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Virginia lawmakers reached the midpoint of the 2026 General Assembly session Tuesday night, when the crossover deadline required legislation to clear its chamber of origin. Democrats advanced several major priorities along with three proposed constitutional amendments that are set to appear on the November ballot.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a local public emergency over the sewage spill in the Potomac River. The declaration also enabled her to request a presidential emergency disaster declaration, potentially opening the door to federal support.

Traffic deaths are rising across the D.C. region even though the overall number of crashes remains below pre-pandemic levels. Crashes have increased since 2020, while fatalities have climbed nearly continuously since 2015, according to the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board’s 2025 Roadway Safety Study.

A proposal that could let Northern Virginia voters decide whether to permit a Fairfax County casino has advanced to the Virginia House of Delegates. The latest version does not name Tysons as the site, but some Tysons-area residents remain skeptical.

Federal investigators have finalized their report on last year’s fatal collision between an Army helicopter and a regional jet over the Potomac River. The National Transportation Safety Board identified multiple contributing factors, including a helicopter route’s proximity to the approach path for Reagan National Airport, traffic levels at the airport that investigators called unsustainable, and heavy workloads for control tower personnel.

Metro’s planned 8000-series railcars may arrive later than expected. The modernized trains are scheduled to enter service in 2028, but the transit agency has expressed dissatisfaction with the current delivery timeline.

The recently reopened Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate in Reston will mark its 20th anniversary this summer. The intergenerational community hub opened July 10, 2006, and an anniversary celebration is planned for Aug. 15.

The Vietnamese community welcomed the Lunar New Year at Eden Center on Feb. 17. Festivities included a lion dance, speeches, Vietnamese and American flag raisings, recognition of Vietnamese military veterans and fireworks.

Rain is expected mainly after 3 p.m. Thursday, with a high near 48 degrees and east winds of 5 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80% during the day, increasing to 100% overnight as patchy fog develops and temperatures fall to around 42. Rainfall could total between a quarter-inch and a half-inch.