Around Town

Good Friday 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 29, 2026.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  • Some Oakton residents object to possible cut-through for Route 123, Hunter Mill Road (12761 views)
  • UPDATED: Man shot in Fair Oaks neighborhood after ‘verbal exchange,’ police say (5563 views)
  • Popes Head Road closes at Fairfax County Parkway, as new triple roundabouts start to open (7238 views)
  • Original Pancake House, a longtime West Falls Church brunch spot, closes (7213 views)
  • Bruce Springsteen tribute band headlines Summerbration events at Reston Station (4214 views)
  • E-bike rider seriously injured in Dunn Loring crash, as county shares safety tips (2706 views)
  • Key Reston Midline buildings in limbo, slowing improvements to area’s walkability (3865 views)
  • Historic Reston distillery added to statewide ‘Most Endangered Places List’ (3643 views)
  • Ex-CIA official charged with stealing millions of dollars in gold bars from federal government (3443 views)
  • Community, sports leaders mourn death of Rob Hahne, N. Va.’s ‘Mr. Baseball’ (3318 views)
  • Morning Notes for May 28, 2026 (3083 views)
  • New apartment building takes shape near the Herndon Metro station (3003 views)
  • Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run at Seven Corners intersection (2715 views)
  • 📅 Upcoming events

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

    Here are the events planned for Sunday:

    ☀️ Saturday’s forecast

    Expect a sunny day with temperatures reaching a high of 72°F and a north wind blowing at about 14 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. The night will be clear, with a low around 51°F, and the north wind will calm to 5 to 9 mph. 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.

    We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋


    Countywide

    A rainy Memorial Day weekend that canceled events and water park openings wasn’t enough to alleviate the drought plaguing Fairfax County and the rest of Virginia.

    Almost the entire state remains under a drought warning, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality announced today (Friday). The only exceptions are Isle of Wight County and a few cities in the southeast, which are under a drought watch.


    News

    The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is expanding outreach efforts as it studies options for improving the stretch of Route 29 from Falls Church west to the Capital Beltway (I-495).

    After gathering input at an in-person meeting on May 19, county transportation officials have launched a new online community survey as part of the Route 29 Active Transportation Study that will run through June 30.


    News

    Don’t be alarmed if you see fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles swarming the West Falls Church Metro station area this Sunday (May 31).

    Metro announced today that the West Falls Church Rail Yard to the north of the transit station near I-66 and the Dulles Access Road in Idylwood will host an emergency response exercise from 6 a.m. to noon that day.


    Event

    The Reston Museum’s next program, held on June 3rd at 7:00PM, will feature the talented students of the South Lakes High School STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Team/National Art Honor Society, who will discuss the creative and technical process behind their upcoming public art installation at the Lake Thoreau spillway. This fascinating program will provide attendees with a behind-the-scenes-look at how students developed the concept for the installation and worked through the planning, engineering, environmental and artistic considerations involved in creating public art for a community space. Program takes place at South Lakes High School and admission is free. For more information visit: restonmuseum.org.


    Opinion

    With Memorial Day in the rear view mirror, swimming pools are open, outdoor concerts are tuning up, and Fairfax County residents will have plenty of activities to keep them occupied during the longest days of the year.

    Here are the nominees for “Best Summer Activities in Fairfax County” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite activity below? Write them in!

    Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 12.

    Voting for Best After School Program in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday, June 5 at 8:30 a.m.

    Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Tutoring Service in Fairfax County. The results are now official:

    1. Principia Education
    2. Kumon Math and Reading Center
    3. Mathnasium

    News

    Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park visitors can now officially enjoy the trail during the same hours at any point in its 45-mile length.

    The board of directors for NOVA Parks, the regional authority that owns and operates the park, voted at its May 21 meeting to standardize 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily as the W&OD Trail’s formal operating hours, effective immediately.


    News

    Fairfax City is eyeing a potential solution to fix a trail project that was approved and fully funded while minimizing financial penalties as a result of the city council canceling a different planned extension earlier this year.

    During a council work session on Tuesday (May 26), staff proposed that the project — previously called the George Snyder Trail Extension — be renamed the Wilcoxon Trail Extension, and add on-street paths along Draper Drive, instead of connecting to existing trails by cutting through parkland.


    News

    After 10 days spent detained at Dulles International Airport, Ghanaian asylum seeker Anabella Gyasi and her son will go back to her home country. A judge with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered Friday that the pregnant woman cannot stay in the airport any longer.

    “For the reasons stated from the bench, the Court finds that the welfare of the petitioners and the interests of justice are best served by allowing petitioners to return home immediately,” Judge Leonie M. Brinkema wrote after an emergency hearing the morning of May 29 in Alexandria.


    Countywide
    Man walks dog past outdoor seating in the expansion of Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

    Dunn Loring School Commemoration Planned — “Join FCPS on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Dunn Loring Center to honor the rich history and lasting legacy of the building. This space has served generations of FCPS students, employees, and families since its establishment in 1939.” The building at 2334 Gallows Road will be demolished soon to make way for the construction of a new elementary school. [FCPS]

    ‘Swatting’ Call for Supreme Court Justice’s Home — “An apparent ‘swatting’ incident targeted the residence of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Wednesday night, police confirmed to NBC News.” Fairfax County police say they quickly confirmed with Supreme Court Police assigned to Barrett’s home that a report of gunshots sent to the department’s non-emergency line around 9 p.m. on May 27 “was fictitious.” [NBC4]

    Data Center Boom Fueling Pollution — “The 10,500 generators attached to data centers in Virginia produce enough pollution to harm public health even if used rarely, according to a new analysis of emissions permits” that reviewed permits and emissions filings for 132 sites operating in Northern Virginia through the end of 2024. Another 19 data centers have been approved in the region since then. [Washington Post]

    Waymo Starts Mapping N. Va. — “Driverless car company Waymo has confirmed to FOX 5 D.C. that it is now mapping parts of Northern Virginia.” Though Virginia hasn’t yet authorized fully autonomous ride-hailing services, Waymo policy adviser Rich Harrington says the company’s “vehicles were already operating on roads in Alexandria with safety drivers behind the wheel and would soon begin operating in Arlington as well.” [FOX5]

    Beyer Seeks to Block Trump Arch — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is taking legislative aim at President Trump’s proposed 250-foot ‘triumphal arch’ near Arlington National Cemetery.” The congressman will introduce a bill that prohibits the use of federal funds for the arch and bars the federal government from building the arch or any similar structure on National Park Service-owned land in the D.C. region. [ARLnow]

    Worker Burned by Live Wire in Tysons — “Around 11:30 a.m. [on May 27], the Fairfax County Police Department helicopter responded to the 1900 block of Cathy Lane after the construction worker, a male, fell [from a ladder] and hit the live wire, causing burn injuries. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” [WJLA]

    Law Could Save People With Disabilities — A bill signed into law from Chesterfield Del. Leslie Mehta will require “certain healthcare providers to conduct regular simulations so that employees are extra prepared to identify and respond to emergencies experienced by people with disabilities under their care.” [Virginia Mercury]

    Two New Flights Heading to Dulles — “United Airlines will add two nonstop routes from Washington Dulles later this year, including service to Orange County, California, and San José del Cabo, Mexico. The Orange County/Santa Ana route is scheduled to begin Aug. 11 and will operate daily year-round on a Boeing 737,” while the San Jose del Cabo route will launch on Oct. 25 and operate four times a week. [Patch]

    New Legal Notice — ABC permit application for restaurant license; objections within 30 days. [Public Notices]

    It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of 78°F. Winds will shift from north to west at 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, the weather will be mostly clear with a low of around 60°F, and southwest winds at 7 mph. [NWS]