Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Gas-fueled fire destroys Franconia townhomes, but no one injured

Published February 2, 2026 at 10:30AM | Updated February 2, 2026 at 7:38PM

A firefighter responding to a townhouse fire in the 6500 block of Gladys May Lane in Franconia (via FCFRD/X)

A fire that appears to have been fueled by natural gas blazed through two Franconia townhouses last night (Sunday), leaving the residence in ruins but its occupants apparently unharmed.

Several Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded to the 6500 block of Gladys May Lane in the Enclave at Long Branch neighborhood around 9:09 p.m. for the fire, which started in one unit near the end of a townhouse row before “quickly spreading” to an adjacent unit, according to the fire department.

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High-rise apartments, townhomes could replace Tysons Concourse offices

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 2, 2026 at 9:15AM

Berman Enterprises is proposing to redevelop the Tysons Concourse office complex with housing (via VIKA Virginia/Fairfax County)

A Maryland developer wants to build a mix of housing in place of the Tysons Concourse office buildings near the Spring Hill Metro station.

When completed, the development would deliver more than 1,000 new homes across two high-rise apartment buildings and several blocks of townhouses and triplexes, according to a proposal from Berman Enterprises, submitted to Fairfax County on Jan. 23.

Countywide

BREAKING: FCPS cancels classes again as ‘snowcrete’ lingers on sidewalks

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 1, 2026 at 5:10PM | Updated February 2, 2026 at 12:52AM

A path has been cleared through snow and ice outside Thoreau Middle School in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Hopes that Fairfax County Public Schools would resume classes tomorrow (Monday) after a whole week off for students in the wake of Winter Storm Fern have been dashed against a block of snowcrete.

FCPS announced this afternoon (Sunday) that classes have officially been canceled again tomorrow, citing “continued concerns about safe travel for students and staff to and from school.”

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UPDATED: Power outage at Tysons Corner Center caused by piled-up snow

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 1, 2026 at 4:20PM | Updated February 1, 2026 at 5:55PM

The fashion boutique Chaliskan and other stores at Tysons Corner Center have lost power (photo by Jamie Rogers)

Power has returned to Tysons Corner Center after an outage left the entire mall in the dark earlier this afternoon (Sunday).

It’s unclear exactly when the mall lost electricity, but Dominion Energy learned about the outage around 2:30 p.m., Aisha Khan, a Northern Virginia spokesperson for the utility, says.

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Interfaith vigil for Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Reston inspires mourning, calls for action

By Jared Serre and Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2026 at 3:45PM

Rep. James Walkinshaw speaks during a vigil held in Reston (via United Christian Parish/YouTube)

A capacity crowd filled a church in Reston yesterday (Thursday) to remember two U.S. citizens recently shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minnesota.

Rep. James Walkinshaw, who helped organize the vigil, was joined by local religious and human rights leaders at United Christian Parish to commemorate the lives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, along with others who have recently died in the custody of or during encounters with federal immigration agencies.

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Cathy Hudgins Community Center reopens in Reston after months-long renovation

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2026 at 1:45PM

The Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

After waiting through five months and one blizzard, the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate is back in action.

The Reston-based community center (12125 Pinecrest Road) will celebrate its reopening following an extended renovation with a party at 1-4 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday).

Countywide

Fairfax police urge caution during ‘extreme winter weather’ after three deaths

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 29, 2026 at 3:45PM

People in coats walk along Maple Avenue in Vienna during Winter Storm Fern on Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

At least three people in Fairfax County have died this week in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern and the extreme cold continuing to grip the D.C. region.

The Fairfax County Police Department says its officers have responded to “several” CPR calls for people experiencing heart troubles in recent days, including three cases where the person died.

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Review confirms student-athlete recruiting violations by Hayfield, Fairfax High, FCPS says

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 29, 2026 at 10:00AM

Hayfield Secondary School (staff photo)

An independent investigation into allegations of improper student-athlete recruitment practices by the football programs at Hayfield Secondary School and Fairfax High School has concluded.

Chicago law firm Baker McKenzie’s report confirmed that both programs violated the Virginia High School League’s (VHSL) eligibility rules in 2024, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid announced yesterday (Wednesday).

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Public art dropped from project to update Dulles Toll Road bridge in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 29, 2026 at 9:15AM

The existing eastbound Dulles Toll Road bridge over Route 123 in Tysons (via VDOT)

Work is underway to rehabilitate an aging Dulles Toll Road bridge in Tysons, but the span will no longer be embellished with art, as previously proposed.

Construction on the eastbound bridge over Route 123 (Dolley Madison Blvd) began in December, though it has been put on hold for the past few days as snow removal efforts continue, Virginia Department of Transportation spokesperson Michael Murphy says.

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Lawsuit against former FCPD officer pardoned for fatal shooting in Tysons to be settled

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 28, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated January 30, 2026 at 12:34AM

Timothy McCree Johnson's parents Melissa Johnson, center, and Timothy Walker, left, address reporters along with attorney Carl Crews, right, outside Fairfax County Public Safety Headquarters on March 22, 2023 (AP Photo/Matthew Barakat, File)

A wrongful death lawsuit against the former Fairfax County police officer who fatally shot Timothy Johnson outside Tysons Corner Center in February 2023 appears to be headed toward a settlement.

Fairfax County has agreed to pay Johnson’s mother, Melissa Johnson, $1.1 million to settle her claims against former Fairfax County Police Department Sgt. Wesley Shifflett, according to court documents.