FFXnow is the definitive local news source for Fairfax County, featuring countywide coverage and hyperlocal reporting on the Reston and Tysons areas. This article was written by an editor or other member of FFXnow's full-time staff.
With Memorial Day in the rear view mirror, swimming pools are open, outdoor concerts are tuning up, and Fairfax County residents will have plenty of activities to keep them occupied during the longest days of the year.
Here are the nominees for “Best Summer Activities in Fairfax County” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite activity below? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 12.
Voting for Best After School Program in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday, June 5 at 8:30 a.m.
Man walks dog past outdoor seating in the expansion of Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Dunn Loring School Commemoration Planned — “Join FCPS on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Dunn Loring Center to honor the rich history and lasting legacy of the building. This space has served generations of FCPS students, employees, and families since its establishment in 1939.” The building at 2334 Gallows Road will be demolished soon to make way for the construction of a new elementary school. [FCPS]
‘Swatting’ Call for Supreme Court Justice’s Home — “An apparent ‘swatting’ incident targeted the residence of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Wednesday night, police confirmed to NBC News.” Fairfax County police say they quickly confirmed with Supreme Court Police assigned to Barrett’s home that a report of gunshots sent to the department’s non-emergency line around 9 p.m. on May 27 “was fictitious.” [NBC4]
Data Center Boom Fueling Pollution — “The 10,500 generators attached to data centers in Virginia produce enough pollution to harm public health even if used rarely, according to a new analysis of emissions permits” that reviewed permits and emissions filings for 132 sites operating in Northern Virginia through the end of 2024. Another 19 data centers have been approved in the region since then. [Washington Post]
Waymo Starts Mapping N. Va. — “Driverless car company Waymo has confirmed to FOX 5 D.C. that it is now mapping parts of Northern Virginia.” Though Virginia hasn’t yet authorized fully autonomous ride-hailing services, Waymo policy adviser Rich Harrington says the company’s “vehicles were already operating on roads in Alexandria with safety drivers behind the wheel and would soon begin operating in Arlington as well.” [FOX5]
Beyer Seeks to Block Trump Arch — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is taking legislative aim at President Trump’s proposed 250-foot ‘triumphal arch’ near Arlington National Cemetery.” The congressman will introduce a bill that prohibits the use of federal funds for the arch and bars the federal government from building the arch or any similar structure on National Park Service-owned land in the D.C. region. [ARLnow]
Worker Burned by Live Wire in Tysons — “Around 11:30 a.m. [on May 27], the Fairfax County Police Department helicopter responded to the 1900 block of Cathy Lane after the construction worker, a male, fell [from a ladder] and hit the live wire, causing burn injuries. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” [WJLA]
Law Could Save People With Disabilities — A bill signed into law from Chesterfield Del. Leslie Mehta will require “certain healthcare providers to conduct regular simulations so that employees are extra prepared to identify and respond to emergencies experienced by people with disabilities under their care.” [Virginia Mercury]
Two New Flights Heading to Dulles — “United Airlines will add two nonstop routes from Washington Dulles later this year, including service to Orange County, California, and San José del Cabo, Mexico. The Orange County/Santa Ana route is scheduled to begin Aug. 11 and will operate daily year-round on a Boeing 737,” while the San Jose del Cabo route will launch on Oct. 25 and operate four times a week. [Patch]
New Legal Notice — ABC permit application for restaurant license; objections within 30 days. [Public Notices]
It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of 78°F. Winds will shift from north to west at 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, the weather will be mostly clear with a low of around 60°F, and southwest winds at 7 mph. [NWS]
Expect sunny weather with a high of 77°F, accompanied by a gentle northwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. The night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 59°F and a southwest wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
Townhouses along Route 28 in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax Speller Reaches Bee Semifinals — “Students from Prince William and Fairfax counties reached the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee before being eliminated in the seventh round Wednesday. Siya Sampath, a seventh-grader at Haymarket’s Ronald Reagan Middle School, and Laasya Mohan, a fourth-grader at Floris Elementary School in Herndon, wound up tied for 31st among the 247 spellers.” [Inside NoVA]
Dominion Merger Raises Affordability Questions — “A proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy raises new possibilities and further questions in the race to match Virginia’s booming energy demand.” Northern Virginia lawmakers say they will be watching the merger closely “to ensure that creating such a large utility actually has the promised effect of driving down energy costs.” [ARLnow]
Metro Cameras Used to Assist Police — “In the past six weeks, three men with guns have been arrested at a Metro station, on a Metro train or on a Metrobus thanks in large part to WMATA’s extensive, high-definition camera system … In March, Metro General Manager Randy Clarke credited Metro’s safety in part to the cameras throughout the system.” [NBC4]
Annandale Street Receives Honorary Name — “A section of John Marr Drive in Annandale has been given the honorary name ‘Seoul Boulevard.’ Three signs were installed earlier this month – at the intersection of John Marr Drive and Columbia Pike, at the Tom Davis Drive intersection in front of the Annandale Post Office, and at the Little River Turnpike intersection in front of the Eastgate shopping center.” [Annandale Today]
Tysons Chef Makes Cooking Show Finals — “Chef Chris Morgan had never entered a cooking competition before diving into the inaugural season of ‘America’s Culinary Cup’ on CBS.” Though he was voted by other contestants as the least likely to win at one point during the season, the executive chef behind Joon in Tysons ultimately finished as the runner-up. [WTOP]
Company Envisions Air Travel Without an Airport — “A new market study from Electra shows there’s an existing market for their in-development EL9 Ultra Short, a nine passenger hybrid-electric airplane capable of taking off and landing in just 150 feet.” Based at Manassas Regional Airport, the company hopes to usher in a future of “direct aviation” where someone could park at Tysons Corner Center, for example, and then fly directly to a heliport in Manhattan without going through an airport. [WTOP]
Sweetgreen to Add McLean Pick-Up Lane — “Sweetgreen Inc., the D.C.-born purveyor of all things salad, will roll out its first Greater Washington quasi-drive-thru lane in McLean. Permits were filed this week to add a ‘sweetlane'” at the Chesterbrook Shopping Center eatery where customers can pick up online orders. [Washington Business Journal]
Former Boy Scouts Lead Lion Dance Team — “Co-founded by friends who grew up watching kung fu movies, a Northern Virginia lion dance team is keeping Chinese and Vietnamese cultural traditions alive — one loud, energetic performance at a time … Now, the Hung Vuong Lion Dance Team is an extracurricular activity of a joint Boy and Girl Scout troop, Troop 612, based in Fairfax.” [WTOP]
It’s Thursday — Expect a sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 79°F. Winds will come from the north at 7 to 11 mph, with gusts up to 21 mph. The night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 56°F and a north wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]
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Expect sunny skies with a high of 77°F and northwest winds at 7 to 11 mph, with gusts reaching up to 23 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low around 53°F and a north wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
U.S. flags hang along Strawberry Lane at the Mosaic District in the rain (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Toddler in Oakton Crash Has Died — “On Thursday, police with the Fair Oaks Police District announced that the 2-year-old toddler hospitalized from the double-fatal car crash succumbed to her injuries … Police say the driver was going 116 mph with two children in the backseat, before crashing into a barrier.” [WUSA9]
Gun Background Checks Not Happening — “The General Assembly passed a bill on April 22 with an emergency enactment clause added by Gov. Abigail Spanberger to increase the legal age to purchase a handgun in Virginia from 18 to 21 years old.” However, a month later, the Virginia State Police still hasn’t started conducting background checks as mandated by the legislation, frustrating patron Del. Garrett McGuire (D-17). [Cardinal News]
Man Sentenced to Prison for Murders — “Anthony Eugene Robinson, dubbed the ‘shopping cart killer,’ has been sentenced to two life sentences plus 10 years in prison … Robinson was found guilty of killing Beth Redmon and Tonita Smith in Harrisonburg in 2021.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Walkinshaw Secures Dem Nomination — Yesterday, Rep. James Walkinshaw “officially became the Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 11th District.” The first-time Congressman had been set to face a primary challenge from Bree Fram, but the former Space Force colonel ultimately ended her campaign after Virginia’s new district maps were nixed, telling ABC News the change didn’t leave her enough time to pivot. [James Walkinshaw/Bluesky]
Speed Humps Proposed on Reston Road — “Residents along part of Fairway Drive in Reston are voting on a Fairfax County traffic-calming proposal that would add three speed humps to the west end of the road … The ballot period began in April and ends June 13, according to Steve Sarandos, who heads up the task force” that has been looking at speed and traffic issues on Fairway Drive for seven years now. [Patch]
Va. Seeks to Spend Toll Revenue on Transit — “Virginia is pushing to reinvest express lane and toll revenue into public transit instead of road projects, even as public concerns persist about using priced roadways. The focus on reinvesting express lane revenue is reflected in the estimated $46.5 million the commonwealth expects to generate from its express lanes.” [Virginia Mercury]
Fairfax City Leads in Population Growth — “Fairfax City posted the fastest population growth rate among Virginia cities and towns with at least 20,000 residents between 2020 and 2025, according to newly compiled Census data. Fairfax City’s population grew from 24,146 residents in 2020 to 26,772 residents in 2025.” [Patch]
Tysons Media Company Names CEO — “Tegna Inc. on Monday named longtime D.C.-area media veteran Patrick Paolini its new CEO as the Tysons-based TV station operator works through litigation that aims to undo its merger with Nexstar Media Group Inc … Nexstar CEO Perry Sook said on the company’s earnings call earlier this month that Tegna is officially operating as a subsidiary of Nexstar until the litigation is resolved.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with patchy fog before 11am and a high near 80°F. Showers and thunderstorms are likely into the evening, tapering off around 11pm, with patchy fog developing until 1am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 64°F. There’s a 60% chance of rain. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Expect showers and possible thunderstorms today, with patchy fog in the morning. Highs will reach around 80°F, and winds will shift to the west at about 6 mph. Rainfall will likely be between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with heavier amounts possible in storms. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms are likely until 11 pm, then a chance of showers with patchy fog before 1 am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 64°F, and winds from the northwest at 3 to 6 mph. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with similar rainfall amounts expected. See more from Weather.gov.
Vienna Centennial Park during ViVa Vienna 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Boy Scouts Rescued in West Virginia — “A group of 31 Fairfax County Boy Scouts and adults were rescued Saturday afternoon after getting separated on the Cacapon River, West Virginia authorities said.” Troop 1865, which consisted of 24 kids and seven adults, “became split across three different locations while tubing.” [WJLA]
Waiter Fired for Alleged Racist Slur — “A waiter at a Fairfax restaurant has been fired after a racial slur was discovered written on the button of a customer’s receipt … Crazy Crab manager Rez Choudhury apologized to the customer and the community on Thursday.” [FOX5]
Area Malls Respond to Anchor Closures — “The shutdown of Saks Fifth Avenue’s Friendship Heights and Tysons stores this month leaves its landlords with hundreds of thousands of square feet to refill or repurpose. Those and other department store closures also have retail experts rethinking the traditional mall anchor store.” [WTOP]
Education ESOL Office Closing — “The U.S. Department of Education’s move [earlier this month] to dissolve an office dedicated to ensuring that English learners and immigrant students gain English proficiency and academic success has prompted uncertainty among Virginia’s schools and students.” [Virginia Mercury]
Va. Launches Measles Data Dashboard — “Virginia health officials launched a new dashboard Thursday to keep the public informed as measles cases surge in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Health reports an outbreak in Buckingham County with 17 confirmed cases. Statewide, VDH is reporting 40 cases this year.” [WWBT]
Overnight Paving on Franconia Road — “Weather permitting, lane closures will occur in the area of eastbound/westbound Franconia Road (Route 644) and the Loisdale Drive/Commerce Street (Route 789)/Frontier Drive (Route 2677) interchange Wednesday night, May 27, and Thursday night, May 28, for asphalt paving and patching.” [VDOT]
Indoor Soccer Training Center Proposed — “A large indoor soccer training facility has been proposed for a vacant building on Port Royal Road in Springfield. The Board of Zoning Appeals has scheduled a hearing on July 22 for a special permit for the project.” [Annandale Today]
Forrest Gump Actor Visits Fort Belvoir — “Actor, musician and veterans advocate Gary Sinise returned to Fort Belvoir with his Lt. Dan Band Thursday, telling service members and families their sacrifices remain at the center of his foundation’s mission … The appearance was part of the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Invincible Spirit Festival, now in its 33rd installment nationwide at military medical centers.” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Tuesday — It will be mostly cloudy with a high of around 76°F and calm winds shifting to the east at 6 mph. There is a 40% chance of precipitation. Overnight, showers are likely after 2am with a low of about 65°F and a 50% chance of rain. [NWS]
Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.
Expect rain and patchy fog today with a high of 58°F and east winds at 10 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. Rain continues Saturday night with patchy fog, a low around 55°F, and east winds at 6 to 10 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. There’s a 100% chance of precipitation during the day and 90% at night, with new rainfall between a quarter and half an inch possible. See more from Weather.gov.
We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Whether your kid enjoys getting active outdoors, expressing their artistry or volunteering in the community, Fairfax County offers plenty of options for keeping students busy outside the classroom.
Here are the nominees for “Best After School Programs in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite program below? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 5.
Voting for Best Tutoring Service in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday, May 29 at 8:30 a.m.
A few weeks ago, we voted on the Best Title Company serving Fairfax County. The results are now official: