🌱 Leesburg Preps For July 4 + Prosecutors Secure VA Primary Wins

Hello, friends. It's Monday in Leesburg and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening locally, including updates on:

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Heavy afternoon thunderstorms. High: 88 Low: 65.
• Tuesday: Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 79 Low: 65.

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Here are the top stories in Leesburg today:

1. Leesburg is gearing up for its 33rd annual Independence Day Celebration on Jul. 4, starting with a morning parade at Ida Lee Park at 10 a.m., and culminating with one of the region's largest fireworks displays choreographed to music at 9:30 p.m. The all-day affair will witness King Street closing from 9:30 a.m. to around 12:30 p.m., while the A.V. Symington Aquatic Center remains shut for the day; however, Ida Lee Park Recreation Center will be operational from 6 a.m. to noon. Residents are advised to expect heavy traffic and stay updated via the Town of Leesburg's social media channels. In case of rain, the fireworks will be rescheduled to July 5, with all other activities proceeding as planned. (Town of Leesburg)
2. Incumbent prosecutors in Northern Virginia, Steve Descano, Buta Biberaj, and Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, all known for championing reform agendas, successfully defended their positions in the Democratic primaries on Tuesday. Despite facing criticism, Descano, representing Fairfax County, and Biberaj, the commonwealth's attorney in Loudoun County, maintained that their victories demonstrated voter confidence in their ongoing reform efforts. The results of these primaries may provide insight into public attitudes toward criminal justice reform in the region, with potential implications for future midterm and presidential elections. (Herald Standard)
3. A Virginia jury acquitted Wayde Byard, the long-serving spokesman for Loudoun County Public Schools, on a perjury charge related to the school system's handling of two 2021 sexual assault cases. Prosecutors claimed Byard lied to a special grand jury, saying he was unaware of the first sexual assault allegation until the second incident occurred. Despite the accusation, the trial found no evidence that Byard was informed of the initial investigation, leading to his acquittal after a three-day trial. (WSET)

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Today and tomorrow in Leesburg:

Monday, June 26

• St. Louis Village Plan Task Force - Public Input Meeting At Banneker Elementary School (6:30 PM)

Tuesday, June 27

• Virtual: Art Advisory Committee - Loudoun County Government Meetings (3:00 PM)
• Westpark Property Design Community Meeting At Parks, Recreation & Community Services Administrative Building (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Northern Virginia saw a flurry of positive news this week, including the unveiling of the top local dog parks, the opening of a new Taco Bamba location, and the sale of a million-dollar lottery ticket. (Arlington Patch)
• In light of National HIV Testing Day on Jun. 27, numerous health departments and Walgreens locations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia are offering free HIV tests. The initiative, aiming to raise awareness and curb the spread of the virus, underscores the importance of regular testing and early detection in the fight against HIV/AIDS. (7NEWS)
• SecuriGence LLC, a Virginia-based IT firm, has been granted a $93.78 million modification to a prior task order, raising the total value of the contract to $271.24 million. The work, focusing on multi-network support services, will be conducted in Arlington, with an anticipated completion date in June 2024, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's 2022 and 2023 research and development funds. (Clearance Jobs)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday! See you soon for your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.