Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

JUST IN: Centreville homes still off limits after apparent natural gas explosion

Published February 16, 2026 at 5:20PM | Updated February 16, 2026 at 9:01PM

Police and firefighters respond to a house on Quail Pond Court in Centreville after a natural gas-related explosion (via FCFRD/X)

Dozens of Centreville residents are still unable to return home almost a day after a fiery explosion possibly fueled by a natural gas leak rocked their neighborhood.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded around 9:48 p.m. yesterday (Sunday) to the 14300 block of Quail Pond Court in the Belle Pond Farm neighborhood after receiving multiple calls about “a loud explosion.”

News

JUST IN: Pedestrian critically injured in downtown McLean crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 13, 2026 at 8:15PM | Updated February 13, 2026 at 11:22PM

Old Dominion Drive closed at Beverly Road in McLean after a pedestrian crash (via Google Maps)

A pedestrian suffered critical injuries in a crash that occurred this evening (Friday) in the heart of downtown McLean.

Police and units with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched around 6:10 p.m. to the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Beverly Road for the crash, according to scanner traffic.

News

UPDATED: Ilia Malinin misses Olympic gold, but supporters in Reston still proud

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published February 13, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated February 13, 2026 at 7:42PM

People at SkateQuest in Reston watch Ilia Malinin after his free skate at the Milan Cortina Olympics (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Figure skaters and their families from across the D.C. region gathered today (Friday) at Reston’s SkateQuest to watch their homegrown phenom pursue gold and, possibly, history an ocean and continent away at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

In minutes, however, that vision fell apart as Vienna resident Ilia Malinin missed the Olympic podium entirely after a disastrous free skate where he fell twice, finishing in eighth place with 264.49 points.

News

Developer seeks to buy part of Fairfax County police training campus for future data center

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 13, 2026 at 9:15AM

The Fairfax County Police Department training campus at 3721 Stonecroft Blvd in Chantilly (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County’s police training academy could someday be co-located with a data center.

A developer identified as SCG Global Holdings LLC has offered to purchase county-owned land in Chantilly that currently hosts several Fairfax County Police Department facilities in order to build a data center.

Countywide

Slow winter storm recovery drives D.C. region leaders to seek improvements

By Scott McCaffrey and Angela Woolsey

Published February 13, 2026 at 8:30AM

Snow and ice remain uncleared on a sidewalk along Old Dairy Road in Herndon's Franklin Farm neighborhood (photo by Marie Baraldi)

Fairfax County Public Schools resumed regular classes on Monday (Feb. 9) for the first time since a double whammy of snow and ice hit the D.C. region in late January, but many students still encounter blocked sidewalks and intersections on the way to their school or bus stop.

That was the case earlier this week in the Franklin Farm neighborhood near Herndon, where sidewalks around a school bus stop at Old Dairy Road and Tyburn Tree Court remained stubbornly covered in ice.

News

Reston nonprofit Cornerstones names longtime Alexandria shelter director as new CEO

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 12, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated February 12, 2026 at 3:56PM

Shannon Steene (courtesy of Cornerstones)

For its next CEO, Cornerstones has chosen a local leader with plenty of experience guiding human services nonprofits through major transformations.

The Reston-based organization announced today (Thursday) that Shannon Steene, the executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter in Alexandria, will take over as its top executive on April 13, replacing longtime CEO Kerrie Wilson.

News

Park Street sidewalk construction aims for spring finish despite snow delay

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 12, 2026 at 9:15AM

A segment of the Park Street SE sidewalk in Vienna is closed for construction (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A months-long sidewalk project in the Town of Vienna is getting back on track after halting during last month’s winter storm.

Construction restarted earlier this week a couple of blocks along Park Street SE recently freed from several inches of snow and ice, reducing that section of road to one lane with crews controlling traffic from alternating directions.

Around Town

Cafesano bistro, Chantilly dessert cafe and more coming to Fairfax Corner

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 11, 2026 at 3:45PM

Cafesano at South Lakes Village Center in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Cafesano Italian and Mediterranean Bistro and Chateau de Chantilly are expanding to Fairfax Corner.

Developer Peterson Companies announced today (Wednesday) that it has secured leases from the teams behind those local eateries and three other dining and shopping retailers — all expected to open over the next year.

News

UPDATED: Driver injured after crashing onto Metro tracks in Dunn Loring

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 11, 2026 at 1:50PM | Updated February 11, 2026 at 6:02PM

Firefighters respond to a car that crashed onto the Metro tracks near Cedar Lane in Vienna (via WMATA/X)

A driver who managed to crash onto the Metro tracks from I-66 in Dunn Loring has been taken to a hospital.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units were dispatched around 11:24 a.m. today (Wednesday) for a crash off I-66 prior to the Cedar Lane bridge.

Countywide

Fairfax County casino bill heads to full Senate without site limits

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 11, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated February 12, 2026 at 4:05PM

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell presents his Fairfax County casino bill to the Senate Finance and Appropriations resources subcommittee on Feb. 10, 2026 (via Senate of Virginia/YouTube)

For a second year in a row, the Virginia Senate will consider legislation that could pave the way for a casino in Fairfax County.

Senate Bill 756, championed by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34), was advanced on a 10-5 vote yesterday (Tuesday) by the chamber’s Finance and Appropriations Committee with a key revision — criteria that limited potential casino sites to Tysons have now been dropped.