Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Suspect arrested for fatal shooting in Lorton on New Year’s Eve

Published January 4, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated January 4, 2023 at 1:15PM

Fairfax County police car with lights flashing (file photo)

(Updated at 1:15 p.m.) A Woodbridge man has been arrested after allegedly shooting and killing a man in Lorton on New Year’s Eve.

Robert William Peters Jr., 23, turned himself in to Fairfax County police detectives on Monday night (Jan. 2), two days after 42-year-old Lorton resident Nahom Beyene was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the 9500 block of Unity Lane.

News

Tysons Corner Center extends project to showcase local artists into 2023

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 4, 2023 at 10:15AM

An ArtLords exhibition is on display outside Macy's at Tysons Corner Center (courtesy TimeLine Media for Macerich)

An opportunity for local artists to gain exposure at the D.C. area’s biggest mall has been extended through the new year.

ArtsFairfax, the nonprofit arts agency for Fairfax County, announced on Dec. 22 that it will continue to partner with Tysons Corner Center owner Macerich to bring temporary art installations to the mall.

News

JUST IN: Glen Forest ES assistant charged with assaulting student with disabilities

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 4, 2023 at 9:40AM | Updated January 4, 2023 at 11:50PM

Glen Forest Elementary School (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 11:50 p.m.) An instructional assistant at Glen Forest Elementary School in Bailey’s Crossroads was allegedly seen assaulting a student with disabilities last month.

Fairfax County Police Department detectives served a warrant for simple assault to Meredith Capets, a 36-year-old Alexandria resident, after she turned herself in at the Adult Detention Center last night (Tuesday), the department reported this morning.

Countywide

Youngkin calls for investigation of Thomas Jefferson HS over delayed student award notices

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 3, 2023 at 3:00PM | Updated January 3, 2023 at 4:34PM

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

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) An outcry stoked by conservative activists over Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) allegedly failing to promptly announce a student academic honor has reached the Virginia governor’s office.

In a letter released this morning (Tuesday), Gov. Glenn Youngkin urged Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate the Fairfax County magnet school after it reportedly didn’t notify students commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program until after early college applications were due.

News

Effort to relocate cell tower by I-495 in McLean still ongoing

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 3, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated January 5, 2023 at 3:47PM

The cell tower by I-495 at the Old Dominion Drive bridge in McLean (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m. on 1/5/2023) The search is still on for a new site to host a cell tower in McLean that has to be removed to make room for the widening Capital Beltway.

The monopole, which is owned by American Cell Towers and supports AT&T and T-Mobile service, was officially decommissioned on Dec. 9, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

News

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

By Angela Woolsey

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.