Famous F.C. Church Building to Be Renovated
The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment which owns the iconic small building adjacent to the State Theatre on N. Washington Street which has served multiple roles over the years, including as the home of the new defunct Falls Church Congregational Church, the newly incorporated City of Falls Church City Hall and jail, and the city library, and the F.C. Women’s Club, will be undergoing a major renovation in the coming period.
The 145-year-old building “is in need of some maintenance and at present we are working on identifying exactly what needs to be done,” church officials say. Therefore the building will be closed to all activities, including church services, effective this week.
The building was for decades home to the annual News-Press holiday party.
CNN Announces 100+ New Layoffs
Mark Thompson, the CNN chief executive appointed last year to modernize the news network, unveiled a set of sweeping changes to the iconic outlet Wednesday, announcing plans to build a billion-dollar digital business, experiment with artificial intelligence and overhaul key newsroom structures, Oliver Darcy has reported.
The far-reaching measures, which Thompson described to staffers in a memo as a “key milestone in the transformation of CNN,” will result in about 100 employees, or about three percent of the workforce, being laid off.
Sen. Warner Warns of Foreign Influence in Elections
Virginia’s Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Mark R. Warner issued a new statement following a press briefing from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on the foreign threat landscape ahead of the election:
Sen. Warner stated, “I have long pushed the Intelligence Community to be more open with the public about the complex and serious foreign influence threats targeting the United States – particularly in the context of U.S. elections. Today’s press briefing is a strong step in that direction. I applaud the ODNI, FBI, and CISA for commencing these regular public updates on foreign efforts to manipulate our democratic processes and undermine our election. There is no doubt that these updates – in addition to efforts by civil society and the private sector – will serve to better inform and prepare the public.
“As the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I would encourage all Americans to stay informed and alert. Social media, in particular, continues to be a popular vector for foreign covert influence attempts, and our adversaries remain focused on stoking social, racial, and political tensions among Americans. The best thing Americans can do to help safeguard our election is avoid succumbing to nefarious foreign efforts to create division and sow chaos. I am committed to working with the Intelligence Community to declassify more information and further increase transparency.”
Inova Performs Area’s New Stent Proceedure
Inova Schar Heart and Vascular was the first in the Northern Virginia area to perform a groundbreaking treatment for blocked coronary artery stents as part of a clinical trial, leading to the device’s full FDA approval, it was reported this week.
The “AGENT Drug-Coated Balloon” delivers targeted medication directly within existing coronary stents to dissolve blockages without adding the extra metal involved in a second stent within a stent.
Although cardiac cath and the placements of stents is a highly effective and common procedure, the “AGENT Drug-Coated Balloon” reduces the risk for patients who continue to experience the complication of blockages at the stent site. Following its full FDA approval in March, Inova has now successfully performed the first case outside of a clinical trial in Northern Virginia.
New Election Access Laws Now in Effect in Virginia
There are some positive changes coming to Virginia election law this year improving Virginia voters’ access to polling places, reports Jeff McKay, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
One new law clarifies that individuals with a disability (not just a physical disability) can vote curbside.
Another requires local registrars to post information at the previous location when a polling place location changes, including information about how to find the new location to assist any voter who is unaware of the change.
A third requires that notice of a change in election district, precinct or polling place be mailed to all registered voters at least 30 days prior to the next election (current law requires a mailing at least 15 days prior).
