The Top 10 News Stories on Fairfax City Patch in July

Fairfax City and the nearby areas were a hotbed of news in July.

From deer hunting, to red-light cameras, to abortion rights, to a massive fire at a local bank, there was certainly no shortage of issues for Patch to report about in July.

Take a look back at the most-read stories on Fairfax City Patch in July, and let us know what caught your attention the most this month.


1. Two-Alarm Fire Blazes at Credit Union in Fairfax

Witnesses said traffic in the area was snarled for hours, and the smoke could be seen from blocks away, when a fire broke out in the roof of a local bank earlier this month. See photos that readers sent in and read about what they saw.

2. Fairfax Zoning Amendment Clashes With Abortion Rights

The six-square-mile city of Fairfax made headlines nationwide a few weeks ago when the City Council passed a new zoning amendment that some pro-choice advocates claim will limit women's access to basic health care and legal abortions, by making it more difficult for clinics to do business in the city.

3. 3 Victims of Spain Train Wreck from St. Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax

Locals were sad to learn that the sole American who has died so far as a result of the recent deadly train crash in Spain was from the Annandale/Fairfax area.

4. Local Community Pool Plagued by Vandalism

One neighborhood pool in Fairfax told Patch, they're used to a few "minor" pranks each year - but this month, a group of vandals went too far.

5. Fairfax City to Add Red-Light Cameras to Three More Intersections

Residents had a lot of opinions on whether or not they think red-light cameras are effective at increasing safety when the City Council voted to expand the current program and add cameras at three more intersections this month.

6. Ramadan 2013

The month-long Muslim holiday took place this month, and many turned to Patch for background on what Ramadan means, and where they might celebrate locally.

7. Fairfax City's NOVA Women's Healthcare Closes

NOVA Women's Healthcare had a troubled past, but the clinic performed the highest number of abortions in the state of Virginia over the past two years, and many female GMU students said it was a convenient and affordable place for them. Though the clinic had applied for permits to move into a new location within Fairfax City, the City denied the application, citing insufficient parking.

8. Fairfax Boy Struck by Urine-Filled Balloon

The incident is being investigated by Fairfax County Police as a possible hate crime.

9. UPDATE: $40,000 Damage to Fairfax Bank in Thursday's Fire

Many turned to Patch for an update on the credit union fire, including what investigators determined was the cause. (See story #1)

10. Council Deadlocked Over Deer Hunting, Instead Will Ban it Completely

Though county experts and the City's chief of police requested something be done to address what they classified as an overpopulation of deer in Fairfax City, the City Council disagreed about moving forward with a managed hunting program earlier this month.


Which story caught your attention the most this month in Fairfax? Tell us in the comments below.

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