Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Republicans back homeschooling advocate for 17th House District seat

Published December 30, 2025 at 8:30AM

Christopher Cardiff is the Republican nominee for the 17th House District seat vacated by Mark Sickles (courtesy Christopher Cardiff)

Fairfax County Republicans have thrown their support behind a former data analytics professional and homeschooling advocate in a bid to flip Virginia’s 17th House District seat.

Voters registered in the district selected Christopher F. Cardiff as their nominee at a party canvass held yesterday morning (Monday), the Fairfax County Republican Committee (Fairfax GOP) announced.

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UPDATED: Pedestrian dies after being struck twice on Route 29 in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2025 at 8:25PM | Updated December 30, 2025 at 12:21PM

Route 29 is closed after fatal pedestrian crash near Braxton Wood Court in Merrifield (via Google Maps)

Another pedestrian has been killed in a crash on Fairfax County roads.

Officers were dispatched for a crash involving a pedestrian at Route 29 and Braxton Wood Court, just north of the Providence Place (formerly Pan Am) shopping center, in Merrifield at 6:48 p.m. on Monday (Dec. 29), according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

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Fairfax County Public Library will offer new card designs in new year

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2025 at 3:45PM

Left to right: Fairfax County Public Library card design contest winners Carolyn Belefski Carabeo, Neil Nolasco, Shawna Bolingbroke and Alex Cederholm (courtesy Fairfax County Public Library)

As Arthur Read famously sang, having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card — especially one designed by the local community.

Earlier this month, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) unveiled the winning designs from a month-long contest that invited members of the public to come up with fresh artwork for its checkout cards.

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Fairfax County board paves way for housing to replace Fair Oaks-area office buildings

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated December 29, 2025 at 4:54PM

Rendering of the residential building proposed by Time Equities at 3877 Fairfax Ridge Road (via MSA Architects/Fairfax County)

More commercial development in Fairfax County could soon give way to housing after the Board of Supervisors approved that option for a pair of office properties in the Fair Oaks area.

The board voted unanimously at its Nov. 18 meeting to amend the county’s comprehensive plan and allow the Fair Oaks Business Park and nearby High Ridge office building to be redeveloped with more than 800 new homes.

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Man accused of Reston murder now also faces federal charge

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2025 at 12:30PM

Marvin Fernando Morales Ortez and the firearm allegedly used in the Dec. 17, 2025 fatal shooting of Marvin Ernesto Morales in Reston (photos via FCPD/X)

The federal government is now leveling its own criminal charge against the man accused of a recent murder in Reston.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia has charged 23-year-old Marvin Fernando Morales Ortez with possessing a firearm as someone who is “illegally” present in the U.S.

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Starbucks workers in Reston and McLean seek to unionize amid strike

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated December 29, 2025 at 3:30PM

Starbucks at 1438 Chain Bridge Road in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Workers at two more Starbucks in Fairfax County could unionize, as a labor strike continues in response to stalled contract negotiations.

Petitions for union elections were filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last Tuesday (Dec. 23) by 14 employees at the Plaza America cafe in Reston (11610-A Plaza America Drive) and 17 at the location at 1438 Chain Bridge Road in McLean.

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FCPD: Annandale HS employee charged with assaulting student

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2025 at 8:30AM

Annandale High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An instructional assistant at Annandale High School is facing criminal charges after allegedly assaulting a student earlier this month.

A school resource officer was notified on Dec. 19 that Jaime Gerardo Gallo Pacheco, a 33-year-old Annandale resident, had reportedly physically assaulted a student earlier that day, the Fairfax County Police Department says.

News

Two killed in I-495 crash near Idylwood on Christmas Day

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 26, 2025 at 5:00PM | Updated January 9, 2026 at 11:36AM

Virginia State Police vehicle (photo by John Calhoun/JC Photography)

A teenager and a 75-year-old woman have died after a crash that occurred on the Capital Beltway (I-495) on Christmas.

Virginia State Police troopers and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched around 10:39 p.m. yesterday (Thursday) for a crash at the 49-mile marker near the I-66 interchange in Idylwood.

News

NEW: Fairfax Democrats plan Sunday primary to select House District 17 nominee

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 26, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated December 28, 2025 at 11:08PM

A yard sign for the Fairfax Democrats outside the Jim Scott Community Center in Oakton (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Democrats are once again asking voters to select a nominee for an empty House of Delegates seat on short notice.

The 17th House of Delegates District Democratic Committee will hold a firehouse primary this Sunday (Dec. 28) after House Speaker Don Scott scheduled a Jan. 20 special election to fill a seat vacated by Del. Mark Sickles on Wednesday (Dec. 24).

News

Reston Association disbands land use advisory committee in tense vote

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 26, 2025 at 9:15AM | Updated December 30, 2025 at 10:10AM

Reston Association headquarters building sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston Association’s Land Use Advisory Committee is no more.

After nearly two hours of sometimes heated discussion, the community association’s Board of Directors voted 5-3 with one abstention at its Dec. 11 meeting to remove the body from its list of committees tasked with studying various issues and making recommendations to the full board.