Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

In Tysons, developers pivot from new construction to enhancing what’s already there

Published March 17, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated March 17, 2026 at 5:38PM

The Tysons Community Alliance held a Vision Tysons summit on the area's economy and development at Capital One Hall on March 12, 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

New buildings are still going up in Tysons, as anyone who has passed the Indigo at McLean Station, Exchange at Spring Hill and Flats at Tysons construction sites can attest.

But 16 years into Fairfax County’s plan to remake Tysons into a downtown community by 2050, developers behind some of the area’s more established neighborhoods have started to focus less on expanding their properties than on bolstering what they’ve already built.

News

Crews were repairing natural gas leak when Centreville home exploded, report confirms

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 17, 2026 at 9:15AM

Aerial view of the site of the Feb. 15 natural gas explosion in Centreville (provided by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue to the NTSB)

The natural gas explosion that destroyed a house in Centreville last month and forced dozens of others to be evacuated occurred hours after Washington Gas identified a critical leak in the neighborhood, an initial investigatory report says.

A service technician from the utility, which has multiple gas lines in the area, found a “grade 1” leak outside a home on Belle Plains Drive around 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 after the resident reported a “gas odor” about two hours earlier, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

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Herndon man sentenced to eight years for traveling to sexually abuse child

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 17, 2026 at 8:30AM

A judge's gavel on a table (via Wesley Tingey/Unsplash)

A Herndon man will spend eight years in prison after admitting to traveling into D.C. with plans to sexually abuse a 6-year-old child who didn’t actually exist.

Timothy Brockerman, 35, pleaded guilty on Sept. 19, 2025 to traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and was sentenced on March 11 by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss to 96 months in prison on top of 20 years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. announced.

News

Fairfax Circuit Court satellite site to relaunch in South County

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 16, 2026 at 2:45PM

Fairfax County Circuit Court satellite location at the Cathy Hudgins Community Center in Reston (courtesy Fairfax Circuit Court)

After an extended hiatus, the Fairfax County Circuit Court will bring back its satellite services next month. This time, however, the pop-up will focus on the southern side of the county instead of the north.

The satellite site will provide select court services at the Gerry Hyland Government Center (8350 Richmond Highway) in Woodlawn from 9 a.m. to noon on the second Tuesday of every month, starting April 14.

Countywide

UPDATED: Tornado Watch replaced by Flood Warning for Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 16, 2026 at 11:35AM | Updated March 16, 2026 at 4:11PM

Stream runs into a culvert near the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Vienna during rain storm (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Tornado Watch and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued earlier today (Monday) for Fairfax County have been canceled or expired, but an Areal Flood Warning is now in effect until 6:30 p.m.

“Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring,” the 3:33 p.m. alert said. “Streams continue to rise due to excess runoff from earlier rainfall. Low-water crossings are inundated with water and may not be passable.”

Countywide

Fairfax County supervisors urge Spanberger to veto casino bill

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 16, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated March 16, 2026 at 3:24PM

Virginia Senate chamber during final vote on SB 756 on March 14, 2025 (via Senate of Virginia/YouTube)

Despite weeks of debate and revisions, the Senate Bill 756 that the Virginia General Assembly sent to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk before adjourning on Saturday (March 14) wound up being exactly the same as the one introduced when the legislative session began in January.

After requesting a second conference to some groans from his colleagues, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) reverted to his original language for a new substitute bill to allow casino gaming in Fairfax County, limiting potential sites to a 1.5-million-square-foot mixed-use development in Tysons but otherwise treating Fairfax the same as the five cities in Virginia already eligible to host a casino.

Countywide

JUST IN: FCPS to release students early on Monday due to possible storms

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 15, 2026 at 7:30PM | Updated March 15, 2026 at 8:41PM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools will change up its schedule tomorrow (Monday) in anticipation of potentially severe weather, including thunderstorms and even possible tornadoes.

Instead of the more typical two-hour delayed opening, however, FCPS has announced that schools and administrative offices will close three hours early, forcing many families to scramble for last-minute child care plans.

News

DEVELOPING: Three killed in single-vehicle crash in Reston

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 14, 2026 at 10:40AM

Fairfax County police car lights flashing (file photo)

Three people were killed and two were hospitalized as a result of a single-vehicle crash near Crossfield Elementary School in Reston earlier this morning (Saturday).

As of 10:30 a.m., Fox Mill Road remains closed in both directions at Folkstone Drive, where the crash occurred, as detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit investigate.

Countywide

BREAKING: Revised bill would allow temporary Tysons casino without local approval

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 13, 2026 at 10:30PM | Updated March 14, 2026 at 10:49AM

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell seeks support for SB 756, which would make Fairfax County eligible to host a casino (via Senate of Virginia/YouTube)

The bill to allow a casino in Fairfax County has reemerged after nine days of negotiations with some significant changes from the version that passed the Virginia House of Delegates earlier this month.

The State Senate voted 22-16 today (Friday) to accept a substitute for Senate Bill 756 that would allow a temporary casino establishment in Fairfax before a referendum to permit a permanent development goes to voters.

News

UPDATED: GMU gives all-clear after bomb threat closed library

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 13, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated March 13, 2026 at 4:11PM

The lobby of George Mason University's Fenwick Library (staff photo)

Update — George Mason University Police have determined that the bomb threat targeting Fenwick Library was unfounded.

“Law enforcement conducted an extensive search of the building and no devices were found,” a GMU spokesperson said. “The area has been deemed safe and normal operations may resume.”