Author: Emily Leayman

Emily Leayman is a senior reporter at ARLnow, ALXnow and FFXnow. She was previously a field editor covering parts of Northern Virginia for Patch for more than eight years. A native of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, she lives in Northern Virginia.

Around Town

Fairfax City nominated for national poll to identify best small town arts scene

By Emily Leayman
Greetings from the City of Fairfax mural (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax City is in the running to be ranked among the nation’s best small town arts scenes.

USA Today’s panel of independent editors nominated Fairfax for Best Small Town Arts Scene in its 10Best awards. There are 20 communities across the U.S. nominated in the category, including Abingdon in Southwest Virginia.

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Countywide

Sewage spill in Potomac River not affecting Fairfax Water supply, utility says

By Emily Leayman and Associated Press
A warning sign at the site of a massive pipe rupture, as sewage flows into the Potomac River, right, in Glen Echo, Md., Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

A sewage spill in the Potomac River northwest of D.C. last week has not affected drinking water in Fairfax County, the local water utility says.

The spill occurred in Montgomery County, Maryland, along Clara Barton Parkway, which hugs the northern edge of the Potomac River near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park. The spill was caused by a DC Water sewer pipe that collapsed late Monday, Jan. 19, shooting sewage out of the ground and into the river.

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News

JUST IN: Fairfax County schools closed Monday due to Winter Storm Fern

By Emily Leayman
A Fairfax County school bus in the snow (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As Winter Storm Fern brings a mix of snow and sleet to the region, Fairfax County Public Schools has canceled classes tomorrow (Monday).

All schools and central offices will be closed Monday, as well as school programs and activities on school grounds. Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. region are under a Winter Storm Warning from the National Weather Service through 4 a.m. Monday.

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Countywide

Fairfax County casino bill advances from Virginia Senate subcommittee

By Emily Leayman
State Sen. Scott Surovell presents his Fairfax County casino bill to the Senate's subcommittee on gaming on Jan. 23, 2026 (via Virginia Senate/YouTube)

A Virginia Senate subcommittee has advanced the Tysons casino bill, setting it up for further consideration after its 2025 defeat in a House of Delegates committee.

The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted 5-3 today (Friday) in favor of the legislation from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) to add Fairfax County as an eligible host for a casino.

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Around Town

Long lines greet opening of Japanese department store’s first Virginia location

By Emily Leayman
Teso Life opened its first Virginia store in Centreville (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

An already busy Centreville shopping center flanked by H Mart, Spa World and various eateries was even more crowded than usual when the Japanese department store Teso Life opened last Friday (Jan. 16).

The chain carries a variety of Japanese and other Asian home goods, food, personal care items and more. Its new location in the Old Centreville Crossing shopping center (13860 Braddock Road) is the first in Virginia and the second in the D.C. region, following an opening in Rockville, Maryland, in 2024.

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News

Turner Farm earns urban night sky designation for efforts to limit light pollution

By Emily Leayman
The roll-top observatory at Turner Farm Park (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)

Light pollution continues to be a concern in the populous Northern Virginia region, but one Fairfax County park has taken steps to protect the night sky.

DarkSky International has designated Turner Farm (925 Springvale Road) in Great Falls as an International Dark Sky Urban Night Sky Place, a certification reflecting its efforts to protect the night sky from light pollution. The Fairfax County Park Authority noted that Turner Farm is one of a few places to view a relatively dark sky near D.C.

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News

Space Force colonel ousted by transgender military ban launches congressional bid

By Emily Leayman
Bree Fram, a military member forced to retire due to the Trump administration's transgender ban, is running for Congress. (courtesy of Bree Fram for Congress)

An earlier version of this article said the campaign will be in the 10th or 11th Congressional District, but redistricting leaves open a third option of running in another district.

A former Space Force colonel who was forced to retire due to the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people serving in the military is seeking to represent part of Fairfax County in Congress.

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News

JUST IN: Inova hospital identified as exposure site for recent child measles case

By Emily Leayman
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus patient drop-off (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A measles case in Northern Virginia has raised concern about more people becoming exposed to the disease, including at the Inova Fairfax Hospital campus in Merrifield.

The Virginia Department of Health reported today (Tuesday) that a preschool-aged child who traveled internationally was confirmed to have measles. This is the third measles case reported in Virginia so far in 2026.

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Around Town

Gourmet toast eatery plans grand opening with giveaways in Great Falls

By Emily Leayman
Toastique in Great Falls (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Toastique, a gourmet toast eatery with an expanding presence in Northern Virginia, will have an incentive for the first customers at its new Great Falls location.

The new Toastique at the Great Falls Center (9891 Georgetown Pike) will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24. The first 100 customers in line who make a $10 minimum purchase will get $50 in Toastique Reward Dollars.

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News

George Snyder Trail extension canceled by Fairfax City Council after split vote on funding

By Emily Leayman
George Snyder Trail head in City of Fairfax (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

The contentious George Snyder Trail extension will officially remain unbuilt, as the Fairfax City Council opted to nix the project Tuesday (Jan. 13) following more than two hours of public comments.

The council voted 4-2 to cancel the project, with Councilmembers Tom Peterson, Rachel McQuillen, Stacy Hall and Billy Bates in favor and Councilmembers Stacy Hardy-Chandler and Anthony Amos opposed.

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