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Several Virginia congressional candidates have suspended their campaigns after the state Supreme Court voided the April 21 redistricting referendum results.
Former Space Force Col. Bree Fram, who planned to challenge Rep. James Walkinshaw in the 11th District, has withdrawn. Dorothy McAuliffe, Del. Dan Helmer, state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim and J.P. Cooney also ended campaigns for the proposed 7th District.
In other news around Northern Virginia and the region:
A judge sentenced Rami El-Sayed, 36, to 40 years in prison on Friday, May 15, for killing his girlfriend at Burke Lake Park in 2023. The judge cited El-Sayed’s heavy use of psychedelic mushrooms that night as a mitigating factor and said he believed El-Sayed was not fully aware of his actions.
Metro reports that nearly seven in 10 Metrobus riders still do not pay their fares. A new enforcement effort will have bus operators state the required fare as a reminder, with transit police also involved in the crackdown.
Burke has been ranked Virginia’s best place to live for 2026-2027. It placed 108th among 250 communities nationwide, while Burke’s 22015 ZIP code also ranked first among Northern Virginia’s 20 hottest ZIP codes.
Dozens of union electricians who work on Virginia data centers attended a Senate Finance Committee meeting Tuesday to urge negotiators to preserve tax breaks for the industry. The incentive remains a point of contention in state budget talks. Virginia could experience its first partial government shutdown if lawmakers fail to enact a budget by June 30.
Metro General Manager Randy Clarke is promoting a proposed “Gold Line,” a dedicated rapid bus route connecting Georgetown with the new Commanders stadium. Clarke also said fares will probably increase with inflation next year, three years after the system’s previous fare hike.
The Reston Association is revising how it communicates with residents about pesticide applications following concerns over transparency. Acting CEO Peter Lusk announced the changes in an email Monday after homeowner Amy Becker raised the issue at a May 1 board meeting.
Annandale will host an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space. The event is expected to include more than 50 vendors, live performances, a fashion show, an eating contest, crafts and appearances by community organizations.
Wednesday’s forecast calls for a high near 95 degrees and a 60% chance of rain, primarily after 5 p.m. Winds will come from the west at 6 to 11 mph. Rain chances rise to 80% overnight, when temperatures are expected to fall to around 59 degrees with north winds of 5 to 7 mph.