Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Dulles Airport lands $41M federal grant for Concourse E construction

Published May 20, 2026 at 9:15AM

Dulles International Airport Concourse E rendering (courtesy MWAA)

Funding for Dulles International Airport’s new Concourse E is still coming together, even as construction inches closer to completion.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $41.8 million in grant funding for the project, whose first phase will add 14 gates intended for United Airlines — the airport’s largest carrier — as well as a direct connection to the underground Aerotrain and various amenities.

News

UPDATED: Motorcyclist killed in crash with semi truck on Route 29

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 19, 2026 at 3:50PM | Updated May 20, 2026 at 3:45PM

Traffic on Route 29 west of West Ox Road after fatal crash at Meadow Estates Drive (via 511Virginia traffic camera)

A motorcyclist has died following a crash involving a tractor-trailer on Route 29 in the Fair Lakes area.

Officers and units with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched around 1:51 p.m. Tuesday (May 19) for the crash on Route 29 at Meadow Estates Drive, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

News

Vienna Town Council approves new budget with ‘modest’ property tax rate cut

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 19, 2026 at 3:00PM

The Vienna Town Council adopts a fiscal year 2027 budget presented by finance director Steven Barlow (courtesy Town of Vienna)

Vienna residents can expect to pay more in property taxes and water and sewer fees in the upcoming fiscal year, but their bills won’t be quite as high as they would’ve been under the town’s initially proposed budget.

The Vienna Town Council adopted a fiscal year 2027 budget yesterday that reduces the local real estate tax rate by a half-cent, from 19.5 cents to 19 cents per $100 of assessed value, while maintaining existing service and staffing levels, according to Director of Finance Steven Barlow.

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Community input wanted on future of office in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 19, 2026 at 10:00AM

One of the Tysons Plaza office buildings on Spring Hill Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is taking a closer look at the older office sites in Tysons to determine whether they might be more suitable now for alternative uses.

The county launched a planning study last week that will evaluate the potential for parcels currently designated as office in the Tysons Comprehensive Plan to support future residential or mixed-use development.

Around Town

Indoor golf simulator concept lines up Reston Station location

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 19, 2026 at 8:30AM

The Blvd Haley apartment building in Reston Row seen from Reston Station Blvd (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Developer Comstock Companies is taking another shot at bringing a golf-related attraction to Reston Station after its previous attempt fizzled.

The Back Nine Golf, a Utah-based company that offers indoor golf simulators, has signed a lease for 4,500 square feet at 1860 Reston Row Plaza, Comstock announced yesterday.

Around Town

The Water Mine in Reston set to reopen for summer this weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 18, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Water Mine at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston’s own water park is suiting up for a new season, just in time to provide relief from a blast of summer heat.

The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole will reopen for 2026 at 11 a.m. this Saturday, May 23 at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive), giving local families an aquatic escape for Memorial Day weekend.

Around Town

Chocolate shop, mystery ‘Loopy Land’ and more coming to Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 18, 2026 at 10:00AM

Future Neuhaus location near Nordstrom in Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Belgian chocolatier, a coffee kiosk and mysterious newcomer called Loopy Land are just some of the new retailers making their way to Tysons Corner Center.

Neuhaus Chocolates anticipates opening a store at the mall in late November, the company’s U.S. managing director Romain Tabaries told FFXnow.

News

UPDATED: Speed, lack of restraints contributed to fatal Route 123 crash, police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 18, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated May 26, 2026 at 8:55PM

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis provides update on fatal Route 123 crash (via FCPD/Facebook)

Two adults were killed and two children were hospitalized — including a toddler police fear may not survive — as a result of an SUV crash in Oakton early yesterday (Sunday) morning.

Officers and first responders with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched around 12:28 a.m. yesterday to Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) over I-66 for the crash, which involved an SUV “that ran into the barrier” on the northbound side of the road, according to scanner traffic.

News

Hyatt Regency in Tysons completes ‘fashion-inspired’ room redesign

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 15, 2026 at 2:45PM

The entrance to the Hyatt Regency hotel at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Hyatt Regency hotel at Tysons Corner Center has put the finishing touches on a new look for its guest rooms.

The $13 million redesign, led by the Texas-based interior design firm FlickMars, transformed the hotel’s 300 rooms with furniture and decor inspired by the kinds of fashion brands that shoppers will find at the neighboring mall, according to a press release.

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Lane removal, pedestrian refuges proposed to make Herndon High School road safer

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 15, 2026 at 1:45PM

Bennett Street outside Herndon High School (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Herndon is considering a number of changes to Bennett Street intended to make walking and cycling around the local high school safer.

Mike Shindledecker, the town’s transportation engineer, unveiled a preferred concept at a community meeting in the Herndon High School cafeteria on Wednesday (May 13) that would narrow the four-lane road to one travel lane in each direction.