Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Driver killed in tractor-trailer crash on Fairfax County Parkway in Burke

Published July 25, 2025 at 5:45PM | Updated July 28, 2025 at 7:13PM

Northbound Fairfax County Parkway is closed at Burke Lake Road after a fatal crash (via Google Maps)

A man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Fairfax County Parkway in Burke earlier this afternoon (Friday).

Officers were dispatched to Fairfax County Parkway at Old Keene Mill Road around 4:09 p.m. for a tractor-trailer that had flipped over, according to scanner traffic.

Countywide

Education Department tells FCPS to rescind transgender-inclusive policies

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2025 at 3:50PM | Updated July 25, 2025 at 4:06PM

A community member waves an LGBTQ pride flag at the rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The U.S. Department of Education is pushing several Northern Virginia school districts, including Fairfax County Public Schools, to roll back their policies intended to support transgender students.

The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced today (Friday) that it has found FCPS and its counterparts in Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William and Loudoun in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, arguing that letting students use bathrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex.

News

Police: Armed man robs woman in Tysons, as boyfriend’s home is burglarized

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2025 at 10:00AM

Police respond to robbery at Plateau Drive home in Fairfax (photo by Phil Foss)

A man has been arrested for a home burglary in the Fair Oaks area that appears to be connected to an armed robbery at a Tysons parking garage.

Police officers were first dispatched to the office building at 8605 Westwood Center Drive around 9:07 a.m. on Wednesday (July 23) for a reported robbery, according to scanner traffic.

Countywide

As spotted lanternflies multiply, Fairfax urges residents to ‘smash on sight’

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2025 at 9:15AM | Updated July 25, 2025 at 10:01AM

Close-up on a spotted lanternfly on an asphalt road in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Spotted lanternflies are booming in Fairfax County.

Primarily concentrated in the western part of the county just a couple of years ago, the invasive pest can now be seen throughout Fairfax and the D.C. region. Sightings have also been reported this summer in Arlington, Falls Church and the District.

News

Traffic Alert: Paving work closes lanes on Old Dominion Drive in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 24, 2025 at 2:20PM

Lanes closed on Old Dominion Drive for repaving (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Commuters might want to think twice before braving Old Dominion Drive in McLean this afternoon (Thursday).

The road is undergoing paving work today, requiring alternating lane closures for both west and eastbound traffic from Briar Ridge Road near the Chesterbrook Shopping Center past Little Falls Road in Arlington County.

News

Fairfax City announces new police chief and HR director

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 24, 2025 at 1:45PM

Alexandria Assistant Police Chief Raul Pedroso will serve as the new Fairfax City police chief, starting Aug. 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Fairfax is starting to fill some key vacant positions, announcing the hiring of a new police chief and a human resources director this week.

As first reported yesterday (Wednesday) by ALXnow, Alexandria Assistant Police Chief Raul Pedroso has been selected to lead the City of Fairfax Police Department after a national search that drew “many qualified candidates,” according to the city.

Around Town

Beach-inspired D.C. restaurant to join Sweetgreen at Chesterbrook in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 24, 2025 at 11:45AM

Sweetgreen coming to Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Sweetgreen is officially cruising into Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean, and it’s bringing a beach-inspired Mexican restaurant from D.C. along for the ride.

The fast-casual health food chain anticipates opening at 6220 Old Dominion Drive this fall. The 2,571-square-foot restaurant will be joined in the free-standing, former Truist Bank building by Surfside, which is expanding into Virginia for the first time.

News

NOVA Reston office building could be replaced by dozens of homes

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 24, 2025 at 9:15AM

Proposed site plan for housing to replace the office building at 1821 Michael Faraday Drive in Reston (via Urban Ltd/Fairfax County)

Though Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) won’t leave its Reston Technology Center for a couple more years, the office building’s owner is already planning for a very different future.

JB Properties, an affiliate of the Tysons-based company Bognet Construction, has proposed redeveloping the four-story office building at 1821 Michael Faraday Drive with housing, bringing the property in line with the increasingly residential neighborhood surrounding it.

News

Survey seeks input on banners to hoist over downtown McLean streets

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 23, 2025 at 2:45PM

McLean bus shelter (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Should McLean stick with green and gold or change things up as it pursues a downtown revitalization?

That is one of the questions awaiting responses in a new survey on street banners from Fairfax County and the McLean Revitalization Corporation (MRC), a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the McLean Community Business Center (CBC).

News

FCPD: Woman sexually assaulted at Centreville grocery store

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 23, 2025 at 1:15PM

Giant Food at Centrewood Plaza in Centreville (via Google Maps)

A woman was sexually assaulted this past weekend at a Giant Food in Centreville, Fairfax County police say.

Officers responded to the grocery store (14125 St Germain Drive) in Centrewood Plaza around 6:10 p.m. on Sunday (July 20) for a “sex offense case,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department.