Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of Public Policy Issues and Headlines from around the Northern Virginia Region, the Commonwealth and on Capitol Hill.

1. NAR Policy Forum Series: The Impact of Student Loan Debt

   On the back of the recent student loan debt survey done in coordination with Morning Consult, NAR is hosting a policy forum on October 13 discussing student loan debt, the current crisis, effects on the economy and the housing market, effects on certain debt holders, and solutions for the future. The event will feature a deep dive into the survey itself from NAR’s Jessica Lautz, followed by brief presentations from two speakers and experts on the student loan debt crisis and a Q&A led by Bryan Greene. Watch the Recording Here

2. Every Fairfax County Voter to Receive a Personalized Sample Ballot

   The Fairfax County Office of Elections is mailing a sample ballot beginning this week to each of the county’s 727,000 registered voters. The individualized sample ballot for the November 2 general election informs voters about the contests on their ballot and assigned polling place on Election Day.  It is intended to inform voters before they cast their ballot, allowing them to record their choices in advance and assist them as they vote their ballots. Information is provided in English, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese.

3. Flood Mitigation Plans Along Old Town's Waterfront Move Forward

   The cost of stopping flooding along Lower King Street, the Strand and other waterfront areas is a concern. Last week, the Waterfront Commission Flood Mitigation Committee released an updated presentation regarding plans to reduce or prevent flooding along Old Town’s waterfront — and it included some eye-popping numbers. The presentation, which you can see here, gives multiple scenarios for preventing lower King Street and adjacent areas from flooding. The update does not include flood mitigation programs that are needed in Rosemont, Old Town North and other areas of the city that experience flooding with increasing frequency.

4. More than half a billion dollars went to keeping D.C. area renters in their homes ahead of federal deadline

   More than $649 million in emergency funds intended to help struggling renters in the Washington area pay overdue bills and avoid eviction was distributed ahead of a Sept. 30th use-it-or-lose-it federal deadline, a Washington Post analysis found. That amount accounts for nearly 60 percent of the more than $1.1 billion that the federal government distributed to the District, Maryland and Virginia and a handful of the states’ largest counties.

5. New I-95 bridge to open near Fredericksburg, bringing relief for drivers at one of the highway’s biggest bottlenecks New travel lanes are opening on a stretch of southbound Interstate 95 in the Fredericksburg area, which will double capacity in the coming weeks at one of the highway’s biggest chokepoints. A new three-lane crossing over the Rappahannock River opened Wednesday, the Virginia Department of Transportation said. With the additional span, drivers will encounter a new traffic pattern where motorists will split into local and through lanes.

    5b. Don't miss the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance's 17th Annual What You Need to Know about Transportation! Want to know more about planned Transportation improvements? Join NVTA on October 28th at 8:30 a.m. This year's program boasts an all-star line-up of transportation experts, so don't miss your chance to become well-versed on our region's most critical transportation needs and infrastructure. 

This year's program will be hosted via Airmeet webinar.  With space for only 200 registered participants, sign up today to guarantee your spot!