Morning briefing · 7 things to know
A Fairfax trail closure, voting deadlines and planned transit changes lead today’s briefing, alongside assistance for displaced Purcellville residents and a school safety investigation.
Fairfax County Parkway Trail closure is scheduled to begin this morning
VDOT plans to close the Fairfax County Parkway Trail between Ladues End Lane and Fairview Woods Drive around 7 a.m. today, through summer 2027, for widening work. Pedestrians and cyclists should follow the posted detour using shared-use paths along Braddock Road and Route 123 rather than the closed segment.
Assistance available after Purcellville apartment evacuation
Residents displaced from Purcellville East Apartments can call 703-777-0420 for county assistance. An unsafe-structure order issued Thursday affects 24 second-floor apartments across six buildings at 110–120 N. 16th Street. Loudoun County says damaged stairwells made those units unsafe to access; about 55 people were displaced. First-floor residents are not affected.
Virginia early voting enters its final two days
Virginia’s in-person early voting ends Saturday, October 31. Fairfax County’s Government Center is scheduled to offer voting today from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other sites have different hours. Check the county’s location list and wait times before traveling; Government Center parking may be limited.
Print-at-home ballot requests are due today
Today, October 30, is Maryland’s deadline to request a print-at-home mail-in ballot. Voters must print the ballot and oath and return the completed materials by mail, drop box or hand delivery; ballots cannot be returned electronically. Mailed ballots need an Election Day postmark, while drop-box and hand-delivered ballots are due by 8 p.m. November 3.
Blue Line single-tracking is planned from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Metro plans single-tracking between Van Dorn Street and Franconia-Springfield from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today for welding work. Blue Line riders should expect trains about 18 minutes apart during that period. The other five lines are listed for normal weekday service. Check current alerts before leaving for a time-sensitive trip.
Hilloween brings an 11 a.m. street closure near Eastern Market
D.C. police plan to close 7th Street SE between North Carolina Avenue and C Street from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today for Hilloween. Emergency no-parking restrictions cover the same period. Vehicles violating posted signs may be ticketed and towed; drivers should allow for delays and increased pedestrian traffic near the event.
School says staff secured gun found in candy box; no students exposed
A KIPP DC Grow Academy staff member found a firearm inside a candy box Thursday, FOX 5 reported after last night’s briefing. The school said staff secured it and notified police; no students touched it and no injuries occurred. Police had made no arrests. How the gun reached the Shaw campus remained under investigation.
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