Author: FFXnow.com

Brace for Extreme Cold — “The National Weather Service warns that temperatures and wind chills are projected to plunge below zero this week and will likely remain below freezing through at least Friday night. These temperatures will create hazardous conditions, which will impact road/sidewalk clearing and water main issues.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

No Fairfax Connector Bus Service — After initially planning to provided limited Sunday service, Fairfax Connector announced last night that it will suspend service today (Monday) based on challenging road conditions after Winter Storm Fern. “Service decisions are subject to change as road conditions require. Please visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/operatingstatus for additional service status updates.” [Fairfax Connector]

Free School Breakfast Bill Advances — “Senate Bill 4 by Sen. Danica Roem, D-Prince William, and House Bill 96 by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-Alexandria, narrows the scope of free meals provided to students to just breakfast, and would have the state reimburse reimburse each school for the breakfasts they provide. After clearing the Senate and Education Committee unanimously on Thursday, it will be further deliberated in the Finance and Appropriations Committee.” [Virginia Mercury]

Bill Calls for Study of Snow Treatment Alternatives — “A bill from Sen. Danica Roem (D-Manassas) would direct the Virginia Department of Transportation to study the pros and cons of salting methods and alternatives. Many options have been proposed around the country, such as calcium or magnesium chloride and mixtures including sand, cat litter and even beet juice.” [VPM News]

Va. Could Rejoin Emissions Reduction Compact — “Virginia’s newly elected Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones took action Thursday that creates a pathway for Virginia to rejoin the carbon market called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI.” Jones filed a motion that could allow the state to settle or withdraw from a lawsuit over then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s withdrawal from the multi-state initiative. [Inside Climate News]

Lawsuit Over Solitary Confinement Allowed — “A class action lawsuit alleging that the Virginia Department of Corrections has violated its ‘Step Down’ program by arbitrarily keeping people confined solitarily for long periods of time will be allowed to move forward, a federal district judge ruled this week.” Vienna Del. Holly Seibold (D-12) said she was concerned about the treatment of people in restorative housing after visiting Red Onion State Prison last year. [Virginia Mercury]

Hawk Freed From Batting Cage Jam — “A hawk was rescued from a park in Annandale after it got caught in a batting cage. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter said animal control officers responded to a call last week that a hawk got stuck in a batting cage at Pine Ridge Park … Officers quickly helped to free the hawk and safely released it back into the wild.” [DC News Now]

Affordable Housing Waitlists Opening Soon — “The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) is opening the application waitlist for the Project-Based Voucher units from Feb. 2 through Feb. 8. Properties accepting waitlist applications are part of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) – Project-Based Voucher program,” which “generally serves households with … up to 50 percent of the median income.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 27 degrees and winds ranging from 11 to 16 mph, potentially reaching 28 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with lows near 2 degrees and wind chills as low as -7. The west wind will blow at 7 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. [NWS]

Residents Stock Up Ahead of Snowstorm — “The latest forecast predicts 10 inches of snow falling on the Washington, D.C. region, bringing cold temperatures with it. In anticipation, Fairfax County residents began flocking to area hardware stores to stock up on shovels, bags of salt, and sleds.” [Patch]

Man Guilty of Murder at ATM — “Winston Nathaniel Lark IV was found guilty Thursday of first-degree murder and using a firearm in commission of a felony” for fatally shooting Nelson Alexander at an ATM in West Falls Church on Oct. 20, 2021. “A sentencing date has not been set yet. Lark faces 20 years to life on the first-degree murder conviction.” [NBC4]

Redistricting Referendum Date Proposed — “The House of Delegates Appropriations Committee voted 15–7 on Thursday to move forward a bill introduced by Chair Luke Torian (D–Prince William) that would set April 21 as the date for a ballot referendum on a proposed constitutional amendment that passed through the legislature on a partisan vote last week.” [VPM News]

Updates Underway at Bailey’s Homeless Shelter — “Since FACETS took over management of the troubled Bailey’s Shelter in late 2025, the nonprofit has taken steps to resolve the problems stemming from New Hope Housing’s mismanagement.” In addition to introducing more staff, the new shelter operator is working to upgrade its security system and has rejoined Fairfax County’s Operation Stream Shield litter pick-up program. [Annandale Today]

Homeowner Appeals Denial of Addition — A homeowner on Marble Lane in the Greenbriar area has turned to the Board of Zoning Appeals after Fairfax County staff ordered him to stop construction on a three-story addition found to be a few inches too close to a neighbor’s property line. Intended for the resident’s parents, the expansion sparked neighbor complaints and discussions of a zoning ordinance amendment that could “accelerate later this year.” [Washington Business Journal]

Parents Lobby for More Child Care Support — “Kaila Brewer, a Chesapeake mother and special education teacher, had to leave her job during the COVID-19 pandemic to care for her five-year-old son, who is autistic … That experience spurred her to advocate alongside other parents and supporters at the state Capitol on Wednesday and urge lawmakers to expand early childhood care options.” [Virginia Mercury]

Nonprofit Rolls Out Mobile Bathrooms — A Mobile Outreach Unit with private bathrooms, including hot showers, from Fairfax-based Pathway Homes will soon travel to sites in Northern Virginia and D.C., providing services to people experiencing homelessness. “According to Pathway Homes, only two of the 41 homeless shelters in Northern Virginia offer drop-in shower services for people not living in the shelter.” [WTOP]

Feedback Wanted From Military Community — “The Fairfax County Veterans and Military Families Commission is conducting a survey to identify gaps in serving county veterans and military community … The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. The survey will close on Feb. 16, 2026. The feedback will be used to help inform county policy and practices.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]

It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high near 44, as west winds increase to 12-17 mph in the afternoon, with gusts up to 24 mph. Friday night will be partly cloudy and colder, with lows around 10 and wind chill values as low as -7. Blustery conditions will prevail, featuring a north wind of 18-25 mph and gusts up to 36 mph. [NWS]

Nonprofit Shut Down for Candy Bar Sales Scheme — “Attorneys General from D.C., Maryland and Virginia announced on Tuesday that two local non-profits will shut down permanently for exploiting kids from low-income neighborhoods selling candy bars door-to-door without proof of compensation.” An investigation found that leaders of Maryland Youth Club and Virginia Youth Club, which is based in Fairfax County, was using the funds raised for their personal benefit. [WUSA9]

Defense Calls Witnesses in Double Murder Trial — “The defense attorney for Brendan Banfield, accused in the murder of his wife and a stranger in an alleged plot to end up in a relationship with the family au pair, started calling witnesses, including experts in digital forensics, to testify early Wednesday.” Judge Penney Azcarate noted at the end of the day that the courthouse could close early next week if there’s a lot of snow this weekend, but the trial remains “ahead of schedule.” [DC News Now]

Voting Access Bills Advance — “With the 2026 General Assembly session in full swing, Democrats on Tuesday advanced a slate of voting and campaign finance measures aimed at expanding access to the ballot box and increasing transparency in elections,” including one sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek that would establish an online campaign finance portal similar to the platform currently offered by the Virginia Public Access Project. [Virginia Mercury]

New Va. Attorney General Outlines Vision — “Jay Jones took swift action after taking the oath of office on Saturday and becoming the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 49th attorney general. The Democrat joined on to several existing state lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s administration and reversed several opinions issued by his Republican predecessor,” following through on a campaign promise to “push back against federal overreach.” [VPM News]

Former Reality TV Star Challenges Warner — “Another candidate has entered a challenge against Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) in the lawmaker’s first primary election in his 18 years on the Senate. Mark Moran, a former reality television star and Wall Street investment banker who lives in Falls Church,” says he would prioritize cost-of-living issues if elected and support abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, among other plans. [ARLnow]

Theft Reported at Home Depot in Fairfax — “City of Fairfax police are asking the public’s help in identifying two men who they say stole $1,284 worth of merchandise from a city business on Friday. On Tuesday, police released photos of the two men who stole the merchandise from the Home Depot store located at 3201 Blenheim Blvd.” [Patch]

Police Facility Nearing Construction Finish — “The Fairfax County Police Department’s new building for its Operations Support Bureau is expected to open in February, says project manager James Sun. That’s three years after the facility, at 3911 Woodburn Road in Annandale, was originally supposed to be completed.” [Annandale Today]

Burlington Possibly Coming to Chantilly — “A new store is planned for Chantilly Crossing. The shopping center will soon be home to Burlington, which is set to take over part of the space previously occupied by Office Depot and Party City,” according to a site plan from property owner Kite Realty Group Trust. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 51, with southwest winds at 7 to 10 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon and gusting up to 20 mph. As for Thursday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low around 29 and a light northwest wind at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

N. Va. Democrats Hopeful After Inauguration — “Northern Virginia Democrats were in high spirits at the inauguration of Gov. Abigail Spanberger this weekend, looking toward new opportunities for a variety of bills held back by the previous administration. Legislators and political observers expect fewer vetoes and more collaboration with Democratic policymakers.” [ARLnow]

Big Snow Storm Possible This Weekend — “Confidence is increasing that there will be a ‘significant’ winter storm Saturday into Sunday along the Interstate 95 corridor, including the D.C. region and the rest of the mid-Atlantic, according to the National Weather Service … The storm is on track to begin in the D.C. region Saturday afternoon, peak Saturday night into Sunday, and end Monday.” [WTOP]

Virginia U.S. Attorney Ousted — “Lindsey Halligan, a Trump administration lawyer who was named head of a key U.S. attorney’s office in Virginia last year with instructions to seek criminal charges against President Donald Trump’s political adversaries, left her post at the Justice Department on Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.” [Washington Post]

New Members Appointed to GMU Board — “Shortly after being sworn in on Saturday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger appointed members to the Boards of Visitors for George Mason University, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Military Institute. She also ordered a review of the higher-ed board confirmation process, which was the center of contention between lawmakers and the previous gubernatorial administration last year.” [Virginia Mercury]

Progress on American Legion Bridge Overhaul — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore say they’ve “made significant progress” on an agreement to accelerate rebuilds of the Francis Scott Key and American Legion bridges. For the American Legion Bridge in particular, they say they will “leverage innovative approaches like a public private partnership” to move the project forward. [FOX5]

Dog Reunited With Family After Almost Three Years — “A dog was reunited with his family in Maryland last week after he went missing almost three years ago. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter said animal services officers responded to a call about a stray dog and ‘they had no idea they were about to help reunite a long-missing pet!'” [DC News Now]

Reston Native Coaches College Championship Team — “A former NFL coach from Reston was one of the coaches that helped lead the Indiana University football team to its first national championship on Monday night. The Hoosiers defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 27-21, and finished the season with a perfect 16-0 record.” A graduate of South Lakes High School, Ola Adams was in his second season as Indiana’s safeties coach. [Patch]

Ethiopian Market Coming to Bailey’s Crossroads — “An Ethiopian food shop called Nazret Market #4 is expected to open in Bailey’s Crossroads next month, says owner Aftataw (Mamush) Muluneh. The shop, at 5810 Seminary Road, will offer spices, meat, grains, and other items imported from Ethiopia.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — Clouds will gradually increase throughout the day, reaching a high near 40°F, accompanied by a southeast wind that will shift south at 9-14 mph in the morning and gust up to 25 mph. At night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low around 33°F. [NWS]

New Governor’s First Executive Orders — Following her inauguration on Saturday (Jan. 17), “Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed 10 executive actions that broadly targeted affordability and pushed the commonwealth away from former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s approaches to education, immigration and race.” [VPM News]

Polls Open for House District 17 Election — “Residents in parts of Fairfax County will head to the polls on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to fill a vacancy in the District 17 House of Delegates seat. District 17 includes communities in Franconia, Huntington, Kingstowne, and Rose Hill.” Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. as Democratic nominee Garrett McGuire and Republican Christopher Cardiff compete to succeed longtime delegate Mark Sickles. [WUSA9]

Gun Brandished at Springfield Town Center — “Springfield Town Center in Virginia was locked down for 45 minutes Saturday night after an individual showed a gun during an incident. Police said they got a report of a ‘domestic-related brandishing’ incident just before 8:10 p.m.” There was no evidence any shots were fired. [WTOP]

Trooper Injured in American Legion Bridge Crash — “A Virginia State Police trooper and police dog suffered minor injuries in a crash during a pursuit Friday morning on Interstate 495. At approximately 3:38 a.m., the trooper spotted a vehicle on Interstate 95 northbound near Fairfax County Parkway traveling at 90 mph, Virginia State Police spokesman Matthew Demlein said in a news release.” [Inside NoVA]

DOJ Sues Va. for Voter Data — “The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday sued Virginia for not handing over state voter data, the latest among several states the department has targeted in an effort to retrieve registration information from individuals across the country since last year.” [The Hill]

Cause of Burke Centre House Fire Found — A house fire that occurred on New Year’s Day in the 5500 block of Corot Court was caused by an “electrical event” in the home’s basement, Fairfax County fire investigators have determined. No injuries to firefighters or the three occupants were reported, but “sadly, two cats died in the fire,” which resulted in an estimated $147,750 in property damages. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]

Former NBA Player Arrested — “Former NBA player Delonte West, who once played a key role on the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, has been arrested and charged with robbery and assault in Fairfax County, Virginia. West, 42, was arrested after the reported assault and robbery on Dec. 21 around 6:40 a.m. in the 5900 block of Richmond Highway in Belle Haven.” [WTOP]

FCPS Teacher Joins 5th House District Race — “Voters in [today’s] Democratic firehouse primary will have four candidates to choose from after Fairfax County Public Schools teacher Gregory Darrall entered the race this weekend … The candidates are competing to run for Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s seat” after she resigned to campaign for outgoing state Sen. Adam Ebbin’s 39th Senate District seat. [ALXnow]

Recommendations for Reston Visitors — “Today, it’s noted for its open-air town center, green spaces, arts and culture, and walking and biking trails that make it easy to get around Reston. Book a room at the Hyatt Regency Reston to be at the center of the action when you come to explore. Here’s what to do on your next visit to Reston.” [Southern Living]

It’s Tuesday — The weather will be sunny, reaching a high of 29 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 9 to 11 mph and gusts up to 24 mph. The night will be mostly clear with a low temperature of 17 degrees and light variable winds. [NWS]