Author: FFXnow.com

Trump Wanted Dulles Airport Renaming — The Trump administration suggested it would release funding for a rail tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey if Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to have Dulles International Airport and Penn Station in New York City renamed after President Donald Trump. “Schumer (D-N.Y.) declined the offer, according to two people with knowledge of the request.” [Politico]

Bill to Decriminalize Homelessness Set Aside — “In 2024 the US Supreme Court okayed the use of criminal penalties for homelessness. And Thursday morning, an effort to block Virginia localities from doing so was killed in a House of Delegates subcommittee,” which sent it to a housing commission for review. Patron Del. Joshua Cole said he hopes to bring the bill back in 2027. [WHRO]

One Injured in Ice Bank Crash — “One person sustained minor injuries after an overturn crash in Tysons on Sunday, according to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). Police responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash shortly after 6:30 p.m. in the 1800 block of Tysons Blvd. There, investigators found that a car had overturned after striking an ice bank.” [DC News Now]

Arrest in Smash-and-Grab Burglaries — “A man was arrested and charged for a series of smash-and-grab burglaries targeting phone stores in Fairfax County. Surveillance video shows the man using a rock and a hammer to break into the store and take items inside.” Most of the targeted stores were along the Richmond Highway corridor, but a Metro by T-Mobile on Arlington Blvd in West Falls Church was also hit, police said. [WUSA9]

Construction to Close Worldgate Drive Lane — “On Tuesday, February 10, a lane closure will be in effect on Worldgate Drive due to crane installation” for contractor Peraton’s new office. “Routes 921 and 952 will be impacted. Bus Stops #3824 and #3825 will be temporarily closed during this work. Passengers may use Bus Stop #6356 as an alternate stop.” [Fairfax Connector/X]

Correction: FFXnow initially suggested the crane installation is for BXP’s planned redevelopment of vacant offices along Worldgate Drive, but a spokesperson for the developer says it’s related to the new office building for Peraton.

Vienna Ice Skater’s Backflip Was Historic — “His moves in Milan aren’t just awe-inspiring, but historic: [Ilia] Malinin is the first person to legally land a backflip at the Olympics in five decades.” The move was banned from 1977 until 2024, partly due to safety concerns, but French skater Surya Bonaly performed a backflip at the 1998 Olympics out of a desire “to make her mark on history,” despite knowing it would cost her points. [NPR]

Braddock Supervisor Highlights Priorities — “Rachna Sizemore Heizer, the newly installed Braddock representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, told residents at an open house on Feb. 4 that her top priority is constituent services … Other priorities include helping small businesses, economic development, and support for education, parks, and trails.” [Annandale Today]

Minneapolis Mayor Grew Up in Oakton — “There’s no denying that Minneapolis is making headlines lately. And come to find out, the city’s 44-year-old mayor, Jacob Frey, grew up in Northern Virginia. We spoke with Frey about his NoVA upbringing and ties to the area.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect partly sunny skies today, a high near 48, and a south wind at 3-7 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 35. The south wind will increase to 7-9 mph before turning northwest after midnight. [NWS]

Fairfax Schools Open on Time — “This weekend our weather team traveled around the county to see first hand the progress of ongoing efforts to clear snow and ice from sidewalks and bus stops. We are pleased to report that these efforts have done enough for us to return to our regular school day. With that in mind, all FCPS schools and offices will open on time for Monday, February 9, 2026.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]

Students Report Man Following Them — “City of Fairfax Police are actively investigating a suspicious incident involving a group of children who reported on Thursday [Feb. 5] seeing a man following them as they walked home from school, first in Van Dyck Park and later in their neighborhood. The children described the man as wearing black winter gear.” [City of Fairfax Police]

Man Killed in Four-Vehicle Crash Identified — Fairfax County police are continuing to investigate a four-vehicle crash on Braddock Road that killed one driver who is believed to have crashed into a police cruiser, setting off a chain reaction of rear-end crashes at a red light. The initial driver — Dariush Bakhtiani, 57, of Centreville — was transported to a hospital, where he died. [FCPD]

Measles Exposure at National Airport — “A pre-school age child with measles traveled through Reagan National Airport and on a Yellow Line Metro train last week.” The child, a resident of another state, traveled through the airport on Jan. 26, according to the Virginia Department of Health, which says the state has now reported six cases of measles this year. [ARLnow]

Transit-Oriented Housing Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk — “Bills that could allow by-right zoning for apartment buildings, townhomes and mixed-use developments in certain commercial corridors cleared the Senate Thursday, one of several proposals to boost housing supply working through the Virginia legislature.” [Virginia Mercury]

Human Services Building Closed After Flooding — “Due to the flooding issue this morning, Friday, Feb. 6, the Pennino building will be closed a minimum of one week and potentially longer. If you have a scheduled appointment at this location, please contact the agency you were visiting to reschedule.” The flooding was caused by a “water line break” in the building, which houses the county’s family, neighborhood and human services agencies. [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Centreville Burglary Under Investigation — “On January 24, at 11:25 a.m., officers responded to the 13900 block of Big Yankee Lane … for a burglary report. The victim was alerted by a neighbor that their home was burglarized. Officers reviewed surveillance footage and observed two men forcibly enter the residence through the back door around 8:46 p.m. on January 23.” Police are offering a $5,000 reward for information that results in an arrest of the suspects, who appear to have stolen two guns. [FCPD]

Tysons Company Loses Big on Bitcoin — “Strategy Inc. reported its largest loss ever in the fourth quarter — a whopping $12.4 billion — as the Tysons company took a massive write-down on the value of its bitcoin holdings.” Though the loss “essentially wiped out” its profits from 2025, the company “formerly known as MicroStrategy continues to load up on the cryptocurrency, acquiring more than 41,000 bitcoins in January alone.” [Washington Business Journal]

Indian Restaurant Eyes Tysons Location — The Texas restaurant Dum ‘N Grill is planning to expand around the country, including with locations in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. “Over in Fairfax County, Dum N Grill is working on a location at the Tysons Corner Center shopping mall.” [The Burn]

New Legal Notice — Establishment seeks ABC Marketplace Wine and Beer On-Premises license. [Public Notices]

It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high temperature around 33 degrees, with northwest winds of 3 to 6 mph. The night will bring mostly cloudy skies and a low temperature near 22, accompanied by calm winds. [NWS]

Person Hospitalized After Falling Down Slope — “At 2:14pm #FCFRD responded to 700 blk of Bulls Neck Rd in McLean for a person who fell down a slope. Crews found 1 civilian 200ft down a ravine on steep hill. Tech Rescue crews operated on rope systems to remove the civilian who was transported w/ non-life-threatening injuries.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/X]

Trump Official Target of Alleged Murder Attempt — “A Maryland man is facing attempted murder charges after reportedly showing up to the Arlington home of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Russ Vought while armed. Colin Demarco, 26, was taken into custody Jan. 22, five months after the Aug. 10 incident,” though his arrest wasn’t announced publicly by police until yesterday (Thursday) evening. [ARLnow]

Longtime Local Reporter Among WaPo Layoffs — “On Wednesday, The Post announced plans to move on from that legacy as part of widespread cuts to the newsroom. The layoffs, affecting more than 300 of the roughly 800 journalists at the paper, are landing hard on the local news desk, where [Martin] Weil has worked since 1965. He was among those laid off, one of the last ties to the paper’s Watergate era.” [NY Times]

House Democrats Pass Gun Control Bills — “Virginia House Democrats on Thursday muscled through a sweeping package of gun control legislation, passing more than half a dozen bills aimed at restricting access to certain firearms, tightening storage requirements and expanding civil liability for the gun industry, as Republicans … spoke forcefully in opposition but were ultimately unable to stop the measures.” [Virginia Mercury]

Arrest for Tire Theft Spree — A Maryland man has been charged with several counts of larceny for allegedly stealing tires from “numerous” vehicles in the Fair Oaks district. Police began investigating the thefts after a reported incident on Oct. 24 at the Extended Stay on Route 50, but the man wasn’t arrested until last Sunday (Feb. 1) when his vehicle triggered a license plate alert in the Town of Herndon. [FCPD]

Police to Escort Monks’ Walk for Peace — “Our Police Department is planning to assist with the Monks’ Walk for Peace as they travel through our county.” After receiving a hearty welcome in Richmond, the Buddhist monks are expected to arrive for lunch at the Hoa Nghiem Pagoda in Fort Belvoir this Sunday (Feb. 8), Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn says. [Fairfax County Government/Bluesky]

Reston Association Rec Passes Available — “Reston Association is excited to announce that Recreation Passes for the 2026 season are now available. Recreation passes provide access to RA pools, tennis and pickleball courts.” RA members can receive a pass free of charge as part of their annual assessment, and for the first time this year, they can choose to have their pass automatically renewed when they pay their assessment. [Reston Association]

Burke Lake Park Scouts for Seasonal Hires — “Drop-in interviews at the Burke Lake Park Information Center will be held Feb. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 from noon to 5 p.m. Appointments are not necessary, so come by to explore job opportunities, complete an application and interview on the spot — all in one visit!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

New Legal Notice — Hotel seeks limited beer and wine ABC on/off-premises license. [Public Notices]

New Legal Notice — Hotel seeks limited ABC license for beer and wine, on/off-premises. [Public Notices]

It’s Friday — Snow is likely after 2pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 34. A calm wind will shift to the south at 5mph. Precipitation chance is 40%. On Friday night, snow may occur before 1am, followed by gradual clearing and a low around 13. Winds will be light, becoming northwest at 13-18 mph and possibly gusting up to 31 mph. Precipitation chance remains at 40%. [NWS]

WaPo Axes Third of Staff — “Mass layoffs at The Washington Post [announced Wednesday] have prompted grief and outrage among D.C.-area reporters and a pointed rebuke of the newspaper’s owner from U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). The publication eliminated about one-third of its staff today, cutting the jobs of numerous respected journalists on its Metro desk while eliminating its sports section, several foreign bureaus and its books coverage.” [ARLnow/Associated Press]

Virginia to End ICE Agreements — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed an executive directive Wednesday instructing the state’s law enforcement agencies to terminate agreements that allowed them to be deputized to conduct federal immigration enforcement activities.” Earlier, Spanberger rescinded an executive order from her predecessor, Glenn Youngkin, that encouraged local law enforcement to assist ICE. [VPM News]

Man to Plead Guilty to Carrying Gun at Library — “A man arrested with a handgun last June in the garage of the City of Fairfax Regional Library is expected to plead guilty to a federal weapon charge, according to court documents.” The man was wanted by Fairfax City police officers for a probation violation when they encountered him in Old Town Fairfax on June 11. [Patch]

Bill to Limit ICE Presence in Courts Advances — “The Virginia Senate passed legislation on Tuesday that would limit the work of immigration enforcement officials from operating inside courthouses … The bill, sponsored by Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Fairfax, passed the Senate on a 21-18 party-line vote.” [Virginia Scope]

Two Fairfax Athletes Head to Winter Olympics — “Vienna native Ilia Malinin is set to hit the ice in Milan, Italy, in both the figure skating team event and men’s single skating competition.” In addition, Brandon Kim, a Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, will make his Olympic debut in short-track speedskating. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Tysons Apartment Complex Sold — Developer LCOR sold the Kingston at McLean Crossing apartments in Tysons to Pantzer, a New York-based multifamily residential property owner and operator on Jan. 30. The sale price wasn’t publicized, and the transaction doesn’t appear to have been recorded yet in Fairfax County’s property records. “The property was 96% occupied at the time of sale.” [Press release]

New Seven Corners Mural in Design — “The Community Revitalization Section of the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development is seeking community feedback on a mural proposed for Seven Corners. The mural, part of the Paint It, Fairfax! program, will be located on the former CVS building at Willston Centre I, facing Patrick Henry Drive.” [Annandale Today]

TJ Breaks Ground With New Coaches — Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is the first high school in Virginia to appoint women as head coaches for both its baseball and football varsity teams. “On the football sidelines this year for the Colonials will be Coach Rachel Worsham, while over in the baseball dugouts, Coach Jennifer Hammond is gearing up for the spring tryouts following her hiring in September.” [FCPS]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature of about 31 degrees, accompanied by a north wind blowing at 7 to 9 mph. As night falls, clouds will increase, leading to a low temperature around 16 degrees. The northwest wind will be between 3 to 5 mph during the night. [NWS]

No Heat at Annandale Apartments — “With outdoor temperatures in the 20s, hundreds of tenants at the Wedgewood in Annandale have been struggling to stay warm over the past two days without heat or hot water.” The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which owns the property, said water temperatures have been “partially restored,” but as of yesterday (Tuesday), repairs were still in the works for the heating system. [Annandale Today]

Redistricting Push Stalled by Infighting — “A disagreement between Democrats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates has upended plans to redraw the state’s congressional map. Democrats in both chambers want a 10D-1R map, but they disagree on what that map looks like and blew past their self-imposed deadline last week to release a proposal.” [Punchbowl News]

Metro Honors Rosa Parks — “On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Metro is honoring civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks on her birthday by reserving a seat for her on every bus and train across the system. To commemorate the day, Metro is placing signs on trains and buses, reserving a single seat in recognition of Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus and subsequent arrest in 1955.” [WMATA]

Demand High at Shelter Amid Cold Weather — “A hot meal on a cold day is just one of many ways FACETS provides for people seeking refuge at Fairfax County’s Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter. This shelter typically serves 18 people in what’s known as permanent supportive housing and about 52 overnight guests. But when the snow and sleet came and temperatures plunged, dozens more came through the doors.” [NBC4]

Bill Would Allow Cell Phones in Courthouses — “Senator Saddam Salim is a Democrat from Fairfax County and is advocating for his bill that would bring courthouses into the 21st century by allowing visitors to bring cell phones … A Senate panel approved Salim’s bill on cell phones this week.” [WVTF]

Falls Church Grocery Store Opening — “A discount grocery store coming to Falls Church plans to mark its grand opening next week with money-saving festivities. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market intends to open its doors at 500 S. Washington Street at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, offering gift cards worth varying amounts to the first 100 customers.” [ARLnow]

New Vienna Police Chief Takes Office — “The Town of Vienna Police Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Janickey as its new Chief of Police, effective February 1st, 2026. Chief Janickey brings decades of law enforcement experience, proven leadership, and a strong commitment to officer wellness and community service to the role.” [Town of Vienna Police]

How Local Wildlife Is Handling Winter Weather — “If you’re wondering whether you should feed the wild animals you see wandering over the icy snow in your yard, the answer is no.” Fairfax County Park Authority’s natural resources branch manager, John Burke, says the desire to support wildlife is understandable, but squirrels, birds and other creatures “are well adapted to survive in the conditions that we’re experiencing now, and sometimes much colder.” [WTOP]

It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high of 33 degrees with a north wind at 9 mph. Night brings a 20% chance of snow before 10 pm, followed by mostly cloudy skies that will gradually clear up. The low temperature will be around 17 degrees. [NWS]