Author: Angela Woolsey

Angela Woolsey is the site editor for FFXnow. A graduate of George Mason University, she worked as a general assignment reporter for the Fairfax County Times before joining Local News Now as the Tysons Reporter editor in 2020.

Countywide

White House begins firing federal workers amid shutdown, as Democrats call move ‘illegal’

By Associated Press and Angela Woolsey
Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget director, listens as he addresses members of the media outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers have started in an attempt to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues.

Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said on the social media site X that the “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at reducing the size of the federal government.

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News

Developer breaks ground on $100M data center building in Chantilly

By Angela Woolsey
A rendering of the upcoming Chantilly Premier data center (courtesy Penzance)

A new data center is coming online in Chantilly.

Developer Penzance announced yesterday (Thursday) that it recently broke ground and secured $100 million in financing for Chantilly Premier, a three-story data center facility that will occupy approximately 12 acres of land adjacent to the Chantilly Auto Park south of Route 50.

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News

Longtime Reston resident and advocate remembered for military, community service

By Angela Woolsey
George F. Kain Jr. with his family on a cruise in Delray Beach, Florida (courtesy James Kain)

The many interests and accomplishments that shaped George F. Kain Jr.’s life were united by a genuine desire to help others and make the world around him a better place, his family says.

Kain, who died at his longtime home in Reston on Sept. 20 at the age of 90, was driven by a commitment to service, whether he was developing defensive plans for the U.S. Navy, helping shape Reston in its earliest years or even supporting emergency response teams with the telecommunications company Sprint.

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Around Town

GMU offers free performing arts tickets to workers affected by federal shutdown

By Angela Woolsey
George Mason University's Center for the Arts with cherry blossom trees lining Mason Pond in Fairfax (Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services)

Though it may be small solace for not knowing when their next paycheck may come, a night of music or theater could become at least a temporary escape for the thousands of workers affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

That’s what George Mason University hopes to provide by offering free tickets to select artistic performances for federal employees and contractors.

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News

Developer to expand community with new Ritz-Carlton condos in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey
Ritz-Carlton Residences in Tysons will be 20 stories tall with a rooftop-level lounge and observation deck (courtesy Renaissance Centro)

Tysons will see more construction in the new year, this time to manifest a condominium high-rise from the Ritz-Carlton.

The hospitality company has partnered with developer Renaissance Centro to bring its first residential building in Virginia to the Arbor Row neighborhood, just across the street from its hotel at Tysons Galleria.

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Around Town

Inaugural Mason Arts Festival coming to Annandale this weekend

By Angela Woolsey
Eileen Garnett Civic Space in Annandale (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A week after the first-ever Celebration of the Arts took over Capital One Center in Tysons, Fairfax County’s Mason District will throw its own party championing the local arts community.

The inaugural Mason District Arts Festival will bring artist booths, live entertainment, a children’s play area and food trucks to the Eileen Garnett Civic Space (7200 Columbia Pike) in Annandale this Saturday (Oct. 11) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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News

Vienna Police: Two teens charged with shooting fireworks at officers

By Angela Woolsey
McDonald's on Maple Avenue in Vienna (via Google Maps)

Vienna police have identified the teens who allegedly set off fireworks during a fight at the local McDonald’s last month.

An 18-year-old girl from Falls Church and an unnamed 16-year-old have been arrested and charged with causing malicious injury to police officers, throwing a missile at an occupied building, and other offenses, the Town of Vienna Police Department (VPD) announced today (Wednesday).

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Around Town

Taste of NoVA festival moves, Army Ten-Miler at risk as federal shutdown drags on

By Angela Woolsey
The NOVA Live campus in Manassas (courtesy Taste of NoVA)

Fairfax County is losing Taste of NoVA to Prince William County, a consequence of the federal government shutdown stretching into a second week.

The food festival was set to unfold this weekend (Oct. 11-12) at the National Museum of the U.S. Army in Fort Belvoir, which has been closed since Oct. 1 with all events canceled as long as the shutdown continues.

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News

Fairfax County takes over troubled homeless shelters, as former operator alleges underfunding

By Angela Woolsey
Bailey's Shelter and Supportive Housing in Bailey's Crossroads (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County has cut ties with one of its homeless shelter providers in response to allegations of deteriorating conditions and mismanagement.

The Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (HCD OPEH) took control of Bailey’s Shelter & Supportive Housing, the Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter in Fort Belvoir and other programs managed by New Hope Housing at the beginning of October after terminating its contract with the nonprofit on Sept. 30.

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Around Town

Dogfish Head Alehouse lands Reston spot for Fairfax County return

By Angela Woolsey
Dogfish Head Alehouse breakfast burger and Super Doppio beer (via Dogfish Head Alehouse/Facebook)

Dogfish Head Alehouse is coming back to Fairfax County.

The craft brewery has leased a 7,550-square-foot space in Reston Town Center’s expansion for a new restaurant, its first in Virginia since closing locations in Seven Corners and Greenbriar Town Center two years ago.

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