Local legislators back Romney

Dels. Barbara Comstock (R-Dist. 34) of McLean and Dave Albo (R-Dist. 42) are among the seven state co-chairs of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in Virginia, the campaign announced last week. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) is leading the Virginia campaign.

Romney is considered a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination after narrowly winning the Iowa caucuses Tuesday. He is one of only two Republican presidential candidates to make it on the ballot for Virginia’s March 6 presidential primary.

Connector announces service changes

Fairfax Connector has announced schedule and route changes on 10 bus lines that will go into effect Jan. 14. View the new schedules at /www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/news/servicechanges.htm.

ŸRoutes 101, 171, 304 and 305: Adjusted to improve on-time performance;

ŸRoute 306: Landmark Mall service discontinued; matched routing changes made by WMATA to Metrobus routes 17A and 17B; routing of mid-day service changed;

ŸRoutes 333, 334 and 335: Adjusted schedule to relieve bus bay congestion at Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station; added two late trips on Route 334 to further serve NVCC Medical College;

ŸRoute 623: Adjusted 5:43 a.m. westbound trip to 5:48 a.m. to provide better spacing of early morning departures at Vienna Metrorail Station;

ŸRoute 652: Adjusted 4:16 p.m. westbound trip to 4:10 p.m. to improve on-time performance

County plans hearing on state of the environment

The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council has scheduled a public hearing to solicit comments on the state of the environment in Fairfax County. The hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Board Auditorium of the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway,Fairfax.

A remote testimony location will be set up in Room 221A of the South County Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria.

EQAC members encourage residents to share their views on the state of the environment and to identify environmental issues applicable to Fairfax County. EQAC considers water quality, air quality, noise, hazardous materials, solid waste, stream valley protection, wildlife management, light pollution, visual pollution, climate change response and adaptation, energy conservation, land use, transportation and the use and preservation of ecological resources.

Falls Church reduces number of wards

The Falls Church City Council adopted an ordinance Dec. 12 that reduces the number of voting wards in the city from five to three. City officials expect the change will save money and lead to greater efficiencies in voting.

The city now has submitted the change to the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, for clearance, as required by the Civil Rights Act of 1965. The Justice Department reviews all election changes in certain southern states to ensure proposed voting changes do not have the purpose, and will not have the effect, of discriminating based on race.

Citizens can review the changes at the City Clerk’s office, 300 Park Ave., and may make comments for consideration to the U.S. Attorney General.