Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Man charged with spree of thefts from vehicles across Fairfax, Falls Church

Published July 20, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated July 20, 2026 at 3:01PM

Kumneger Ayalsew (courtesy Fairfax County Police Department)

An Alexandria man is facing nearly 200 criminal charges in connection with a series of thefts from vehicles parked outside fitness centers across Northern Virginia.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, Kumneger Ayalsew, 29, has been linked to several larcenies that appeared to target gym visitors in Fairfax and Falls Church City since April.

News

Reston Association gives acting CEO the job permanently

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 20, 2026 at 9:15AM

Peter Lusk (courtesy Reston Association)

Reston Association CEO Peter Lusk can officially drop “acting” from his job title.

The RA board of directors unanimously voted to make Lusk its new permanent CEO, effective immediately, the homeowners’ association announced last Friday (July 17).

Around Town

Tysons Galleria focused on ‘playing the hits’ to refill food hall, now fully leased

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 17, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated July 21, 2026 at 9:59AM

Andy's Pizza and Shotted in Tysons Galleria's third floor food hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

When shoppers at Tysons Galleria ascend to the third floor for a bite to eat, they can choose between handmade pasta, burgers, street tacos, two different types of southeast Asian cuisine and two of Northern Virginia’s hottest chains.

The assortment stands in sharp contrast to what visitors encountered just three years ago, when the food hall lineup had dwindled to mainstay Andy’s Pizza and a couple of other holdovers that soon left.

Countywide

NOW: Outdoor activities, trash service canceled in Fairfax due to wildfire smoke

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published July 17, 2026 at 10:30AM | Updated July 17, 2026 at 11:51AM

Wildfire smoke around the Reston Town Center Metro station (via Fairfax County government/X)

Hazardous air quality levels due to wildfire smoke have been reported in the D.C. region, prompting cancellations of outdoor activities across Fairfax County.

Early this morning (Friday), the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) issued a Code Purple Air Quality Advisory for the region after conditions considered “very unhealthy” for everyone were recorded in D.C., Northern Virginia and parts of suburban Maryland by 9 a.m.

News

First townhomes, playground on former Fannie Mae site in Reston completed

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 17, 2026 at 9:15AM

Walking paths have added for the new Sunset Station neighborhood on American Dream Way in Reston (courtesy Wheelock Communities)

The transformation of Fannie Mae’s former office campus in Reston into a residential community is progressing rapidly.

Construction has been completed on the first townhouse building in Sunset Station, the new neighborhood at 11600 American Dream Way, developer Wheelock Communities announced this week, noting that residents have now moved into those eight units.

Countywide

JUST IN: Unhealthy air expected in D.C. region Friday due to wildfire smoke

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published July 16, 2026 at 4:45PM

A watercraft sits in the Detroit River near the skyline during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Detroit (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Fairfax County hasn’t yet seen clear evidence of the wildfires raging in Canada and Minnesota, but that could change tomorrow (Friday), as smoke continues wafting toward the East Coast.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) are both forecasting Code Red air quality tomorrow for Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. region, meaning conditions will be unhealthy for everyone.

News

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

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 16, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated July 16, 2026 at 7:11PM

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.

News

Motorcyclist seriously injured in Route 1 crash near Beacon Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 16, 2026 at 2:30PM

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.

Countywide

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

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 16, 2026 at 10:00AM

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.

News

NOW: Teen bicyclist hospitalized after crash in Herndon

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 15, 2026 at 11:00AM

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.