Author: FFXnow.com

DHS Shutdown Over Except for ICE — “President Donald Trump swiftly signed a bipartisan legislation Thursday to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, but not its immigration enforcement operations, shortly after the package won final approval in the House, ending the longest agency shutdown in history.” [Associated Press]

Charges for Attempted CIA HQ Entries — A 28-year-old man from the Fort Worth area of Texas was arrested on Monday (April 27) “after allegedly attempting to breach the CIA’s Virginia headquarters three times since Friday, according to court filings … He was charged with trespassing for the attempted CIA breaches and released on bond with the condition he not return to either government facility.” [Washington Post]

Fairfax and Arlington Diverge on Real Estate Taxes — “Higher assessed property values mean most homeowners in both jurisdictions will pay more in property taxes, under the new budgets. But how did Fairfax County manage to reduce its rate while Arlington increased it?” [ARLnow]

Faith in Housing Bill to Become Law — Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed into law a pair of bills that “will eliminate the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt nonprofits to develop affordable housing on their properties. The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027 and will sunset on Jan. 1, 2031 unless reenacted by a future General Assembly.” [ARLnow]

Satellite Company Sets IPO Target — “Herndon defense technology contractor HawkEye 360 Inc. intends to raise up to $416 million from its initial public offering, according to [an April 27] filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.” Planning to offer 16 million shares priced between $24 and $26 each, the $2.4 billion company is expected to debut on the New York Stock Exchange “within the next few days or weeks, though no official date has been set yet.” [Washington Business Journal]

Sneak Peek of Reston Restaurant in D.C. — The annual New Kitchens on the Block offered visitors at Mess Hall in D.C. “an early taste of the city’s next big cafes, restaurants and bars to find out if the hype is real.” Among the participants was Ebbitt House, a new concept from Clyde’s Restaurant Group that’s expected to open at Reston Station this August. [WTOP]

Spring Farm Day Returns to Frying Pan — “See life on the farm in full swing — including the spring baby boom — at Spring Farm Day on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Frying Pan Farm Park. Experience hands-on activities, live demonstrations and family-friendly fun throughout the day.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

Sully District Celebrates Birthday — “Please join Supervisor Kathy Smith to celebrate the Sully District’s 35th birthday on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 11 am to 2 pm. Gather with friends and family to celebrate this milestone, enjoy cake, a flashback of Sully District history, and take advantage of onsite County services.” [Sully District Office]

It’s Friday — This afternoon will be mostly sunny with a high of 67°F and a slight 20% chance of showers after 2 PM. Overnight, expect mostly cloudy skies with a 40% chance of showers between 8 PM and 2 AM, and a low around 48°F. [NWS]

Three-Story Home Addition Blocked — “A controversial three-story home addition that sparked backlash in a Fairfax County neighborhood will not move forward as planned after a zoning board denied the homeowner’s appeal.” Complaints about the project prompted county leaders to revisit their height restrictions for single-family houses. [DC News Now]

New Laws Regulate Rideshare Safety — “A change to how Virginia screens rideshare drivers will take effect this summer after Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed two bills tightening background check and identity requirements for companies such as Uber and Lyft. The new rules take effect July 1.” [The Center Square/Inside NoVA]

Redistricting Vote Certification Still on Hold — “Virginia’s top court on Tuesday left in place a county judge’s order temporarily blocking the state from certifying the results of last week’s ​referendum, when voters approved a new Democratic-drawn congressional map aimed at flipping ‌four Republican U.S. House seats.” [Reuters]

Dominion Energy Bill Awaits Signature — “A bill backed by Virginia’s largest and most powerful electric utility is on Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk for final action after the legislature rejected some of her cost-saving suggestions. The legislation … would assign certain electric grid upgrade costs to data centers and allow Dominion Energy to spend $900,000 a mile burying local distribution lines.” [Inside Climate News]

House Seeks New Rules for Data Center Tax Break — While state Senate leaders are advocating for an elimination of Virginia’s sales and use tax exemption for data centers, a spending plan proposed by the House of Delegates would condition the exemption on new environmental standards, including a commitment to energy efficiency and a prohibition on co-locations with carbon-emitting power facilities. [Virginia Mercury]

Furniture Store Opens in Bailey’s Crossroads — “Regency Furniture opened April 25 in the space formerly occupied by Value City Furniture in Bailey’s Crossroads … Regency Furniture has a wide selection of sofas, loveseats, chairs, bedroom sets, coffee tables, dining sets, office furnishings, and décor accessories.” [Annandale Today]

Over 22K Pounds of Food Collected for Students — “A Food For Neighbors Red Bag collection in Fairfax County brought in about 22,300 pounds of food Saturday during the nonprofit’s final event of the school year, according to the organization … The group said the food from Saturday’s event was especially important because it was the last Red Bag collection of the school year.” [Patch]

Anti-Distracted Driving Demo in McLean — “McLean HS in Fairfax partnered with Virginia State Police for a distracted driving awareness event. Students saw firsthand the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of safe choices behind the wheel.” [Virginia State Police/X]

It’s Thursday — It will be mostly sunny with a high near 67°F and a northwest wind blowing at about 15 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 44°F and a lighter northwest wind at 7 to 10 mph. [NWS]

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Spanberger Marks 100 Days as Governor — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger celebrated her first 100 days in office Monday in Richmond by touting her administration’s progress on healthcare, housing, and energy affordability measures. She had less to say, however, about the delayed state budget, which lawmakers haven’t finalized but must send to her desk for signature in the coming weeks.” [Virginia Mercury]

Settlement Approved in Capital One Lawsuit — “A federal judge approved a $425 million settlement from Capital One for a class action lawsuit over interest rates on its savings accounts. The approval was granted on April 20. If there is no appeal, settlement payments are set to go out around July 27, 2026.” [NBC4]

Reston Condo Sale Sets Va. Record — A penthouse unit that spans 5,798 square feet, plus a balcony, on the 27th floor of the JW Marriott Residences sold for $10.25 million on April 1, public records show. “The sale shatters Virginia’s previous condo record, set in February 2024 when a 29th-floor unit at Rosslyn’s Waterview tower sold for $5.65 million.” County records indicate that at least 34 of the JW Marriott’s 93 units have sold. [Washington Business Journal]

Pizzeria Opening Today in Falls Church — “Little Beast is preparing to dish up its first pizzas from its new restaurant at 119 E. Broad Street, on the ground floor of Broad & Washington.” The location will be the pizzeria’s first in Northern Virginia since owner Aaron Gordon closed Reston’s Little Beast and Red Velvet Cupcakery in 2023. [ARLnow]

Art Exhibit Centers on Teens’ Mental Health — “Teens grappling with mental health issues can find a way to express their feelings through art. That’s the premise for the Bridging the Gap art exhibit and reception at the Minnie Peyton Community Center in Bailey’s Crossroads on April 24.” [Annandale Today]

Local Brewery Wins Gold — “Caboose Brewing Co., which operates Caboose Tavern in Vienna and Caboose Commons in Fairfax, has won a gold medal at the 2026 World Beer Cup for its Boxcar Brown Ale in the American-Style Brown Ale category, according to a company release.” The same beer snagged a bronze medal at last year’s World Beer Cup. [Patch]

Vienna Little League Celebrates 75 Years — “From its start in 1952 with 175 players to now nearly 1,000 across 90 teams each spring, Vienna Little League has had a lasting, positive impact on generations of people in the community.” The Town of Vienna commemorated the league’s 75th season on Monday (April 27) by declaring the day “Vienna Little League Day.” [Town of Vienna/Instagram]

Tips for Tornado Season — “May is right around the corner, and that means tornado season is hitting its stride. Whether you’ve lived through a tornado warning before or you’re new to tornadoes, now is the time to figure out what you would do and where you’d go if a tornado warning was issued.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

It’s Wednesday — Expect showers throughout the day, with a possible thunderstorm after 2 PM and a high of 69°F. Rainfall could be between a quarter and half an inch, with a 90% chance of precipitation that will dip to 70% at night. The low will be around 51°F. [NWS]

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

Future of Retail Cannabis Sales in Limbo — “Five years after Virginia legalized simple adult possession of marijuana, lawmakers are at an impasse over how to finally stand up a legal retail market, after the General Assembly last week rejected more than 40 changes proposed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger and sent the legislation back to her desk.” [Virginia Mercury]

Box Truck Fire on Main Street — The Fairfax County and Fairfax City fire departments responded around 2:20 p.m. yesterday (Monday) to a box truck fire at the intersection of Main Street and Farrcroft Drive. Two people had exited the vehicle by the time firefighters arrived, but no injuries were reported. [FCFRD/Facebook]

Fairfax Station Church Burglarized — Fairfax County police arrested a 30-year-old man from Lorton last week for allegedly breaking into a church in the 4900 block of Ox Road on April 23. The man has been charged with burglary, larceny with the intent to sell, felony property destruction, drug possession and auto theft for stealing a vehicle owned by the church, police say. [FCPD]

ALU Changes Raise Concerns — “Residents are concerned that new, more lenient rules on accessory living units (ALUs) would lead to more rental properties and less parking in stable single-family neighborhoods.” Fairfax County staff say the revised rules would make it easier to establish ALUs “by eliminating some of the administrative barriers and streamlining the review process.” [Annandale Today]

Paralegal Leads Korean Restaurant Tours — “Alexandria resident Soomin ‘Mina’ Kim spends her weekdays immersed in the world of law as a paralegal in Old Town. But her weekends are reserved for Annandale in Fairfax County, where she guides culinary Koreatown adventures for her small business, Virginialicious.” [ALXnow]

Lamb Mowers Visit Local School — “Landscaping at Rolling Valley Elementary School in West Springfield looked a bit different this week, when lawn mowers were left in the sheds while a flock of lambs trimmed the school’s grass by nibbling it for their breakfast and lunch.” [FCPS]

McLean Mansion Sells After Makeover — “Stately homes designed in 18th-century French architectural style … are not unusual in the Langley Farms section of McLean. But when a palatial 22,000-square-foot house on Georgetown Pike, built on nearly four acres in 2023, lingered on the market, the Building Group brought in Will Thomas for consultation.” [Washingtonian]

Teen Creates Financial Literacy Game — Oakton High School junior Rishab “Nanduri created MoneyQuest, a gamified financial literacy app that teaches students about saving, credit, investing, and long-term financial planning.” The 17-year-old’s goal was to find a fun, accessible way to educate other students about managing money. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Showers are possible from late morning to afternoon, under mostly cloudy skies with a high near 65°F. Evening sees a slight chance of showers before 7pm and after 8pm, with a low of 52°F. The chance of rain is 40% during the day and 20% at night. [NWS]

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

Police Officer’s Gun Fired in Tysons Corner Center — “On the afternoon of April 2, a D.C. police captain was at Level99 … when he lost his personal weapon while playing a game, Fairfax County police said. A teen found the weapon, thought it was a prop and pulled the trigger, investigators said. No one was shot.” [NBC4]

GOP Suggests Returning Part of N. Va. to D.C. — Republican Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Georgia) introduced legislation last week that would “Make D.C. Square Again” by ceding Arlington and Alexandria back to the District “in the wake of Virginia voters approving a redistricting referendum to benefit Democrats’ representation in Congress.” [ARLnow]

Metro Board Approves Automation Plan — “The WMATA board of directors voted [on April 23] to endorse a plan to fully automate the Red Line and add platform screen doors as part of its capital improvement plan. The other lines would come next. The changes wouldn’t be finished on the Red Line until 2032 at the earliest, and are contingent on federal funding.” [Washingtonian]

Bill Makes Contraceptives Free — “Contraceptive services will soon be free for all privately-insured Virginians under a new law starting in 2027. The Contraceptive Equity Act, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Fairfax), will require insurers to cover a broader range of birth control methods without patients having to pay out-of-pocket.” [WHRO]

Mobile Home Fire in Chantilly — Fairfax County firefighters responded just after 1 a.m. on Friday (April 24) to a fire that engulfed a mobile home in the 14500 block of Trans World Avenue in Chantilly. No injuries were reported, but an investigation into the cause of the fire remains underway. [FCFRD/Facebook]

FCPS Principal Defends Early Release Days — “Fairfax County elementary school teachers are using the extra time they receive on monthly early release days to plan, finish trainings, meet with parents and support chronically absent students,” according to Mosaic Elementary School principal Mahri Aste. She says she understands parents’ concerns about the school calendar, but the loss of the scheduled planning time will “impact kids.” [WTOP]

D.C. Considers Self-Driving Taxis — “Robotaxis could be allowed on D.C. streets under a new bill that lays out the rules of the road for autonomous vehicles, providing an alternative to Ubers and Lyfts or traditional taxis.” D.C. Council member Charles “Allen said he sought to address a number of concerns about autonomous vehicles, ranging from safety to congestion to the displacement of human workers.” [Washington Post]

McLean Houses Sell for Combined $25M — “The deals, which create a 6-acre compound across some of the most expensive and exclusive land in Greater Washington, closed 10 days apart. First, on April 14, Arthur and Linda Rodbell sold 1137 and 1169 Crest Lane to Splinter VA LLC for $12.825 million. Then, on Friday, 1173 and 1175 Crest, known as Easter Hill, sold for $12.45 million.” [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Monday — Expect patchy fog before 7 a.m., followed by sunny skies with a high around 69°F. Light winds will shift to an eastward direction at 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Monday night will be mostly clear, with a low near 47°F and southeast winds of 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]