Author: FFXnow.com

Swimmer Missing in Potomac River — “For the third time this summer, a search operation is underway downstream of Great Falls after another swimmer disappeared in the Potomac River … The latest incident occurred on Tuesday south of Sandy Landing, where a 25-year-old man went missing after getting into the water.” [FOX5]

Va. Dems Lobbied for Early Primary Spot — “To earn a place in the early window, Virginia had to persuade the committee they could test candidates among the voters Democrats need to win a general election while offering an affordable and accessible campaign environment. Each state made a 15-minute presentation in May followed by 30 minutes of questions from panel members.” [Virginia Mercury]

Residents Object to Dominion Substation — “Residents of the Bren Mar Park area and beyond packed a meeting of the Mason District Land Use Committee (MDLUC) on July 28 to oppose Dominion Energy’s proposal for a massive substation to serve the Plaza 500 data center on Edsall Road.” [Annandale Today]

Last Push for Beyer Challengers — “With just one week to go until the primary, the four challengers to U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) are trying to stand out from the crowd. Lorena Bruner, Michael Duffin, Adam Dunigan and Mo Seifeldein are attempting to overtake Beyer in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Aug. 4.” [ARLnow]

Police Seek Help With Theft Investigations — “The City of Fairfax Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying suspects in three unrelated theft investigations that occurred at businesses across the city in June.” The targeted businesses were Ulta Beauty, Home Depot and a Giant grocery store. [Patch]

Vacant Falls Church Site for Sale — “The owner of vacant Falls Church lot has abandoned its plan to build a mixed-use development there and has instead put the property up for sale. The property, located at 419 W. Annandale Road in Falls Church, is just under an acre and consists of a paved parking lot and overgrown trees … JLL began circulating the listing on Monday.” [Washington Business Journal]

More Memorials Planned for Downtown D.C. — “Several long-planned memorials are finally reaching the construction phase, while President Trump pushes his own additions to Washington’s landscape, including the Arch and his National Garden of American Heroes.” [Axios DC]

Regional Pizzeria Launches Charity Campaign — “The Reston Paisano’s Pizza is asking customers to help provide meals for families experiencing food insecurity. The restaurant has launched the Community Slice Program at all of its DMV locations through its charitable initiative, Paisano’s With a Purpose, partnering with the Pruitt Foundation to provide free pizza slices to school-age children throughout the summer.” [Patch]

New Legal Notice — Applicant seeks beer, wine, mixed beverage restaurant on/off-premises license. [Public Notices]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 86°F and a northwest wind at 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 69°F and a lighter northwest wind between 3 and 7 mph. [NWS]

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Arrest in Groveton Shooting — Fairfax County police officers have taken a person into custody following a shooting last night (Tuesday) in the 7200 block of Fairchild Drive. “One adult male was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Preliminarily, the parties are known to one another and this appears to be an isolated incident.” [FCPD/X]

Repairs Progress on Potomac Sewer — “DC Water has completed the first major phase of emergency repairs on a critical section of the Potomac Interceptor near Pennyfield Lock in Potomac, marking a significant milestone in an effort to strengthen the aging sewer line. The repairs follow the January 19 collapse of a section of the Potomac Interceptor along Clara Barton Parkway.” [MoCo Show]

Data Center Group Launches Ad Campaign — Promotional campaigns advocating for data centers and challenging critiques have cropped up in Virginia and other states considering regulations or restrictions. “They’re all part of a network of groups created by the nonprofit Data Center Coalition, an industry group hoping to improve public opinion of data centers as pushback grows.” [Virginia Mercury]

Feds Propose Transportation Funding Shift — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has proposed cutting funding for mass transit and “Complete Streets” projects aimed at improving pedestrian and bicycle safety. “The administration’s key transportation goals include improving transit safety and security, supporting development of autonomous vehicles, ensuring freight railroad safety and building or expanding interstate highways, according to the letter.” [Smart Cities Dive]

Reston Man Arrested for Reported Theft — “Northern Virginia Community College Police Department officers have arrested a man in connection to a July 24 incident at NVCC’s Loudoun Campus. NVCC and Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the campus around 12:30 p.m. for a report of a robbery” involving a theft of $580 in cash from a car belonging to a college employee. [Loudoun Now]

New Mural Celebrated in Annandale — “The artwork, featuring the Statue of Liberty, was installed on July 24 on the fence around a construction site on John Marr Drive. Several volunteers painted the mural on June 27 at an Asian Night Market in Annandale under the direction of Omaid Sharifi, the president and co-founder of the ArtLords international art collective.” [Annandale Today]

RCC Seeks Board Candidates — “Reston Community Center (RCC) is seeking interested candidates to run for seats on its Board of Governors, a nine-member body responsible for oversight of RCC … Statements of Candidacy will be available at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, July 31 at both RCC Hunters Woods and RCC Lake Anne locations and online” until a filing deadline of Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. [RCC]

Thumbs Up for Vienna Ice Cream Shop — Frozen custard is “not an easy thing to find these days, so this summer’s opening of Whistler’s Ice Cream Extraordinaire in Vienna has brought a welcome change to my frozen dessert game. Made with an egg-yolk base, custard may be the antithesis of gut-friendly yogurt, but when treating myself, I see nothing wrong with going for it full force.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Wednesday — It will be sunny and warm with a high of 84°F. Expect northwest winds of 10 to 13 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low of 68°F, and northwest winds around 11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. [NWS]

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

Alexandria Concerned by Fairfax Data Center — “Data center plans just outside Alexandria city limits has raised concerns among residents and officials.” Starwood Capital Group’s Plaza 500 site in Lincolnia was permitted by Fairfax County by right, but residents are planning to protest the project ahead of a Sept. 24 public hearing by the planning commission on an electrical substation to power the facility. [ALXnow]

Call for Action After Midair Crash Report — “Exactly six months after the National Transportation Safety Board issued recommendations following the 2025 midair collision of an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Reagan National Airport, Chair Jennifer Homendy is calling for further action from Congress.” [WTOP]

Big Spending Expected on Amendments — “At least eight referendum committees have been formed in the lead-up to this fall’s vote on three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution” that deal with abortion rights, same-sex marriage and voting rights for formerly incarcerated people. “Virginia law requires organizations or individuals that spend more than $10,000 advocating in a statewide referendum to register with the Department of Elections.” [VPM News]

Pay Transparency Law in Effect — “The new law, which took effect July 1, requires employers to include a good-faith wage or salary range in public and internal job postings for openings, promotions, transfers and other employment opportunities. It also bars employers from asking applicants about their salary history or using prior pay when making hiring and compensation decisions.” [Virginia Mercury]

Tysons Consultant Sheds Some Workers — According to an earnings report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, Booz Allen Hamilton had about 30,900 employees, as of June 30, down 7.5% from 33,400 a year earlier. “Execs indicated during Friday’s earnings call that the company plans to ramp up hiring for its national security work,” despite a decline in federal government contract work. [Washington Business Journal]

Property Owners Seek to Evict Absent Tenants — “The tenants of the derelict building in Bailey’s Crossroads that formerly housed the Zaaki Restaurant have refused to fix up or vacate the property for years, despite court orders to do so. An eviction hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2 at the Fairfax County General District Court.” [Annandale Today]

Fitness Studio Opens in Fairfax City — “After years as a Fit Body Boot Camp member, coach and mentor to others, [Sarah] Crissup said she decided she wanted to spend what she calls her ’10 good years left’ building something for herself instead of another company … That decision led to the opening of Fairfax Fit Body Boot Camp, a new fitness studio in Fairfax City.” [Patch]

Police Tips for Safe Online Shopping — “Buying and selling items through online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, and Ebay make it easy to find great deals. While most transactions go smoothly, meeting a stranger to exchange cash and goods does carry some risk.” [FCPD]

It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms before 11 a.m. and again after 2 p.m., with partly sunny skies and a high of 85°F. There’s a 70% chance of rain. At night, there’s a 60% chance of precipitation, likely before 11 p.m., followed by isolated showers until 2 a.m. The sky will be mostly cloudy, with a low near 68°F. [NWS]

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

Two Injured in Farmers Market Crash — “A woman and a child were taken to the hospital Saturday morning after an older woman drove into them at a Fairfax Farmers’ market … Fairfax County police say it happened around 11 a.m. in a parking lot near the Main Street Center. The driver is said to have confused the gas pedal with the brakes and crashed into a stand at the market, according to police.” [WTOP]

Vigils for People Killed by ICE — “Communities nationwide, including some in the DMV, held vigils Saturday for people killed during interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There have been two instances this month, one in Texas, the other in Maine. A pack of people lined a busy intersection along Route 29 in Centreville.” [NBC4]

Va. Given Early Primary Spot — “Virginia voters may get a say in picking the next Democratic presidential nominee before most of the country does. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted [on Friday, July 24] to give the Commonwealth one of six spots in the early window of the party’s 2028 presidential nominating calendar. Virginia would go last of the six, on Feb. 29, 2028.” [ARLnow]

Crash Into Chantilly Post Office — A minivan driver crashed through the front window of a U.S. Post Office in Chantilly on Friday afternoon. Police and firefighters helped the driver extract her vehicle from the building, but no injuries were reported, FFXnow was told. [Reddit]

Judge Rules Against Abortion Drug Restrictions — “A federal judge in Virginia ruled Thursday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not sufficiently justify restrictions imposed in 2023 on a drug used to terminate early pregnancies, adding another layer of complexity to a string of legal cases with opposing goals that could affect future abortion access.” [Virginia Mercury]

Regulator Refuted Data Center Pollution Report — “Internal emails obtained by POLITICO through a public records request paint a portrait of an agency that moved quickly to defend the only data center in Virginia that is powering itself — in what former officials and environmental health advocates described as an unusual effort to shape the debate around an industry whose global epicenter is in the state.” [Politico]

New Wine Shop Opens at Lake Anne — “Opening the door to Kinship Wine + Wares feels like you’re stepping into your friend’s cozy living room. That was the goal for owner Jennifer Monago at her new shop at Reston’s Lake Anne Plaza. There, you can try the certified sommelier’s favorite wines and browse the curated vintage décor.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Open House on Reston East Plan Tonight — “Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn invites residents to a July 27 open house on the Reston East Planning Study. This study will consider changing the Comprehensive Plan to allow residential development in the area north of Sunrise Valley Drive between Upper Lake Drive and Hunter Mill Road.” [Hunter Mill District Office]

It’s Monday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m., with mostly sunny skies and a high of 87°F. Chance of rain is 50%. Monday night will be partly cloudy with a low of 70°F, with a 30% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

Motorcyclist Killed in Fairfax Station Crash — Fairfax County police responded last night (Thursday) to “a fatal crash involving a motorcycle at Ox Rd and Chapel Rd in Fairfax Station. The adult female motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of the other vehicle remained on scene.” [FCPD/X]

Sen. Warner Making Final Reelection Bid — “U.S. Sen. Mark Warner said that, if he’s reelected in November, this upcoming term would be his last, Daily Press reported. Warner said that he believes it was time to bring younger people into office. The senator is 71 and would be 78 at the end of the next term.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Metrobus Ridership Dips After Overhaul — “A year after the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority reconfigured its entire bus network with the goal of improving service, ridership is down and buses are actually moving slower than they were before – frustrating both riders and Metro officials alike.” [The 51st]

History of Va. Gun Debate — A Virginia Declaration of Rights clause supporting “a well-regulated militia” didn’t address individual gun ownership until “1971, when Virginia amended Section 13 to add, ‘the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.’ That’s the moment gun rights and militia rights became legally braided together in Virginia, and why untangling them in court today might be difficult. ” [Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism]

New Watch Boutiques in Tysons Galleria — “The new 2,800 square foot Rolex boutique opened this month alongside a Patek Philippe showroom … Rolex and Patek Philippe have been relocated to the new 2nd floor position at the main entrance to Tysons Galleria and part of a recently upgraded cluster of prestigious brands including Cartier, Prada and Balenciaga.” Louis Vuitton also recently expanded its store at the mall. [WatchPro]

Lifeguards Honored for Pool Rescue — “Four Fairfax County Park Authority staff members were recognized on July 16 with lifesaving awards from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department for their extraordinary actions during a water emergency at Providence Recreation Center earlier this year.” [FCPA]

Peach Truck Visits Springfield Town Center — “The Peach Truck is coming to Springfield Town Center on Sunday, July 26th from 1-2:30pm! Don’t miss your chance to grab a box of fresh, juicy peaches — picked at their peak and bursting with flavor. It’s the perfect way to sweeten up your summer.” Pre-orders are closed, but walk-ups will be allowed “while supplies last.” [Springfield Town Center]

Job Openings at Burke Lake Park — “Spend the rest of your season at Burke Lake Park, one of Fairfax County’s most beautiful outdoor destinations! Positions are available to start immediately and continue through the end of the season in October. Drop-in interviews will be held at the Burke Lake Park Information Center on July 29-31 and Aug. 5-7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.” [FCPA]

New Legal Notice — Restaurant applying for on/off-premises wine and beer license. [Public Notices]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny weather with a high of about 82 degrees, and a calm wind that will pick up to 5 to 8 mph from the east in the morning. Night will be mostly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 65 degrees. [NWS]