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Mercia Hobson

Stories by Mercia

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Are Data Centers Driving Dominion’s Power Needs?

On Oct. 15, 2024, Dominion Energy Virginia filed its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan, a comprehensive, long-term regional plan to meet growing power demand, much of it driven by data centers, according to its press release, “Dominion Energy Virginia releases comprehensive long-term plan to meet growing power demand with reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean electricity.”

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Defining Year for NOVA Park’s W&OD Trail

Interview with park authority’s executive director

2025 is shaping up to be a watershed year for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's W&OD Trail, also known as the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park and Dominion Energy. It is at a point where the course of events can irrevocably alter the park’s future.

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FCPD Sees Reductions in Most 2024 Year-End Crime

140 new police officers hired in 2024, net gain of 18 officers.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis presented the Fairfax County Police Department Crime and Recruiting Data Update during the Board of Supervisors Safety and Security Committee Meeting on Monday, May 20.

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Former Supervisor Cathy Hudgins Dies

Effective advocate for affordable housing, transit and human services, Hudgins was first African American woman elected to Board of Supervisors.

Catherine M. Hudgins, who represented the Hunter Mill district on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1999 to 2019, died on Saturday, May 24.

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Memorial Day Weekend 2025

A roundup of events in four communities

Residents in Fairfax County observed Memorial Day weekend and the Monday observance with various ceremonies, wreath presentations, musical performances, and other events.

Five FCPS High School Seniors Awarded Corporate-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

More merit scholarship awardees will be named in coming weeks.

Five academically talented Fairfax County Public High School students are awarded 2025 “Corporate-sponsored Scholarships” from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

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Gerry Connolly Dead at 75

Longtime congressman succumbs to esophageal cancer.

Congressman Gerry Connolly, the longtime Virginia politician and influential Democratic statesman on Capitol Hill, died early Wednesday, May 21.

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FCPS School Boundary Scenario Explorer

Fairfax County Public Schools plans to update the school boundary change scenarios this summer.

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Local Details of 2025 Point-In-Time Count

Fairfax County findings of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, vs. other jurisdictions.

Homelessness

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Remembering Reston Activist and Philanthropist

Barbara Cheryl Terio-Simon (1944-2025)

Barbara Cheryl Terio-Simon (1944-2025)

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Supervisors Formally Adopt FY 2026 Budget

Maintain $149.7 million less than school board’s request / Chairman McKay says 6 percent increase for teachers.

Budget

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Ticket Sales and Donations Down for GLOBAL’s Annual AcceptAbility Gala May 21

NIH Funding Cuts Loom for Down syndrome research.

Michelle Sie Whitten, president and CEO of the non-profit organization Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL), fears the impact of two impending financial blows to the foundation.

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Primary Voters Head to Polls for Early Voting

There are no GOP candidates for 8 of 15 House of Delegates seats representing Fairfax County.

Early voting started Friday, May 2, at some locations in Fairfax County for the June 17 Democratic primary.

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On Arbor Day

New agreement to protect vegetation along the W&OD, and the possibility of a W&OD Visitors Center in Vienna.

In a show of environmental resilience, on Friday afternoon, April 25, Arbor Day 2025, Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn joined the Mayor of the Town of Vienna, Linda Colbert; Paul Gilbert, executive director of NOVA Parks; Virginia State Delegate Holly Seibold; and others who gathered on a portion of the Town Green in Vienna behind the Freeman House and Museum.

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Get Your Fruit and Veggie Fix at FXCO Farmers Markets

Fairfax County Farmers Markets are opening; the Park Authority operates ten markets.

Farmers Markets

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U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly Won’t Run in 2026

Resurgence of cancer deals him a blow.

Resurgence of cancer deals him a blow.

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Two FCPD Officers Shot, Wounded

Traffic stop turns deadly as third officer shoots, kills driver.

Shooting

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Tax Increases vs. Program Cuts

Fairfax County residents disagree; Day 1, Public Hearings.

Fairfax County residents testified passionately during the Tuesday, April 22 public hearings.

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Fairfax County Public Hearings on FY26 Budget

Firefighters and paramedics warn cutting ambulances puts lives in danger.

Firefighters and paramedics warn cutting ambulances puts lives in danger.

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FCPS Wants it All

Superintendent says she can’t cut $150M from her $4B budget.

Superintendent says she can’t cut $150M from her $4B budget.

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Awaiting Governor’s Action on Legislation, Deadline May 2.

Status update on bills introduced by local delegation

Status update on bills introduced by local delegation

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Medicaid, What’s At Stake

Medicaid, What’s At Stake

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Options Set for Real Estate, Meals Taxes

Advertised rates are a cap on options; actual rates can be less or equal but not more.

Advertised rates are a cap on options; actual rates can be less or equal but not more.

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How Far Will Dominion Energy Go?

Reactions to Clear-Cutting NOVA Parks W&OD Trail

Dominion

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Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Draws Over 400 Students

Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) Hosts Event at Chantilly High

Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) hosted his second 2025 Teen Job Fair on Saturday, March 15.

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‘Rest Easy, K9 Max,’ FCPD’s Got It From Here.

On March 10, the Fairfax County Police Department announced the death of K9 Max, who served the department for eight years, from 2012 to 2020.

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Free Formal Dresses and Accessories for Students

RCC’s 23rd Annual Diva Central Giveaway

Reston Community Center announced it is hosting its 23rd Annual Diva Central Formal and Prom Dress Giveaway at RCC Lake Anne, 609-A Washington Plaza, on Saturday, March 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Beavers Are a Native Keystone Species Here

Humane coexistence tactics can protect trees; beavers benefit. wildlife.

Beavers

Former FCPD Sergeant Sentenced to Five Years

Mother of fatal police shooting victim, Timothy McCree Johnson, speaks out.

Former Fairfax County Police Sergeant Wesley Shifflett was processed into the county jail Friday evening, Feb. 28. At his sentencing hearing earlier that day, Fairfax County Circuit Judge Randy I. Bellows sentenced Shifflett, 36, to five years in prison with two years suspended.

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Immigration Raids Evoke Horror in Fairfax County

Three so far this week; more expected.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are sweeping across Northern Virginia this week.

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Food for Neighbors Drive at North County Government Center

Ensuring local middle and high school students don’t go hungry

Ensuring local middle and high school students don’t go hungry

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Board of Supervisors, School Board Joint Meeting

Given project revenue increases, FCPS reports a negative $149.62 million available balance for meeting FY 2026 requirements.

$149.62 million

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Dominion Energy Clear-Cuts Four Miles Along W&OD Trail

Officials react as Dominion rejects long standing agreements.

Dominion

Community News at a Glance: The 2025 Chief vs. Chief Adoption Bowl

Four days of free adoptions for dogs 45 pounds or more.

Community News at a Glance

Supervisors React to Budget Prospects

Some comments were lightly edited for clarity.

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‘Harsh Penalty’ Slams Senator

Boysko loses leadership positions after opposing Senate majority leader’s ‘casino bill.’

Boysko loses leadership positions after opposing Senate majority leader’s ‘casino bill.’

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Royal Flush for Opponents of ‘Casino Bill’.

Virginia Senate Bill 982 dead for 2025.

Casino Bill

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Is Help On The Way?

Thousands of federal employees and contractors fired or furloughed; more in the works.

Federal Workers

Highlights of Fairfax County Proposed FY 2026 Budget

More challenging than COVID year budgets.

Budget

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Remembering Local Victims of Jan. 29 Plane Crash

Remembering Local Victims of Jan. 29 Plane Crash

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Help On The Way

Kaine and Warner offer tele-town hall meeting Monday.

Fear and uncertainty threaded throughout the Fairfax County federal workforce after an unexpected email with the subject line "Fork in the Road" arrived in their employee email inboxes on Jan. 28, as it did nationwide for over 2.3 million federal employees.

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Meeting on Georgetown Pike/Great Falls Library Pedestrian Refuge Improvements

Crosswalk project heads toward finalization

A community meeting on Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Great Falls Grange brought the Georgetown Pike - Great Falls Library Pedestrian Refuge Improvements project closer to its construction start date.

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Surovell Defends His Casino Bill

Bill passed the Senate (24-Y 16-N) on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Opponents question source of $1.8B casino revenue prediction.

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Superintendent addresses immigrant enforcement.

Superintendent addresses immigrant enforcement.

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Vienna Delays Vote on Meals Tax Again

At its Jan. 27 meeting, the Vienna Town Council voted to temporarily defer the proposal to raise the meals tax from 3 to 4 percent.

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Casino Bill for Tysons Advances

Opponents make repeated trips to Richmond to testify against the bill.

The subcommittee pushed SB982, introduced by Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), to the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 9 a.m. The bill proposes to allow Fairfax County residents to vote in a referendum on a casino in Tysons.

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$4 Billion for School Budget

State shortfall in funding for local schools creates expanding needs.

Division Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented what she called the “needs-based” Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Budget at the Fairfax County School Board meeting on Thursday evening, Jan. 23.

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Supervisors: Casino Bill Muddies Waters

Real issue is state underfunding of schools, they say.

A senator's comments Monday to the Virginia Senate Subcommittee on Gaming regarding SB982 (Casino Gaming; eligible host localities) led the chair of the No Fairfax Casino coalition, Lynn Mulston, to email the senators a letter titled "URGENT: SB982 Reaction to Chief Patron's Comments."

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