Spate of F.C. Council Meetings Canceled in August

A spate of committee meetings of the Falls Church City Council scheduled for August have been canceled, it was announced today. The August 14 and 21 meetings of the mayor’s agenda meetings, the August 16 meeting of the budget and finance committee and the August 27 meeting of the Council’s economic development committee have all been canceled.

However, next Monday’s meeting of the full City Council on August 5 is still on, as is the August 7 meeting of the Planning Commission when it will get its first crack at commenting on the plan to develop an ordinance to make easier the addition of Accessory Dwellings (ADs) to homeowner properties in the City.

Youngkin Endorses Kaine Opponent in Senate Race

“Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has not only officially endorsed my opponent, he’s also fundraising for his effort to unseat me,” reports Sen. Tim Kaine, running for re-election this year. Hung Cao is Kaine’s opponent.

Kaine wrote this week, “My team is working around the clock to keep Virginia blue, traveling to every corner of the Commonwealth, reaching out to Democratic and undecided voters, and making sure every Virginian knows the stakes of this election.”

Fairfax Postpones Action On Data Centers

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has postponed all public hearings set for this week, including a pivotal vote on proposed data center regulations, to Sept. 10 due to a staff error, it has been reported.
The delay will also affect public hearings held at the board’s last meeting on July 16. It stems from a “regulatory oversight” related to new rules for advertising public hearings that the Virginia General Assembly passed earlier this year, the county announced. The changes intended to standardize notice requirements for public meetings and hearings took effect on July 1.

“Unfortunately, due to staff error, the advertisements for public hearings on July 16 and for those scheduled for today did not meet these new requirements,” Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said during the board meeting. “Therefore, the public hearings for today must be rescheduled to Sept. 10 and the public hearings held on July 16 will need to be held again, also on Sept. 10.”

Russian Press Credentials Revoked at Olympics

Russia’s state-run TASS news agency said the Olympic organizing committee revoked accreditations for four of its journalists in Paris on Sunday and that the committee attributed the move to a decision by French authorities but gave Moscow no further explanation.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin’s office declined to comment on the case but noted that decisions to withdraw accreditation lie with the Games’ organizer, Paris 2024, based on information provided by the government.

TASS quoted its own public communications and international projects department as saying the move came as a surprise and that the four had entered Paris without incident. Three of those affected had covered the opening ceremony and some other events without any complaints from organizers, TASS added.

Russia is traditionally one of the top Olympic medal winners, but the Paris Games are not being shown on Russian state television and only 15 Russians are competing following a ban imposed over the war in Ukraine.

Russians and Belarusians can compete at the Games only as individuals with no flag, and had to pass a screening process designed to root out anyone who has publicly supported the war or military.
TASS said Paris had previously declined to accredit some Russian journalists for the Olympics and said the French had expressed fears about espionage.

Fairfax Police Helping At Paris Olympics

“The Summer Olympic Games have officially kicked off with a schedule full of sporting events. While we look forward to cheering on the athletes who represent us on the world stage, we also are looking forward to cheering on our very own Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) officers who will be in Paris providing key security during the games,” according to a statement this week by Fairfax Board of Supervisors’ chair Jeff McKay.

“Fairfax County officers will be working alongside French officers to help with transportation, foreign assistance, and overall public safety. Before departing to Paris, our FCPD officers underwent additional training in first aid, explosive ordnance detection, intelligence briefings, and familiarization with international police practices,” McKay added. “The French government will cover all costs associated with the trip.”