Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Man arrested for allegedly fleeing crash in Woodlawn that killed pedestrian

Published February 21, 2024 at 2:00PM

Southbound Richmond Highway facing Brevard Court in Woodlawn (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County police have made an arrest in one of two fatal pedestrian crashes that occured on Richmond Highway this past weekend.

Kelechi Uzodinma, 61, of Woodbridge was arrested on Sunday (Feb. 18) after allegedly hitting a pedestrian in the Richmond Highway and Brevard Court intersection in Mount Vernon’s Woodlawn neighborhood around 10:40 p.m., the Fairfax County Police Department reported today.

Around Town

Local restauranteurs launch fast-casual ‘fooderie’ in Fairfax City

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 21, 2024 at 11:45AM

The Commons Fooderie, a fast-casual restaurant, is now open in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Ever since he got into the restaurant business, Usman Saleem wanted to open a place in Fairfax City.

After mostly working in Tysons and D.C., the restauranteur finally achieved that dream earlier this year, when The Commons Fooderie officially opened at 3955 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 107, in Old Town Fairfax on Jan. 22.

Around Town

Pakistani clothing store Khaadi to open at Tysons Corner Center this week

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 21, 2024 at 10:15AM | Updated February 22, 2024 at 2:28AM

The Pakistani clothing store Khaadi will open at Tysons Corner Center on Feb. 24 (courtesy Khaadi)

(Updated at 2:30 a.m. on 2/22/2024) A Pakistani fashion company will soon leave its first footprint in the U.S. with the unveiling of a new Tysons store.

Khaadi is set to launch a 5,500-square-foot “Experience Store” at Tysons Corner Center this Saturday, Feb. 24, a company spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow. The retail outlet will be located on the mall’s second floor near Barnes & Noble.

Countywide

Fairfax County proposes raising real estate tax rate to fund schools, staff compensation

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 21, 2024 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

As anticipated, Fairfax County is looking at a tight budget for the coming year that will once again lean primarily on residential property owners to offset a declining commercial tax base.

County Executive Bryan Hill has proposed a 4-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, even as he presented an advertised fiscal year 2025 budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors yesterday (Tuesday) that largely limits spending to obligations like public schools and employee compensation.

News

BREAKING: FCPS wins legal battle over TJ admissions after Supreme Court passes on case

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 20, 2024 at 3:00PM

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s current admissions policy will remain in place after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider a lawsuit alleging that it discriminates against Asian students.

The Supreme Court denied a petition for a hearing today (Tuesday) by the Coalition for TJ, an advocacy group that sued the Fairfax County School Board in 2021 after the admissions process for the highly competitive magnet school was revised with the goal of diversifying the student body.

News

Report: University of Virginia to open new campus in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 20, 2024 at 1:30PM

Inova Center for Personalized Health (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The University of Virginia is expanding its presence in Fairfax County.

The Charlottesville-based institution will add a new site for its Northern Virginia campus next year in Merrifield, where it has leased 55,000 square feet at the Inova Center for Personalized Health (8095 Innovation Park Drive), the Washington Business Journal reported last week.

Around Town

Shake Shack’s drive-up restaurant in Tysons is opening Wednesday

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 20, 2024 at 10:15AM

Shake Shack is opening a new restaurant at Pike 7 Plaza in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Shake Shack has staked out an opening date in Tysons.

The fast-food restaurant’s new location at Pike 7 Plaza (8350 Leesburg Pike) will welcome its first customers at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday). Free merchandise, including custom mugs, phone Pop-sockets and stickers, will be available for roughly 100 patrons.

News

Police: Man steals ambulance after being hospitalized by I-66 crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 20, 2024 at 9:45AM | Updated February 20, 2024 at 8:18PM

A white vehicle is about to crash off of the Route 50 ramp to I-66 in Fair Oaks (courtesy Statter911/Twitter)

(Updated at 8:15 p.m.) Fairfax County police combed Annandale last night for a man who reportedly stole an ambulance while getting treated at Inova Fairfax Hospital after a vehicle crash off I-66 near Fair Oaks.

The crash occurred at the eastbound Route 50 ramp to westbound I-66 around 12:30 p.m. yesterday (Monday) when officers attempted to stop a 2015 Toyota Corolla that was identified as stolen from another jurisdiction, according to the Fairfax County Police Department and scanner traffic on Open MHz.

Countywide

Northern GW Parkway to close with snow expected Friday night

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 16, 2024 at 11:45AM | Updated February 16, 2024 at 5:03PM

A U.S. Postal Service truck in Vienna during the Jan. 19, 2024 snowstorm (photo by Amy Woolsey)

(Updated at 5 p.m.) The northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway will close tonight (Friday) in anticipation of some snowfall, the National Park Service says.

The closure will start at 7 p.m. and extend from the Capital Beltway (I-495) in McLean to Spout Run in Arlington.

News

Renovated Vienna library will be named for desegregation advocates

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 16, 2024 at 10:15AM

Patrick Henry Library in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna’s future library will bear a name with close ties to its past.

Fairfax County Public Library’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved “Vienna-Carter” as the new name for Patrick Henry Library at its meeting on Wednesday (Feb. 14). The name change will officially take effect once the library reopens after an expansion project that’s expected to start later this year and finish in fall 2026.