High-rise buildings flank a green space with cherry trees on Tysons Corner Center plaza (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Lawsuit Accuses School Board Member of Embezzlement — At-large Fairfax County School Board member Kyle McDaniel has been “accused in a lawsuit of embezzling and misappropriating $175,000 from his former employer and spending the money on non-work expenses, including strip clubs and his political campaign.” [Patch]

Local Legislators Attend Anti-Trump Protest — Rep. Don Beyer and Delegates Kathy Tran and Paul Krizek were among the lawmakers representing Fairfax County who attended the “Hands Off” protest in D.C. on Saturday (April 5). There were reportedly more than 1,200 demonstrations across the U.S. “denouncing the Trump administration and DOGE, which have been working to shrink the federal government by slashing funding and laying off federal workers.” [WTOP]

Falls Church HS Student Navigates Ban on Trans Girls in Sports — “This wasn’t how Eliza imagined it would go when she tried out for track in February. But that month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender girls like Eliza from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams. Days later, the organization that regulates high school sports in Virginia, where Eliza lives and goes to school, followed suit.” [Washington Post]

Tysons Contractor Settles Allegations Against Employee — “Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. (BAH), located in McLean, agreed to pay $422,557 to settle allegations that a BAH employee assigned to work on a General Services Administration (GSA) contract overreported his time resulting in BAH issuing invoices for services under the contract that were not performed.” [U.S. Attorney’s Office]

Inova Opens Annandale Family Clinic — “Inova celebrated the grand opening of the Inova Cares for Families (ICF) clinic in Annandale on April 4. The clinic is located in an office building at 7617 Little River Turnpike. It’s one of six ICF facilities in Northern Virginia.” [Annandale Today]

Vienna to Hold Public Hearings on Budget — “The Vienna Town Council wants to know what the community thinks about the proposed FY2026 budget before it takes a final vote in May.” A public hearing on the budget and sewer rates will be held at 7:30 p.m. today, and the real estate tax rate, which isn’t proposed to change, will get a public hearing on April 28. [Town of Vienna]

County Celebrates National Library Week — “Join us from April 6-12 as we celebrate National Library Week! For its 2025 celebration, Fairfax County Public Library wants to remind you of all the amazing things you can do FREE at your library.” [Fairfax County Public Library/Instagram]

Vienna School Promotes Acts of Kindness — “At Kilmer Middle School, behavior referrals are at an all-time high. More than 1,600 students have been written up, but not for the reason you might be thinking. This past fall, Kilmer began writing students up, for acts of kindness.” [WUSA9]

It’s Monday — Expect rain mainly before 11am, with patchy fog from 7am to noon, and a high near 51. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch. Tonight, there’s a 20% chance of showers before 2am, with clouds giving way to partly cloudy skies and a low around 35. [NWS]


Good Friday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 4, 2025.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  • Report: Federal contractors in Tysons, Reston to lay off workers (57035 views)
  • FCPD: Two women charged with thefts at local retail stores months later (6336 views)
  • NOW: Vehicle catches fire after crashing outside McLean Starbucks, road blocked (5040 views)
  • Fairfax ranked among Top 5 healthiest counties in America (4951 views)
  • Teacher sentenced for assaulting students at Burke school, will appeal conviction (4867 views)
  • Vienna’s Patrick Henry Library gets fond farewell ahead of closure this spring (4712 views)
  • Reston National Golf Course owner takes two-pronged approach in push to add housing (4108 views)
  • JUST IN: Man dies at Fairfax County jail, police investigation underway (4082 views)
  • BREAKING: Truck leaks gas into Difficult Run, closing Great Falls roads (3143 views)
  • Transportation authorities to lay out plans for new road diets and bike lanes around Fairfax (2626 views)
  • NAACP still has concerns about Fairfax County’s clearing of homeless encampments (2626 views)
  • Pedestrian killed in van crash on Route 29 in Idylwood (2608 views)
  • 📅 Upcoming events

    Here is what’s going on Saturday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

    Here are the events planned for Sunday:

    🌧️ Saturday’s forecast

    Isolated showers are expected before 11am and after 2pm, accompanied by cloudy skies and a high temperature near 73°F. The east wind will blow at around 9 mph, with a 20% chance of precipitation. For Saturday night, scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely, with mostly cloudy conditions and a low near 59°F. The southwest wind will range between 7 and 11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph, carrying a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

    🌅 Tonight’s sunset

    The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

    We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋


    Pepperoni, Hawaiian, veggie lovers and more — whatever your pizza order, there’s no shortage of shops in Fairfax County to get your fix.

    Here are the nominees for “Best Pizza Place in Fairfax” as part of our inaugural FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite pizzeria below? If not, you can write them in!

    Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 9 a.m. Friday, April 18.


    Metro Silver Line rail tracks over Route 7 near Tysons West (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

    Alleged Herndon Rape Suspect Broke Jail Cell Door — “A man charged with raping a woman on the Washington & Old Dominion trail escaped his jail cell at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center last month and tried to enter a nurse’s station while someone was inside, according to court documents.” [Washington Post]

    Elon Musk Visits CIA Headquarters — “Elon Musk visited the CIA headquarters on Monday [March 31] for talks on government efficiency, the spy agency director of public affairs Liz Lyons told Axios.” The discussion with CIA officials reportedly focused on the agency can be “more efficient without compromising national security.” [Axios]

    Virginia to Allow Vehicle Speed-Limiting Devices — “Judges in Virginia will soon be able to order reckless drivers convicted of going over 100 miles an hour to install speed-limiting technology in their vehicles.” The General Assembly adopted Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s amendments to the bill sponsored by Arlington Del. Patrick Hope on Wednesday (April 2). [WTOP]

    Reston Contractor Settles Whistleblower Lawsuit — The defense contractor Intelligent Waves “agreed to pay $1.95 million in order to settle False Claims Act allegations involving two Air Force contracts, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office release.” Two former employees alleged that the company knowingly sold unauthorized equipment to the Air Force and submitted invoices for work it didn’t do. [Patch]

    State of D.C. Area Restaurant Industry — A closer look at the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s recent survey of the region reveals less dramatic numbers than the widely reported stat that 44% of full-service, casual establishments could close. “All combined: 29 percent surveyed said they were likely to close — 9-percent ‘very’ and 20 percent ‘somewhat.’ Not a single restaurant surveyed in the Maryland or Virginia suburbs said they were likely to shutter.” [Washingtonian]

    Nearby: Pride Flags Taken From Ashburn Church — Crossroads United Methodist Church Lead Pastor Tim “Ward said they’ve placed several flags supporting the LGBTQIS+ community next to their sign on Ashburn Farm Parkway at Crossroads Drive, but someone keeps taking them. He said the small signage has a huge significance for members of this congregation and the surrounding community.” [NBC4]

    Park Authority Recognized for Intern Program — “The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is proud to announce that we have been recognized as a 2025 Top Employer for Interns by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (VA-TOP). This recognition highlights FCPA’s dedication to providing meaningful work-based learning experiences that empower the next generation of leaders.” [FCPA]

    It’s Friday — Expect showers and thunderstorms with a high around 68 degrees and a north wind of 6 to 9 mph, with a 50% chance of precipitation. Friday night could also bring showers and thunderstorms, with a low of around 55 degrees. [NWS]


    Good Thursday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

    🕗 News recap

    The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 3, 2025.

    📅 Upcoming events

    Here is what’s going on Friday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

    🌧️ Friday’s forecast

    Expect scattered showers primarily before 2pm, accompanied by cloudy skies and a high temperature near 66°F. Anticipate a north wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph, with a 40% chance of precipitation. Friday night will bring possible showers and thunderstorms, with clouds persisting and a low temperature around 55°F. The east wind will be around 6 mph and precipitation chances will increase to 50%. See more from Weather.gov.

    🌅 Tonight’s sunset

    The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

    Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


    Kingstowne Lake (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

    Two Displaced by Fair Oaks House Fire — “On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, around 7:10pm, #FairfaxsBravest responded to a house fire in the 4000 block of Middle Ridge Drive.” No injuries were reported, but two people lost their home, and the fire, which appears to have started inside the garage, caused an estimated $105,442 in property damages. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Facebook]

    Wawa Plots N. Va. Expansion — The convenience store and gas station chain has enlisted the real estate firm Rappaport to scout out future locations in Northern Virginia, with Reston, Tysons and Springfield mentioned as possible submarkets. “It could potentially open around 20 stores under the current push, which also includes the cities of Alexandria and Fairfax.” [Washington Business Journal]

    Dominion Energy Seeks Rate Increases — “Dominion Energy has filed applications to raise monthly base rates and fuel rate costs in Virginia, as well as establish a separate class for heavy consumers of electricity, including data centers.” A proposed base rate increase of $8.51 per month in 2026 and $2 in 2027 would be the utility’s first since 1992. [WTOP]

    Democratic Lawmakers Attempt to Override Youngkin Vetoes — “In a dramatic but ultimately symbolic show of defiance, Virginia House Democrats on Wednesday tried — and failed — to override 13 of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes from this year’s legislative session.” Bills that came up for a vote included gun restrictions, voting rights protections and a minimum wage increase. [Virginia Mercury]

    County Launches Survey on Leaf Collections — “Fairfax County residents are invited to take a survey on vacuum leaf collections … It’s open through April 20. The survey asks residents to assess the quality of the leaf collection program, how they learn about the leaf collection schedule, and whether they have recommendations for improvement.” [Annandale Today]

    Au Pair Program Assists Office-Bound Federal Workers — For federal workers required to return to the office, au pairs offer “an alternative to traditional child care that works for their schedule. Fairfax County resident Rachel, who did not disclose her last name due to her husband’s federal job, told Patch they have two elementary school-aged children and one preschooler.” [Patch]

    MSNBC TV Show Host Reflects on McLean Childhood — Mika Brzezinski, the longtime co-host of the MSNBC talk show “Morning Joe,” grew up in an old farmhouse on Spring Hill Road in McLean, where her family moved in 1976 after Jimmy Carter appointed her father as his national security advisor. “Brzezinski describes her unconventional childhood with palpable joy.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

    Tysons AAA to Offer PreCheck Enrollment to Travelers — “AAA is working with TSA PreCheck enrollment provider IDEMIA to provide enrollment at its AAA Tysons Corner location. The TSA PreCheck event will be held from April 29 to May 2 at 8300 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, VA. Hours are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.” [Patch]

    It’s Thursday — There’s a chance of showers before 8am and after 2pm, with patchy fog expected between 9 and 10am. Cloudy conditions persist with a high near 80 and a 40% chance of precipitation. That will increase to a 50% chance at night, with possible showers and thunderstorms, mostly cloudy skies and a low around 64. [NWS]


    Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

    🕗 News recap

    The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 2, 2025.

    📅 Upcoming events

    Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

    🌧️ Thursday’s forecast

    Expect a chance of showers before 8am, followed by more showers after 2pm, with patchy fog clearing by 10am. Cloudy conditions will prevail and temperatures will reach around 80°F. The southwest wind will blow at 15 to 17 mph, gusting up to 30 mph, and a 40% chance of precipitation. Moving into Thursday night, there is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, as clouds linger and temperatures drop to around 62°F. The southwest wind will decrease to 7 to 11 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

    🌅 Tonight’s sunset

    The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

    Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


    A creek in Reston in springtime (photo by Terry Baranski)

    Parents Reflect on Tragic Clifton House Fire — “One year ago, the Brice family’s lives changed forever, by a fire. On April 10, 2024, their Clifton home went up in flames. Zachariah, 3, and William, 6, were trapped inside the home and had to be rescued by firefighters.” [WUSA9]

    Advocates Question Closure of Temporary Shelter in Reston — “A temporary overnight shelter that opened in Reston last summer — just before a tent encampment was cleared out — closed its doors Tuesday. Now advocates for unhoused people are expressing deep concern.” The group RestonStrong says the county’s now-open Fair Ridge shelter doesn’t have enough beds to accommodate all of the displaced individuals. [NBC4]

    Parents Concerned by Potential College Help Funding Cuts — Local parent Michael Newman says his stepson, who has autism, passed all of his classes at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) last year, thanks to a program called College Steps that supports students with disabilities. However, Fairfax County’s proposed budget eliminates funding that helps families pay for the program. [WTOP]

    New Fire Station Gets Closer to Construction — “Construction of the new Gunston Fire Station on Mason Neck in Lorton is slated to begin early this summer, according to Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES). The two-year project … is currently wrapping up the bidding phase.” [On the MoVe]

    McLean Restaurant Bans Political Talk — “Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen makes good on its name. Even before McLean’s coastal chic restaurant opened last year, its owners, industry vets chef David Guas (Bayou Bakery) and wife Simone Rathle, knew they wanted to create a ‘neutral zone’ for their neighborhood’s many politicos.” [Axios DC]

    County Launches Housing Data Dashboard — Fairfax County has launched a new data dashboard with information on housing and neighborhood livibility. Metrics include “housing costs and inventory, homelessness, the county’s progress towards creating new affordable homes and accessibility to public transit, fresh food locations, mixed-use centers and parks.” [Fairfax County Government]

    Planner Proposes ‘Purple Line South’ for N. Va. — “I would argue that we need to build a rapid transit route between Tysons Corner and the denser communities along the southern beltway, carrying people to Alexandria and Counties in Maryland.” The op-ed suggests a rail line would be more efficient than bus rapid transit service, which is currently planned from Tysons to Alexandria on Route 7. [Greater Greater Washington]

    Reston Scholarship Fund Accepts Student Applications — “The Reston Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is excited to announce it is now accepting applications for its annual scholarships for the academic year 2025-2026.” Up to 10 scholarships are available for South Lakes High School seniors looking to attend NOVA or George Mason University. [Reston Scholarship Fund]

    It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies and highs near 61, along with southeast winds ranging from 8 to 15 mph and gusts up to 23 mph. Wednesday night will be cloudy, with lows around 53, accompanied by southeast winds at around 13 mph and gusts reaching 21 mph. [NWS]


    Good Tuesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

    🕗 News recap

    The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 1, 2025.

    📅 Upcoming events

    Here is what’s going on Wednesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

    🌥️ Wednesday’s forecast

    Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high near 61 and southeast winds ranging from 8 to 15 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. Wednesday night will be cloudy as well, with a low of around 52 and southeast winds at 10 to 13 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

    🌅 Tonight’s sunset

    The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

    Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


    Sports

    Heads up, local fans of youth ice hockey: USA Hockey’s national championships are coming to town.

    The 2025 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 16-under National Championship will play out at two venues in Northern Virginia this week, from April 2-6.


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