🌱 Family Sues Government + Potential CCTV Changes In Courtroom

Good morning, Herndon. I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, today's weather:

A couple of afternoon showers. High: 48 Low: 39.

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Here are the top three stories today in Herndon:

1. Virginia lawmakers are discussing the possibility of expanding the use of closed-circuit TV for child victims who must testify in court. This is rarely used in courtrooms in northern Virginia, however, supporters believe using this can greatly reduce the additional trauma children experience. Last year, a 12-year-old testified against her father about repeated sexual assault and the mother spoke about how terrified her daughter was in the situation and the manipulation techniques he used on the daughter to get her to remain quiet. The main pushback is that the victim is believed to have the right to face their accuser, but when children are involved it is hard to put them through that unneeded trauma. (NBC Washington)
2. Christopher Lapp's family is suing the U.S. government – claiming that he would not have committed suicide in prison if his medicine was not discontinued and he was not denied admission to a federal medical prison. The lawsuit was filed Thursday by Lapp's 16-year-old daughter who claims several errors by nearby Alexandria prison officials, federal marshals, prosecutors, and doctors are the reason he hung himself about a month after pleading guilty to robbing a Wells Fargo back in November 2018. It was ordered by the judge that he be transferred to the federal medical prison center in North Carolina to continue receiving treatment for his mental health but the facility denied his return. (NY Post)
3. Police are investigating a shooting and stabbing incident in the Herndon area of Fairfax County, which killed two people – Joseph Nathan Ryan, 39, and Christine Ann Banfield, 37, and left the husband of Banfield and an au pair who lived in the home injured. There were no signs of forced entry, and it is unclear who inflicted the fatal wounds, although all responsible persons were believed to be present in the home. The police are still investigating the incident and seeking information from the husband and the au pair. (Patch)

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Today in Herndon:

• Body & Soul Fitness - Floris United Methodist Church (10:00 AM)
• Adult Ballet Classes - 590 Herndon Pkwy. (10:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Herndon Reston Youth Softball thanked the players, coaches, parents, and volunteers who made the snow evaluation this weekend such a success. Despite the weather, the turnout was incredible! (Herndon Reston Youth Softball via Facebook)
• Were you aware that the Herndon Police Department has 24-hour medical disposal boxes for disposing of unneeded and expired medications? Usage of these boxes can help prevent accidental overdoses, addictions, and poisonings. (Herndon Police Department via Facebook)
• Are you an individual who loves having fun and experiencing once-in-a-lifetime experiences? You can join the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department's summer camp team! (Herndon Parks and Recreation Department)

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That's it for today. I'll see you around!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.