Author: FFXnow.com

Va. Sees Big ACA Enrollment Drop — “A new federal report indicates 1.2 million fewer Americans signed up for ACA insurance during the most recent open enrollment period nationwide. In Virginia, about 33,000 people have dropped off, State Health Exchange Director Keven Patchett said at a forum with the State Corporation Commission.” [Virginia Mercury]

Herndon Deck Fire Under Investigation — Fairfax County firefighters responded around 3:51 p.m. on Saturday (April 4) “to the 2600 block of Jetstream Road in Herndon for multiple calls of a deck fire that was rapidly spreading. Units arrived to find a middle unit townhouse with fire and smoke showing from the rear … There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Voters Mixed on Redistricting Proposal — “A slim majority of Virginia voters favors a redistricting measure to give Democrats as many as four extra seats in Congress this November, with 52 percent of likely voters saying they support redrawing state political maps and 47 percent opposed, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll.” [Washington Post]

Route 29 Lane Closures in Centreville — “Weather permitting, Route 29 between Union Mill Road/Centreville Farms Drive (Route 8285) and Summit Drive/Buckleys Gate Drive (Route 1257) will have lane closures on weekdays from Tuesday, April 7, through Friday, April 17, for Route 29 widening project work … Drivers should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes.” [VDOT]

Martial Arts Studio Reopens After Fire — “After UMS Martial Arts was destroyed by a fire on New Year’s Day, the studio has been operating in a temporary space at the same Barcroft Plaza shopping Center … The martial arts studio’s temporary location is a vacant storefront formerly occupied by Pearle Vision at 6343 Columbia Pike.” [Annandale Today]

Assistant Police Chief Leaving — “Assistant Chief Robert A. Blakley will retire from the Fairfax County Police Department after more than two decades of dedicated service.” Nearing five years as the assistant chief of operations for the Fairfax County Police Department, he will begin a new job as a deputy county executive position for Prince William County on April 13. [FCPD]

Textile Recycling Pilot Expands Again — “Fairfax County has expanded its textile recycling program to three new locations, including the West Springfield Government Center, at 6140 Rolling Road. Residents can drop off clothing, shoes, and household textiles in blue Helpsy bins,” which can also be found at the I-66 Transfer Station, I-95 Landfill Complex, Jim Scott Community Center and Sully Government Center. [Annandale Today]

Vienna Community Potluck Returning — “After a successful debut last year, The Longest Table Vienna is returning for its second annual potluck. On Saturday, May 9, 500 community members will gather along the Vienna Town Green on Mill Street SE to share a meal. The free, public event will be held from noon to 2 p.m.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

New Legal Notice — ABC permit sought: restaurant/caterer, beer, wine, mixed beverages, on/off-premise. [Public Notices]

New Legal Notice — Applying for off-premises beer-wine license; objections due within 30 days. [Public Notices]

It’s Monday — Expect increasing clouds today with a high of 62°F and west winds at 10 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with a low of 42°F and northwest winds at around 7 mph. [NWS]

Potomac Interceptor Upgrades Backlogged — “The D.C.-area utility responsible for a massive sewer line that failed catastrophically in January had planned to reinforce the aging section years ago but repeatedly delayed construction as federal officials studied potential environmental impacts.” [Washington Post]

School Safety Legislation Signed — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed a new batch of legislation centered on school safety, student well-being and expanded support systems in Virginia’s public schools, alongside measures addressing public health protections and food insecurity among children.” [Virginia Mercury]

Data Vague on Police Use of License Plate Readers — More than six months after Virginia adopted a law requiring law enforcement agencies to report “specific purposes” for their use of automated license plate readers, a “VCIJ at WHRO analysis of 200,000 search logs from Flock Safety data … shows that officers across the Commonwealth frequently relied on broad or vague justifications when searching the systems.” [VCIJ at WHRO]

McKay Outlines County’s Top Priorities — In a March 31 episode of the Connect With County Leaders podcast, “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said affordable housing, economic development, public safety and school funding remain among the county’s top priorities, while county leaders continue to focus on transportation investment and a broader tax base.” [Patch]

Free Film Festival in Tysons — “The 12th annual Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival will take place April 9 and 10 in Tysons. Screenings are free to the public, but registration is required. LOOK Dine-in Cinemas at the Boro in Tysons will host the event.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Szechuan Restaurant Coming to Bailey’s Crossroads — “Yeshi Kitfo, the Ethiopian restaurant at 3400 Washington Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads, has permanently closed. The restaurant is undergoing a complete renovation.” Comments from a construction worker and a building permit indicate that the space will be filled by Chili Wok, which has a location in Vienna. [Annandale Today]

Park Authority Intern Program Lauded — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is proud to announce that we have been recognized for the second year in a row as a 2026 Top Employer for Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. This recognition highlights FCPA’s dedication to providing meaningful work-based learning experiences that empower the next generation of leaders.” [FCPA]

Nominations Open for Park Volunteers Award — “The Park Authority is now accepting nominations for the annual Elly Doyle Park Service Awards Program, recognizing the outstanding contributions of volunteers … Nominations are due by Friday, May 22, 2026.” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — Expect fog in the morning before 10 a.m., then mostly sunny skies with a high near 82°F. Winds from the south will range from 7 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. Overnight, there is a 20% chance of showers before 2 a.m., with partly cloudy skies and a low around 65°F. [NWS]

Gov. Signs Affordability Legislation — “After more than 1,200 bills passed in the Virginia General Assembly, Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed the first set of bills tackling several areas of affordability … The signed bills address housing, health care and energy.” [ALXnow]

Vienna Power Outage Caused by Fire — More than 1,000 homes and business in the Town of Vienna lost power yesterday (Wednesday) morning due to a fire at an electrical substation near Town Hall. Dominion Energy restored power to most customers before 11 a.m., addressing the remaining locations by mid-afternoon. [Town of Vienna/Facebook]

Virginia Delays SNAP Restriction — “Initially, recipients were expected to lose the ability to purchase ‘sweetened beverages’ with SNAP funds starting in April 2026, per a Dec. 10, 2025 announcement. The change had been scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, April 1.” The Virginia Department of Social Services, however, says the ban has now been delayed until October. [WAVY]

Video of Alleged Nude Burglar Released — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division have released new surveillance video of the suspect connected to the London Towne burglary investigation following an attempted burglary early [yesterday] morning.” Filmed by security cameras, the man appears to have tried to break into a home in the 14800 block of Palmerston Square in Centreville shortly after 5 a.m. [FCPD]

Police Officer Charged With Public Drinking — “An off-duty Fairfax County Police Department officer was arrested on a charge of Drunk in Public in Fair Oaks. On March 31 at approximately 6:23 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 11000 block of Route 50 in Fair Oaks for the report of an intoxicated man refusing to leave the area and acting disorderly.” The 31-year-old officer is now on administrative leave. [FCPD]

Gas Prices Strain Food Nonprofits — “Gas prices have jumped about a dollar per gallon in the past month across the D.C. region, and it’s unclear how much more prices could still climb. That makes it harder to plan, harder to attract volunteers and get donations and, ultimately, harder to get food to the people who need it most.” [NBC4]

Data Centers Risk Potomac Water Supply — “The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, abbreviated ICPRB, describes some of the ways in which data center growth, which is primarily located in Virginia’s Loudoun and Prince William counties, can affect whether there is enough drinking water to serve Fairfax Water, WSSC Water and the Washington Aqueduct.” [WTOP]

Historic Villa Added to Underground Railroad Network — Historic Huntley in Groveton is now part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, which was created by Congress in 1998 to recognize the network of sites, individuals and organizations that helped enslaved people escape. “Sully Historic Site and Riverbend Park preceded Historic Huntley as Fairfax County Park Authority sites to attain the designation.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — There’s a 30% a chance of showers and thunderstorms primarily after 3 PM, with patchy fog clearing before 11 AM. The day will be partly sunny, reaching a high of about 76°F. Night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 54°F. [NWS]

Support local journalism. Join the FFXnow Press Club to boost our reporting and to get upgraded newsletters.

Frying Pan Carousel Damaged — “A 108-year-old carousel enjoyed by generations of families in Northern Virginia has gone forever silent and still. The Fairfax County Park Authority said January’s winter storm left the antique carousel at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon severely damaged … Efforts are getting underway to bring a new carousel to the park, hopefully in the spring of next year.” [WTOP]

FCPS Calendar Changes Considered — “To address the logistical challenges frustrating some parents, several school board members, including Dunne, Melanie Meren, Ricardy Anderson and Ryan McElveen, are proposing changes. One would allow schools to remain open on Veterans Day and Indigenous Peoples Day. Another would limit early-release days at elementary, middle and high schools to no more than four per year.” [WTOP]

Pennino Building Won’t Reopen Before Summer — “The Pennino Building, which houses many of the county’s human services agencies and was damaged in February by flooding, will continue to be closed for the next couple of months, at least. The earliest the building will reopen will be in the summer,” though the county says “significant progress has been made” on repairs. [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

White House Ballroom Construction Halted — “U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon ruled Tuesday that construction on President Trump’s White House ballroom ‘must stop until Congress authorizes its completion.’ Using a notable number of exclamation points, Leon said … the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States is likely to succeed in their lawsuit and therefore he is granting a preliminary injunction to halt construction.” [NPR]

Clinics Advocate for State Contraception Funding — “Planned Parenthood clinics are urging lawmakers to move a key contraception access program back to state funding as uncertainty grows around federal health care support. Despite currently being state funded, the budget introduced by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin … shifted the Virginia Contraceptive Access Initiative to a federal funding stream.” [Virginia Mercury]

Springfield Plaza Adding EV Chargers — Electrify America has leased a portion of Springfield Plaza’s parking lot for a “large-format” electric vehicle charging station that will have about 20 chargers. The site had been used by commuters for slugging until Fairfax County opened its new parking garage in 2024, and efforts to market the space for a new retail building found no takers. [Washington Business Journal]

New Thai Restaurant in Falls Church — “After nearly a year of preparations, My Home Thai Bistro plans to host a grand opening this Saturday for its new restaurant at 1009 W. Broad Street. The new eatery aims to bring ‘a modern take on Thai cuisine with a refined yet welcoming atmosphere,’ co-owner Anuchit ‘Andrew’ Suthus-na-Ayuttaya told ARLnow.” [ARLnow]

Walk and Win Challenge Begins — “The 2026 Fairfax County Walk & Win Challenge returns April 1, inviting residents, employees, and visitors to get moving, explore their community, and win prizes — just by walking … Submit your walk by uploading a photo or screenshot along with your name, email and chosen route to be entered into weekly prize drawings.” [Supervisor Rodney Lusk/Facebook]

It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny conditions with a high near 86, and a 30% chance of precipitation after 3 pm. Southwest winds will be 8 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph. Chances of showers and possibly a thunderstorm are 70% at night until 2 am. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.

Teen Charged in Reston Stabbing — A teen has been arrested and charged with malicious wounding after allegedly stabbing another teen during a fight at South Lakes Village Center in Reston last Friday (March 27). “The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” police said. [FCPD]

Resident Trapped in Home by Fallen Tree — Firefighters from the Fairfax County and Fairfax City departments helped rescue a resident in the 10300 block of Darby Street last night (Monday) after they were trapped by a “large tree” that fell onto their two-story house. “Firefighters made entry and assisted the occupant out. No injuries. Units remain on scene.” [FCFRD/X]

Fire Consumes Lorton Boathouse — Fairfax County firefighters responded early yesterday morning to “a boathouse fire in the 10700 blk of Old Colchester Rd in Lorton. Units arrived to a fully involved boathouse with extension into nearby brush.” No injuries were reported. [FCFRD/X]

Hospitals Concerned by Health Care Changes — Hospital chains in Virginia have largely avoided publicly commenting on any concerns they’re feeling about the changes to health care imposed by last year’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “But that’s changing, as the reality of reduced federal funding and spiking insurance costs has set in for facilities statewide.” [Virginia Mercury]

Arabian Leopard Coming to National Zoo — “Make way, pandas, there’s a new emissary coming to town: The Saudi royals are bankrolling a $51.6 million habitat for the Arabian Leopard in the largest donation ever to the National Zoo … Construction aims to begin in late summer — with a target opening for 2029.” [Axios DC]

Commercial Landlord Files for Bankruptcy — “Broad Street Realty Inc., a publicly traded Reston real estate company that owns grocery-anchored retail centers, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation on March 20 after a turbulent year in which it lost control of its portfolio.” Its 15 properties were taken over last year by an investor affiliated with Fortress Investment Group, which planned to market them for sale, according to regulatory filings. [Washington Business Journal]

Reston Contractor Closes $2.4B Acquisition — “Fortune 500 government contractor Leidos announced Monday that it has completed its $2.4 billion acquisition of Illinois-based utilities infrastructure design firm Entrust Solutions Group … With the purchase, Leidos will effectively double its presence in the energy infrastructure market and gain more than 3,100 Entrust employees.” [Virginia Business]

Herndon Brewery Owner on Career Pivot — “After more than 20 years working at the White House, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, he’s just opened a brewery … [Monte] is the owner of Hawkley Brewing, a newly opened craft beer hub in Herndon that represents a major career shift — and a personal reset.” [WJLA]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of 82°F and a southwest wind blowing at 11 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. At night, the weather will be partly cloudy with a low of around 64°F. [NWS]

Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.