Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

County human services building to reopen after closure for flooding

Published June 17, 2026 at 8:30AM

Fairfax County's Pennino Building has been closed since early February 2026 due to flooding repairs (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Fairfax County has finally determined a reopening date for its Pennino Building following a months-long closure for flooding-related repairs.

The office building at 12011 Government Center Parkway, which houses the county’s Department for Family Services (DFS), Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) and other human services, will reopen to the public on Monday, July 6, the county announced yesterday (Tuesday).

Countywide

Fairfax County calls for preemptive strikes against emerging spotted lanternflies

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 16, 2026 at 10:00AM

Spotted lanternfly nymphs on an outdoor stair in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Summer in Fairfax County means a break from school, an abundance of outdoor music options and, in recent years, the return of the spotted lanternflies.

The invasive insects started to reemerge earlier this month, but they are still in their young “nymph” stage, resembling small beetles with white spots on their black bodies instead of the larger, winged form they take as adults, according to the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES).

News

RA seeks input on opposition to Reston National Golf Course development

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 16, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated June 16, 2026 at 2:33PM

A person driving a golf cart on Reston National Golf Course (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston Association remains opposed to any development on Reston National Golf Course, but the latest proposal to add housing has it questioning just how much effort should be devoted to that cause.

RA launched a survey yesterday (Monday) asking community members to share their thoughts on whether its staff should prioritize the issue when determining where to focus their limited time and financial resources.

News

Local and state police can enforce traffic laws on GW Parkway, starting in July

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 15, 2026 at 1:45PM

The George Washington Memorial Parkway (staff photo by James Cullum)

Local and state police will soon be allowed to enforce speed limits and other traffic laws on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, though drivers might not see an immediate increase in officers and troopers.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Senate Bill 81 in April authorizing state and local law enforcement officers to cite drivers for traffic infractions on federal highways in Northern Virginia, starting on July 1. Local agencies can also seek the federal government’s permission to install automated speed monitoring cameras.

News

Search of Potomac River underway after swimmer reported missing in Great Falls area

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 15, 2026 at 12:10PM | Updated June 16, 2026 at 10:42AM

Montgomery County and Fairfax County first responders are searching the Potomac River near Great Falls for a swimmer reported missing on June 14, 2026 (via Pete Piringer/X)

First responders in swift water boats and a U.S. Park Police helicopter are scouring the Potomac River for a man who went missing while swimming in the Great Falls Park area yesterday (Sunday).

Montgomery County’s police and fire departments received a call around 6:15 p.m. for a swimmer in distress near the Billy Goat Trail in the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park in Potomac, Maryland.

Weather

NOW: Over 21K people in Fairfax lose power as storm rolls through

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 12, 2026 at 8:00PM

Storm-related power outages in Fairfax County around 7:50 p.m. on June 12, 2026 (via Dominion Energy)

More than 21,200 Dominion Energy customers in Fairfax County have reported losing power as a result of thunderstorms currently passing through the region.

As of 8 p.m., the majority of outages are focused in the eastern part of the county, though some in the Fair Oaks area have also been affected, according to Dominion’s outage map. In most cases, the utility hasn’t determined an estimated time of restoration yet.

News

Safety initiative would add stop signs at Fairfax County W&OD Trail crossings

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 12, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated June 14, 2026 at 7:18PM

A cyclist crosses Cedar Lane on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Dunn Loring (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Local and state transportation planners hope to provide some additional protection to users of the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail with a new safety initiative.

If approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation, the initiative will add high-visibility stop signs at nine trail intersections in Fairfax County, according to NOVA Parks, which owns the 45-mile-long regional park and is supporting the proposal.

Weather

Heat plan activated, outdoor school activities canceled in Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 12, 2026 at 10:20AM

Sun glare through tree leaves (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

It’s going to be another hot, humid day in Fairfax County, which will be under Heat Advisory from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today (Friday).

As it did yesterday, Fairfax County Public Schools has canceled all outdoor activities on school grounds during the time covered by the advisory, including recess, extracurricular activities and recreational programs by community groups.

News

Planned live-work development not moving forward in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 12, 2026 at 9:15AM

The entrance to the vacant office building at 8110 Gatehouse Road in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The repurposing of Inova Health System’s former administrative headquarters in Merrifield is seeing mixed success nearly three years after it was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

While construction continues on a conversion of one office building at 2990 Telestar Court into affordable housing, the live/work units planned for an adjacent building at 8110 Gatehouse Road are no longer moving forward, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik shared at the board’s meeting on Tuesday, June 9.

Around Town

After record participation, Fairfax libraries kick off summer reading with children’s festival

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 11, 2026 at 3:45PM

A kid picks up a Dr. Seuss book at Fairfax County's 2025 Children's Summer Reading Festival (photo by Mike Leonard, courtesy of Fairfax Library Foundation)

With the last day of school coming up fast, Fairfax County Public Library hopes to see more kids cracking open books over summer break, instead of putting them away.

The county library system will kick off its annual summer reading program this Saturday, June 13 with the return of its Children’s Summer Reading Festival, a free event organized by the nonprofit Fairfax Library Foundation.