Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Reston-based child care research library faces risk of losing federal funding

Published May 15, 2025 at 1:45PM

The office buildings at 1900 and 1902 Reston Metro Plaza at Reston Station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As the Trump administration continues to gut the federal workforce and budget, a Reston contractor recently got an inadvertent head’s up that one of its research projects could be next on the chopping block.

A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spreadsheet mistakenly emailed to grant recipients on April 30 listed over 150 projects to support child welfare that are apparently being considered for termination, including Child Care and Early Education Research Connections, the Associated Press reported.

News

Herndon house fire caused by ‘malfunctioning’ lawn mower battery

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 15, 2025 at 8:30AM

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue logo (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) is advising residents to be careful when storing lithium-ion batteries in the wake of a recent house fire.

Firefighters were dispatched to the 1500 block of Millikens Bend Road in the Dranesville area north of Herndon on Saturday, May 3 just before 7:30 p.m. for the reported fire, the FCFRD says.

News

Police charge 80-year-old Herndon man with inappropriately touching child

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 14, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated May 15, 2025 at 12:43AM

A Fairfax County police car (file photo)

A Herndon man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly grabbing and kissing a child.

The victim reported on Monday (May 12) at 8:40 a.m. that she had been walking in the 13300 block of Hungerford Place in the Hutchison neighborhood near Herndon when a man approached her, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

News

Police: Fairfax man tied to several indecent exposure incidents over 10 years

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 14, 2025 at 3:15PM

Police shared a photo in April that they said shows a man who allegedly exposed himself in Chantilly (via FCPD)

A Fairfax man who allegedly exposed himself multiple times in Oakton and Chantilly over the past decade has been arrested.

The Fairfax County Police Department shared last month that detectives were investigating a series of indecent exposure incidents after receiving a report of an unidentified man exposing himself “to multiple victims” near the 4600 block of Stonecroft Road in Chantilly between 5 and 6 p.m. on March 30.

News

State Police: Driver pulled over for using phone on I-495, crashes into vehicles

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 14, 2025 at 2:30PM

I-495 North at the off-ramp to Braddock Road in North Springfield (via Google Maps)

A high-speed chase on the Capital Beltway (I-495) this morning started with a driver getting pulled over for using their cell phone, police say.

After allegedly seeing a violation of Virginia’s “hands-free” law banning the use of cell phones while driving, a trooper attempted a traffic stop on northbound I-495 near Braddock Road in the North Springfield area around 8:54 a.m. today (Wednesday), according to the Virginia State Police (VSP).

Around Town

Popular brunch spot First Watch to open in Reston next week

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 14, 2025 at 11:45AM

First Watch's beverage menu includes juices, coffee and brunch cocktails (courtesy First Watch)

First Watch will soon start serving up its signature avocado toast and million dollar bacon to Reston diners.

The daytime cafe chain is set to open in the former Carrabba’s Italian Grill at 12192 Sunset Hills Road near RTC West next Monday, May 19, a First Watch spokesperson told FFXnow, confirming a report by The Burn.

Countywide

FCPS to share initial suggestions for school boundary changes

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 14, 2025 at 9:15AM

South County High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Hundreds of Fairfax County Public Schools students could be directed to different schools under initial redistricting scenarios developed as part of a systemwide boundary review.

The Connecticut-based firm Thru Consulting, which was hired by the Fairfax County School Board last September, will present its first draft of potential boundary changes at a series of community meetings starting tomorrow (Thursday).

Around Town

NEW: Another grocery store to replace Whole Foods in Idylwood

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 14, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated May 14, 2025 at 9:58AM

The now-vacant grocery store at Idylwood Plaza, formerly occupied by Whole Foods Market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Idylwood Plaza has secured a new grocery store anchor.

The German chain Lidl will take over space at the shopping center previously filled by Whole Foods Market, which relocated to the Broad & Washington development in nearby Falls Church City in February.

News

DEVELOPING: Pedestrian seriously injured by crash near Tysons West

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 13, 2025 at 10:45PM

A sign for Tysons West at the Westwood Center Drive and Cornerside Blvd intersection (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A woman has been hospitalized following a crash outside Tysons West, police say.

Officers and medics were dispatched to Westwood Center Drive at Cornerside Blvd around 9:34 p.m. today (Wednesday) after a driver struck a pedestrian, according to the police scanner.

News

Herndon launches online portal for reporting parking issues

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 13, 2025 at 3:45PM

Cars parked along a residential street in Herndon (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Herndon Police Department (HPD) wants to expedite its response to parking violations on local streets.

A new online portal launched today (Tuesday) allows residents, businesses and other community members to report parking complaints directly to the department’s traffic unit, which enforces traffic laws and parking rules in addition to investigating crashes and assisting with traffic studies.