Metro Interim General Manager Richard Sarles meets with DC bloggers (left to right) Matt Hilburn, Matt Johnson and Michael Perkins at WMATA headquarters on May 10 [2010]. by erin m licensed under Creative Commons.

Matt Hilburn, journalist and creator of the Unsuck DC Metro platform, has died

Hilburn, 54, died July 17 at his home in Arlington, from complications of kidney cancer. In addition to creating the popular and controversial Unsuck DC Metro multimedia platform in 2009, he worked as an online reporter for Voice of America and held other foreign service journalism and English teaching positons around the globe.   (Adam Bernstein / Post. Tip: Chester B.)  

Cox likely to win GOP Gubernatorial nomination in MD, Alsobrooks wins second term in Prince George’s, many races still too close to call or uncontested

While several races statewide remain too close to call and all races await mail-in-ballot totals, GOP gubernatorial nominee Dan Cox, incumbent Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland Delegate and state Comptroller candidate Brooke Lierman were all declared winners in their respective contests.   (DCist)  

Fairfax County Public Library to cut hours, citing staffing shortages

Citing staffing shortages and the ability to run one eight-hour shift per day, seven days a week, Fairfax County’s eight regional library branches will shift their hours to 1-9 pm on Mondays and 10-6 pm on all other days of the week. The Access Services branch at the Fairfax County Goverment Center will still be open from 8 am-5 pm. The service changes will go into effect on August 14.  (Angela Woolsey / FFXnow)  

Four Congressional amendments on DC appropriations law defeated

The amendments, added by Republicans, included stop DC from reducing speed limits to 15 miles per hour, prohibit the use of funds for automated traffic enforcement, prevent the use of funds for abortion, and carry out a law to reduce police spending.  (City Paper)  

Alexandria’s West End Transitway and Holmes Run Trail Projects receive $10 million in VA state funding

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) has awarded five million dollars each to the S. Van Dorn Street portion of the proposed West End Transitway near the Van Dorn Street Metro station and to add a prefabricated bicycle and pedestrian bridge behind William Ramsey Elementary School on the Holmes Run Trail.  (Brandi Bottalico / ALXNow)  

Proposed Reston connector over Dulles Toll Road could disrupt Association Drive Historic District

The Soapstone Connector, a connector of Sunset Hills Road and Sunrise Valley Drive over the Dulles Toll Road, is proposed to eliminate traffic congestion on Wiehle Avenue and add a pedestrian and bicycle connection. Virginia and Fairfax planning officials held their first public meeting on the project since 2018 Monday night and the first updates to the environmental impact statement since 2017, which included the proposed impacts to the historic district.  (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)  

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