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

BREAKING: FCPS sues Education Department for freezing funding over transgender policies

By Angela Woolsey
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 Fairfax County School Board is suing the Trump administration for withholding federal funds in retaliation for its refusal to scrap policies supporting transgender students.

At its meeting last night (Thursday), its first of the new academic year, the school board authorized a lawsuit against the U.S. Education Department alleging that its denial of funds to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) violates federal laws and the Constitution, Superintendent Michelle Reid announced today.

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Countywide

Advocates for immigrants allege ‘degrading’ conditions at ICE office in Chantilly

By Angela Woolsey
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Washington Field Office in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Chantilly field office, typically used for administrative proceedings, is being turned into a “makeshift” detention facility, dozens of immigrant rights advocacy groups say.

With arrests surging during the ongoing federal takeover of D.C., ICE has begun detaining individuals for “several days at a time” in a holding room intended to keep people just for a few hours during processing, according to organizations in the Free Them All VA Coalition.

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News

Construction begins to standardize complex Fairfax Blvd intersection

By Angela Woolsey
Concept plan for the Fairfax Blvd, Warwick Avenue and McLean Avenue intersection improvements (via City of Fairfax)

Work began on Monday (Aug. 25) to overhaul a currently awkward intersection along Route 50 (Fairfax Blvd) in Fairfax City.

While construction may cause some disruptions, the resulting reconfiguration of the area where Fairfax Blvd, Warwick Avenue and McLean Avenue meet should make travel smoother and safer in the future, according to the city.

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News

Police swarm Bailey’s Crossroads neighborhood for fugitive arrest

By Angela Woolsey and Jared Serre
Fairfax County police gather outside the Bailey's Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department for a fugitive arrest (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Fairfax County police have arrested a man who was involved in a barricade situation in Bailey’s Crossroads over the weekend.

Asenai Zigita was taken into custody this afternoon (Thursday) near the Barcroft View Apartments by over a dozen officers with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Fugitive Tracking and Apprehension Unit, who gathered outside the Bailey’s Crossroads fire station after making the arrest.

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Around Town

Merrifield restaurant Kirby Club to transform with new name, owner

By Angela Woolsey
A woman sits on a bench outside Kirby Club at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Kirby Club in Merrifield will undergo some major changes this fall.

The Middle Eastern restaurant, which opened at the Mosaic District (2911 District Avenue) in late 2022 to some acclaim, will take on a new name and revamped menu in mid-September when owner Rose Previte hands over control to longtime team member Tariq Alaeddin.

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News

Program costs, missing facilities limit usage of Reston’s lakes, report finds

By Angela Woolsey
A boat docked at Lake Anne in Reston (staff photo)

On paper, Reston’s lakes are open for all members of the public to visit, but in reality, usage of the lakes is uneven due to gaps in programming and amenities, a new report found.

After more than a year and a half of study, Reston Association’s Lakes Equity Working Group will present its assessment of the accessibility and inclusiveness of the four manmade lakes managed by RA at the board of directors’ meeting tonight (Thursday).

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News

Local artists wanted to decorate future Route 1 bus stations

By Angela Woolsey
A rendering of a Richmond Highway bus rapid transit station (courtesy Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is on the lookout for local artists who can add “community charm” to the bus stations for The One, the bus rapid transit (BRT) system planned for Richmond Highway (Route 1).

The county’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has partnered with ArtsFairfax to identify artists to decorate the station windscreens with digital art.

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News

Tile Shop closes in Tysons retail center that could be redeveloped

By Angela Woolsey
The Tile Shop is closed at Tysons 3 Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Tile Shop has packed up and moved out of Tysons.

The home decor closed its showroom in the Tysons 3 shopping center at 8520C Leesburg Pike on July 31, wrapping up a roughly 12-year run. A sign announcing the closing date encouraged customers to visit other locations in Springfield, Chantilly, Sterling and Rockville, Maryland.

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Around Town

Tysons Corner Center announces new stores opening this fall

By Angela Woolsey
Rivian is expected to open at Tysons Corner Center in September 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A busy August at Tysons Corner Center is expected to spill over into the fall with a slew of store openings.

After welcoming the ear-piercing studio Studs earlier this month and the entertainment venue Level99, along with its paired restaurant Victory Brewing, yesterday (Monday), the mall offered an updated preview today of what to expect through October 2025.

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Around Town

Future of Greenheart Juice unclear after Vienna shop closes

By Angela Woolsey
Greenheart Juice Shop in Vienna has closed (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Greenheart Juice Shop’s remaining stores are apparently changing hands, continuing a summer of upheaval for the Northern Virginia business.

The juice bar has closed its Vienna location after just over four years at 208 Dominion Road. Its final day of operations was Sunday (Aug. 24), taking loyal customers by surprise.

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