
Former Fairfax County Deputy Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison
Provided contraband and info to inmates; drugs for cash.
The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office announced on Sept. 19 that former deputy Robert T. Sanford Jr., 37, received a 78-month prison sentence for smuggling drugs and contraband into the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

Solving the Vehicle-Wildlife Collision Problem
A well-designed over or underpass for wildlife can reduce animal-vehicle collisions by up to 90 percent.
There are over one million vehicle-wildlife collisions in the United States every year, costing over $8 billion and tens of thousands of human injuries, GMU biology professor Dr. David Luther told Green Breakfast attendees in an online Sept. 14 talk titled “Zooming through Nature: the Wildlife Costs of Modern Transportation.”

Chantilly Man Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
Pham was charged with attacking Connolly’s staffers.
Chantilly Man Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

Prison Reform Takes Long, Tortuous Path
Del. Hope advocates for more humane conditions for incarcerated people.
Del. Patrick Hope (D-47) spearheaded legislation this session that creates a state ombudsman over the Department of Corrections.

Providing Students Opportunities To Register To Vote
FCPS students advocate for the national High School Voter Empowerment Act.
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) highlighted their July 31, 2024, TeacherDirect Bulletin with a reminder of the April 2, 2020, Code of Virginia amendment that added the provision, § 22.1-203.4 Public high schools; mandating that students have access to voter registration.

Butterflies May Be in Trouble
This summer’s heat and drought have not only taken a toll on humans, they may also be affecting the butterfly population.
Tree Cover Protected in Town of Vienna
Town makes a move to keep the shade of older trees.
Town makes a move to keep the shade of older trees.
Allow Virginians To Use IRS Direct File
IRS recently opened Direct File to all 50 states after successful pilot; Virginia participation requires further action by Youngkin Administration and General Assembly
Alexandria Woman Sentenced To More Than 2 Years
An Alexandria woman was sentenced this week to two years and two months in prison for repeatedly submitting fraudulent health insurance claims and illegally collecting $128,748 in payments to which she was not entitled.

Town of Vienna Holds Naturalization Ceremony.
The door opens for dreams to come true.
Naturalization

Highlights of Virginia LCV’s Scored Legislation Patroned by Lawmakers of the Fairfax County Delegation to the General Assembly
LCV’s positions and governor’s actions.
Gov. Youngkin vetoed 201 bills in 2024, including bipartisan environmental protection legislation. Virginia LCV classified scored legislation into five categories: energy and climate, good government, land conservation, land use and transportation, and water quality. Virginia LCV provided its position, whether supporting or opposing the bills, and compared such against Gov. Youngkin’s actions, whether he signed the bills into law or vetoed them.
On new Department of Education guidance for individuals affected by joint consolidated student loans
For years, borrowers in joint consolidated loans have faced frustrating bureaucratic hurdles and dismal prospects for severing their loans, keeping them trapped in financial agreements with unresponsive or abusive ex-spouses and preventing them from accessing loan forgiveness programs.

SPARC Provides Day Programs for Adults with Disabilities
SPARC honors Supervisors Dalia Palchik and John Foust for support of region’s ‘forgotten.’
SPARC, a non-profit that provides day programs in Northern Virginia for adults with disabilities, hosted its 3rd Annual Pancake Breakfast on June 15 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Vienna with a silent auction, talent show, games, and food.
VDOT Makes Roadsides a Refuge for Pollinators
Pollinator conservation provides bird and insect habitats and improves agency efficiencies
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will install 135 new acres of pollinator habitats this year to support pollinators such as bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, flies, and more.