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Fairfax County residents awoke to immigration enforcement activity as Virginia reported its first pediatric flu deaths of the 2024–25 season. Here are the key local and regional developments for Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.
Residents of the Beacon Hill Apartments in Groveton said federal agents knocked loudly on doors before sunrise Sunday, leaving some people frightened. The operation was among Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids conducted nationwide on Jan. 26 that resulted in more than 1,170 arrests.
The Virginia Department of Health reported two flu-related pediatric deaths Monday. One involved a child between ages 5 and 12 in the state’s Eastern Region. The other involved a teenager between 13 and 17 in the Central Region in southern Virginia. They were the first such deaths reported in Virginia during the current flu season.
Virginia’s Senate voted 20-18 Monday to approve legislation from Sen. Aaron Rouse, a Virginia Beach Democrat, addressing voter-roll removals. The proposal would clarify the federal 90-day restriction on such removals and give flagged voters more time to challenge their potential removal. A purge of voters identified as possible noncitizens prompted a lawsuit last year amid reports that eligible voters had been removed by mistake.
Dimitri Sotis, WTOP’s longtime evening anchor, has died at 55. His distinctive voice accompanied Washington-area listeners through elections, storms and breaking news for more than two decades. He anchored weekday broadcasts from 7 to 11:30 p.m.
A recent survey conducted for the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce found widespread optimism among regional business owners about the economy in 2025. Affordability, however, has emerged as a major concern for leaders seeking to attract businesses and workers.
City of Fairfax police arrested a suspect following a reported attempted malicious wounding Friday morning in the 3100 block of Campbell Drive. Investigators found shell casings at the scene, but police reported no injuries or property damage.
Falls Church officials are moving closer to a vote on an ordinance intended to make accessory dwelling units easier to build. During a recent City Council work session, elected officials and senior staff disagreed over how much additional public feedback should be gathered before a decision.
Two Fairfax County high school seniors recently competed at the Junior World Diving Championships in Rio de Janeiro. Nathaniel Grannis of Carter G. Woodson High School represented the United States, while Rem Turatbekov of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology competed for his birth country, Kyrgyzstan.
Tuesday’s forecast calls for sunshine and a high near 52 degrees. West winds of 7 to 12 mph are expected to strengthen to 15 to 20 mph during the afternoon, with gusts potentially reaching 33 mph. Skies should remain mostly clear overnight as temperatures fall to around 31 degrees.