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.

News

NEW: Special prosecutor will be requested for speeding case against Supervisor Jimenez

By Angela Woolsey
Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez (staff photo by Jared Serre)

A case charging Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez with reckless driving likely won’t be handled by the Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney.

The office will request that the Fairfax County General District Court appoint a special prosecutor from another jurisdiction to the case at an adjudicatory hearing on Monday (July 20), according to Laura Birnbaum, a spokesperson for Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office.

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News

Motorcyclist seriously injured in Route 1 crash near Beacon Center

By Angela Woolsey
Map showing heavy traffic along a north–south road (red/orange) with nearby landmarks like Giant Food and Ruby's Jamaican Kitchen and Bethany Lutheran Church in view.
Southbound Richmond Highway has been closed at Memorial Street in Groveton after a motorcycle crash (via Google Maps)

A motorcyclist has been hospitalized following a crash on Richmond Highway (Route 1) near Beacon Center.

Police officers and units with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, including medics, were dispatched to Richmond Highway at Memorial Street in Groveton at around 12:51 p.m. for the crash, according to scanner traffic.

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Countywide

Volunteers begin mapping heat islands across Fairfax County, N. Va.

By Angela Woolsey
Small white sensor device mounted on a car hood in a parking lot at sunset, with trees in the background.
Volunteers are using vehicle rooftop sensors to collect data for the Northern Virginia Urban Heat Island Mapping Project (courtesy Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions)

On another hot, muggy summer day, dozens of volunteers are fanning out across Northern Virginia to find the region’s hottest neighborhoods.

The “Urban Heat Island Mapping Project,” led by George Mason University’s Virginia Climate Center and the local nonprofit Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS), involves more than 30 teams with at least two volunteer scientists each measuring temperatures and humidity at different locations.

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News

NOW: Teen bicyclist hospitalized after crash in Herndon

By Angela Woolsey
Police SUV with blue lights parked across a suburban street beside a red and white fire truck, blocking the road amid trees and power lines.
Town of Herndon police and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department respond to a crash that injured a teen bicyclist on Dranesville Road at Worchester Street in Herndon (via Herndon Police/X)

A teenage bicyclist was injured this morning (Wednesday) after being struck by a driver on Dranesville Road in Herndon.

Units with the Town of Herndon Police Department and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to the Dranesville and Worchester Street intersection shortly before 10 a.m. for the crash, according to emergency scanner traffic.

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News

Proposed mixed-use development in McLean would include housing, new Keller Williams office

By Angela Woolsey
Rendering of a modern mixed-use development along a tree-lined street with brick and glass facades.
Rendering of Highcrest's proposed residential redevelopment of 6816 and 6824 Elm Street in McLean (via KTGY/Fairfax County)

Another developer is circling older office buildings in downtown McLean as a prime spot for new housing.

The D.C.-based home builder Highcrest has proposed redeveloping the low-lying offices at 6816 and 6824 Elm Street with a single mixed-use building that could include 115 residential units as well as some retail and office space.

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News

Vienna lands $1M from state for future W&OD Trail visitor’s center

By Angela Woolsey
W&OD Trail sign beside a tree-lined path with cyclists in the distance and a covered object on a green lamppost under a blue sky
Pedestrians and cyclists on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail approach the Maple Avenue crossing in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Commonwealth of Virginia is putting some money behind plans to add a visitor center at the heart of the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail.

The two-year state budget adopted by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in late June includes $1 million for the Town of Vienna to help acquire the land needed for the future hub, a project spearheaded by the W&OD Railroad Regional Park’s owner, NOVA Parks.

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Weather

WEATHER ALERT: Heat Advisory issued for Fairfax County, starting July 15

By Angela Woolsey
Metro Park water fountain at Capital One Center in Tysons (staff photo)

Another surge in summer heat is expected to bake Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area over the next couple of days.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the region that’s scheduled to take effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).

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News

Bill to name U.S. post office after late Rep. Connolly passes House

By Angela Woolsey
Late Rep. Gerry Connolly with his successor, Rep. James Walkinshaw (courtesy Office of Congressman James Walkinshaw)

Longtime Fairfax County Rep. Gerry Connolly is one step closer to getting his name on a local post office.

Yesterday (Monday), the House of Representatives passed legislation from Rep. James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s successor to Virginia’s 11th Congressional District seat, that would rename the U.S. Postal Service’s facility at 10660 Page Avenue in Fairfax after the late congressman.

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Countywide

Fairfax County and Fairfax City police encrypt dispatch radio communications

By Angela Woolsey
A radio can be seen on the belt of a Fairfax City police officer at the 2026 Asian Festival on Main (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Residents, reporters and other interested members of the public now have one less option for keeping track of police activity in Fairfax County and Fairfax City.

The City of Fairfax Police Department announced Friday (July 10) that it is encrypting its primary police dispatch radio channel, so the feed will no longer available through public scanners or online radio streaming services, such as Open MHz.

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Countywide

Justice Department will send election monitors to Fairfax for August primaries

By Angela Woolsey
A sign at the Franconia District Governmental Center announcing that early voting for the Aug. 4, 2026 primary elections will start on July 25 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The U.S. Department of Justice will be keeping a close eye on Fairfax County’s upcoming Aug. 4 Congressional primaries.

The county is one of two jurisdictions in Virginia, along with Prince William County, where the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division plans to send election monitors, VPM News and the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported today (Monday).

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