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Confidence is increasing that a significant winter storm could hit Northern Virginia and the Interstate 95 corridor this weekend. The system is expected to reach the Washington region Saturday afternoon, intensify Saturday night into Sunday and end Monday.

The storm threat comes as Northern Virginia Democrats welcome a change in Richmond. Following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s inauguration, lawmakers and political observers said they anticipate fewer vetoes and greater cooperation on bills that stalled under the previous administration.

Soon after taking office Saturday, Spanberger appointed new members to the boards overseeing George Mason University, the University of Virginia and Virginia Military Institute. She also directed officials to review the process for confirming higher-education board members, which fueled a dispute between legislators and the prior administration last year.

In another major government development, Lindsey Halligan left her position leading a key U.S. attorney’s office in Virginia on Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi said. The Trump administration lawyer had been appointed last year with instructions to pursue criminal cases against President Donald Trump’s political opponents.

Federal and Maryland officials are also reporting progress toward speeding up reconstruction of the American Legion and Francis Scott Key bridges. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said they have advanced an agreement and may use a public-private partnership to move the American Legion Bridge project forward.

Elsewhere in Fairfax County, animal services officers responding to a report of a stray dog helped reunite the pet with its Maryland family nearly three years after it disappeared.

Reston native Ola Adams, meanwhile, helped Indiana University capture its first football national championship Monday night. The Hoosiers defeated Miami 27-21 to complete a perfect 16-0 season. Adams, a South Lakes High School graduate and former NFL coach, was in his second season coaching Indiana’s safeties.

Bailey’s Crossroads is set to gain a new Ethiopian grocery store next month. Owner Aftataw “Mamush” Muluneh plans to open Nazret Market #4 at 5810 Seminary Road, offering meat, spices, grains and other goods imported from Ethiopia.

For Wednesday, clouds are expected to build through the day as temperatures reach about 40 degrees. Southeast winds will turn southerly at 9 to 14 mph during the morning, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low near 33.