Author: FFXnow.com

Jay Jones Texts Rattle Va. Elections — “What began as a quiet October Friday in Virginia politics erupted into a full-blown national scandal when screenshots of private, three-year old text messages showing Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones fantasizing about shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children were made public.” [Virginia Mercury]

Two Killed in GW Parkway Crash — “Two people were killed yesterday (Sunday) in a one-car crash on GW Parkway. Shortly after 2 p.m., a vehicle left the roadway and struck the overpass at the ramp from southbound Washington Blvd to southbound GW Parkway, according to the U.S. Park Police.” [ARLnow]

Reston Office Complex Seeks Buyer — “JLL is marketing the three-building Makers Point property at 11130, 11180 and 11190 Sunrise Valley Drive for sale on behalf of” Bridge Investment Group, which bought the 12-acre site in 2018. “The property could present an opportunity for a buyer to redevelop it to multifamily or another use … but JLL’s marketing flyer focuses on its future as an office asset.” [Bisnow]

New Coffee Shop Welcomed to Fairfax City — “Fairfax City officials and business leaders helped launch a new coffee shop in Old Town with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday afternoon. Common Culture Specialty Coffee & Brunch Cafe is located at 3955 Chain Bridge Road, taking over the space previously occupied by The Commons Fooderie.” [Patch]

Annandale Dessert Shop Reopens — “SnoCream, formerly at The Block, has resurfaced inside Garden Social at the same EastGate Shopping Center on John Marr Drive in Annandale. SnoCream has taken over the tiny window formerly occupied by Tiger Sugar. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is also co-located with Garden Social.” [Annandale Today]

Reston Tennis Courts Temporarily Close — “The Lake Newport Tennis Courts 5 and 6 will be closed starting tomorrow, October 7, for painting. They are expected to reopen on Thursday, October 9, weather permitting. Courts 1 through 4 will remain open for lessons and open play.” [Reston Association/Facebook]

Truck Art Contest Deadline Extended — Fairfax County’s “Solid Waste Management Program is currently accepting entries for the 2025 Truck Art Design Contest, which will feature a winner’s artwork on solid waste trucks … Entries must be submitted by Friday, October 10, 2025, and winners will be announced on Fairfax Recycles Day in November 2025.” [ArtsFairfax/Instagram]

Chantilly Gardens to Host Fantasy Cosplay — “The National Botanic Garden is opening its gates October 25 and 26 for ‘Cosplay Enchantment in the Gardens,’ the October edition of its monthly event series … There are several fantasy-like attractions where visitors can capture their cosplay on camera, including a stone castle, a carved stone dragon, a sculpture garden, and even a Hobbit Town.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 80 and a south wind at 6-11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. Tuesday night brings showers and possible thunderstorms after 5am, a low around 61. Precipitation chances stand at 90%. [NWS]

Teacher Charged With Assaulting Student — An instructional assistant at Providence Elementary School was charged on Friday (Oct. 3) with misdemeanor assault after allegedly “aggressively” handling a student during a physical education class on Sept. 18. “No injuries were reported. A teacher who witnessed the incident reported it to the school administration, and the instructional assistant was placed on administrative leave.” [City of Fairfax Police]

New Safety Measures After DCA Crash — “The Federal Aviation Administration made permanent changes to how helicopters operate in the airspace around D.C. in response to the Jan. 29 midair collision near Reagan National Airport … Similar adjustments were made at Baltimore Washington International and Dulles airports to increase the distance between helicopters and commercial flights.” [WTOP]

Va. Moves Toward Trans Sports Ban — “The Virginia Board of Health on Thursday voted to begin a lengthy process to bar transgender people from playing in female sports and restrict the facilities they use. Shortly before the vote, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) issued an executive directive giving his support to the move.” [Washington Post]

Tysons Apartments Up for Sale — Developer LCOR “is marketing Kingston at McLean Crossing, a 319-unit apartment complex at 7480 Birdwood Ave,” as for sale. Currently 96% occupied, with an average rent of $2,745 per unit, the two towers are “the first of several buildings planned as part of the 21-acre The Commons of McLean phased development, later rebranded McLean Crossing.” [Washington Business Journal]

Police Investigate Assault at Park — Fairfax City police “officers were dispatched around 4:15 p.m. [on Thursday, Oct. 2] for the report of an assault at Kutner Park, which is located at 3901 Jermantown Road, according to a police spokesman. Investigators believe that there were fewer than eight juveniles involved in the assault.” [Patch]

Reminders for Pedestrian Safety Month — “October is Pedestrian Safety Month so there’s no better time to take a moment and renew your efforts to travel safely. Whether you are walking, biking or driving, keep in mind that safety is a two-way street and is everyone’s job. If we each take a moment and consider safety, we hope to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents in Fairfax County.” [Fairfax County Government]

Automotive Teacher Wins $50K Prize — “Rebecca Fenton received quite a shock last week. The Fairfax County Public Schools automotive instructor was surprised in her classroom by family, FCPS staff and students, and a news crew. They had all gathered to celebrate Fenton winning a prize in teaching excellence that included a $50,000 check.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Craft Festival Coming to Chantilly — “When the Capital Arts and Craft Festival opens October 10 at Dulles Expo Center, there will be one Reston-based artist making her debut at this largest indoor art festival in the region. Ceramic artist Laurie Baron will be among 225 artisans from throughout the country at the three-day event.” [The Burn]

It’s Monday — Patchy fog is expected to clear by 10am, making way for a sunny day with a high near 81 degrees and calm winds turning south at 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. The evening will be mostly clear with a low around 61 degrees and a gentle south wind at 6 mph. [NWS]

McKay on Federal Government Shutdown Impacts — “Fairfax County, Virginia, is home to one of the largest numbers of federal workers in the country, with about 80,000 federal civil servants residing there, according to the county … Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay joined WTOP’s Anne Kramer and Shawn Anderson on Thursday to talk about the local impact of the shutdown and what the county is doing to mitigate it.” [WTOP]

ICE Sued for Detaining Youth — “The ACLU of Virginia has filed a class action lawsuit accusing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of unlawfully detaining young people in the commonwealth who already have, or are in the process of obtaining, legal protections that Congress created to shield them from deportation.” [Virginia Mercury]

Homeless Shelter Residents Report Poor Conditions — “The failure of New Hope Housing to adequately manage homeless shelters, including the one in Bailey’s Crossroads, has had a negative impact on clients, as well as staff … A client at the Bailey’s Shelter, who asked to be identified as S.L.T., told Annandale Today he’s had three different case managers in the past two years, and none of them have helped him find a job or housing.” [Annandale Today]

I-495 Project Misses Key Endorsement — “Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins cast the lone dissenting vote that blocked the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority from endorsing a proposed extension of express lanes along the southern stretch of I-495, she told the City Council on Tuesday night.” Four NVTA board members voted for a letter supporting the VDOT project, while others abstained, the mayor reported. [ALXnow]

Athletic Court Projects Delayed by Rain — “Due to unexpected heavy rain over the last few weeks, the timeline for court renovations has been delayed. The work to return the Chalet Woods pickleball courts to tennis courts will begin on Monday, Oct. 6. The Greenbriar [Pickleball] Courts will be completed on Friday, Oct. 31.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

How Metro Silver Line Has Changed N. Va. — “Not all areas around Silver Line stations have seen equal changes. In this piece, I’ll examine how transit has spread development into the more car-dependent suburbs of Tysons and Reston, and how it’s changing the way people live, work, and play around the region.” [Greater Greater Washington]

Annual Reston Home Tour Coming Up — “If you love touring homes and supporting the local community, add the 2025 Reston Home Tour to your calendar. This year’s event, set for Saturday, October 25, marks the 23rd for the tour. Proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Reston Museum.” Today (Friday) is the last opportunity to buy a typically $40 ticket at an early-bird price of $35. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Reston Art Gallery Unveils New Exhibit — “Julia Malakoff’s solo exhibition, The Poetry of Everyday Things, will be on view at Reston Art Gallery and Studios at Lake Anne Plaza from October 4 through 31, 2025. Julia’s art is inspired by the ordinary things surrounding her daily life.” The new exhibit will be welcomed with an artist reception on Sunday (Oct. 5) at 2-4 p.m. [Press release]

It’s Friday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high temperature near 72°F, as calm winds shift southward at around 5 mph in the afternoon. The night will remain mostly clear, with a low temperature around 52°F and light south winds. [NWS]

Shutdown Could Influence Va. Elections — “Republicans control the White House, the federal government barreled into a shutdown at midnight Wednesday morning, and a race for governor in Virginia is weeks away. Democratic former Rep. Abigail Spanberger has so far led Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in both polling and fundraising,” but some Republicans see an opportunity to change the race by holding their opponents as responsible for the shutdown. [NBC News]

Antisemitism Alleged at Reston Apple Store — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency “that enforces workplace anti-discrimination laws sued Apple on Tuesday, claiming the manager of a retail store made antisemitic comments and denied a Jewish employee’s requests for time off before firing him.” [CNN]

Flagging for Construction on McLean Road — Traffic on Old Dominion Drive between Old Gate Court and Dulany Drive will be limited to one way in alternating directions from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, starting today (Thursday) through Friday, Oct. 24. “Flagging operations are needed for crews to perform milling and paving work on Old Dominion Drive” as part of the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension project. [VDOT]

Three Injured in Richmond Highway Crash — “Watch this: A car overturned in this crash [Tuesday] afternoon on Route 1 at Mt. Vernon Hwy. Three people with non-life threatening injuries. Bystanders righted the vehicle before @FairfaxCountyPD & @ffxfirerescue arrived. Also note that the red car kept rolling after the driver got out. Video via SafetyVid.org.” [Dave Statter/X]

McLean Pop-Up Art Gallery Open — “The McLean Art Society’s Pop-Up Art Gallery is now open at Chesterbrook and will be open through the end of 2025. The Gallery will welcome visitors Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Mondays and Tuesdays, it will host educational workshops and events designed for both artists and the broader community.” [Federal Realty press release]

Student Group Warns About Vaping — Langley High School senior Rujvi Thakkar “launched ClearLungs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading awareness about the dangerous vaping and nicotine trends, in April. It came in response to the amount of vaping she saw in the community and school, specifically where many students encountered their peers vaping in bathrooms.” [WTOP]

Map Shows Virginia’s Shrinking Tree Canopy — “Approximately 60% of Virginia is located inside the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and those communities now have access to an updated map that shows precisely how their landscapes are changing over time … The research shows Virginia has lost nearly 50,000 acres of tree canopy in its portion of the watershed to development over just seven years.” [Virginia Mercury]

New Center Treats Addiction With Music — “Recovery Unplugged, a new addiction treatment center in Seven Corners, uses music as a catalyst to help people change their lives. The center offers holistic treatment for mental and behavioral health, as well as detox for addiction, said Riley Osborne, the company’s chief growth officer, at an open house on Sept. 30.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 70 degrees accompanied by an east wind around 8 mph. Thursday night will see partly cloudy conditions with a low around 52 degrees. The east wind at around 5 mph will become calm in the evening. [NWS]

Federal Government Shuts Down — “Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline. Roughly 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, some potentially fired by the Trump administration.” [Associated Press]

Fairfax Football Team Banned From Playoffs — “Fairfax High School football team will not be in the playoffs this season, no matter how they play. The Virginia High School League placed the team on probation and banned it from postseason play after the school self-reported a recruiting violation … The league has tightened enforcement of rules after last year’s major controversy over transfers at the highly-ranked Hayfield Secondary School.” [WUSA9]

More Details on Burke Police Shooting — Fairfax County police released more details yesterday (Tuesday) on the circumstances leading up to an officer shooting a man in crisis who was allegedly wielding an ax, chainsaw, blowtorch and, at one point during negotiations, a gun. “The officer involved in the shooting has been identified as a 6-year veteran assigned to the Crisis Intervention Team.” [FCPD]

Rep. Beyer to Forgo Pay During Shutdown — “During my telephone town hall last night [Monday, Sept. 29], a constituent asked if Members of Congress get paid during a shutdown. I told her yes they do because of the 27th Amendment, but I will have mine withheld for the duration of a shutdown in solidarity with federal workers.” [Don Beyer/Bluesky]

Driver Charged in Fiery I-495 Crash — A Burke resident has been charged with reckless driving, with additional charges pending, after allegedly racing other drivers and crashing on I-495 on Sunday (Sept. 28). Three people, including the charged driver, were seriously injured when a 2020 McLaren 720S sideswiped a Honda Pilot before crashing over a guardrail and catching fire, Virginia State Police say. [FFXnow]

Maryland Increases Speeding Fines — “Maryland is adopting a tiered system for fines issued by speed cameras, effective Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The higher a driver’s speed, the steeper the fine. Fines could cost hundreds of dollars, depending on how fast a driver is going.” [NBC4]

Sleepy Driver Leads to Vienna Crash — One driver was transported to a hospital with injuries from a three-vehicle crash that occurred on Lawyers Road NW at Blair Court NW around 4:36 p.m. on Monday (Sept. 29). Police say the driver was heading north on Lawyers when they “fell asleep at the wheel” and rear ended another vehicle, which in turn rear ended a third vehicle “due to the force of being struck” by the original vehicle. [Vienna Police]

County Conducts Business Survey — “The Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives (DEI) is asking business owners to participate in its latest Business Pulse Survey. This is an opportunity for all businesses, large and small, across the county to provide direct feedback on the current economic climate, operational challenges, and their outlook for the future.” [Fairfax County DEI]

It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies to transition to sunnier conditions, with temperatures reaching around 72°F and a 10 mph north wind. Wednesday night will be clear and cool with a low near 51°F, accompanied by a 6 mph northeast breeze. [NWS]