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A family is mourning Erica Tibbs after a driver in an SUV struck her and her son, Hezekiah, on Richmond Highway on Jan. 29. Tibbs, her partner, Christian Saidi, and their son had just gotten off a bus after eating dinner at McDonald’s. Tibbs later died at a hospital. Her aunt remembered her as a loved, valued and respected member of the community.

A new coalition wants to explore placing commuter rail alongside the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. NOVA-TRAC, a group of businesses, nonprofits and transit advocates, hopes to build support community by community before seeking an official feasibility study involving Loudoun and Fairfax counties and state and regional agencies.

Federal job cuts are also emerging as an issue in Virginia’s 2025 race for governor. Republican front-runner Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears supported President Donald Trump’s effort to review federal spending, while former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger warned that sweeping reductions would harm communities across the state.

Hundreds gathered at the Virginia Capitol on Feb. 5 for an anti-Trump demonstration organized by an Annandale student. Protesters criticized the president’s recent wave of executive orders and Elon Musk’s access to federal government systems.

More than 100 customers arrived for the Feb. 7 opening of a new 45,000-square-foot Whole Foods at 103 E. Broad Street in Falls Church. The location replaces the company’s former Idylwood Plaza store, which permanently closed Feb. 3.

At Reston Station, FM Global has leased 32,000 square feet of office space at 1906 Reston Metro Plaza. Comstock Holding Companies announced the agreement Feb. 7. The commercial property insurer and loss-prevention company serves businesses in more than 130 countries.

Fairfax County sold $400 million in general obligation bonds on Jan. 22 at a competitive interest rate of 3.57%. The proceeds will support capital projects involving schools, public safety, parks, transportation, libraries and human services.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is preparing to hire more than 290 part-time employees for the renovated Mount Vernon Rec Center, which is scheduled to reopen in May 2025. Open hiring events will seek workers for several departments.

Monday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny conditions, a high near 44 and northwest winds of 5 to 7 mph. Clouds are expected to increase overnight as the temperature falls to around 30 and winds become calm.