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GMU cheers on fellow student Ilia Malinin during Olympics watch parties

Published February 11, 2026 at 11:45AM

Olympics watch party for figure skater and student Ilia Malinin at George Mason University (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

In between classes, George Mason University students gathered at the Johnson Center in Fairfax to cheer one of their own going for the gold in the winter Olympics.

Ilia Malinin, a 21-year-old figure skater competing in the Milan Cortina Olympics, is also studying for a not-yet-declared major at GMU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The university held a watch party yesterday (Tuesday) as Malinin competed in the qualifying round of the individual men’s short program.

News

JUST IN: Fairfax’s Ilia Malinin secures US figure skating team gold at Milan Cortina Olympics

By Associated Press

Published February 8, 2026 at 5:00PM | Updated February 8, 2026 at 6:48PM

Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the figure skating men's team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

MILAN (AP) — It seemed only fitting that Ilia Malinin was the first one to get his Olympic gold medal after the U.S. successfully defended its team title by holding off the Japanese on Sunday night in the three-day competition at the Milan Cortina Games.

News

When to catch Fairfax natives Ilia Malinin and Brandon Kim at the Winter Olympics

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published February 6, 2026 at 3:50PM | Updated February 6, 2026 at 6:02PM

Ilia Malinin, of the United States, practices during a figure skating training session ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are officially underway in Italy, with the opening ceremony unfolding this afternoon (Friday).

For Fairfax County viewers, eyes will be particularly fixed in the coming days on two local athletes: figure skater Ilia Malinin — a 2023 Marshall High graduate who still lives in Vienna and trains at Reston’s SkateQuest — and speedskater Brandon Kim, a 2020 Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology making his Olympic debut.

News

CIA ends publication of its popular World Factbook reference tool

By Associated Press

Published February 4, 2026 at 7:10PM

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, seated at center, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, standing in back, listen during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Close the cover on the CIA World Factbook: The spy agency announced Wednesday that after more than 60 years, it is shuttering the popular reference manual.

News

BREAKING: Herndon’s Brendan Banfield found guilty of murdering wife, another man

By Jared Serre and Associated Press

Published February 2, 2026 at 5:15PM | Updated February 2, 2026 at 7:37PM

Brendan Banfield, pictured during trial on Jan. 30, 2026 (screenshot via CourtTV)

A Herndon man faces life in prison after being convicted today (Monday) of murdering his wife and another man while having an affair with the family’s au pair.

After a trial that spanned more than two weeks, it took just one-and-a-half days for the 12-person jury to return a verdict against Brendan Banfield, finding the 40-year-old former IRS officer guilty for the February 2023 murders of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan.

News

Jury in Herndon ‘au pair affair’ double murder must now decide husband’s guilt

By Associated Press

Published January 30, 2026 at 3:50PM

Brendan Banfield arrives to testify in his double murder trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner, Pool)

By OLIVIA DIAZ and TRAVIS LOLLER Associated Press

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Jurors began deliberating Friday on whether a former IRS law enforcement officer in Virginia conspired with his family’s Brazilian au pair, with whom he was having an affair, to kill his wife and pin it on a stranger.

News

Herndon double murder suspect testifies man he shot was stabbing his wife

By Associated Press

Published January 30, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated January 30, 2026 at 4:02PM

Brendan Banfield looks on during his double murder trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner, Pool)

By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — In the cold formality of a northern Virginia courtroom, Brendan Banfield testified on Thursday that prosecutors got it wrong: He did not fatally stab his wife in 2023, but instead shot the man who did.

Countywide

Partial federal shutdown seems increasingly likely as Democrats demand ICE changes

By Associated Press

Published January 28, 2026 at 4:30PM | Updated January 28, 2026 at 7:43PM

A demonstrator holds a sign during a rally outside of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — As a partial government shutdown looms at week’s end, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has laid out a list of demands for the Department of Homeland Security, including an enforceable code of conduct for federal agents conducting immigration arrests and a requirement that they identify themselves to the public.

Countywide

Virginia Democrats to appeal after judge rules redistricting resolution illegal

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published January 27, 2026 at 5:20PM

FILE - The state and U.S. flags fly over the Virginia State Capitol as the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly gets underway, Jan. 10, 2024, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

A Virginia judge ruled Tuesday that a proposed constitutional amendment letting Democrats redraw the state’s Congressional maps was illegal, potentially foiling their efforts to pick up seats in the U.S. House in November.

Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. struck down the legislature’s actions on three grounds, ruling that lawmakers failed to follow their own rules for adding the redistricting amendment to a special session; failed to approve the amendment before the public began voting in last year’s general election; and failed to publish the amendment three months before the election, as required by law.

News

JUST IN: All Amazon Fresh stores to close, with some turning into Whole Foods

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published January 27, 2026 at 1:10PM

Amazon Fresh store in Lorton Marketplace Shopping Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Amazon is throwing in the towel on Amazon Fresh, announcing today (Tuesday) that it will close all locations in favor of a renewed focus on Whole Foods Market and other concepts.

The last day of operation for Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores is Feb. 1, with the exception of its California locations, which will remain open longer to comply with state requirements, Amazon said.