FFXnow is the definitive local news source for Fairfax County, featuring countywide coverage and hyperlocal reporting on the Reston and Tysons areas. This article was written by an editor or other member of FFXnow's full-time staff.
Legal notices in the final edition of the GazetteLeader (staff photo)
FFXnow can now publish legal notices for Fairfax County.
FFXnow’s publisher Local News Now LLC was notified this week that a circuit court judge had approved its petition in December. That followed the enactment of a new state law last July that made Virginia the first in the nation to allow legal notices on online-only local news sites.
Difficult Run opens to the Potomac River in Great Falls Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
ICE Arrests Annandale Residents — “ICE agents arrested six men outside Fairmont Gardens in Annandale [Wednesday] morning. The men were spotted walking down Little River Turnpike in handcuffs. The men were waiting for jobs. One was released because he had a work permit, says Nayely Lopez of FACETS.” [Annandale Today]
Driver Killed in I-95 Crash — “Virginia State Police are investigating a crash that happened just after 2:30 p.m. on [Tuesday, Feb. 4 in] the southbound 95 Express Lanes at the 151 mile marker in Prince William County,” creating traffic delays from Dumfries to Lorton. A Lexus driver died at the scene, and a passenger in the vehicle was taken to a hospital. [WTOP]
Health Centers Closing Due to Funding Freeze — “Half of Virginia’s community health centers have been cut off from federal grant money, forcing some to stop providing certain services and others to close branches.” Even though a judge stayed the Trump administration’s funding freeze last week, 16 of the state’s 31 Federally Qualified Health Centers have been unable to access funds used to pay their employees. [VPM]
Arrest Made in Chantilly School and Church Thefts — A Chantilly man has been charged with burglary, property destruction and petit larceny after he allegedly stole from a church donation box and burglarized a school. “The two separate incidents happened at the end of January 2024, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.” [DC News Now]
Police Investigate Vehicle Part Thefts — Fairfax County police are looking for an Ohio man who they say was involved in catalytic converter thefts in Woodlawn on Jan. 5. “The complainant reported seeing two men carrying tools and attempting to break into vehicles. Officers located several catalytic converters, the suspects’ vehicle, and tools nearby.” [FCPD]
Lincolnia Credit Union Robbed — The Navy Federal Credit Union in Barcroft Plaza was robbed yesterday (Wednesday) shortly before 11:30 a.m. “The suspect entered the bank, at 6343 Columbia Pike in Lincolnia, and demanded money, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The suspect did not display a weapon. No one was injured.” [Annandale Today]
Falls Church to Wait and See on Deer Management — “Deer culling efforts are unlikely to get off the ground in Falls Church any time soon, city leaders indicated this week.” At a Monday (Feb. 3) night work session, the city’s animal control officer said complaints about deer have been minimal, but city council members suggested keeping an eye on local populations. [ARLnow]
Murals Could Beautify Route 1 Construction — “As more and more buildings along Richmond Highway are demolished in preparation for construction of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) is hoping to improve the appearance of the corridor with more artwork.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain mainly before 1pm, with a high temperature near 49°F. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new amounts between a tenth to a quarter of an inch possible. For Thursday night, it’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 40°F. [NWS]
Rain and sleet can be expected until 11am, followed by a chance of rain until 1pm. The high will be around 50°F with a southeast wind of 7-10 mph shifting to southwest in the afternoon and gusts up to 20 mph. Precipitation is almost certain, with less than half an inch of sleet accumulation. Tonight, expect mostly cloudy skies, a low of 39°F, and a 7-9 mph southwest wind turning northwest after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
Sunset Hills Road heading toward the Skymark building at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Candlelight Vigil Tonight for DCA CrashVictims — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) invites the community to a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the 67 lives lost in the tragic American Airlines crash at National Airport last week. The gathering will take place Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m., at Rivergate City Park, 2 Montgomery St., on the Alexandria waterfront.” [Annandale Today]
Concerns About Crowded Airspace Have History — “With a preliminary NTSB report not expected for several weeks, Arlington’s federal representatives have ventured few opinions on what factors may have contributed to last week’s crash. However, local advocates’ concerns about the number of flights at DCA stretch back years.” [ARLnow]
Route 28 Bypass Project Officially Dead — The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted 5-3 yesterday (Tuesday) to cancel a planned road extension that would’ve diverted traffic off of Route 28 (Centreville Road) before reconnecting north of Bull Run Stream in Fairfax County. Approved in 2020, the bypass proposal faced various challenges, including a “lack of buy-in from Fairfax County.” [WTOP]
Lawmakers Could Regulate License Plate Readers — “Virginia lawmakers are moving to regulate automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) for the first time, but privacy advocates warn that the legislation could expand surveillance rather than rein it in.” The House of Delegates passed a bill yesterday that would limit police data storage and authorize VDOT to issue permits for the devices’ installation. [Virginia Mercury]
Loudoun to Consider Dulles Airport Noise Mitigation — “As residents near Dulles International Airport continue to voice concerns over noise from aircraft flying over their homes, a community-involved process to consider mitigation methods will kick off this spring … A virtual community kick-off meeting is envisioned for April to provide an overview of the project.” [Loudoun Now]
Update on FCPS Athletics PolicyReview — “Months after Hayfield Secondary School’s football team withdrew from the playoffs, Fairfax County Public Schools is crafting a plan that it hopes will improve its athletic processes and transparency ahead of the next school year.” The plan is being developed by a working group in collaboration with the Virginia High School League. [WTOP]
Secret Service Cracks Down on ‘Card Skimmers’ — “A U.S. Secret Service task force cracked down on a card-skimming scheme that targeted people who rely on government assistance … The unit visited 879 businesses in the D.C. area, inspected 6,561 devices and found 24 skimmers.” [NBC4]
Hunter Mill District Invited to Town Hall — “Do you want to know more about the proposed casino or have other questions or issues you want to discuss with me? Let’s talk!” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn will host a town hall tomorrow (Thursday) from 7-8:30 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive) in Reston. [Walter Alcorn/Instagram]
It’s Wednesday — There’s a 30% chance of precipitation during the day, with an increased likelihood of combined snow and sleet after 1 p.m. At night, though, the chance of preciptation is 100%, with sleet transitioning to freezing rain and sleet from 1-4 a.m. The high temperature will be around 37 and the low near 32. [NWS]
Expect a slight chance of snow and sleet before noon, transitioning to sleet between noon and 1pm, and snow and sleet after 1pm. The weather will be cloudy, with a high near 37 and light winds. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. Wednesday night, sleet is likely before 1am, followed by freezing rain and sleet between 1am and 4am, and rain or freezing rain after 4am. The low will be around 31 with a southeast wind of 6mph. Precipitation is 100% during the night, with potential ice accumulation of less than 0.1 inch and sleet accumulation of less than half an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
A statue of a Girl Running with a Dog in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Democrats Counter Youngkin Budget Proposal — “Virginia Democrats have slammed the brakes on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s push for tax cuts, rejecting most of his budget proposals — including a car tax credit that would have phased out the widely unpopular levy. Instead, House and Senate budget plans unveiled Sunday take a different route, prioritizing faster, more targeted tax relief while pumping funds into education, housing, and healthcare.” [Virginia Mercury]
Police Help Catch Escaped Horses — “Alexandria and some neighboring jurisdictions had to hoof it to catch some escaped horses on Telegraph Road [on Sunday]. Fairfax County Police Department helped the Alexandria Police Department secure the horses. Both horses were safely returned to custody in ‘stable’ condition.” [ALXnow]
Inova Launches Mobile Cancer Screening Clinic — “Early detection of cancer saves lives — this week, the Inova Schar Cancer Institute is launching a mobile cancer screening clinic to reduce health care barriers in underserved communities.” The clinic will work with partner community organizations to bring its services to their clients. [WTOP]
Route 29 Construction to Block Road — “Willowmeade Drive (Route 5407) between Route 29 and Knight Arch Road (Route 7699) will be closed from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 until 7 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 to install a water main as part of the Route 29 widening project … Traffic will be detoured via Route 29, Meadow Estates Drive (Route 7885) and Knight Arch Road back to Willowmeade Drive.” [VDOT]
Reactions Mixed to Honorary Annandale Street Name — “About 70 people came to a community meeting at the Mason Government Center on Jan. 30 to learn about and express their opinions on a proposal to rename a portion of Little River Turnpike to honor the contributions of Korean Americans. Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez stressed that the name change would be totally honorary.” [Annandale Today]
Va. Senate Passes Bill to Help CBD Retailers — “A bill that would help CBD retailers sell their goods at farmers markets and community events around the state passed the Virginia Senate on a 39-9 vote on Monday afternoon.” The bill from local state Sens. Jennifer Boysko and Saddam Salim will eliminate a $1,000 registration fee currently required to sell CBD products at temporary locations. [Patch]
Black History Month Events in FairfaxCounty — “This February, we’re proud to host a variety of events in honor of Black History Month, offering you a chance to engage with the rich and diverse threads of African American history and culture.” Options include a celebration at the Fairfax County Government Center, an interpretive sign unveiling, musical performances and more. [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching around 53°F accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 14 mph, gusting up to 26 mph. At night, cloud coverage will increase, and temperatures will drop to about 31°F. The north wind will maintain a gentle 5 to 8 mph breeze. [NWS]
Expect a mostly sunny day with a high near 52 degrees and a northwest wind blowing at 7 to 14 mph, gusting up to 28 mph. However, on Tuesday night, clouds will increase and the temperature will drop to a low of around 31 degrees, accompanied by a north wind at 5 to 9 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
Archer Hotel at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fire Burns Down Century-Old Barn in Centreville — Fairfax and Loudoun county firefighters responded around 4:30 a.m. yesterday (Sunday) to a barn fire at Cox Farms at 15621 Braddock Road. While no people were injured, the farm lost “about a dozen chickens, a tractor and a slide were lost in the fire, along with artwork that decorated the barn and a sunflower sculpture.” [WUSA9]
Alleged Serial Killer Convicted of Women’s Murders — “It took a jury only 30 minutes to find ‘shopping cart killer’ suspect Anthony Eugene Robinson guilty of killing two women in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 2021. The jury recommended four life sentences, plus 10 years in prison and a $400,000 fine in the deaths of Allene ‘Beth’ Redmon and Tonita Smith.” [WTOP]
Va. Mothers Advocate for Stronger Driving Laws — “Two Virginia mothers who lost their children in car crashes are turning their grief into action, working with state lawmakers to push for stricter driver and passenger safety laws. Their efforts could lead to new penalties for unlicensed minors driving, expanded driver education in public schools, and a requirement for all adults in a vehicle to wear seat belts.” [Virginia Mercury]
Demolition Looms for Annandale Shopping Center — “The developer of a future mixed-use project at the Eastgate Shopping Center on John Marr Drive in Annandale submitted a demolition plan to Fairfax County on Jan. 28 … Everything to the left of K Market — including Kimen Ramen Izakaya, Pelicana Chicken, The Block, b-Thrifty, ToBe Nails, Sinsegye Department, and Ben Gong’s Tea — is slated for demolition.” [Annandale Today]
Pizza Chain Founders to Open Falls Church Cafe — “A French cafe and creperie with a vintage aesthetic may be opening soon in Falls Church. The Little Falls Cafe is a new concept by Enzo Algarme and Anastasiya Laufenberg, the founders of Pupatella, an acclaimed Arlington-based pizzeria. The team aims for a spring opening.” [ARLnow]
Fairfax City Replaces Sewer — “Crews are replacing 200 feet of an aging sewer line on Orchard Street. The work area extends from Bevan Drive to a utility access point about 200 feet to the west of the intersection. Work is scheduled to take place at the site from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Friday, Feb. 21.” [City of Fairfax]
Tysons ID Verification Company Pursues Growth — “ID.me has closed on a gargantuan $275 million credit facility from Los Angeles’s Ares Management, which is also making a ‘substantial equity investment’ in the digital identity verification company. ID.me announced the financing Thursday and said in a news release it would use its largest-ever funding vehicle to speed its growth.” [Washington Business Journal]
FFXnow Seeks Feedback with Reader Survey — FFXnow is conducting our annual reader survey. “The survey is quick and straightforward to complete, but your responses will significantly influence our direction throughout 2025. Thank you for helping us better serve Fairfax County!” [FFXnow]
It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures around 57°F and gentle south winds blowing at 3-8 mph. By night, the skies will turn mostly cloudy with the temperature dropping to approximately 46°F, as southwest winds pick up to around 7-10 mph. [NWS]
The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, with temperatures reaching a high of around 45 degrees. There will be a north wind blowing at a speed of 10 to 16 mph and gusts climbing up to 28 mph. During Saturday night, expect partly cloudy skies and a low temperature of approximately 25 degrees, accompanied by a northeast wind blowing at 3 to 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
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. 👋
