his ways, and what he talks about in terms of really harming federal workers is evil,” Alsobrooks said after returning from the Democratic National Convention last month.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan, her Republican opponent, condemned the relocation proposals as “crazy.” He said they “would be devastating to the region, the state of Maryland and bad for the federal government.”

“It’s like, you know, Trump trying to turn the federal government into one of his failed casinos, where he thinks he can do whatever he wants,” Hogan, who has long been one of the GOP’s fiercest Trump critics, said in an interview. “I think it would undermine our entire democracy.”

Businesses that provide services to the thousands of federal workers fear the ripple-effect threat of the proposed changes. At Census Auto Repair & Sales, for example, across the street from the U.S. Census Bureau’s headquarters in Suitland, Maryland, service manager Tay Gibson says his shop would feel the impact directly.

“I would hate to see the federal workers leave,” Gibson said. “That would be business leaving as well, and that would affect small businesses like myself.”

Libby Garvey, chair of the Arlington County Board in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, emphasized the potential hit on the local economy.

“If a large proportion of (tax payers) suddenly lose their jobs (or have to) move away, that takes a terrible, major hit to our local budget, which impacts our ability to pave the roads, make sure the water is clean, provide public safety, fire, police, emergency personnel and provide good schools,” Garvey said.

Karen Hult, a political science professor at Virginia Tech, said the move could harm Trump’s chances in Virginia.

“Federal workers around Northern Virginia, and in the D.C. metro area generally, are, in fact, a bit of a voting bloc,” Hult said “The other thing, of course, are all the contractors — the beltway bandits. They make a big difference, too.”

But Hult also said the idea of relocating federal workers could resonate with Virginians outside of the northern part of the state, who may feel a distrust of the D.C. bureaucracy.

Filipe Campante, a Bloomberg Distinguished professor at Johns Hopkins University who focuses on political economy and urban and regional issues, noted that there’s a reason why capital cities exist, with the presence of federal employees nearby. Physical presence, he said, is necessary for face-to-face interactions that are important to maintaining accountability.

While Trump and his supporters see the relocation as a positive in terms of moving the “deep state” away from the seat of government, Campante said it also has a downside.

“I think it is a positive factor for accountability that you have civil servants also operating as a check on political appointees, and this would be weakened by moving these people away from where the center of the government is, so I think from that perspective it would reduce accountability,” Campante said. “Obviously, then, it depends on whether you think this accountability is good or not.”

—-

Witte reported from Annapolis and Suitland, Maryland.

We hope your final hurrah of summer was a memorable one! September is coming in with a fall-like feeling, and we’re here for it.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Sunset Cinema at The Wharf: “King Richard”: Thurs., 7 p.m., The Wharf’s Transit Pier, free

Don’t Tell Comedy: Fri. and Sat., various venues, $25

One Lacrosse Gathering Celebration: Sat., National Mall, free

D.C. State Fair: Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Franklin Park in downtown D.C., free entry

DC Bike Ride: Sat., begins on Constitution Avenue, various prices (registration closes Thursday)

Doggie Day Swim DC: Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free but current D.C. dog license required

• Four pools participating: Langdon Park Pool in Northeast, Ridge Road Pool in Southeast and Francis and Upshut pools in Northwest

Jazz in The Parks: Lenny Robinson & Exploration with Special Guest Marshall Keys with opener Music with Mr. Rob: Sat., The Parks at Walter Reed, free

Women in Sports ’24 with US Open Women’s Finals on the big screen and golf simulator: Sat., noon to 8 p.m., The Wharf, free

Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns: Sat., 12:30 p.m., Audi Field

Boot ‘N Scoot At Hi Lawn: Sat. and Sun., Hi Lawn at Union Market, $10-$15

Adams Morgan Day: Sun., noon to 8 p.m., Marie Reed school and Kalorama Park, free

Injera Festival: Sun., 2-9 p.m., The Bullpen in Southeast, $15+

Washington Mystics vs. Minnesota Lynx: Sun., 3 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena

What to do in Maryland

Fall Twilight Concert Series: Weds., 6-7 p.m., Brookside Gardens, free

• FYI: Kiti Gartner & the Drifting Valentines (Rockabilly/Classic Country/Western Swing)

Bethesda Row Arts Festival: Sat. and Sun., near Elm Street and Woodmont Avenue, free entry

Mount Rainier Day Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mount Rainier Nature Center, free

Silver Spring Jazz Festival: Sat., 3-10 p.m., Veterans Plaza, free (no ticket required)

Festival Salvadoreñisimo: Sun., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, $50+

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Takoma Park Folk Festival: Sun., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Takoma Park Middle School, free

Commanders vs. Buccaneers: Sun., 4:25 p.m., Northwest Stadium in Landover

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 2 and Sept. 5-8, Lutherville-Timonium, $11-$16

Maryland Renaissance Festival: Through Oct. 20, Annapolis, Maryland, $26+ for adult tickets through Sept. 8

What to do in Virginia

Dog Daze canine swim: Sat., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,  The Water Mine in Reston, $10 per dog

Rosslyn Jazz Fest: Sat., 1-7 p.m., Gateway Park on Langston Blvd, free

US Asian Fest: Sat., 2-9 p.m., One Loudoun, $15-$100

Fall Plant and Garden Sale: Sat., 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mount Vernon overflow parking lot, free entry

Coming up soon

Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday 2 World Tour: Mon., Sept. 9, 9 p.m., Capital One Arena, $40+

Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever: Thurs., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Capital One Arena, $45+

HFStival: Sat., Sept. 21, Nationals Park, $150-$250

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

An instructional assistant at Orange Elementary School found the gun on Monday afternoon while helping a child who arrived late take items out of their bookbag, Orange County Sheriff Jason C. Smith said in a statement posted on social media. The assistant notified administration and the school resource officer and the gun was removed from the school, Smith said.

It was determined that the 6-year-old brought the loaded Heritage Rough Rider single-action, .22-caliber “Cowboy style” revolver to school, but there’s no indication that the child intended to use the firearm, he said. No arrests have been announced in the case and Smith said the investigation was ongoing.

“This situation is very unfortunate and heartbreaking to this community,” Smith said. “We will get through this together. Situations like these remind us of how fortunate and thankful we are that nothing serious happened. Show your children lots of love and hold them tight!”

In January 2023, a 6-year-old student brought a handgun to school that he used to shoot and critically wound his first grade teacher as she taught class in Newport News, Virginia.

Fairfax County firefighters arrived at the railroad tracks in the 9300 block of Lee Street just after 3:15 p.m., and found a rail car full of wooden rail ties — the wooden supports laid between the two metal rails — on fire.

The train had stopped on the tracks, which lengthened the amount of time needed to put the fire out, Fairfax County Fire Rescue told News4.

As of 4:45 p.m., the fire had been put out. Footage from NewsChopper4 showed the still-smoking train on the tracks, and a rail car full of charred, blackened pieces of lumber.

It was not immediately clear whether the fire hurt anyone. The cause of the fire is also not yet clear.

Rail traffic in the area has been stopped as firefighters continue to work on the rail car.

This is a breaking news story. Stay with News4 for updates.

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News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Monday is Labor Day, which means a long weekend for many. It might also be your last chance to hit up pools and water parks!

FYI: The Smithsonian museums are open on Labor Day, and many will offer free tours.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Last chance – Pixar Putt: Through Mon., The Wharf, $30 for adult tickets

Nationals vs. Yankees: Mon., Tues., Weds., Nationals Park

Buju Banton: The Overcomer Tour: Tues., 8 p.m., Capital One Arena, $55+

Live Music Thursdays at Hi-Lawn: Thurs., 7-9 p.m., Union Market, free

DC JazzFest: Weds. through Sun., various venues and The Wharf, tickets start at $25

Free shows happening with DC JazzFest include:

• The Jo-Go Project: Weds., noon to 2 p.m., Franklin Square Park 
• Ebban & Ephraim Dorsey: Thu., 6 p.m., Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage 
• Shannon Gunn’s Saffron Ensemble: Fri., 6 p.m., Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
• Shows along The Wharf’s main promenade (Here’s the Brunch & Beats lineup for Sunday)

Stand-up comedy at Room 808: Weds. to Sun., Petworth, prices vary  but several shows are free

Underground Comedy at Hotbed: Weds. to Sun., Adams Morgan, prices vary but several shows are free

Childish Gambino: Thurs., Capital One Arena, $125+

Sunset Cinema: “Soul”: Thurs., The Wharf, free

Nationals vs. Cubs: Fri., Sat., Sun., Nationals Park, $18+

• Two Friends performs for the Nationals Summer Concert Series on Friday after the game beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Extraordinary Cinema: “Chocolat”: Fri., movie set to begin at dusk (about 8:15 p.m.), The Kennedy Center REACH Lawn, free

DC Festival of Magic: Fri. to Sun., Capital Hilton (Northwest D.C.), $99 for a weekend pass, individual shows start at $15

Joy of African Movement: Sat., 9-10 a.m., Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, free

DC Afro Latino Fest: Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Franklin Park, free

Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun: Sat., 3 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena, $31+

Late Skate: Sat., until 10 p.m., Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, free

NSO Labor Day Concert: Sun., 8 p.m., West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, free

Labor Day: Yoga + Sound Experience: Mon., 9-10 a.m., National Building Museum, $30

What to do in Maryland

Greenbelt Labor Day Festival: Fri. to Mon., free entry, ride wristbands $20

A Night With The Legendary Comedian Earthquake: Fri. and Sat., MGM National Harbor, $98+

Capital House Music Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 a.m., Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Silver Spring, free

Paint the Town Labor Day Show: Sat. to Mon., Kensington, free

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 2 and Sept. 5-8, Lutherville-Timonium, $11-$16

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Maryland Renaissance Festival: Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 20, plus Labor Day, Annapolis, Maryland, $26+ for adult tickets through Sept. 8

• Seniors age 62 and up can go for free on Monday, Sept. 2

Labor Day Art Show: Sat. to Mon., Glen Echo Park, free entry

Frederick Arts & Crafts End of Summer Celebration: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Frederick, free

Summers Farm Sunflower Festival: Sat. to Mon., plus Sept. 7-8, Middletown, $16.50 online, $20.50 at the gate

Kensington Labor Day Parade and Festival: Mon., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free

What to do in Virginia

Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s “Clear the Shelters”: Adoption fees waived Fri. to Sun.

Jason Aldean: Highway Desperado Tour: Fri., 7:30 p.m., Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, $68+

Comedy: Guy Branum: Fri., Sat. and Sun., Arlington Cinema Drafthouse, $20-$25

Patsy Cline Block Party: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Patsy Cline Historic House in Winchester, free

Yoga in the Galleries at Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington: Sat., 11 a.m., 3550 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, $10-$20 suggested donation

Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits: Sat., 7 p.m., Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, $118+

Virginia Scottish Games: Sat. and Sun., The Plains, $20 (one-day pass)

Dog-friendly tour of Mount Vernon: Sat. and Sun., Mount Vernon, $10 in addition to general admission

LoCo Kid’s Fest: Mon., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Segra Field Parking Lots in Leesburg, free

Fairfax City Restaurant Week: Sept. 2-8

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

You may be counting down the days until Labor Day, but don’t miss out on all the fun stuff happening in the D.C. area this weekend.

Don’t forget to share your pet photos for Pat’s Prized Pets challenge supporting Clear The Shelters!

If you’re ready to adopt a new pet to your family, the Humane Rescue Alliance is hosting adoption events on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Head to the New York Avenue Adoption Center in Northeast D.C. to meet dogs. Small animals are waiting for you at the Oglethorpe Adoption Center in Northwest.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Usher: Past Present Future: Tues. and Weds., Capital One Arena

DCBX16: “The Super Bowl of USA Latin Dance Festivals”: Thurs. to Mon., Westin DC Hotel, $40+

Embassy Row Rooftop Night in Havana Under the Stars with Latin Band: Fri., 7-10 p.m., The Ven at Embassy Row, $25-$35

Oh He Dead: Fri., The Atlantis, $25

WWE Smackdown: Fri., Capital One Arena

DC United: United Night Out: Sat., Audi Field, $27+

National Book Festival: Sat., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, free

Joy of African Movement dance class: Sat., 9-10 a.m., National Museum of African Art, free

Opera in the Outfield: Sat., gates open at 4:30 p.m., free
FYI: Remember Nats Park’s strict bag policy

Hi Lawn’s Caribbean Festival: Sat., Hi-Lawn at Union Market, $10

WOW Indonesia! Festival: Sun., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 3rd-7th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, free

Washington Spirit International Friendlies Double Header
Spirit vs. Kansas City Current at noon
Chelsea FC vs. Arsenal FC at 4 p.m.
Audi Field, $64-$125

Women’s Equality Day Power Up Concert: Sun., 6:30 p.m., The Kennedy Center, $50-$150

What to do in Maryland

Maryland Renaissance Festival: Weekends through Oct. 20, plus Labor Day, Annapolis, $14-26 (before Sept. 8)

• FYI: Kids can go for free on Aug. 24 and 25. “One child aged 7 through 15 is admitted free with each adult ticket purchased. Children 6 and under are always free,” the festival said.
• Seniors aged 62 and over can go for free on Labor Day. No ticket is needed.

Maryland State Fair: Aug. 22 to Sept. 8, 200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, admission is $8.25 (ages 6-11) or $13.25 (age 12 and older) if purchased in advance

Foodie Fridays – Taste the Land: Fri., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Josiah Henson Museum and Park in Bethesda, $15

Kensington Community Block Party: Sat., 2-4 p.m., Kensington House Lawn, free

Fairwood Music Festival: Sun., 1-6 p.m., Fairwood Community Park in Bowie, free

Hand Dance Social: Sun., 6-8:30 p.m., Roosevelt Center in Greenbelt, free
Lesson from 6 to 6:30 followed by open dance

Free dog rides on the Capital Wheel for National Dog Day: Mon., National Harbor, free

What to do in Virginia

Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge: Sat. and Sun., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $55

Around the World Food Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Oronoco Bay Park in Alexandria, free entry

Blues, Brews & BBQ feat. The Nighthawks: Sat., 6-9 p.m., Dirt Farm Brewing in Bluemont, Virginia, $20

Lake Accotink Park Celebration Day: Sat., 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Springfield, free
Free boat rentals, nature activities and amusements

Starlight Drive-in Cinema double feature of “Migration” and “Elemental”: Sat., gates open at 6 p.m., Sully Historic Site, free

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Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Lee is known for his honest and unfiltered reviews of the best mom-and-pop eateries in the U.S. Once his video reviews hit social media, restaurants often see lines out the door. His impact, known as the “Keith Lee effect,” has brought restaurants from a slow business to mega-popular in a matter of days.

Lee announced to his 16.5 million TikTok followers Sunday night that he would be coming to the DMV (D.C., Maryland and Virginia).

“If you or anybody you know has a mom-and-pop shop or a family-owned spot that has great food and great customer service but can use some marketing, absolutely free to them, let me know,” he said in his announcement on TikTok. 

Though the critic didn’t name an exact date when he would be in town, he asked his followers to recommend the best restaurants from all cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds. 

“D.C., Maryland, Virginia, here we come. God is amazing and this may be one of the ones, you never know, no promises,” he said.

Many of the comments from his video are requesting Lee’s thoughts on one specific Ethiopian spot, Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant on U Street.

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Others are telling him to try mumbo sauce, half-smokes and Asian food in Virginia.

With Maryland known as the place for crabs and Old Bay, some followers who live in Baltimore are asking for a separate food tour to make sure Charm City restaurants get the attention they deserve.

Lee’s videos began to blow up about November 2020. Since then, he’s been traveling to different cities to visit some of his followers’ most recommended spots. Most recently, he’s posted videos reviewing a Toronto jerk restaurant, a fry-bread spot in Mesa, Arizona and a chicken joint in Indianapolis.

If you want to recommend a spot to Keith Lee, you can message him through his business email, Instagram, TikTok, or by tagging him in any videos.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

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Pertussis illness, known as whooping cough, is caused by a bacteria that spreads from person to person through the air, the Fairfax County Health Department said. Whooping cough spreads more easily when people spend a lot of time together or share breathing space.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough?

At first, the illness can seem like a common cold, with symptoms including a runny or stuffed-up nose, low fever and mild cough, health officials said.

Those symptoms can last one to two weeks before some people who catch whooping cough develop coughing fits, which can last weeks to months, the health department said.

During these coughing fits, people might:

• make a high-pitched “whoop” sound when they breathe in after a coughing fit
• vomit during or after coughing fits
• feel tired after the fit, but seem well in-between fits
• have trouble sleeping at night
• struggle to breathe
• fracture a rib from coughing too hard

Babies might not cough at all, but instead gasp for air or have pauses in breathing, or apnea, which is life-threatening. Apnea can cause the baby to turn blue, and about one in three babies younger than a year old who get whooping cough need care in the hospital, officials said.

People with weakened immune systems or with moderate or severe asthma are also at a higher risk of getting very sick from whooping cough.

How can I keep myself and my family from getting whooping cough?

The health department said the best way to avoid whooping cough is to get vaccinated.

Two types of vaccines protect against it: DTaP and Tdap. They also protect against diphtheria and tetanus.

Here’s what health officials recommend:

• Children should get five doses of DTaP, including at least one dose on or after their 4th birthday.
• Preteens 11 to 12 years old should get a booster dose of Tdap before they start 7th grade.
• Adults should get a booster dose of Tdap every 10 years and during every pregnancy.

The Virginia Department of Education released draft guidance Thursday as part of the executive order for cellphone-free education Youngkin issued in July.

The Republican governor’s order directed the VDOE to define cellphone-free education and come up with policies and procedures for age-appropriate restrictions in grades K-12.

In its draft guidance, the VDOE defines cellphone-free education as “bell-to-bell”, meaning phones must be turned off and stored away from the first bell of the school day until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the academic school day. “Bell-to-bell” also includes lunch and time in between class periods, according to the VDOE.

The proposed guidance lays out the following restrictions for students in elementary, middle and high schools:

• Elementary: If a parent determines an elementary student needs to bring a cellphone or personal electronic communication device to school, it must be stored, off and away from the student during the school day. Students can’t use them on school grounds before or after school.
• Middle school students should not have easily available cellphones or personal electronic communication devices during the bell-to-bell school day. School systems should create local policies to determine whether or not students can use phones and devices on school property before and after school.
• High school students should not have easily accessible cellphones or personal electronic communication devices during the bell-to-bell school day. Students may use their cellphones on school grounds before and after school.

“This draft guidance is the result of Virginians coming together and saying, ‘Enough.’”, Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera said in a news release. “Virginia parents and teachers have witnessed first-hand the damage cell phones in schools has had on our youth’s academic, mental and physical health and social development. Communities are committed to implementing common sense approaches to restore vibrant and healthy learning environments for all our children throughout the Commonwealth.”

Hundreds of parents, teachers, superintendents, principals, students and community members gave their input ahead of the VDOE’s guidance, officials said.

“The extensive input we received from Virginians was clear and direct,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons said in the release. “They asked for cell phones and personal electronic communication devices to be removed from our children’s public schools during the school day at every level- elementary, middle, and high school. By refocusing our students’ attention back into learning and away from their phones and social media, all our children will have a better opportunity to learn and succeed academically.”

In cases of emergencies, the VDOE said local school districts must come up with plans to communicate directly with parents and establish reunification plans for children and parents.

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Parents were clear in their feedback to the state that they wanted to be able to know about students’ well-being during emergencies, the education department said.

There were also concerns about students with documented medical conditions. The VDOE said students with medical needs may be granted exemptions to the “bell-to-bell” policy.

The public will have an opportunity to voice opinions on the guidance before the VDOE issues its final policy on Sept. 16.

The new policies will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025.

An instructional assistant at Orange Elementary School found the gun on Monday afternoon while helping a child who arrived late take items out of their bookbag, Orange County Sheriff Jason C. Smith said in a statement posted on social media. The assistant notified administration and the school resource officer and the gun was removed from the school, Smith said.

It was determined that the 6-year-old brought the loaded Heritage Rough Rider single-action, .22-caliber “Cowboy style” revolver to school, but there’s no indication that the child intended to use the firearm, he said. No arrests have been announced in the case and Smith said the investigation was ongoing.

“This situation is very unfortunate and heartbreaking to this community,” Smith said. “We will get through this together. Situations like these remind us of how fortunate and thankful we are that nothing serious happened. Show your children lots of love and hold them tight!”

In January 2023, a 6-year-old student brought a handgun to school that he used to shoot and critically wound his first grade teacher as she taught class in Newport News, Virginia.

The dog days of summer are technically over, but we’re all about furry, fuzzy, scaly, feathery and slimy friends right now.

NBC4 and Telemundo 44’s annual Clear the Shelters campaign is underway until Sept. 10. That means two things.

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First, it’s a great time to support animals! Many shelters across the D.C. area are waiving adoption fees to help cute animals find their forever homes. Enter your zip code on CleartheShelters.com to find a shelter near you. And if it’s not the right time to adopt, please consider donating!

Also, one of our favorite Clear the Shelters traditions is back: Pat’s Prized Pets!

In 2024, we want to see your pet’s gold medal-worthy trick! You can join the challenge by showing off your pet; here’s all the info on entering.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

DC’s Summer Movie Series: “Wish”: Weds., events at 6 p.m., movie at 8 p.m., Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square, free

DC’s Summer Movie Series: “Barbie”: Thurs., events at 6 p.m., movie at 8 p.m., DC Armory Lawn, free

That 2000’s BLOCK Party Hosted By BOW WOW: Fri., The Bullpen in Southeast D.C., $15+

Ben Schwartz & Friends: Fri., show at 8 p.m., The Anthem, $49.50 – $75

Joy of African Movement dance class: Sat., 9-10 a.m., National Museum of African Art, free
FYI: Also on Sat., Aug. 31 

Mystics vs. Lynx: Sat., 2 p.m., Entertainment and Sports Arena

East of the River Fall Festival: 2-6 p.m., Sycamore & Oak on the St. Elizabeth’s East Campus, free
FYI: Backpack and school supply giveaway for first 500 kids, plus live music

Uncorked: DC wine fest: Sat., 7-11 p.m., Nationals Park, $75-$110

Future & Metro Boomin: Sat., Capital One Arena

“MJ: The Musical”: Through Sept. 8, The National Theatre

Sneaker Con: Sat. and Sun., Washington Convention Center, $30-$45

Unique Markets, DC Summer Pop-Up: Sat. and Sun., Dock5 at Union Market, free admission

Sky-High Sweat Sessions at Kimpton Banneker Hotel: Sun., 9 a.m., Lady Bird, THE Roof Top, free
FYI: Bring your own yoga mat. Attendees get a free smoothie and 15% off brunch at Le Sel after.

Washington Spirit International Friendlies: Spirit vs. Arsenal: Sun., kickoff 2 p.m., Arsenal, $15+

“MAMMA MIA!”: Through Sept. 1, The Kennedy Center, $49 – $199

What to do in Maryland

Dueling Pianos: Thurs., 6-8 p.m., Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda, free

Bats & Beavers Pontoon Boat Cruise: Thurs., 6:30 p.m., Black Hill Discovery Center in Boyds, $8

All-Star Comedy at Cabin John Regional Park: Fri., 6-8 p.m., Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda, free

RisuCon anime and cosplay convention: Sat. and Sun., Montgomery County Conference Center in Rockville 

Pro Motocross Championship: Sat., Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, $35.52+

Hot Joe’s Summer Festival: Sat., 5-8 p.m., 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mt. Rainier, pay what you wish

JAMAICA Fest: Sun., noon to 9 p.m., Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, free

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair: Through Sun., Gaithersburg, $13.36+

What to do in Virginia

Prince William County Fair: Through Aug. 17, Manassas, gate admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children

Arlington County Fair: Through Aug. 18, Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington, free admission

Alexandria Restaurant Week: Aug. 16-25

“The Sound of Music” Sing-A-Long: Fri., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $29+

Leesburg Festival of Crafts & Kites: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ida Lee Park, free

Bands & Brews: Del Ray’s Summer Bar Crawl: Sat., 12:30-6 p.m., along Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, $15

Begonia Show: Sat., 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sun., noon to 3:30 p.m., Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, free

Localpalooza featuring Black Flag: Sat., 3 p.m. to midnight, 8890 Mathis Ave., Manassas, $20

Fairfax Comic Con: Sat. and Sun., Dulles Expo Center, $20+

Boyz II Men: Sat. and Sun., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $45+

Jerry Seinfeld: Mon. and Tues., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $55+

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

An instructional assistant at Orange Elementary School found the gun on Monday afternoon while helping a child who arrived late take items out of their bookbag, Orange County Sheriff Jason C. Smith said in a statement posted on social media. The assistant notified administration and the school resource officer and the gun was removed from the school, Smith said.

It was determined that the 6-year-old brought the loaded Heritage Rough Rider single-action, .22-caliber “Cowboy style” revolver to school, but there’s no indication that the child intended to use the firearm, he said. No arrests have been announced in the case and Smith said the investigation was ongoing.

“This situation is very unfortunate and heartbreaking to this community,” Smith said. “We will get through this together. Situations like these remind us of how fortunate and thankful we are that nothing serious happened. Show your children lots of love and hold them tight!”

In January 2023, a 6-year-old student brought a handgun to school that he used to shoot and critically wound his first grade teacher as she taught class in Newport News, Virginia.

Since May, 43 people in multiple states who were infected with the bacteria listeria have been hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an update Thursday. Two people, one from Illinois and another from New Jersey, died last month.

Health officials linked the outbreak to the popular Boar’s Head deli meats, which are made at a plant in Virginia.

Listeria poisoning is caused by a particularly resilient type of bacteria that can survive and grow even during refrigeration, according to the CDC.

Here’s what to know about the recall and listeria, previously reported by The Associated Press:

Recalls Jul 30

Boar's Head deli meat recall expands to include 7 million more pounds over listeria concerns

Recalls Jul 28

Vegetables sold at Walmart and Aldi recalled over listeria concerns

How can listeria get into deli meat?

Listeria bacteria thrive in moist environments, including soil and water and decaying vegetation and are carried by some animals. The hardy germs are typically spread when food is harvested, processed, transported or stored in places that are contaminated with the bacteria. When the bacteria get into a food processing plant, they can be tough to eradicate.

Many of the people in the outbreak reported eating meats sliced at grocery store deli counters. During the investigation, listeria was detected in an unopened loaf of Boar’s Head liverwurst at a Maryland store; the Agriculture Department said further testing showed the same strain was causing illnesses in people.

How does listeria make people sick?

People are sickened with listeria poisoning when they eat foods contaminated with the bacteria. Symptoms can be mild and include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. More serious illness can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.

Listeria poisoning is tricky because symptoms can start quickly, within a few hours or days after eating contaminated food. But they also can take weeks or up to three months to show up.

Those most vulnerable to getting sick include the very young, people older than 65 and those with weakened immune systems or who are pregnant.

Does cooking kill listeria?

Listeria can survive and grow in food even when it’s refrigerated, but the bacteria can be killed by heating foods to “steaming hot,” or 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius), the CDC says. People who are most at risk for illness should avoid the products or heat them before eating.

Most deli meats, however, are eaten cold. Because listeria can survive under refrigeration, it’s important to clean and sanitize any surfaces, including refrigerator drawers and shelves, that may have come in contact with the products, the CDC says.

What should I do if I have the recalled deli meats?

Many of the products recalled by Boar’s Head are meats meant to be sliced at grocery store deli counters, though some prepackaged meats are included in the recall.

They include liverwurst, ham, beef salami, bologna and other products made at the company’s Jarratt, Virginia, plant. The recalled meats carry the plant’s number — EST.12612 or P-12612 — inside the USDA mark on the label. The meat was distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama.

Consumers should not eat the recalled meats and should discard them or return them to the store for a refund.

An instructional assistant at Orange Elementary School found the gun on Monday afternoon while helping a child who arrived late take items out of their bookbag, Orange County Sheriff Jason C. Smith said in a statement posted on social media. The assistant notified administration and the school resource officer and the gun was removed from the school, Smith said.

It was determined that the 6-year-old brought the loaded Heritage Rough Rider single-action, .22-caliber “Cowboy style” revolver to school, but there’s no indication that the child intended to use the firearm, he said. No arrests have been announced in the case and Smith said the investigation was ongoing.

“This situation is very unfortunate and heartbreaking to this community,” Smith said. “We will get through this together. Situations like these remind us of how fortunate and thankful we are that nothing serious happened. Show your children lots of love and hold them tight!”

In January 2023, a 6-year-old student brought a handgun to school that he used to shoot and critically wound his first grade teacher as she taught class in Newport News, Virginia.

It’s possible Debby could bring heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and storm surge to Virginia, according to Youngkin’s office.

Storm Team4 says the storm could affect the Washington, D.C., area between Thursday night and Saturday morning, but keep an eye on the forecast as we learn more about the storm’s track.

Prolonged downpours and flooding hammered the southeastern United States on Tuesday, and Debby was expected to hover over the Atlantic Ocean for the next few days before boomeranging back onto the mainland, the Associated Press reported.

Alexandria, Virginia, residents and businesses can get up to five free sandbags on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at three locations.

The Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) is actively monitoring the storm and anticipates it could move into Virginia as early as Wednesday evening.

Youngkin’s office said the state of emergency allows the Commonwealth to mobilize resources and equipment in case response and recovery efforts are needed.

“As we prepare for Tropical Storm Debby, I urge all Virginians and visitors to stay informed, follow local emergency guidelines, and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their families and communities,” Youngkin said in a news release.

Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper expects the D.C. area will get about 2 to 4 inches of rainfall once Debby moves north. Most of the moisture from the storm will hit the region Thursday into Friday, she said Tuesday afternoon.

Go here for Storm Team4’s latest forecast.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

August in the D.C. area means music, county fairs, outdoor movies and more.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

East Potomac Park Mini Golf: Preview play through Aug. 13, Hains Point, $15

Library of Congress Summer Movies on the Lawn:”Lady and the Tramp” (1955): Thurs., 8 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Building lawn at the corner of 2nd Street SE and Independence Avenue, free but space limited

Sundeck Salutations Yoga Series: Thursdays in August, The Yars in Southeast, free

Nats Summer Concert Series: Teddy Swims: Fri., game starts at 6:45 p.m., Nationals Park, $21+ 
FYI: Nats vs. Angels on Fri., Sat. and Sun.

Black Eyed Peas: Weds., The Anthem, $55 – $95

Missy Elliot: Thurs., Capital One Arena

Iron & Wine: Fri., The Anthem, $45

The LOX: Fri., 8 p.m., Howard Theatre, $59.99+

U.S. women’s national team gold medal match watch party hosted by Washington Spirit: Sat., 11 a.m., The Bullpen in Navy Yard, free entry but RSVP requested

Espresso Martinis & Bikinis Beach Party: Sat., 2-10 p.m., The Cove in Southeast D.C., free or $30 for a skip-the-line ticket with two drinks

Firsthand Experience: Pop-Up Books: Sat., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., National Museum of Women in the Arts, $20-$25
FYI: For “learners ages 13 and up”

Caribbean Sports & Family Day Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., The Fields at RFK Campus in Northeast, free

Afro Bounce DMV Day Party: Sat., 3-10 p.m., Hook Hall in Northwest, free to $25

The Runback II: Juvenile & The 400 Degreez Band + Mannie Fresh: Sat., 10:30 p.m., Howard Theatre, $85+

Last chance: “New Worlds: Women to Watch 2024”: Through Aug. 11, National Museum of Women in the Arts, included with admission

Jazz in The Parks:  Elijah Easton w/ Allyn Johnson, Kris Funn, and Quincy Phillips: Sat., The Parks at Walter Reed, free

Sundresses & Whiskey: #KNOBCREEKNIK: Sun., 3-8 p.m., Dirty Habit in Northwest D.C., free admission 

Summer Restaurant Week: Aug. 12-18

What to do in Maryland

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair: Aug. 9-17, Gaithersburg, $13.36+. The fair is closed on Aug. 9 because of severe weather.

Friday Night Live!: Fri., 6:30-8:30 p.m., City Hall Plaza in College Park, free

Bethesda Outdoor Movies: “Sister Act”: Fri., Woodmont Triangle, free

Sad Summer Festival: Fri., 2 p.m., The Chrysalis at Merriweather Park in Columbia, $72.90 (including fees)

Miles Johnson: “Reflections of Progress” debut solo art show: Sat., 6-10 p.m., 4002 34th Street in Mount Rainier, donation suggested

Summer Family Day at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park: Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sandy Spring, free

The Hey Cousin Culture Fest: Celebrating Black Joy: Sun., 1-8 p.m., Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, free

What to do in Virginia

“Soft Power”: Through Sept. 6, Signature Theatre in Arlington

One Loudoun Carnival at Uptown: Aug. 7-18, Ashburn, Virginia

Torpedo Factory Art Center 2nd Friday: Fri., 7-10 p.m., Alexandria, free

Cardboard Boat Regatta: Sat., noon to 3 p.m., Reston Museum, free

Taste of Leesburg: Sat., 5-10 p.m., downtown Leesburg, free admission, taste tickets close $45 through Friday

Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale: Sat., Old Town and beyond, free entry

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Through June, about $800,000 worth of merchandise has been swiped from ABC store shelves — almost a 50% increase over the same time last year, according to ABC data.

Deputies in Stafford County responded to a report of a theft at an ABC store Tuesday. Employees said they believed the store was hit by two suspects who had been targeting other ABC stores across the commonwealth.

Deputies went on the lookout nearby, and just 17 minutes later, the two suspects stole booze from another ABC store, deputies said. One of the suspects was arrested and charged.

Deputies have not located or identified the second suspect, who they believe was the driver.

Earlier this month, a 27-year-old D.C. man and three juveniles were arrested and charged for more than a dozen ABC store thefts in Fairfax County. That crew is linked to 26 ABC store thefts, allegedly stealing more than $145,000 worth of merchandise, ABC said.

Virginia ABC said it is continually reviewing and implementing changes to better deter and detect theft, including staff interactions with customers, more frequent inventories, additional audits and enhancing camera systems.

Despite the drastic increase in thefts from Virginia ABC stores, an ABC public relations manager says the amount of theft is significantly lower than the national retail theft average.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Here’s what to know before you shop, including what you can — and can’t — get sans tax.

When is Virginia’s sales tax holiday?

Virginia’s sales tax holiday is back to its typical summertime slot after budget negotiations pushed it to October last year.

The three-day holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 2 to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday Aug. 4.

What items are tax-free during Virginia’s sales tax holiday?

School supplies, clothing and shoes:

• qualifying school supplies – $20 or less per item
• clothing and shoes – $100 or less per item

Shoppers might not realize they can save on much more than shirts, pants and sneakers. Some of the quirkier clothing items included in Virginia’s policy: choir and alter clothing, costumes, girdles, lab coats, lingerie and steel toed shoes. You might be hard-pressed to find a wedding dress under $100, but that also qualifies.

It’s also a great time to stock up on disposable diapers as those are also included in the clothing category.

Hurricane and emergency preparedness products:

• portable generators – $1,000 or less per item
• gas-powered chainsaws – $350 or less per item
• chainsaw accessories – $60 or less per item
• other specified hurricane preparedness items – $60 or less per item

Some hurricane preparedness items include ice packs, batteries, flashlights, two-way radios, smoke detectors, bottled water, manual can openers and phone chargers.

Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products:

• qualifying Energy Star™ or WaterSense™ products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use – $2,500 or less per item

Air conditioners, ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, washing machines, dishwashers, light bulbs and refrigerators with the Energy Star™ label qualify, as well as bathroom sink faucets, faucet accessories, showerheads, toilets, urinals and landscape irrigation controllers with the WaterSense™ label.

What’s not included in the Virginia sales tax holiday?

Clothing accessory items including, but not limited to:

• briefcases
• cosmetics
• fabric, thread, buttons, and yarn used to make clothing
• hair notions, including, but not limited to, barrettes, hair bows and hair nets
• handbags
• handkerchiefs
• jewelry
• sun glasses
• umbrellas
• wallets
• watches
• wigs and hair pieces

Protective equipment including, but not limited to:

• breathing masks
• clean room apparel and equipment
• ear and hearing protectors
• face shields
• hard hats
• helmets
• paint or dust respirators
• protective gloves
• safety belts
• safety glasses and goggles
• tool belts
• welders gloves and masks

Sport and recreational equipment included, but not limited to:

• ballet and tap shoes
• bowling shoes
• cleated or spiked athletic shoes
• gloves, including, but not limited to, baseball, bowling, boxing, hockey and golf
• goggles
• hand and elbow guards
• life preservers and vests
• mouth guards
• roller and ice skates
• shin guards
• shoulder pads
• ski boots
• waders
• wetsuits and fins

For more information on the sales tax holiday visit tax.virginia.gov.

We’re waking up every morning dancing like Jummy and Hoda and the Eiffel Tower, excited for a new day at the Paris Olympics. And this week, you can get into the spirit with Washington Spirit watch parties, a martial arts tournament and the Mubadala Citi DC Open.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

The Ultimate Improv Show: Through July 30 to Aug. 11, The Kennedy Center, $40-$60

Mubadala Citi DC Open: Through Sun., Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, single-day tickets start at $45

Library of Congress Summer Movies on the Lawn: “Rocky” (1976): Thurs., 8 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Building lawn at the corner of 2nd Street SE and Independence Avenue, free but space limited

Nats vs. Brewers

• Pups in the Park: Fri., 6:45 p.m.
• Harry Potter Day: Sat., 4:05 p.m., Nationals Park, $24+
• Kids’ shoe charms giveaway: Sun., 1:35 p.m.

Otakon: Fri. to Sun., Washington Convention Center, $40-$85

Introductory pickleball lesson: Sat., courts by Anacostia Pool, free

• FYI: Equipment provided

Bolivian Fest DC: Sat., 3 p.m. to late, 1355 U St NW, $25 (free for kids under 12)

• FYI: Family-friendly until 8 p.m., then it’s 21+

Singalong Saturdays: Live band karaoke: Sat., 7-9 p.m., The Wharf’s Transit Pier, free

Jordan Klepper: “Suffering Fools”: Sat., The Kennedy Center, $39-$49

What to do in Maryland

US Capitol Classics: Open martial arts tournament: Fri. and Sat., National Harbor, $50 (weekend pass), $20 (Friday pass), $30 (Saturday pass)

Howard County Fair: Aug. 3-10, West Friendship, $10 per person (discounts for those 65+ and under 12)

Bethesda Outdoor Movies: “Battle of the Sexes”: Fri., Woodmont Triangle, free

Wine & Jazz at Marietta: Sat., 2-7 p.m., Marietta House Museum in Glenn Dale, $10

Fairwood Music Series featuring Kyaira: Sun., 4-6 p.m., Fairwood Community Park in Bowie, free

Summer Concert: Caiso Steelband: Sun., 6:30 to 8 p.m., Bladensburg Waterfront Park, free

Olney Outdoors: Through Aug. 31, Root Family Stage, $12-$86

2024 Paris Olympics Jul 24

Paris Olympics watch parties in the DC area where you can cheer on Team USA

The Scene Jul 30

Where to find county and state fairs in DC, Maryland and Virginia

What to do in Virginia

Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival: Thurs. To Sun., Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, free entry, $10 for parking 

Middleburg’s 18th Annual Summer Sidewalk Sale: Fri. to Sun., downtown Middleburg, free to visit

African American Culture Arts Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Metz Middle School in Manassas, free

Dan + Shay: Heartbreak On The Map Tour: Sat., 7 p.m., Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow 

Great Country Farms Peach Fuzztival: Sat. and Sun., Bluemont, Virginia

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

A bunch of counties in D.C., Maryland and Virginia are bringing back their annual county fairs with fun activities including petting zoos, auto shows and live entertainment.

Here’s a list of all the fairs coming soon to the DMV. 

The Montgomery County Agriculture Fair 
Aug. 9-17
Montgomery County Agricultural Center: 16 Chestnut Street Gaithersburg, Maryland
Details 

This Agricultural Fair in Maryland is prepping for huge events, including: Animal and barn exhibits, a monster truck tour, carnival rides, and a red-eye rodeo.

Parking at the fair costs $15. The fair is also transit accessible! Free shuttle buses and parking will be available at Montgomery College’s Rockville Campus and the Lakeforest Mall (R.I.P.). Check the date of your ticket, too: They’re offering discounted prices for all-day ride wristbands on certain days. 

The fair is closed on Aug. 9 because of severe weather.

Prince William County Fair 
Aug. 9-17
10624 Dumfries Rd, Manassas, Virginia
Details

The PWC Fair is geared up and ready to go. The huge schedule includes dog shows, pageants, wine tasting, auto shows and more. Gate admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children.

Arlington County Fair 
Aug. 14-18 
Thomas Jefferson Community Center: 3501 Second Street South Arlington, Virginia
Details

Admission to the Arlington Fair and the associated outdoor stage is free, but bring cash for the individual rides. The kid’s court will have moonbounces, music performances and a pie-eating contest with registration.

Tickets to ride are $1.25 each, with rides costing between 3 and 6 tickets. There are different deals when you get tickets in bulk, and you can check out those prices (and the price of parking) on their website.

Maryland State Fair 
Aug. 22-Sept. 8
2200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
Details

This state fair has horse racing, live entertainment, and a kiddie fair for small children. Puppy yoga will also be offered with the purchase of a ticket. Admission for those aged 6-11 is $8.25 and $13.25 for those 12 and older. 

Food & Drink Jul 26

The Weekend Scene: Pro tennis, Broccoli City and Loudoun County Fair

Things to Do DC Jul 16

Picture-perfect sunflower fields to visit in the DMV

DC State Fair
Sept. 7
Franklin Park
Details 

The free state fair showcases local makers, organizations and food vendors. There’s also competitions for the best mambo sauce, best honey and top photographers. Registration is still open for entertainers and volunteers, as of July 30.

Anne Arundel County Fair 
Sept. 11-15 
1450 General’s Highway (Route 178) Crownsville, Maryland
Details

These five jam-packed days will be filled with livestock auctions, carnival rides, indoor exhibits and Friday-and-Saturday-night concerts. They are also accepting volunteer applications. Admission is $10 for people 10 years and older. 

Charles County Fair
Sept. 12-15
8440 Fairgrounds Rd, La Plata, Maryland
Details

Sheep shows, pie-eating contests and lawnmower races will all be included alongside your typical carnival rides. Food vendors and drinks will be available on-site for purchase — but parking is free. Admission for those aged 11 and older is $10, and free for those 10 and under.

The Great Fredrick Fair 
Sept. 13-21
797 E Patrick St, Frederick, Maryland
Details

They call themselves the “greatest of all time,” and it’s for a reason. This fair has plenty of carnival rides, live barn stock, concerts and motorsport shows. Tickets for admission, parking and concert events are now available for purchase online. Alcohol and food will be available on-site. 

Stafford County Fair 
Oct. 27-20
121 University Boulevard Fredericksburg, VA 22406
Details

Pony rides, vendors, and carnival rides will be there all four days. Registration is also now open for the Miss Stafford County Fair pageant, if you know any girls or young women ready to talk about a platform of their choice.

Past events

Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair 
Jul. 26 to Aug. 4
2400 Airport Ave, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Details

Register for their pageant, or join their karaoke night and demolition derby: There’s a whole range of activities to try. Admission for those aged four to 59 is $15, and $10 for those 60 and older. 

Annual 4-H Fair and Carnival at Frying Pan Farm Park
Aug. 1-4
2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon, Virginia 
Details

Visit farm animals, see tractor demos, and potentially milk a cow or goat! Carnival games and rides will be included. Parking is $10 after 4 p.m. on Friday and all day during the weekend.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

How he was able to come up with the idea was simple.

“Because they saved my arm, we are donating to them,” Everett Eskew said.

His stand was a unique way to say thank you to the department for helping him with his broken arm last year.

His mom, Angela Hopes-Eskew, said the fire department was “so good” to him and some of the firefighters rode in the ambulance with them.

“They even stopped by the hospital to check on him,” Hopes-Eskew said. “He’s like, ‘Mom, let’s do [the stand] and donate half of the money to the fire department’. And I was like, ‘I love that.'”

Everett, along with his best friend, Penny, sold the sweet, cold treats for $2 each at the stand. Some first responders showed up to show their support and appreciation.

They raised $281, with half of proceeds going to the fire department.

The caravan comes just one day after Virginia State Police along with Virginia Department of Transportation workers cleared out a pro-Palestinian encampment for approximately six months.

They said that they wanted to come back to ensure that their message doesn’t fall by the wayside. A symphony of horns can be heard throughout Chain Bridge Road in Virginia.

Pro-Palestinian supporters in their cars waved flags in the air and chanted. The group rode up and down the street as Virginia State Police directed traffic.

The six month long encampment was deemed illegal by the state of Virginia. VDOT issued a statement to News4 reading, in part, “Due to these unsafe conditions. The road was returned to its original state in order to ensure the safety of the traveling public on Virginia’s roadways.”

Caravan participants said they plan to continue coming up with ways to demonstrate their mission.

An instructional assistant at Orange Elementary School found the gun on Monday afternoon while helping a child who arrived late take items out of their bookbag, Orange County Sheriff Jason C. Smith said in a statement posted on social media. The assistant notified administration and the school resource officer and the gun was removed from the school, Smith said.

It was determined that the 6-year-old brought the loaded Heritage Rough Rider single-action, .22-caliber “Cowboy style” revolver to school, but there’s no indication that the child intended to use the firearm, he said. No arrests have been announced in the case and Smith said the investigation was ongoing.

“This situation is very unfortunate and heartbreaking to this community,” Smith said. “We will get through this together. Situations like these remind us of how fortunate and thankful we are that nothing serious happened. Show your children lots of love and hold them tight!”

In January 2023, a 6-year-old student brought a handgun to school that he used to shoot and critically wound his first grade teacher as she taught class in Newport News, Virginia.

Removing the encampment led Chain Bridge Road to be closed for hours. 

Only two demonstrators were there at the time of the removal. Matthew Waterman, one of the protesters, told News4 he was rousted out of the tent where he had been sleeping. 

“I hear outside of the tent Virginia State troopers announcing themselves and telling us to leave. So I rushed to get my things together, and I came out of my tent taking video. Cop cars as far as I can see,” he said. 

Friday marked six months since the encampment first started. In May, there was an electric sign alerting motorists of people being on the sides of the street. 

Early this week, VDOT declared the encampment illegal. “Due to these unsafe conditions, the road was returned to its original state to ensure the safety of the traveling public on Virginia’s roadways,” they said in a statement to News4. 

Waterman said he believes the decision to clear the protesters was political.

“On the day of the forced dismantle and raid, the peace vigil (known as “Kibbutz Blinken”) had been present at its location for 183 days, with no security or safety risk to participants or motorists,” the demonstrators said in a statement.

Officials threatened to arrest Waterman as they ordered him to get in his car and leave. 

By 11:30 a.m. the road had reopened. Virginia State troopers are policing the site. A spokeswoman said they would remain there as needed to prevent anyone from trespassing.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Police said they responded to a medical emergency shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday. Oxley was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities are still determining a cause of death, police said.

Oxley was on the fifth season of “16 and Pregnant,” which aired in 2014. It followed her pregnancy and the birth of Oxley’s son, Drake.

Officials urged people with information to contact Henrico County police.

Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Visitors to Fredericksburg’s parks this summer might notice something new: That city has become one of the few areas in Virginia to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in local parks.

This extra layer of safety is thanks to strong community partnerships and donations.

Pickleball players at Memorial Park have heard the frightening story of what happened there awhile back.

“I had personally heard the story of of the person that had cardiac arrest here,” pickleball player Frank Kelly said.

If it ever happens again, there is now a lifesaving AED just steps away from the court. This park and three others now have the specially designed devices in place. They’re protected from the weather, lit at night and secured — but available in an instant.

“Cardiac arrest can strike at any time, so we want to make sure our community has the resources available to them,” Fredericksburg Fire Department Battalion Chief Jack McGovern said.

In an emergency, someone should begin hands-only CPR first, followed by a call to 911 to gain access to the AED. The 911 operator will provide a special code, and the cabinet will open, with the AED ready for use.

At about $2,000 per unit, they’re not cheap. That’s where community partners come in. The Mary Washington Hospital Foundation funded two.

“We knew that it would have a significant positive impact on our community by saving lives, and that’s part of our mission,” said Xavier Richardson, Mary Washington Healthcare’s senior vice president and chief corporate development officer.

Eddie Allen, who handles grants for the Fredericksburg Police Department, said the city became a certified HEARTsafe community in 2017. These AEDs are just the latest step to help save lives.

“I’m sure there is going to be something; somebody is going to need it,” Allen said. “And the old saying, ‘It’s not if; it’s when.'”

And even some young pickleball players have taken notice.

“It’s great that it’s here now,” Kelly said.

With more grants and community donations, more AEDs are on the way. A community organizations called the Knights of Pythias also has contributed ten thousand dollars to help pay for some of the park AEDs.

Fredericksburg’s parks department aims to have 26 AEDs across the city.

Investigators have identified the driver as 46-year-old Corey Rogers and the two passengers as 44-year-old Angela Connor and 35-year-old Salma Monastra.

Fairfax County police and firefighters responded to a car crash at West Ox Road and Route 29. When they arrived after 4 a.m., they found the car on fire, and there were reports of people trapped inside, according to police.

When fire rescue put the blaze out, they found three people dead. The man was the driver, and the two women were passengers, according to police.

Prince William County Jul 23

Man dies after carjacker runs him over with his own SUV in Dumfries

Arlington County Jul 12

Police looking for owners of car that was almost stolen before Metro Transit Police Officer shot suspect

Police are investigating what led to the crash. Investigators believe speed and drugs played a role in the crash. The names of the victims were not immediately released.

West Ox Road and ramps to the road from Route 29 were closed during an investigation.

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

The Paris Olympics are right around the corner. We’re counting down the hours until those thrilling words: Let the games begin!

Soccer kicks off on Wednesday. Then, on Friday, we watch what’s certain to be one of the most memorable moments of the Summer Game: the Opening Ceremony along Paris’ storied Seine River. You can see the full Olympics schedule here.

Things to Do DC Jul 16

Picture-perfect sunflower fields to visit in the DMV

Things to Do DC May 21

Where to watch outdoor movies all summer long in DC, Maryland and Virginia

If you want to get out and about during the workweek, the U.S. Botanic Garden is keeping an eye on two corpse flowers in bloom.  Be warned: It’s a beautiful, but stinky phenomenon.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Nationals vs Padres: Tues., Weds., Thurs., Nationals Park

“Back to the Future: The Musical”: July 23 to Aug. 11, The Kennedy Center, $49-$209

Celebrating James Baldwin’s 100th Birthday: His Legacy and Influence on Modern Writers: Thurs., 7 p.m., NMAAHC, free but registration required

Mayor Bowser’s Opening Ceremony Olympics Watch Party: Fri., 1 p.m., Reservoir Park Rec Center in Northwest D.C., free

Mubadala Citi DC Open: July 27 to Aug. 4, Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, single-day tickets start at $45

SAAM Arcade: Sat., 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Smithsonian American Art Museum, free

DMV Made: A Culture & Wellness Festival: Sat., 1-7:30 p.m., National Mall

July Late Skate: Sat. until 10 p.m., Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, free

Broccoli City Festival: Sat. and Sun., Audi Field, $245+ (two-day pass) or $90+ (one-day pass)

Kids World: Sat. and Sun., noon to 7 p.m., Franklin Park in downtown D.C., free

Bluejacket Kölsch Fest with three hours of unlimited beer: Sun., noon to 3 p.m., Southeast D.C., $46.06 (including fees)

What to do in Maryland

Olney Outdoors: July 25 to Aug. 31, Root Family Stage, $12-$86

Picture Show & Pupusas: “Jurrasic Park”: Fri., 7 p.m., Flower Ave Urban Park (8746 Flower Ave, Silver Spring), free

Bethesda Outdoor Movies: “Men in Black”: Fri., Woodmont Triangle, free

Metro Fest 2024: Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Branch Avenue Metro Station, free

Summer Concert: N2N Band: Sun., 6:30 to 8 p.m., Bladensburg Waterfront Park, free

What to do in Virginia

Loudoun County Fair: Through Sat., Leesburg, $15

Summertime: Awa Sal Secka Sings Ladies of Jazz: Through Aug. 4, Signature Theatre, $46

Rosslyn LIVE!: Uncle Jesse (‘80s and ‘90s covers): Thurs., July 25, 6-9 p.m., Gateway Park, $5

The HOT 99.5 Games 2024: Sat., 2 p.m., Starr Hill Biergarten in Tysons, free entry

Christmas in July Vendor Market: Sat., Lost Boy Cider in Alexandria, free entry

Great Country Farms Peach Fuzztival: July 27 & 28 and August 3 & 4, Bluemont, Virginia

Lineage Percussion: Shadows of Lakeland: Sat., 7:20 p.m., The Clarice Performing Arts Center in College Park, free with reservation

“The Sandlot” screening with inflatable batting cage: Sat., events start at 6 p.m., Reston Station Metro Plaza, free

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

The House of Delegates and state Senate each voted unanimously to fully restore the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, which offers free college tuition at state schools for families of military veterans who were killed or seriously disabled while on active duty.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin returned to Richmond on Thursday from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to sign the legislation into law.

The program’s costs have risen from $12 million to $65 million in five years. The state budget passed earlier this year restricted eligibility for the program to associate and undergraduate degrees, required participants to apply for other forms of financial aid and tightened residency requirements.

Virginia Jul 3

Virginia lawmakers reach deal over military tuition benefits

Virginia Politics Jun 28

Virginia House repeals eligibility restrictions to veteran tuition benefits

Virginia Politics Jun 19

Virginia Senate fails to act on changes to military education benefits program; Youngkin stunned

Veterans and their families vehemently protested the new restrictions, but state lawmakers struggled for weeks to reach an agreement on a solution.

The Washington Post reports that the bills approved Thursday set aside $45 million a year over the next two years to help colleges and universities deal with the expense, on top of $20 million per year that was already included in the budget.

Several groups are working on a long-term solution to control the costs of the program, including a task force appointed by Youngkin and a separate task force appointed by the Senate. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission is also studying how to preserve the program. Lawmakers said they would take the issue up again in the General Assembly regular session in January.

Live local coverage of the impact of the Crowdstrike software debacle has ended. A look at impacts can be found below. You can read more about the global impact here.

A widespread Microsoft outage linked to a cybersecurity software disrupted business-as-usual worldwide Friday morning. In the Washington, D.C., area, dozens of flights were delayed, Metro’s website went offline and News4 Today was stalled.

The outage is linked to a recent update from the company CrowdStrike, which said it deployed a fix for the issue. CEO George Kurtz said the outages were not from a security incident or cyberattack.

Crowdstrike’s Falcon platform is like a defense system for IT infrastructure. The cloud-based software will work to automatically stop malicious code or other issues immediately instead of simply notifying a company to address the issue. Here’s an explainer on how Crowdstrike works.

Systems continued to slowly come back online throughout Friday but the software mishap will have lasting effects over the next few days – particularly for air travel. Here’s a look at the impacts to the DC area from Friday:

The conversation boiled down to how do state leaders and school districts move forward with a solution to tackle the problem.

Some parents and educators say cellphones are needed in certain situations such as for medical purposes like a student checking their glucose level or if a student needs help with translation for a parent.

But there are concerns about cellphones being a distraction inside classrooms and the mental toll the mobile devices have on students.

“I hate TikTok. I’m sorry,” one woman in attendance said. “Because if I hear another TikTok challenge where they are destroying the bathroom, making noises in class, chirping like birds — I go insane.”

Lori Sterne, a Prince William County English teacher, said a concrete cellphone policy is needed.

“Simple distraction to cheating to talking about somebody else in the class while they’re in class, social issues, academic issues,” she said.

It was the first of eight community feedback sessions across the state after Youngkin’s executive order to create cellphone-free education for the health and safety of K-12 students.

“Our intent is to listen before we define cellphone free education,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons, who led Thursday’s discussion.

The executive order would establish age-appropriate restrictions or the elimination of cellphone use during instructional time.

Allie Forkell, a former teacher and current Manassas City Public Schools parent, said she supports the legislation.

“I think it helps at least attempt to focus on the work, even if they’re having an off day,” she said. “It takes one less thing away. It also reduces screen time, so a lot of them get headaches or they’re eyes would hurt.”

Stafford, Fairfax and Loudoun counties already are either implementing or considering enacting stricter cellphone-usage policies.

School districts might ban cellphones altogether during the school day or allow high school students to use cellphones while transitioning to classes.

New policy changes are expected to take effect on Jan. 1. The Department of Education is set to publish a draft of the guidance by Aug. 15.

The next community conversation is set for Monday in Virginia Beach.

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July’s heat is reaching a fever pitch but just keep hydrating because the weekend will bring some relief from the heat.

A movie under the stars would be a good way to stay out of the sun, but you’ll have nicer weather to enjoy Kenilworth Aquatic Garden’s Lotus and Water Lily Festival.

It’s also a great time to explore the dining Scene during Black Restaurant Week.

Here’s what else to do this month in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

Capital Fringe Festival: Through July 23, various venues in D.C., tickets to each show cost $15

Washington Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury: Tues., 11:30 a.m., Capital One Arena, $15+

Wind Down Wednesdays at the National Cathedral: Weds., 5:30-8 p.m., Northwest D.C., free

Movies on the Pitch: “Wonka”: Thurs., 7:30 p.m., Audi Field, free but reservation required

A Night with Prince in the Park and “Under the Cherry Moon” screening: Thurs., 7:30 p.m., Franklin Park, free

Dionne Warwick: Fri., 8 p.m., Warner Theatre, $82+

Open Crafting Night: 21+: Fri., 6-9 p.m., Merry Pin at 7350 Georgia Ave NW, free to attend

Nats Summer Concert Series: Carly Rae Jepsen: Fri., game begins at 6:45 p.m., Nationals Park, $32+

• FYI: Nationals play Reds at home Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Lotus & Water Lily Festival: Fri. Sat. and Sun., Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, free

Free skate lessons: Fridays, 6-8 p.m. through Aug. 5, Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, free but registration required

• FYI: Photo ID needed for free skate rentals

Library of Congress July Family Day: The Olympic Games: Sat., 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., free but timed entry passes are required to enter the Library of Congress

Home Rule Music Festival: Part II: Sat., Alethia Tanner Park, free

DC United: Military Appreciation Night: Sat., Audi Field, $27+

Humor Books: ALIVE!: Sat., 7:30 p.m., The Kennedy Center, $17.25+

Olivia Rodrigo: “GUTS World Tour”: Sat., Capital One Arena, sold out 

What to do in Maryland

Lake Arbor Jazz Festival: Weds. to Sun., National Harbor, $95 (advance) or $110 (day-of)

Glen Echo Park Summer Concerts: Nowhere Men: Thurs., 7:30-8:30 p.m., Bumper Car Pavilion, free

Washington Country Fair: Through Sat., Boonsboro, Maryland, $5 for daily gate admission

Pint Size Plunge benefitting Special Olympics Maryland: Sat., Lone Oak Farm in Olney, free attendance, charity raffle starts at $10 per entry

Afro Latino Festival: Sun., noon to 8 p.m., Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, free

Summer Concert: Larry Dennis & The Wild Rice Band: Sun., 6:30 to 8 p.m., Bladensburg Waterfront Park, free

What to do in Virginia

Line Dancing at Lost Boy Cider: Weds., 6:30 p.m., Alexandria, free entry

Rosslyn LIVE!: Love Story (Taylor Swift tribute): Thurs., July 18, 6-9 p.m., Gateway Park, $5

Wright at Twilight at Pope-Leighey House: Fri., 6:30 p.m., Alexandria, $25

Purcellville Wine and Food Festival: Sat., 2-8 p.m., Fireman’s Field Park, $5+ in advance or $10+ at the gate 

11th Annual Old Town Pub Crawl: Sat., 1:30-6 p.m., Alexandria, free to participate

Stand-up comedy night hosted by Leon Scott: Sat., 7:30 p.m., HIGHLINE RxR in Arlington, $4-$8

“Kicking and Screaming” screening with inflatable soccer: Sat., events start at 6 p.m., Reston Station Metro Plaza, free

Nas with the National Symphony Orchestra: Sun., 8 p.m., Wolf Trap in Vienna, $59+

National Portrait Gallery Jul 12

National Portrait Gallery exhibit is love letter to James Baldwin

Simone Biles Jul 15

How does Simone Biles pull off her record-breaking gymnastics feats?

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