Mercia Hobson | Stories

Back to profile

Mercia Hobson

Stories by Mercia

Tease photo

FCPS Honors 2022

Recognizing achievements in education.

Recognizing achievements in education.

FCPS Honors 2022

Recognizing the achievements in education in a challenging year.

At its Honors Reception and Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, Fairfax County Public Schools paid tribute to its employees who...

Tease photo

FCPS Honors 2022

Recognizing the achievements in education in a challenging year.

FCPS Honors 2022

Tease photo

Hardening older FCPS Entrances to Secure Them from Shooters

Multilayered approaches to keep children safe in schools

School shootings

FCPS to Consider Trust Policy

CASA members and allies speak out at rally and public hearing.

FCPS policy

Tease photo

No Stopping School Board Naming New Division Superintendent

Student protests, petition and NAACP objections fail to derail the endgame.

School superintendent

Fairfax School Board’s Frustration Shows

Does the process diminish new superintendent’s appointment?

School Board

Fairfax County Budget Hearings

Comments favor funding for low-income and affordable housing, police and first responders pay increases, parks, and more.

Budget

Tease photo

Talk About a Big Moving Day for Nova Labs

JK Moving Services and robots tackle it.

Nova Labs

Tease photo

Coalition for TJ Files Emergency Request to Vacate the 4th Circuit Stay

Case alleges anti-Asian American discriminatory admissions process

Emergency request

Tease photo

44th Annual Fairfax County Valor Awards

Valor is more than bravery or courage. It goes beyond what is expected.

Valor awards

2022 Shape of the Region Conference

‘Finding our way back to mental health.’

Mental health

Tease photo

Helping to Feed Hungry Families

Stuff the Bus event brings in much needed food donations.

Stuff bus

New Deputy County Executive for Safety and Security Named

Board of Supervisors appoints former Fire and Rescue Department's assistant chief.

Appointee

Sheriff Ends Pre-Release Notice to ICE

Incremental steps matter.

ICE

New Deputy County Executive for Safety and Security Named

Board of Supervisors appoints former Fire and Rescue Department's assistant chief.

Executive named for county

New TJ Policy Invalidated in Fairfax County

Policy is discriminatory, writes judge in win for plaintiff, Coalition for TJ and Pacific Legal Foundation.

TJ School

Tease photo

County Executive Presents FY 2023 Advertised Budget

Increase in assessed values for real estate and vehicles drive higher tax payments.

County budget

Tease photo

Adopting a Senior Dog Could Be a Better Match, Really

One woman's passion and 'Tribute'.

Senior dogs

Tease photo

Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Transitions From All Advanced Life Support System

Reintegration of the dual-tier EMS system, 12 stations impacted.

EMS transitions

Tease photo

FCPS Initial ‘Test-To-Stay’ Pilot Results

Limited participation attributed to high vaccination rates.

Vaccination at Schools

Tease photo

Seeking Shelter: Changes in Housing Preferences

Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship at George Mason University School of Business presents.

Housing

Tease photo

Impact of Vehicle-Bicycle Collisions in Fairfax Courts

FABB's discussion with Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney for Community Justice and Policy

Bike ruling

Tease photo

Brabrand: 'Stay the Course'

We have a right to do things up until that right impinges or infringes on the rights of others.

Masks

Tease photo

FCPS Takes Legal Action Challenging Gov. Youngkin's Ex. Order No. 2

County School Board files suit jointly with six other boards.

Executive order

Tease photo

New Governor Revokes Mask Mandate for Schools

FCPS says masks requirement remains in effect.

Mask Mandates

Tease photo

Return to School 2022

After a week of weather closures, FCPS opens with Covid-19 surging

Returning to school

Tease photo

FCPS Faces Staff Shortages in the Face of Omicron

Superintendent pledges to keep students in the classroom, but it will “not be business as usual.”

School with Covid

2022 Real Estate Forecast

Real Estate Forecast

2022 Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Forecast

Single-family homes in Arlington are still the hottest real estate ticket in town.

Realtors Forecast

Challenged Books, Ballooning Waitlists for Mental Health, ADA Playgrounds

What you might have missed at the Dec. 2 School Board meeting.

School Board

Tease photo

VolunteerFest, 2021

Volunteers work on projects countywide for the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Volunteers

Tease photo

Crisis in Afghanistan Reverberates Locally

Afghan Americans speak out.

The United States and other countries have welcomed more than 150,000 Afghans and their families since the emergency evacuations began in mid-August.

Tease photo

Crisis in Afghanistan Reverberates Locally

Afghan Americans speak out.

The United States and other countries have welcomed more than 150,000 Afghans and their families since the emergency evacuations began in mid-August.

Tease photo

Overcoming Mental Health Stigma

Suicide Walk-a-Thon brings awareness

The pandemic's psychological and socioeconomic fallout may be driving an accelerated trend in depressive symptoms and suicide ideation, attempts, and deaths in Fairfax County, reported experts in mental health at the "Fight Suicide" Walk-a-Thon at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston held Aug. 21.

Tease photo

Back to School: The Best Shot: Vax Up!

Fairfax County families and educators discuss COVID-19 School Year 2021-22.

The first day of the much-anticipated, in-person return to school for SY2021-22 looms for many families, friends, and educators in Fairfax County's independent, public and home-based education systems.

Tease photo

Fairfax County Public Schools Priority One: Get Eligible Students Vaccinated

Expansion of school COVID-19 vaccination clinics underway

The level of community transmission of COVID-19 in Fairfax County is increasing again.

Tease photo

Fairfax County Supervisors Proclaim August 3 National Night Out

Proclamation celebrates neighborhood spirit and cooperation among residents and police

National Night Out is a time to celebrate, whether the clock that day says noon or 8 p.m. It is a time to have community fun, to say thank you to law enforcement officers, and get more involved in the community.

Fairfax County Holds County-wide Vaccine Equity Clinics

Bringing the COVID-19 vaccine to the people rather than relying on them to find their way to a site is one option to get people vaccinated and slow the surging Delta variant.

Tease photo

Delta Variant Has Room to Run Rampant

Removing invisible vaccine barriers for communities in Fairfax County

Jump on a moon bounce, grab an empanada from a food truck and get a Covid vaccine.

Tease photo

New Food Scrap Composting at Select Fairfax County Farmers Markets

Nature’s recycling reduces methane and lowers carbon footprint

Fairfax County residents have another option for managing organic wastes such as fruit and vegetable peels, food left on dinner plates, coffee grounds, and even paper towels and napkins.

Tease photo

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent to Depart at End of Next School Year

Dr. Scott Brabrand, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, announced on a YouTube video released Thursday, July 15, 2021, that he is leaving FCPS at the end of the next year, consistent with his FCSB contract.

Tease photo

School Buses and Sites Provide Free Grab and Go 7-day Meal Kits in Fairfax County

No questions asked, no IDs needed – County children under 18 and all FCPS students eligible

Ten Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) buses began rolling Monday, June 28, on a mission to deliver their precious cargo: coolers full of nutritious breakfast and lunch items packed in seven-day, bulk meal kits, grab-and-go style.

Tease photo

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Seen in TJ’s Freshman Class

In 2021, the U.S. News Best High Schools report ranked TJ the number one school nationwide for the second year running.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology admitted 550 students strong as its Class of 2025.

Tease photo

WANTED Feedback Involving No-chase/Chase Fairfax County Police Department Vehicle Pursuits

Flurry of proposed revisions should discourage pursuits of suspects in non-violent felony incidents.

Police vehicle pursuits create the potential for officers, residents and suspects to be killed or seriously injured.

Tease photo

Holding Dear: 2,364 Local Souls Lost to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Northern Virginia Regional Commission holds Remembrance Ceremony

On March 21, 2020, the Fairfax County Health Department reported its first death of a resident due to COVID-19.

Tease photo

Fairfax Dems Clash with Supervisors

Demand firing of FCPD Chief Kevin Davis

The Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) called on the Board of Supervisors ("Board") on May 25 to terminate Kevin Davis's employment as Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department.

Tease photo

Fairfax County School Board Member’s Post Fosters Heated Reactions

Amid division, voices seek to be heard.

With Ramadan's ending on May 13 and on May 14, Fairfax County School Board Member Abrar Omeish posted what some considered controversial statements on her Twitter and Facebook accounts.