Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Jewelry store robbery led to another gun scare at Tysons Corner Center

Published January 3, 2023 at 11:00AM

Tysons Corner Center (file photo)

Fairfax County police are investigating a “smash-and-grab” jewelry store robbery at Tysons Corner Center.

The suspect used a hammer to smash display cases at Elite Jewelers, which is on the mall’s first floor near Macy’s, the Fairfax County Police Department reported at 5:53 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 1).

Countywide

FCPD officer accidentally broadcasts ‘audio porn’ over police radio

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 3, 2023 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County Police Department's in-car radio system (via FCPD/Facebook)

The new year got off to an awkward start for one Fairfax County police officer whose decidedly not-safe-for-work choice of late-night entertainment got some professional airtime.

The police radio channel picked up about eight minutes of pornographic sounds shortly after midnight on Sunday (Jan. 1), local public safety watcher Dave Statter reported. Statter observed that the noises suggested that someone was having sex or watching porn.

Countywide

Here are FFXnow’s top 10 most-read stories of 2022

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 30, 2022 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue crews respond to reports of gunfire at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by James Cullum)

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, closing out an exciting first year for FFXnow.

Since officially launching on Feb. 22, the new home of Tysons Reporter and Reston Now has pushed to bring the local news reporting from those sites to other corners of Fairfax County, from Chantilly to Huntington, while maintaining their focus on the Tysons and Reston areas.

Around Town

STEM school launches in Vienna with camps teaching kids how to code

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 30, 2022 at 10:30AM

The STEM school iCode opened a Vienna campus earlier in December (courtesy iCode)

A Texas-based technology education company has branched out into Vienna.

The school iCode launched its first Virginia franchise in the town earlier this month and is now hosting camps on game building, robotics and other tech skills for students out on break for the winter.

News

Part of Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run set to open tomorrow

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2022 at 1:30PM

A rendering of the planned Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run with an inset photo of the existing bridge (via VDOT)

A portion of the new Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run near Vienna is expected to open for traffic this week.

Vehicles will shift onto one lane of the new bridge between Crowell Road (Route 675) and Cobble Mill Road starting around 2 p.m. tomorrow (Friday), the Virginia Department of Transportation announced yesterday.

Around Town

Coffee shop from fashion brand Ralph Lauren opens at Tysons Galleria

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2022 at 10:30AM

Ralph Lauren has opened the shop Ralph's Coffee next to its store in Tysons Galleria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Holiday shoppers have flocked over the past week to a new coffee shop in Tysons Galleria from an unexpected source.

Ralph Lauren, the fashion company known for its polo shirts, opened Ralph’s Coffee on Dec. 19, just in time to take advantage of the final Christmas shopping rush.

Around Town

Annual New Year’s Day photo contest returns to Fairfax County trails

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2022 at 9:30AM

People walk on a trail at Scott's Run Nature Preserve on a warm fall day (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s trails are ready for their close-up.

With 2023 right around the corner, the Fairfax County Park Authority and Fairfax County Park Foundation are once again inviting community members to take a hike and submit their best snapshots for potential prizes.

Countywide

FCPD tells officers to watch out for ‘swatting,’ as Virginia considers bill making it a crime

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 28, 2022 at 3:00PM

Fairfax County police cruiser with lights on (via FCPD/Facebook)

The Fairfax County Police Department has revised how its officers respond to “swatting” after seeing a noticeable uptick in such incidents in recent years.

“Swatting” is a form of harassment involving false 911 calls that are intended to draw a heavy law enforcement response, such as a SWAT team, putting the target in a potentially life-threatening situation.

News

Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit study now fully funded, thanks to Congress

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 28, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated January 3, 2023 at 4:25PM

The Route 7 bus rapid transit service from Tysons to Alexandria (via NVTC/Twitter)

(Updated at 4:25 p.m. on 1/3/2023) An ongoing study of the possibility of having bus rapid transit (BRT) service from Tysons to Alexandria can now proceed confident that the planning will be seen through to completion.

The $1.7 trillion federal spending bill that Congress approved on Friday (Dec. 23), just in time to avert a potential government shutdown, included $2 million to complete all planning and environmental studies needed for the project, known as Envision Route 7.

News

FCPS still looking at options to relieve Kent Gardens Elementary crowding

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 28, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated February 6, 2023 at 1:57PM

Kent Gardens Elementary School in McLean (via Google Maps)

Efforts to alleviate crowding issues at Kent Gardens Elementary School are starting to pick up steam, but Fairfax County Public Schools is still working to identify and pursue specific solutions.

With 1,023 students, the McLean school is at 121% of its building capacity, per a proposed capital improvement program (CIP) for fiscal years 2024-2028. That makes it one of the most crowded schools in FCPS, second only to Wakefield Forest Elementary School and tied with Centreville High School.