Northern Virginia

Sterling, Va. – September 18, 2026 -- Cardinal Plumbing Heating & Air is urging Northern Virginia homeowners to complete a short list of fall maintenance tasks before freezing temperatures arrive, warning that delays can lead to costly winter emergencies like burst pipes and heating failures.

"Fall is the ideal window because homeowners still have time to act before freezing weather puts stress on pipes, outdoor faucets and heating equipment," said Daniel Fuentes, co-founder of Cardinal Plumbing Heating & Air. He noted that a single cold snap in the region can quickly expose weak spots in home systems.

Disconnecting hoses and draining spigots prevents burst indoor pipes

Fuentes recommends homeowners disconnect garden hoses and drain exterior spigots immediately, since leaving a hose attached traps water inside the faucet and can lead to a burst pipe indoors.

Fairfax, Va. – September 11, 2026 -- Three in four adults believe fear of exposure stops people with substance use disorder from seeking treatment, according to a new survey from Inova Health System.

The survey polled more than 500 Northern Virginia adults

Inova's eighth annual Act on Addiction survey found stigma remains the top barrier to care in the region. Fewer than 20% of respondents knew that substance use is classified as a brain disorder, one that alters brain circuits governing reward, stress and self-control. Nearly 9 in 10 respondents said raising awareness of that fact would reduce stigma in their community.

Trust in community support varies sharply by group

Just 48% of respondents believed their community would be supportive if someone openly discussed their recovery journey. That confidence dropped among women (44%), Black respondents (45%), Hispanic respondents (47%) and rural Virginians (43%).

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- August 28, 2026 -- Virginia Cancer Specialists announced Aug. 28 that Kai-Li Liang, MD, has joined the Fairfax, Virginia practice as a medical oncologist and clinical investigator. The hire adds capacity to the largest community-based oncology clinical trials portfolio in the Mid-Atlantic region. Dr. Liang trained at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Stony Brook University School of Medicine before arriving at the 10-location practice, which Castle Connolly has ranked the No. 1 physician practice in Virginia in cancer care and across all medical specialties for three straight years, from 2024 through 2026.