Author: FFXnow.com

Driver Killed at I-66 Rest Stop — “A driver was killed Saturday afternoon when their Toyota sedan struck a parked tractor-trailer at the eastbound Interstate 66 rest area near Manassas and then caught fire … State police said it appears the Toyota struck the rear of a legally parked tractor-trailer. Following the impact, the car burst into flames.” [Inside NoVA]

Social Media Restrictions Blocked — “A federal judge on Friday blocked Virginia from enforcing a new law that aimed to protect children from being addicted to social media by requiring age verification and limiting use by those under 16 to one hour per day.” Signed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin and in effect as of Jan. 1, the law was challenged by the technology trade group NetChoice. [Reuters]

Pedestrian Injured in Annandale Crash — A woman was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries on Saturday (Feb. 28) after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road near John Marr Drive and Ravensworth Road. John Marr Drive was closed for a period as detectives investigated before reopening shortly before 9 p.m. that evening. [FCPD/X]

Winner of $1M From Lottery Identified — “A retired electrician has won $1 million from a Powerball ticket purchased in Annandale, the Virginia Lottery announced on Feb. 24. The lottery winner bought the ticket at the Express 1 Food Mart at 4713 Backlick Road on Dec. 13. It took him a month to realize he had a winning ticket.” [Annandale Today]

Reston Native Sets Powerlifting Record — “Most people are enjoying retirement at 75. But for Reston native Becky Lane, that milestone marked a new beginning: On Feb. 14, she stepped onto a powerlifting platform for the first time and broke the national record three times. With that, Lane is headed to Anaheim, Calif., near the end of May to compete on the national stage.” [Fairfax Times]

Outdoor Furniture Store Nears Opening — “A Fortunoff Backyard Store is slated to open in Springfield in April, just in time for spring outdoor furniture shopping. The company sells high-end outdoor furniture and patio accessories. Fortunoff leased 11,000 square feet at the Springfield Commons shopping center, 6721B Frontier Drive.” [Washington Business Journal]

Women’s Day Protest Planned — “Herndon-Reston Indivisible is hosting a International Women’s Day Protest on Sunday, March 8, 2 to 3:30 p.m., at the corner of Reston Parkway and Baron Cameron Avenue.” The grassroots organization says the protest is intended to rally “support for women everywhere, specifically the women who are victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump.” [Patch]

Lacrosse Tournament Offers Olympics Preview — “Many of the world’s best lacrosse players are in town for the kickoff of the Lexus Championship Series on Friday night at the St. James in Springfield … Rachael DeCecco, senior vice president of lacrosse for both [the Premiere and Women’s] leagues, said it will be an exciting preview of what to expect in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.” [WTOP]

It’s Monday — A cloudy day is expected with a high near 36 and a 50% chance of precipitation. Snow may fall starting from 1pm. At night, snow could turn into rain or freezing rain between 1am and 4am with a low around 30 and 80% chance of precipitation. Accumulations of ice and snow are expected to be minimal. [NWS]

Evacuated Homes Could Be Cleared Soon — “Nearly two weeks after a gas leak sparked a home explosion in the Centreville area of Fairfax County, families who were forced to evacuate are finally preparing to return home.” The number of evacuated homes “has now dropped to 19, and officials say those remaining families are expected to be cleared to return as soon as late Thursday night or early Friday morning.” [DC News Now]

Water Activities to Return to Potomac River — “DC Health is set to lift the advisory against recreational contact with the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., weeks after a sewer line ruptured and spilled more than 240 million gallons of raw sewage and wastewater into the waterway. Beginning Monday, residents can boat, fish and let dogs splash along the shoreline in the D.C. section of the river (swimming is not permitted in D.C. waters).” [NBC4]

Bank Moving Corporate HQ to Tysons — “Freedom Financial Holdings Inc., the parent company of the Freedom Bank of Virginia, is relocating its corporate headquarters from Fairfax city to 1750 Tysons Blvd. next month, President and CEO Joe Thomas told me in an interview this week. It’s also opening a new branch there.” Freedom’s home of more than 20 years at 10555 Main Street will still serve as its bank HQ with a branch and operations center. [Washington Business Journal]

Lane Closures on I-395 in Springfield — “Weather permitting, the northbound and southbound I-395 general purpose lanes and 395 Express Lanes will have lane closures at Edsall Road (Route 648/Exit 2) Friday night, Feb. 27; Saturday, Feb. 28; and Sunday morning, March 1, for bridge work … Drivers are reminded to use caution when traveling in active work zones.” [VDOT]

Police Raise Alarm About Home Burglaries — “Police are investigating a string of home burglaries targeting Asian Americans in Fairfax County. The thieves have reportedly taken half a million dollars in cash, jewelry, clothing, handbags and even gold bars. According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the eight burglaries happened within the last two months.” [WUSA9]

Bill to Clarify Legislative Language Finds Support — “HB1299 defines the word ‘shall’ in state code to mean something is mandatory, not just ‘directory,’ or a suggestion. Bill patron and Fairfax Democratic Delegate Karrie Delaney said the bill was needed in the wake of state court rulings that downgraded ‘shall’ to not being required, and, after being in the chamber for almost a decade, she was sick of it.” [WVTF]

Former Federal Workers Reflect on Past Year — Since President Donald Trump took office for a second term in January 2025, “more than 300,000 people left the government through a combination of firings, layoffs, and resignations … The 51st spoke to seven former federal workers to hear how their job losses affected them, what they’ve been up to since, and where they hope to go next.” [The 51st]

FCPD Taps New Communications Director — “Chief Kevin Davis has promoted Alaina Gertz to Director of Communications for the Fairfax County Police Department.” Serving as deputy communications director since joining the FCPD in 2023, Gertz previously worked for D.C.’s police department, managing media relations during major events like the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021 and the 2019 World Series championship festivities. [FCPD]

Bailey’s Crossroads Car Wash Advances — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Feb. 25 recommended approval of a proposal to add a carwash facility at Radley Acura in Bailey’s Crossroads. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a hearing on the proposal on March 17.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Friday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 53°F and calm winds becoming southerly at 5 mph in the afternoon. The evening will be mostly clear with lows near 38°F and south winds between 3 and 6 mph. [NWS]

Murder Charge in Hybla Valley Stabbing — The man identified by Fairfax County police as a person of interest in a woman’s death at a Hybla Valley bus stop on Monday (Feb. 23) has now been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The woman, Stephanie Minter, 41, of Fredericksburg, was found “with multiple stab wounds to the upper body,” police say. [FCPD]

Trump Hosts Meetings on Dulles Redesign — President Donald “Trump earlier this month hosted about a half-dozen infrastructure and construction companies in the Oval Office, with executives taking turns pitching the president and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy on their proposals to overhaul the Washington-area airport.” The president reportedly convened companies for another meeting yesterday (Wednesday) “to hear updated proposals.” [Washington Post]

Man Sentenced for Attempting to Coerce Minor — “A Canadian man who admitted to traveling from Toronto to Virginia last June to engage in sex with a minor girl was sentenced in federal court on Tuesday to 10 years in prison, according to authorities.” The 54-year-old man contacted a person online whom he believed was a 15-year-old girl but was actually an undercover detective with the Fairfax County Police Department. [Patch]

Spanberger Highlights Affordability Challenges — Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered Democrats’ 12-minute rebuttal to Trump’s 107-minute State of the Union address on Tuesday (Feb. 24), “accusing him of driving up the costs of housing, health care, energy and groceries, unleashing chaos in American communities and deepening instability abroad — all while enriching himself and his allies.” [Virginia Mercury]

National Airport Reports Dip in Passengers — “Reagan National Airport recorded its lowest annual passenger count in three years in 2025, even as Dulles International Airport set an all-time record. Just under 24.9 million passengers traveled through DCA last year, down 5.3% from 26.3 million in 2024, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)” reported on Tuesday. [ARLnow]

Student Nonprofit Supports Kids in Need — “As sophomores at Langley High School, Sophie Li and Lily Zhang began to notice significant inequities within their Fairfax County neighborhoods — disparities that inspired them to launch a nonprofit supporting students at the county’s Title I schools.” Launched two years ago, the Rising Star Fund helps “fund summer camps, after-school programs and new school equipment.” [WTOP]

Oakton Students Visit Capitol Hill — “Oakton Government students went on their annual field trip to Capitol Hill today! Over 700 students were able to see firsthand where members of Congress work together. One group even got to hear directly from @timkaine! What a wonderful experience for all!” [Oakton High School/X]

It’s Thursday — There’s a 50% chance of rain, with snow possible before 10am. Expect mostly cloudy skies and a high temperature of about 45°F. At night, anticipate partly cloudy conditions and a low temperature near 32°F. [NWS]

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Call for More Sewer Funding After Potomac Spill — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) was among 14 members of Congress from the region who requested federal funding today (Tuesday) to rehabilitate and modernize the burst Potomac Interceptor. The delegation is also seeking additional funds for wastewater infrastructure nationwide following a recent briefing on efforts to repair the sewer line and mitigate health risks.” [ARLnow]

Man Charged With Threatening Metro Riders — A 37-year-old man was arrested on Saturday (Feb. 21) after allegedly brandishing a knife at other passengers on a Silver Line train heading from Herndon to Ashburn. “Deputies met the train at Ashburn Station and evacuated the affected train car. While on the train, deputies encountered the suspect and learned that he had also allegedly touched a 6-year-old child inappropriately.” [Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office]

Cat Cafe Open in McLean — “A nonprofit cat café, MeowTown Lounge, is holding its grand opening in McLean on Saturday, February 28, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.” Located in the Salona Village Shopping Center at 1345 Chain Bridge Road, the lounge is currently home to 14 different cats. Since its soft opening back in January, MeowTown has helped place 10 cats in their forever homes.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Town Hall Planned on Centreville Gas Leak — “The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will host a virtual Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, to provide the community with updated information regarding the recent incident in Centreville. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will offer residents an opportunity to … learn about ongoing response and recovery efforts, and ask questions.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Bill to Reduce Development Lawsuits Postponed — Del. Marcus Simon agreed to hold House Bill 447 for further deliberation over the next year after the Hanover County NAACP worried it would make it harder to challenge encroachments on historic Black neighborhoods. The bill aimed “to curb people filing lawsuits to stall housing developments by fine-tuning requirements for legal challenges against local government land use decisions.” [Virginia Mercury]

Maryland Rolls Out Beltway Sensors — “After years of testing, the Maryland State Highway Administration announced that ramp metering signals along northbound I-270 are fully operational. The new signals aim to streamline merging and cut morning commutes by up to 30 minutes.” [WUSA9]

How ICE Activities Shaped Virginia Bills — “As the 2026 General Assembly session began, state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D–Fairfax) introduced bills to put restrictions on federal immigration enforcement in Virginia, framing them as a response to the growing fear in immigrant communities.” While Democratic leaders were initially hesitant to center the bills, they gained urgency as ICE activities increased across the country. [VPM Media]

Springfield Gas Station to Add Convenience Store — “Demolition is expected to start in about two weeks on a project at the Ravensworth Shell service station to convert the auto repair shop to a convenience store. The auto repair business closed on Feb. 22.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — There’s a slight chance of rain between 8 and 10am. The sky will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, and the temperature will reach a high near 55. Night will be partly cloudy with a low around 37, as the west wind shifts to 5 to 7 mph and becomes calm after midnight. [NWS]

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

Woman Found Dead in Hybla Valley — Fairfax County police are investigating the death of a woman who was found with wounds to her upper body near a bus stop at Richmond Highway and Arlington Drive around 7:20 p.m. yesterday (Monday). “Call 911 with info,” police said. [FCPD/X]

Va. Could End Data Center Tax Breaks — Senate Democrats proposed ending a sales tax exemption for data centers to fund the state budget for the next two fiscal years, while their counterparts in the House of Delegates Senate “put forth more modest spending for key items.” Both plans would fill gaps left by the federal government for food assistance benefits and Affordable Care Act subsidies, among other priorities. [VPM Media]

Progress on Potomac Pipeline Repairs — “Work to repair the collapsed section of the Potomac Interceptor is moving ahead, and with help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, D.C. Water crews are working to stay on track toward restoring full flow by mid-March.” [WTOP]

Economic Development Leader Plans Exit — “The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) Commission announced [yesterday] that President and CEO Victor Hoskins will be returning to the private sector this fall” after leading the organization for six years. FCEDA board chair James Quigley told the Washington Business Journal that the authority is planning a “pretty aggressive local search” for a successor, who is expected to be announced later this year. [FCEDA]

Senators Hint at Bill to Reduce DCA Flights — “Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are throwing their support behind the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) final report into the January 2025 midair collision near” Reagan National Airport, saying in a statement that they “will be working on legislation to reduce slots at DCA and meet the NTSB’s other safety recommendations.” [ARLnow]

Poll on Gun Laws and Redistricting — “A new statewide poll shows most Virginians support stricter gun laws and favor keeping the commonwealth’s current redistricting system, even as many question whether tougher firearms restrictions would make them safer and express deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the country.” [Virginia Mercury]

Pizzeria Opens in Lincolnia — “Pizzato Pizza, a brand-new casual eatery at Landmark Plaza, offers some innovative pizza varieties, such as butter chicken pizza, vodka crispy chicken pizza, and chicken tikka pizza. It’s located in a former Pizza Hut at 6226 Little River Turnpike, Lincolnia.” [Annandale Today]

Fairfax Senator Dropped From Key Committee — “The Virginia Senate shuffled key committee assignments Friday following Sen. Adam Ebbin’s departure to join the Spanberger administration, triggering a shake-up that included Sen. Dave Marsden’s, D-Fairfax, removal from the powerful Finance and Appropriations Committee and Sen. Bryce Reeves’, R-Orange, ouster from Commerce and Labor.” [Virginia Scope]

GMU Launches Teaching Scholarships — “George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) has announced a new Future Ready Teachers initiative” that will provide full scholarships to cover tuition and the cost-of-living for aspiring educators. “It will also provide mentorship, a three-year induction program, and preparation for technology-enabled environments.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high near 39 today, accompanied by a northwest wind of 7-11 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Moving into night, there’s a 30% chance of snow after 1 am, turning into a rain mix after 4 am. Clouds will increase, and the temperature will drop to around 32. [NWS]

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