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

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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News

Driver heading wrong way crashes into state trooper’s vehicle on I-395

By Angela Woolsey
Police and fire response to wrong-way crash on I-395 near Edsall Road in Springfield (courtesy Dave Statter/X)

A driver was taken into police custody last night (Thursday) after allegedly traveling the wrong way on I-95 and crashing into two different vehicles on I-395.

The Virginia State Police responded at around 7:37 p.m. after being notified that a vehicle was traveling north in the I-95 Express Lanes in Prince William County at a time when traffic on the highway was supposed to be flowing south, according to a VSP spokesperson.

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News

Military veteran forced out by Trump policies seeks Herndon Town Council seat

By Angela Woolsey
Sabrina Bruce (courtesy Sabrina Bruce for Herndon Town Council)

More than a decade of military service came to an unwelcome end last year for Sabrina Bruce, but rather than retreating from government work, she hopes to continue serving, shifting her focus to the local community that embraced her as soon as she arrived.

Bruce officially obtained enough signatures last month to qualify for the ballot in the upcoming Herndon Town Council elections. If she wins one of six open seats on Nov. 3, she would become the first openly transgender person elected to any office in Fairfax County.

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Around Town

Southern comfort food chain coming to Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey
A building plan mockup of the future Milk & Honey storefront in Tysons Corner Center (via Wallace Creative/Fairfax County)

It appears South Asian cuisine will soon give way to comfort food from the southern U.S. at one restaurant space in Tysons Corner Center.

The “Southern-inspired” chain Milk & Honey from Reston-based Thompson Hospitality is planning to open a location in the mall at 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Suite G21U, taking over a roughly 4,900-square-foot space currently occupied by the Indian restaurant Dhoom, according to a building plan submitted last month to Fairfax County.

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Weather

UPDATED: Thunderstorm and flood watches issued for Fairfax County this afternoon

By Angela Woolsey
A U.S. flag hanging against a stormy-looking sky (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Another round of storms could hit Fairfax County this afternoon (Thursday), prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Flood Watch for the region.

Set to take effect from 2-11 p.m., the alert warns that a mass of “tropical air” expected to pass through the area could produce “torrential downpours,” potentially leading to flash flooding.

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News

Starbucks baristas at Barcroft Plaza cafe vote to unionize

By Angela Woolsey
Starbucks workers at Barcroft Plaza voted to unionize on July 7, 2026 (courtesy Starbucks Workers United)

Another Starbucks in Fairfax County has unionized.

Baristas at the coffee giant’s Barcroft Plaza store in Lincolnia voted 9-6 yesterday (Tuesday) to join Starbucks Workers United, an affiliate of the labor union Workers United that now represents more than 12,000 Starbucks workers at over 700 locations across the U.S.

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News

Police: Man charged after allegedly killing gosling in Fairfax City

By Angela Woolsey
A Fairfax City police vehicle outside the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Maryland man has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly attacking geese in Fairfax City last month.

Officers with the City of Fairfax Police Department responded at 9:54 a.m. on June 11 to 11201 Fairfax Blvd after receiving a report of an animal cruelty case, according to a press release.

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News

New pedestrian walkway segment on Sunrise Valley Drive could open this month

By Angela Woolsey
A construction barrier blocks newly paved sidewalk in front of the Exxon gas station on Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is finally making progress on filling in sidewalk gaps along Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston, though the project has created some temporary obstacles for pedestrians.

Construction on the Sunrise Valley Drive Walkway began on April 30 and is now on track to finish by the end of next week (July 13-19) for one segment near Soapstone Drive, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

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