Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for May 12, 2026

By FFXnow.com

Good Tuesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — May 12, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

⛈️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect a high of 75°F with increasing clouds and a 30% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms after 5 PM. Winds will be from the south at 14-16 mph, gusting up to 28 mph. Overnight, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 1 AM, with a slight chance of showers until 2 AM. The low will be around 53°F with winds shifting from the south to the northwest at 6-9 mph. There’s an 80% chance of rain, with expected amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, higher in storms. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

News

Fairfax County small business owner shares support for Va. paid leave program at bill signing

By Emily Leayman
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs legislation on Monday, May 11 that will create a paid family and medical leave program in Virginia (via Office of Gov. Abigail Spanberger)

A North Springfield child care center owner spoke in support of the new paid family and medical leave program at a ceremonial bill signing with Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) and lawmakers yesterday (Monday).

Starting on Dec. 1, 2028, Virginia’s new paid leave program will allow most workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for significant life events like caring for a new child, recovering from serious illness, military family needs or caring for relative with a serious health condition.

Go to Fairfax County small business owner shares support for Va. paid leave program at bill signing Read more
Sponsored

What’s the difference between a trust and a will in Virginia?

By PJI Law
Image from What’s the Difference Between a Trust and a Will in Virginia?

Many people who look into estate planning ask, “What is the difference between wills and trusts?” While both wills and trusts deal with estate planning, they serve different purposes. In this post, the legal team of PJI Law, PLC, estate planning lawyers from Fairfax, VA, outlines the key principles of wills, trusts, and their role in asset protection.

Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell

Here are the basic features of wills and trusts:

A Will

  • Only comes into effect once the will-maker is deceased
  • States who will receive the decedent’s assets
  • Appoints an executor to carry out the decedent’s wishes
  • Is potentially contestable and must go through probate, a legal examination by the court

A Trust

  • Can take effect immediately after its creation
  • Allows a person or an institution (a “trustee”) to hold assets for beneficiaries
  • Can distribute property before or after the trustor’s passing
  • Can be irrevocable or revocable/changeable
  • Assets in trust generally avoid probate

While we recommend that everyone have at least a will (whether or not you also have a trust), trusts aren’t strictly necessary for all individuals. Trusts are particularly helpful for individuals who have assets that are potentially going through probate, own property across several states, or have minor children.

Wills: the Basics of Estate Planning

A will, also known as a last will and testament, is a legal document specifying how the will-maker wishes to handle asset distribution and other affairs after their death. A will typically includes all of the principal’s assets, such as real estate, vehicles, and other property, and usually a list of debts. A will may also provide directions for a funeral or memorial service.

Usually, every will must go through a probate court before execution. In some states, it may be possible to avoid probate under specific conditions. Certain assets, such as insurance policies and retirement accounts, may, if planned properly, pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate. (more…)

Around Town

MidnighTreats to offer free cookies at upcoming Reston reopening

By Katie Taranto
Mural at MidnighTreats' location in Reston (courtesy of MidnighTreats)

After more than a year of preparations, vegan cookie shop MidnighTreats plans to reopen in Reston this weekend.

The local bakery’s relocation from its original Plaza America storefront to Reston Town Center (1826 Discovery Street) is now complete. The shop will officially open for business at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, with giveaways and other festivities to celebrate.

Go to MidnighTreats to offer free cookies at upcoming Reston reopening Read more
News

Town hall explores whether Fairfax County should adopt ranked-choice voting

By Scott McCaffrey
A Cunningham Park Elementary School voter at the ballot box for the 2022 general election (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Should Fairfax County switch to ranked-choice elections for Board of Supervisors’ races? Views were mixed during a community forum held last night (Monday) in Reston.

Even Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, who could be directly impacted by a voting-format change, said he needs to learn more about any potential impacts.

Go to Town hall explores whether Fairfax County should adopt ranked-choice voting Read more
Event

The Heart Leaf Center Golf Tournament

Chantilly National Golf and Country Club

14901 Braddock Rd

Centreville,, Virginia 20120

Website Contact Social

The Golf Outing will be at the Chantilly National Country Club. Gather your friends for a fantastic day on the greens, enjoy friendly competition, and help us create a brighter future for our youth. Together, we can swing for a cause that truly matters to support area children receiving mental health counseling. Registration and Practice: 8:00-9:00am Tee Time: 9:00am Shotgun Start Lunch and Awards ceremony: 1:30pm- 2:30pm

Go to The Heart Leaf Center Golf Tournament Read more
News

Report: New plan to overhaul Dulles Airport would cost $22B, finish in 2034

By Angela Woolsey
Mobile lounges at Dulles International Airport with the main terminal building in the background (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Less than a year after adopting a new master plan for Dulles International Airport, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) is considering an update that would expand the facility’s main terminal, redesign its concourses and eliminate the polarizing mobile lounges.

Shared with airlines earlier in May, the proposed revitalization plan would cost an estimated $22 billion with an ambitious targeted completion date of 2034, according to the Substack-based newsletter Airport Architecture, which says it obtained an exclusive copy of MWAA’s presentation.

Go to Report: New plan to overhaul Dulles Airport would cost $22B, finish in 2034 Read more
Countywide

Fairfax County workers rally in support of Va. collective bargaining bill

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Workers and a county supervisor gather around a podium outside the Fairfax County government center
Fairfax County Supervisor Andres Jimenez and public service workers rally outside the Fairfax County Government Center May 6. (Courtesy SEIU)

Fairfax County firefighters, teachers and other public sector workers recently rallied outside the county government center, asking Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to sign legislation granting public workers the right to engage in collective bargaining.

The May 6 rally was one of several held around the commonwealth by unions, including the Virginia Education Association, the International Association of Firefighters, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), in support of HB 1263 and SB 378.

Go to Fairfax County workers rally in support of Va. collective bargaining bill Read more
Around Town

N. Va. family to launch Iraqi-style shawarma restaurant in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey
The shawarma and Iraqi grill restaurant Mashahweez is coming soon to the former Maru Korean Cuisine and Sushi space in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A fast-casual restaurant that promises to serve authentic Iraqi grilled cuisine is taking shape in Vienna.

A temporary sign appeared last week announcing that Mashahweez, a new concept from a local father-son team, is “coming soon” to the Vienna Shopping Center at 128 Maple Avenue West.

Go to N. Va. family to launch Iraqi-style shawarma restaurant in Vienna Read more
News

Approved Booz Allen office redevelopment will deliver half of Herndon Metro promenade

By Angela Woolsey
View of Bristol Capital and Woodfield Development's planned 575 Herndon Parkway development from the Herndon Metro station (via DCS Design/Town of Herndon)

The Herndon Town Council has approved another piece of development expected to transform the Herndon Metro station area north of the Dulles Toll Road.

The council voted unanimously on April 28 to allow the office building at 575 Herndon Parkway that once housed Booz Allen Hamilton to be redeveloped with a seven-story, 525-unit apartment building.

Go to Approved Booz Allen office redevelopment will deliver half of Herndon Metro promenade Read more
Countywide

Morning Notes for May 12, 2026

By FFXnow.com
Seating set up at Reston Town Center’s pavilion on May 11, 2026 (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Democrats Appeal Decision on Redistricting Amendment — “Democrats on Monday filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to halt a Virginia ruling invalidating a ballot measure that would have given their party an additional four winnable U.S. House seats.” [Associated Press/ARLnow]

SCOTUS Ruling Adds to Representation Concerns — “The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling weakening a key enforcement tool of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is fueling new concerns in Virginia over the future of Black political representation, particularly if Republicans regain full control of state government after the next census.” [Virginia Mercury]

Two Residents Charged With Sex Trafficking — “Two women are being held without bond in Alexandria after being arrested for alleged sex trafficking at a massage parlor in the Huntington area of Fairfax County, according to the Alexandria Police Department.” The arrests occurred after police executed a search warrant at a massage business on Ashlar Way. [ALXnow]

State Paid Family Leave Law Signed — “Virginia’s governor signed the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Law last month, making the commonwealth one of more than a dozen states offering similar benefits and the first in the South to do so. Gov. Abigail Spanberger made it official, saying the law is designed to help smaller businesses retain employees who encounter difficult times.” [WTOP]

FCPD Rolls Out Defibrillators to Patrol Officers — “The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) has launched a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program that will equip patrol officers with additional life-saving tools to respond to cardiac emergencies in the community … As part of the program, each district police station will receive five Avive Connect AEDs to distribute across patrol shifts.” [FCPD]

Road Closure for Fairfax Blvd Improvements — “Please be advised of a planned temporary road closure on Warwick Avenue between Fairfax Boulevard and Farr Avenue. Warwick will be closed to thru traffic May 12-22, and drivers will be rerouted via Farr Avenue to Fairfax Boulevard.” [City of Fairfax]

Hook Road Ballfields Reopen After Renovation — “Reston Association leaders, community officials, and local families gathered Saturday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Hook Road Recreation Area ballfields, celebrating the end of a ‘labor of love’ to modernize the facility.” The project had been under construction for months and in planning for almost a decade. [Patch]

Progress on Purple Line in Maryland — “The Purple Line is coming together in Maryland — the final track was laid on Thursday. We’ve been waiting for the 16-mile light rail line between New Carrollton and Bethesda for close to 10 years.” Now about 90% complete, the new rail line is expected to open to the public in winter 2027. [Axios DC]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 71°F, accompanied by a light north wind that will become variable. Tonight will see increasing cloud cover, with temperatures dropping to around 55°F. Winds will shift to the south at 6 to 11 mph, and gusts could reach up to 21 mph. [NWS]

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