Author: Angela Woolsey

Angela Woolsey is the site editor for FFXnow. A graduate of George Mason University, she worked as a general assignment reporter for the Fairfax County Times before joining Local News Now as the Tysons Reporter editor in 2020.

Weather

WEATHER ALERT: Heat Advisory issued for Fairfax County, starting July 15

By Angela Woolsey
Metro Park water fountain at Capital One Center in Tysons (staff photo)

Another surge in summer heat is expected to bake Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area over the next couple of days.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the region that’s scheduled to take effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).

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News

Bill to name U.S. post office after late Rep. Connolly passes House

By Angela Woolsey
Late Rep. Gerry Connolly with his successor, Rep. James Walkinshaw (courtesy Office of Congressman James Walkinshaw)

Longtime Fairfax County Rep. Gerry Connolly is one step closer to getting his name on a local post office.

Yesterday (Monday), the House of Representatives passed legislation from Rep. James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s successor to Virginia’s 11th Congressional District seat, that would rename the U.S. Postal Service’s facility at 10660 Page Avenue in Fairfax after the late congressman.

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Countywide

Fairfax County and Fairfax City police encrypt dispatch radio communications

By Angela Woolsey
A radio can be seen on the belt of a Fairfax City police officer at the 2026 Asian Festival on Main (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Residents, reporters and other interested members of the public now have one less option for keeping track of police activity in Fairfax County and Fairfax City.

The City of Fairfax Police Department announced Friday (July 10) that it is encrypting its primary police dispatch radio channel, so the feed will no longer available through public scanners or online radio streaming services, such as Open MHz.

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Countywide

Justice Department will send election monitors to Fairfax for August primaries

By Angela Woolsey
A sign at the Franconia District Governmental Center announcing that early voting for the Aug. 4, 2026 primary elections will start on July 25 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The U.S. Department of Justice will be keeping a close eye on Fairfax County’s upcoming Aug. 4 Congressional primaries.

The county is one of two jurisdictions in Virginia, along with Prince William County, where the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division plans to send election monitors, VPM News and the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported today (Monday).

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Around Town

Mosaic District restaurateur to test garlic sauce chicken concept this fall

By Angela Woolsey
Naja Mediterranean next to Matchbox at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A new eatery paying homage to toum, a traditional Lebanese garlic sauce, will launch this fall inside NAJA Mediterranean at the Mosaic District.

The Merrifield restaurant announced last week that its founder, Tariq Alaeddin, has been developing the new concept “and toum” to introduce the D.C. region to the combination of broasted chicken and toum that was a staple of his childhood in Lebanon.

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News

Man pleads guilty to illegally having gun dropped during FCPD encounter

By Angela Woolsey
Gun dropped during police encounter in Herndon on Feb. 18, 2026 (via U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia)

A Woodbridge man could spend as many as 15 years in prison after pleading guilty last week to possessing a gun despite having a felony conviction on his record, the U.S. Justice Department says.

Khari Wheeler, 27, was arrested on Feb. 18 of this year after a loaded gun “fell from his person” while he was allegedly attempting to flee Fairfax County police officers at an apartment community in Herndon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

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News

Police: Officer shoots man holding knife outside Fairfax City Wawa

By Angela Woolsey
Wawa in Fairfax City (via Google Maps)

A Fairfax City police officer shot a man who was allegedly armed with a knife at Wawa shortly after midnight today (Saturday).

City of Fairfax Police officers were dispatched to the convenience store at 9700 Fairfax Blvd at around 12:07 a.m. after 911 received a call about a man wielding a knife inside the business.

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Countywide

Va. budget creates state climate office at George Mason University

By Angela Woolsey
Virginia Climate Center Director James Kinter (courtesy George Mason University)

Virginia is creating a new office focused on studying the impacts of climate change, and it will be housed at George Mason University.

Mason was authorized to host the Virginia State Climate Office by a provision in the state budget that took effect on July 1 after last-minute negotiations between Gov. Abigail Spanberger and the General Assembly. The governor ultimately signed the two-year spending plan into law on June 29 — just before the end of the fiscal year.

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News

With pool on pause, Vienna leaders debate whether to consider reducing meals tax rate

By Angela Woolsey
Vienna's vacant Annex property on Center Street (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna leaders are taking a breather, both on plans to build an aquatics and fitness center on the currently vacant Annex property and on the possibility of reversing a meals tax increase primarily intended to fund that facility.

After about 40 minutes of debate, the Vienna Town Council voted 5-2 on Monday (July 6) to schedule a public hearing for Feb. 22, 2027 on whether the town should reduce its meals tax rate from 4% to 3%.

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Around Town

Andy’s Pizza to replace Mod Pizza at Reston’s Plaza America

By Angela Woolsey
Mod Pizza at Plaza America in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Mod Pizza is shuttering its last restaurant in Fairfax County, making way at Plaza America in Reston for the past decade for a RAMMYs Award-winning chain.

A Mod Pizza spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow that its Reston location will permanently close at the end of September, just over a decade after opening its doors at 11642 Plaza America Drive.

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