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.

Countywide

Virginia House seeks more data for Fairfax senator’s bill to allow more accessory living units

By Angela Woolsey
State Sen. Saddam Salim testifies before the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns on his bill to require accessory living units (via Virginia General Assembly)

Final consideration of state Sen. Saddam Salim’s (D-37) proposal to expand the availability of accessory housing units in Virginia will wait until next year.

A Virginia House of Delegates committee voted on Feb. 23 to table Senate Bill 304, until 2025, suggesting that the delay would give Salim and other legislators more time to refine the bill and collect data on existing local policies allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are known in Fairfax County as accessory living units (ALUs).

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Countywide

Former Trump advisor’s legal group sues FCPS over LGBTQ-inclusive policies

By Angela Woolsey
A community member waves an LGBTQ pride flag at the rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 12:25 a.m.) A right-wing legal group led by Stephen Miller, a former advisor to Donald Trump when he was president, is challenging Fairfax County Public Schools over its policies supporting transgender students.

America First Legal filed a complaint against the Fairfax County School Board on Monday (March 4) arguing that the school system is discriminating on the basis of sex and religion by letting students use the names, pronouns and bathrooms that match their gender identity.

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Around Town

Yellow Diner from Tysons restauranteurs to open in Vienna this spring

By Angela Woolsey
The new restaurant Yellow Diner is slated to open in March 2024 in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Updated at 3:35 p.m. on 4/2/2024 — Yellow Diner officially opened in Vienna on Monday, April 1, operating from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for brunch and 5-10 p.m. for dinner every day except for Tuesdays.

Earlier: An end to the long, winding road to an opening for Vienna’s Yellow Diner is in sight.

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Countywide

Fairfax County voters side with Biden and Haley in presidential primaries

By Angela Woolsey
A sign provides information about the March 5, 2024 Democratic and Republican presidential primaries (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Perhaps Nikki Haley’s rally in Idylwood last week made a difference after all.

In yesterday’s Republican presidential primary, the former South Carolina governor won more support from Fairfax County voters than frontrunner Donald Trump, though she trailed the one-time president by a sizable margin in Virginia overall.

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Around Town

Billy Joel tribute to take the stage at Capital One Hall in Tysons this Friday

By Angela Woolsey
Musician Michael Cavanaugh will perform Billy Joel songs with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in Tysons on March 8 (courtesy Capital One Hall)

The man behind “Uptown Girls” will get an early birthday party this week in Tysons, Fairfax County’s aspiring downtown.

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra is set to return to Capital One Hall on Friday (March 8) for “The Music of Billy Joel,” a tribute to the “Piano Man” that will pair the classical group with Broadway star Michael Cavanaugh.

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Countywide

UPDATED: Fairfax Connector strike ends as union members approve new contract

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax Connector workers represented by ATU Local 689 strike outside the West Ox Bus Facility (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Updated at 9:45 p.m. on 3/6/2024 — Fairfax Connector workers with ATU Local 689 voted today (Wednesday) to ratify a new contract with bus operator Transdev, ending a 15-day strike, the union announced.

The bus system will officially resume service on Friday (March 8), according to Transdev and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

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Around Town

Mediterranean restaurant Lezzet closes in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey
Lezzet Restaurant's Vienna location has closed permanently (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Lezzet has closed its Vienna restaurant after less than two years in the town.

The location closed for good “last week unfortunately,” a spokesperson for the Mediterranean restaurant confirmed to FFXnow by email on Friday (March 1), though they didn’t elaborate on what led to that decision.

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News

Man convicted of murder for 2022 shooting outside Mount Vernon apartments

By Angela Woolsey
Police say Brandon Wims was shot multiple times while in a car at the Old Mill Gardens apartments in Mount Vernon (via Google Maps)

A Mount Vernon man has been convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting Brandon Wims outside the Old Mill Gardens apartments in 2022.

A Fairfax County Circuit Court jury returned a guilty verdict last night (Monday) against Kyjuan Trott-McLean, 44, convicting him of murder and a charge of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced today.

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News

Woodson HS freshman who created skin cancer-treating soap honored by county board

By Angela Woolsey
Woodson High School student Heman Bekele speaks after getting recognized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for winning the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge (via Channel 16)

A local teen who was recently named the “Top Young Scientist in America” got a round of applause this morning (Tuesday) from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Heman Bekele, a ninth-grader at Woodson High School, won the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge in October for developing a soap that could potentially be used to treat skin cancer. He beat out nine other finalists for the 2023 contest’s grand prize, which came with $25,000 and the aforementioned title.

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Around Town

Home furniture store opens in former Crate & Barrel in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey
The furniture store Patrick's Elegant Living has opened in the former Crate & Barrel in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A new home design and furnishings store has taken up residence in the standalone building that once housed Crate & Barrel’s Tysons location.

Patrick’s Elegant Living opened at 1800 International Drive in late February — a couple of days ahead of a planned soft opening on Friday, March 1, the Washington Business Journal reported.

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