Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Springfield man convicted after guns, ‘explosive devices’ found during eviction

Published June 26, 2026 at 8:30AM

Justice statue over the entrance to the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Springfield resident could face more than a decade in federal prison after guns and explosive devices were found in his home while he was being evicted.

A federal jury in Alexandria convicted 42-year-old Amer Taisir Zghailat Qaralleh yesterday (Thursday) of possessing an unregistered firearm and improper storage of explosive materials, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.

Around Town

Shipley Donuts now selling hexagonal sweet treats in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 25, 2026 at 11:45AM

Shipley Donuts is now open in Vienna (courtesy Shipley Donuts)

With the short-lived mochi donut wars in the rearview mirror, a new contest between more traditional, Southern-style donut chains has officially begun in Vienna.

The Texas-based franchise Shipley Donuts is now selling its signature hexagon-shaped pastries at 256 Maple Avenue East, filling a long-vacant storefront previously occupied by T-Mobile.

News

Coyote recently attacked resident and dogs in Great Falls, county says

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 25, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated June 25, 2026 at 10:01AM

A coyote on a road (via John Bell on Unsplash)

Fairfax County officials are warning residents in the Great Falls area to watch out for a potentially rabid coyote.

The coyote reportedly attacked multiple pet dogs and at least one person in and around neighborhoods along Utterback Store Road and Streamview Court during the day last Thursday, June 18, the Fairfax County Health Department said in an advisory issued Tuesday (June 23).

Around Town

Capital One Center’s Culinary Week to return next month with cooking classes, contests

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 24, 2026 at 3:45PM

Ometeo offers samples to Battle of the Chefs during Capital One Center's 2025 Culinary Week (courtesy Capital One Center)

Capital One Center’s inaugural Culinary Week was evidently a success, because the Tysons development will offer a second serving of the foodie celebration this summer.

Set for July 27-31, the second annual Culinary Week will feature cooking classes, contests and other events hosted by the restaurants on Capital One’s headquarters campus — including the forthcoming La Omri, a Mediterranean concept expected to open later this year.

Around Town

Not Your Average Joe’s in Reston to close for good next month

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 24, 2026 at 1:45PM

Not Your Average Joe's in Spectrum at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A decade of business in Reston will come to an end next month for Not Your Average Joe’s (NYAJ).

The Massachusetts-based chain is permanently closing its location in the Spectrum at Reston Town Center on July 15, according to a sign recently posted to the restaurant’s front door.

News

Police seek man behind alleged robbery of driver in Herndon area

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 24, 2026 at 11:45AM

Composite sketch of a man who allegedly robbed a driver at Parcher Avenue and Springer Drive in Herndon (courtesy FCPD)

Fairfax County police are searching for a man who allegedly robbed and threatened a driver in the Herndon area over the weekend.

Officers responded to the reported robbery at the Parcher Avenue and Springer Drive intersection in Hutchison, just west of the Town of Herndon, at 2:44 p.m. on Saturday (June 20), according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

News

UPDATED: Dulles Toll Road bridge work in Tysons to require lane split

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 24, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated June 25, 2026 at 12:41PM

Traffic exiting Tysons into McLean on Route 123 under the eastbound Dulles Toll Road bridge, which is under rehabilitation (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Update — The Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Thursday, June 25 that the Dulles Toll Road lane split will be postponed until after the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

“We will send out an update once everything is confirmed,” a VDOT spokesperson told FFXnow.

News

UPDATED: Springfield Town Center cleared after reported bomb threat

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 23, 2026 at 5:55PM

Sign outside vehicle entrance for Springfield Town Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Springfield Town Center has been deemed safe after shoppers and workers were evacuated due to a bomb threat.

Officers were dispatched to the mall (6500 Springfield Mall) at around 4:28 p.m. today (Tuesday) after an unknown person called in a threat, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

News

Man who fled police, attempted carjacking on I-95 sentenced on gun charge

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 23, 2026 at 3:45PM

Gun left by Jamarion Dawon Jackson on the floor of a car he crashed on I-95 during a police chase (via Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives affidavit)

A man arrested last year after allegedly speeding, fleeing from police and subsequently attempting to carjack another driver on I-95 in Lorton will serve time in federal prison for gun possession.

Jamarion Dawon Jackson, 23, was sentenced today (Tuesday) to four years in prison after pleading guilty in April to possessing a machine gun during the police chase and carjacking incident, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.

Countywide

Some residents, Providence Rec Center without power, as storm cleanup gets underway

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 23, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated June 23, 2026 at 5:17PM

A broken streetlight and smashed bus shelter near Burke Road and Peppercorn Drive after a June 22, 2026 thunderstorm (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Thousands of residents in Fairfax County, particularly the Burke area, are grappling with the aftermath of yesterday’s thunderstorm.

As of 11 a.m., more than 1,400 homes and businesses in the county were still without electricity, including about 700 customers in the Burke, Springfield and Fairfax area south of George Mason University’s campus, according to Dominion Energy.