Author: FFXnow.com

ICE Seeks Assault Suspect — “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer urging Fairfax County not to release from jail” a man arrested on June 30 in Prince William County. “He has been charged with strong-arm assault and kidnap of an adult with the intent to sexually assault in connection with an incident in September 2025 in the Skyline area of Bailey’s Crossroads.” [Annandale Today]

Stomach Parasite Sickens Virginians — “Virginia is reporting up to 10 cases of cyclosporiasis, a stomach parasite that can cause severe diarrhea and has infected people in 17 states so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC said 145 people nationwide have gotten sick between May 1 and June 16. Twenty people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.” [WJLA]

Some Federal Agencies Rehiring — “More than 260,000 employees left the federal workforce since the administration began its efforts to downsize government through reductions in force, early retirement, deferred resignations and a hiring freeze, with the effects felt acutely here in the D.C. region. But now, many agencies are hiring again, raising questions about what DOGE ultimately accomplished and what comes next for the federal workforce.” [WAMU]

Cat With Kittens Exposed to Rabies — “According to veterinarian Kathleen Werden, the cat was found with her kittens in a neighborhood in Chantilly on June 13 … If you or someone you know may have been exposed to the cat between June 6 and June 16, you should contact your local health department immediately.” [WJLA]

Va. Defends Immigrant Tuition Policy — “Virginia defended a policy allowing immigrant students to qualify for in-state tuition assistance in a federal court Tuesday as public universities begin preparing for the fall semester … The Justice Department argued federal law preempts a 2020 law dubbed the Virginia Dream Act.” [Courthouse News]

State Highways Ranked Highly for Safety — “A new study shows that Virginia is one of the best states in the country for delivering safety and mobility benefits with the commonwealth generating an estimated $1.95 billion in safety and reliability value as a result of fewer crashes, less property damage and more dependable travel. Still, researchers said, there is still more work to be done.” [Virginia Mercury]

Open Caption Requirement in Effect — “New options are here at movie theaters across Virginia. That’s because a new state law that went into effect on July 1 now requires most movie theaters to provide showings with open captions.” Bill patron Del. Phil Hernandez from Norfolk says he hopes the change makes “the simple pleasure” of seeing a movie “accessible for everyone,” including people who are deaf or hard of hearing, seniors and veterans. [WRIC]

Bailey’s Strip Mall Seeks to Fill Vacancies — “Big changes are coming to the small retail shopping strip at Leesburg Pike and Glen Forest Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads. Three units are available for lease: the vacant spaces formerly held by the Mum Aroi Thai restaurant and the Thai Value Food Market, plus the office currently occupied by State Farm Insurance agent David Seidel.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Thursday — Expect showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with a high near 87°F. An 80% chance of rain continues into the evening, especially before 8 p.m., with a low around 71°F and light southwest winds. [NWS]

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

Reston Library Closed for HVAC Repairs — “Reston Regional Library is currently closed for HVAC repairs. The branch will reopen as soon as repairs are made. This closure is expected to last through July 12 as facilities management awaits parts. Holds and due dates will be extended until the branch reopens.” [Fairfax Library/Instagram]

Dead Fish Found in Potomac River — “The Maryland Department of the Environment is investigating a large number of fish deaths in the Potomac River, a phenomenon known as a ‘fish kill.’ Scientists believe the fish kill is likely the result of what’s called a ‘summer turnover,’ when warmer water from the surface and cooler water from lower down suddenly mix.” [WTOP]

Va. Joins Challenge to ICE Reporting Change — “Virginia is joining a 22-state effort led by New York Attorney General Letitia James urging President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse a new federal policy ending investigations and public reporting of deaths that occur shortly after immigrants are released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.” [Virginia Mercury]

Volunteers Map Heat in N. Va. — “To better understand the urban heat island in Fairfax County, Arlington and the City of Alexandria and identify ways to reduce impacts, the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions and George Mason University’s Virginia Climate Center are partnering on a new initiative … The alliance is seeking volunteers to help collect heat data on the measurement day, which is expected to occur between July 8 and 24.” [Capital Weather]

Tysons Mall Owner Expands Holdings — “An affiliate of Macerich (NYSE: MAC) paid $5.9 million last month for 8138 Watson St., a half-acre property that is home to the See Clearly Vision eyecare center, according to public records.” The Tysons Corner Center developer now owns the entire 7.75-acre triangle between International Drive and Watson Street except for a Capital One bank branch, but the company declined to comment on any specific future development plans. [Washington Business Journal]

Lt. Gov. Seeks Proactive Review of Dominion Merger — “Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi on Monday urged state utility regulators to require Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy to answer dozens of detailed questions about their proposed merger before formally filing the transaction, arguing Virginia’s six-month review process is too short to adequately scrutinize what would become the largest utility merger in U.S. history.” [Virginia Scope]

Chantilly Office Site Acquired — “Pulte Homes has purchased an 83,300-square-foot single-story office building located at 13990 Parkeast Circle and an adjacent 6.4-acre parcel … from Bethesda-based Finmarc Management Inc. for $26.36 million.” Part of the Park East Corporate Center, which was approved for residential redevelopment in 2024, the 14-acre site could be turned into 126 townhomes and 32 condos. [WBJ]

Shoppers Support Local Food Bank — “Customers at Wegmans stores across the company raised a record $769,300 during this year’s Fill the Bus/Fill the Backpack campaign, with donations from the Reston store helping support Food for Others as summer demand for food assistance rises.” Capital Area Food Bank and the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries were also beneficiaries. [Patch]

Grant to Fund Route 1 Public Art — “The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation is proud to announce it has been selected to receive a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant.” With the grant funding, SFDC will work with Mount Vernon at Home and the Nepenthe Gallery to implement new art installations and “engage older residents throughout the project” to ensure the artwork helps create accessible and welcoming spaces. [Press release]

New Legal Notice — Public hearing on high school boundaries scheduled July 16, 2026. [Public Notices]

It’s Wednesday — Expect patchy fog until 10 a.m., and mostly cloudy skies. The high will be near 82°F. Showers and thunderstorms are likely after 2 a.m. with a 70% chance of precipitation. Skies will remain mostly cloudy at night, with a low around 71°F. [NWS]

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

Storm Cleanup Underway in Reston Area — The Reston and Herndon area was hit hardest in Fairfax County by a storm that “tore down trees and knocked out power for thousands of people Sunday night.” No injuries were reported, but some homes and vehicles were damaged by fallen trees. Reston Association said its crews were working to clear its facilities, including trails, of fallen trees and other debris. [NBC4]

Townhouse Fire Under Investigation — “Just before 2:00 a.m., on July 6, units responded to reports of a townhouse fire” in the 3000 block of Ellenwood Drive in Merrifield. “Arriving crews found fire coming from the rear of the townhome.” No injuries were reported, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation. [FCFRD/Facebook]

Metro Claims Ridership Record — Based on a preliminary count, Metro says its system transported 667,652 riders on Saturday, a record for the Fourth of July, Washingtonian reported. The milestone was accompanied by a sellout of retro merchandise at a pop-up store for the transit agency’s 50th anniversary, more evidence that WMATA “has gone from regional punching bag to communal point of pride.” [The 51st]

Search and Rescue Team Finished in Venezuela — “Members of Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 1 are returning home to Fairfax County Monday after completing their deployment to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela. The Fairfax-based team announced Monday morning that it had been demobilized by the U.S. Department of State” and was expected to arrive at its Chantilly base at around 9:15 p.m. [WJLA]

How N. Va. Became Data Center Capital — “Today, the region houses the world’s largest concentration of data centers, making Virginia the nation’s digital capital. That growth has brought major economic benefits for local governments, but it has also divided communities increasingly weary of the facilities’ heavy demands on water and energy, among other impacts.” [Virginia Mercury]

County Appoints New Environmental Director — “Robert Sandoli has been appointed director of the county’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), effective Monday, July 20. He succeeds John Morrill, who is retiring after serving with the department since 2020.” [Fairfax County Government]

More Funding Approved for Dulles Concourse — Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced last week that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $32.5 million in grants to modernize airports in Virginia, including $22.1 million for the upcoming Concourse E at Dulles International Airport. The award comes on top of another $41.8 million in federal funds allocated to the project earlier this year. [Office of Sen. Mark Warner]

Local Musicians to Perform With Lizzo — “Grammy Award-winning artist Lizzo, who is also a classically trained flutist, will reimagine her biggest hits with the National Symphony Orchestra. Local ensemble DCFlutes will open the show” tonight (Tuesday) at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center. “About 30 local student flutists will also join them on stage to perform a medley of Lizzo’s hit songs.” [WTOP]

It’s Tuesday — Expect patchy fog before 10am, then partly sunny skies with a high near 85. There’s a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. In the evening, precipitation likelihood is 80% with a low around 70. [NWS]

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

Spike in Heat-Related ER Visits — “According to the Virginia Department of Health, 737 people visited emergency departments because of heat-related illnesses in just a four-day span from July 1 through July 4. Of those days, Friday, July 3 was the worst with 225 medical visits.” Since May 1, emergency departments in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church have seen 128 visits for heat-related illnesses, the most in the state. [WAVY/DC News Now]

Reston and Annandale Residents Without AC — Residents of the Vantage Hill Condominiums in Reston and the Wedgewood Apartments in Annandale have been forced to endure the recent heat wave without functioning cooling systems. The Wedgewood property manager was reportedly working to fix the air-conditioning, while the Vantage Hill management says necessary electrical upgrades won’t be completed until next spring, per FOX5. [Annandale Today]

Teen Found Dead in Potomac River — “The body of a 16-year-old boy who was reported missing was found Friday in the Potomac River near Great Falls Park in Montgomery County, Maryland … The boy had been swimming there. He was with a group when he entered the water and never resurfaced.” [WTOP]

Chantilly Man Arrested for Shooting — “A Chantilly man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Loudoun County early Saturday … Deputies responding to the home for a shooting call discovered 33-year-old Brandon Fadden of Centreville dead at the scene.” Joshua Soroko, 31, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and other gun-related offenses, the county sheriff’s office said. [Inside NoVA]

No Injuries in Groveton House Fire – “The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said crews responded around 6:35 p.m. [on July 4] to the 2700 block of Schooley Drive in Groveton, where they found flames showing from multiple sides of the home and through the roof upon arrival … The cause of the fire remains under investigation.” [WJLA]

Reproductive Rights Amendment Faces Legal Challenge — “A legal challenge to Virginia’s pending reproductive rights amendment is headed toward a hearing later this month, with potential implications for two other pending constitutional amendments.” The lawsuit centers around “an argument that the clerk of the House of Delegates, Paul Nardo, failed to send copies of the amendment to circuit court clerks.” [Virginia Mercury]

Burke Family Struggling With Storm Recovery — “For Tony and Adrienne Toledo, the recovery is far from over. They spoke to WUSA9 shortly after the storm ripped the chimney off of their home the night of June 22. They were one of the many homeowners in the area impacted by the storm.” [WUSA9]

Warmth Could Increase Tick-Borne Illnesses — “Northern Virginia residents should brace for a surge in Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses as warmer weather following a mild winter creates ideal conditions for ticks.” McLean-based Dr. Gary Kaplan says Northern Virginia has a “very high concentration of ticks,” with the highest risk area being “the edge of most people’s backyards.” [Inside NoVA]

It’s Monday — Chance of precipitation is 40%, with a higher likelihood of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. The day will be mostly cloudy, with temperatures reaching around 87°F. Overnight, there’s an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms with a low near 71°F. [NWS]

Pollution Expected From D.C. Fireworks — “Fireworks for this year’s July Fourth celebration are expected to cause hazardous levels of pollution around the National Mall and ‘very unhealthy’ conditions in central D.C., according to internal National Park Service documents.” The show will feature approximately 850,000 fireworks and start later than usual, at around 10:30 or 11 p.m. [Washington Post]

Va. ICE Mask Ban Blocked — “Virginia cannot enforce a newly passed law prohibiting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from wearing masks, a federal judge ruled less than 12 hours before it would have taken effect. Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Payne held the Justice Department was likely to succeed in its argument” that the U.S. Constitution bars the commonwealth from regulating federal officers’ conduct. [Courthouse News Service]

Va. Rejoins Emissions Marketplace — Virginia officially rejoined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative yesterday (Wednesday) after Gov. Abigail Spanberger ceremonially signed into law House Majority Leader Charniele Herring’s bill requiring the state to establish a “market-based trading program” to incentivize carbon emission reductions. Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s withdrawal from the pact was ruled illegal by a court in 2024. [VPM News]

Herndon Summer Youth Program Offered — “Cornerstones will offer an eight-week summer youth program for students in the Reston and Herndon area beginning July 6, even as families continue to question the future of one of the nonprofit’s longtime after-school programs.” The new program at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center will be open to students entering second through 12th grade. [Patch]

Dulles Greenway Toll Increase Opposed — “Local elected officials testified against potential Dulles Greenway toll hikes June 29 at a State Corporation Commission hearing in Ashburn.” The owner of the 14-mile roadway from Leesburg to Dulles International Airport filed an SCC application in December seeking to raise tolls to $6.75 during peak hours and $5.60 during off-times. [Loudoun Times-Mirror]

Funding for Firefighter Cancer Screenings — “Virginia’s new two-year budget earmarks millions to help offset current and forthcoming federal funding changes to healthcare and social services. It also accomplished a bipartisan multi-year effort to fund cancer screenings for firefighters.” [Virginia Mercury]

Tips for Safe Fourth of July — “The Fairfax County Police Department encourages residents to celebrate safely while enjoying fireworks, barbecues, outdoor events, and time with family and friends. With large crowds, increased travel, and heightened activity expected across the region, planning ahead and staying alert will help ensure a safe and memorable celebration.” [FCPD]

Free Ice Cream at RTC Family Night — “Kick off Fourth of July weekend in style at Reston Town Center’s Stars & Stripes Family Night! Join us in the Pavilion from 4-8PM for an action-packed evening of all-ages fun, featuring field games, face painting, live DJ, and more. Celebrate America’s 250th with a sweet treat — FREE Ben & Jerry’s ice cream from the truck, including the fan-favorite Americone Dream (while supplies last)!” [Reston Town Center]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny and hot conditions with temperatures reaching around 102 degrees and heat index values climbing to 109. A gentle west wind will blow at 3 to 5 mph. Night will be clear with temperatures dropping to about 80 degrees. [NWS]

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