Author: FFXnow.com

Spanberger Marks 100 Days as Governor — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger celebrated her first 100 days in office Monday in Richmond by touting her administration’s progress on healthcare, housing, and energy affordability measures. She had less to say, however, about the delayed state budget, which lawmakers haven’t finalized but must send to her desk for signature in the coming weeks.” [Virginia Mercury]

Settlement Approved in Capital One Lawsuit — “A federal judge approved a $425 million settlement from Capital One for a class action lawsuit over interest rates on its savings accounts. The approval was granted on April 20. If there is no appeal, settlement payments are set to go out around July 27, 2026.” [NBC4]

Reston Condo Sale Sets Va. Record — A penthouse unit that spans 5,798 square feet, plus a balcony, on the 27th floor of the JW Marriott Residences sold for $10.25 million on April 1, public records show. “The sale shatters Virginia’s previous condo record, set in February 2024 when a 29th-floor unit at Rosslyn’s Waterview tower sold for $5.65 million.” County records indicate that at least 34 of the JW Marriott’s 93 units have sold. [Washington Business Journal]

Pizzeria Opening Today in Falls Church — “Little Beast is preparing to dish up its first pizzas from its new restaurant at 119 E. Broad Street, on the ground floor of Broad & Washington.” The location will be the pizzeria’s first in Northern Virginia since owner Aaron Gordon closed Reston’s Little Beast and Red Velvet Cupcakery in 2023. [ARLnow]

Art Exhibit Centers on Teens’ Mental Health — “Teens grappling with mental health issues can find a way to express their feelings through art. That’s the premise for the Bridging the Gap art exhibit and reception at the Minnie Peyton Community Center in Bailey’s Crossroads on April 24.” [Annandale Today]

Local Brewery Wins Gold — “Caboose Brewing Co., which operates Caboose Tavern in Vienna and Caboose Commons in Fairfax, has won a gold medal at the 2026 World Beer Cup for its Boxcar Brown Ale in the American-Style Brown Ale category, according to a company release.” The same beer snagged a bronze medal at last year’s World Beer Cup. [Patch]

Vienna Little League Celebrates 75 Years — “From its start in 1952 with 175 players to now nearly 1,000 across 90 teams each spring, Vienna Little League has had a lasting, positive impact on generations of people in the community.” The Town of Vienna commemorated the league’s 75th season on Monday (April 27) by declaring the day “Vienna Little League Day.” [Town of Vienna/Instagram]

Tips for Tornado Season — “May is right around the corner, and that means tornado season is hitting its stride. Whether you’ve lived through a tornado warning before or you’re new to tornadoes, now is the time to figure out what you would do and where you’d go if a tornado warning was issued.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

It’s Wednesday — Expect showers throughout the day, with a possible thunderstorm after 2 PM and a high of 69°F. Rainfall could be between a quarter and half an inch, with a 90% chance of precipitation that will dip to 70% at night. The low will be around 51°F. [NWS]

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

Future of Retail Cannabis Sales in Limbo — “Five years after Virginia legalized simple adult possession of marijuana, lawmakers are at an impasse over how to finally stand up a legal retail market, after the General Assembly last week rejected more than 40 changes proposed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger and sent the legislation back to her desk.” [Virginia Mercury]

Box Truck Fire on Main Street — The Fairfax County and Fairfax City fire departments responded around 2:20 p.m. yesterday (Monday) to a box truck fire at the intersection of Main Street and Farrcroft Drive. Two people had exited the vehicle by the time firefighters arrived, but no injuries were reported. [FCFRD/Facebook]

Fairfax Station Church Burglarized — Fairfax County police arrested a 30-year-old man from Lorton last week for allegedly breaking into a church in the 4900 block of Ox Road on April 23. The man has been charged with burglary, larceny with the intent to sell, felony property destruction, drug possession and auto theft for stealing a vehicle owned by the church, police say. [FCPD]

ALU Changes Raise Concerns — “Residents are concerned that new, more lenient rules on accessory living units (ALUs) would lead to more rental properties and less parking in stable single-family neighborhoods.” Fairfax County staff say the revised rules would make it easier to establish ALUs “by eliminating some of the administrative barriers and streamlining the review process.” [Annandale Today]

Paralegal Leads Korean Restaurant Tours — “Alexandria resident Soomin ‘Mina’ Kim spends her weekdays immersed in the world of law as a paralegal in Old Town. But her weekends are reserved for Annandale in Fairfax County, where she guides culinary Koreatown adventures for her small business, Virginialicious.” [ALXnow]

Lamb Mowers Visit Local School — “Landscaping at Rolling Valley Elementary School in West Springfield looked a bit different this week, when lawn mowers were left in the sheds while a flock of lambs trimmed the school’s grass by nibbling it for their breakfast and lunch.” [FCPS]

McLean Mansion Sells After Makeover — “Stately homes designed in 18th-century French architectural style … are not unusual in the Langley Farms section of McLean. But when a palatial 22,000-square-foot house on Georgetown Pike, built on nearly four acres in 2023, lingered on the market, the Building Group brought in Will Thomas for consultation.” [Washingtonian]

Teen Creates Financial Literacy Game — Oakton High School junior Rishab “Nanduri created MoneyQuest, a gamified financial literacy app that teaches students about saving, credit, investing, and long-term financial planning.” The 17-year-old’s goal was to find a fun, accessible way to educate other students about managing money. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Showers are possible from late morning to afternoon, under mostly cloudy skies with a high near 65°F. Evening sees a slight chance of showers before 7pm and after 8pm, with a low of 52°F. The chance of rain is 40% during the day and 20% at night. [NWS]

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

Police Officer’s Gun Fired in Tysons Corner Center — “On the afternoon of April 2, a D.C. police captain was at Level99 … when he lost his personal weapon while playing a game, Fairfax County police said. A teen found the weapon, thought it was a prop and pulled the trigger, investigators said. No one was shot.” [NBC4]

GOP Suggests Returning Part of N. Va. to D.C. — Republican Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Georgia) introduced legislation last week that would “Make D.C. Square Again” by ceding Arlington and Alexandria back to the District “in the wake of Virginia voters approving a redistricting referendum to benefit Democrats’ representation in Congress.” [ARLnow]

Metro Board Approves Automation Plan — “The WMATA board of directors voted [on April 23] to endorse a plan to fully automate the Red Line and add platform screen doors as part of its capital improvement plan. The other lines would come next. The changes wouldn’t be finished on the Red Line until 2032 at the earliest, and are contingent on federal funding.” [Washingtonian]

Bill Makes Contraceptives Free — “Contraceptive services will soon be free for all privately-insured Virginians under a new law starting in 2027. The Contraceptive Equity Act, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Fairfax), will require insurers to cover a broader range of birth control methods without patients having to pay out-of-pocket.” [WHRO]

Mobile Home Fire in Chantilly — Fairfax County firefighters responded just after 1 a.m. on Friday (April 24) to a fire that engulfed a mobile home in the 14500 block of Trans World Avenue in Chantilly. No injuries were reported, but an investigation into the cause of the fire remains underway. [FCFRD/Facebook]

FCPS Principal Defends Early Release Days — “Fairfax County elementary school teachers are using the extra time they receive on monthly early release days to plan, finish trainings, meet with parents and support chronically absent students,” according to Mosaic Elementary School principal Mahri Aste. She says she understands parents’ concerns about the school calendar, but the loss of the scheduled planning time will “impact kids.” [WTOP]

D.C. Considers Self-Driving Taxis — “Robotaxis could be allowed on D.C. streets under a new bill that lays out the rules of the road for autonomous vehicles, providing an alternative to Ubers and Lyfts or traditional taxis.” D.C. Council member Charles “Allen said he sought to address a number of concerns about autonomous vehicles, ranging from safety to congestion to the displacement of human workers.” [Washington Post]

McLean Houses Sell for Combined $25M — “The deals, which create a 6-acre compound across some of the most expensive and exclusive land in Greater Washington, closed 10 days apart. First, on April 14, Arthur and Linda Rodbell sold 1137 and 1169 Crest Lane to Splinter VA LLC for $12.825 million. Then, on Friday, 1173 and 1175 Crest, known as Easter Hill, sold for $12.45 million.” [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Monday — Expect patchy fog before 7 a.m., followed by sunny skies with a high around 69°F. Light winds will shift to an eastward direction at 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Monday night will be mostly clear, with a low near 47°F and southeast winds of 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]

Fairfax City Asked to Repay Funds for Canceled Trail — “The Virginia Department of Transportation has formally requested that Fairfax City repay $3.5 million in concessionaire funding used for the now-canceled George Snyder Trail project, according to a April 6 letter from the agency.” Mayor Catherine Read said at an April 14 work session that the city “was in communication with the state” on the repayment process. [Patch]

GW Parkway Resurfacing Begins — Starting yesterday (Thursday), the National Park Service is repaving the parkway in Alexandria after previously working on the section “between Spout Run Parkway and Interstate 395 in Arlington. Crews will resurface the road and replace pedestrian crossing medians between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and First Street.” [ALXnow]

Democrats Split on Proposed Data Center Ban — “Most Democrats in Congress have criticized the moratorium proposal harshly. Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner dismissed the plan as ‘idiocy’ during an event hosted by Axios.” Meanwhile, Mo Seifeldein, a former Alexandria council member who’s challenging Rep. Don Beyer in Virginia’s 8th District, has expressed support for a pause on data center development. [Politico]

Book Vending Machine Added at Reston School — “The RoSigle Foundation, a local nonprofit, recently installed a book vending
machine at Langston Hughes Middle School, giving students a fun and engaging way to access free reading material. The initiative supports the organization’s broader mission to promote literacy and educational equity.” [Reston Letter]

New Chicken Restaurant Coming to Lincolnia — “Love & Honey Fried Chicken is replacing another chicken restaurant at Pinecrest Plaza in Lincolnia. The space, at 6544 Little River Turnpike, is being renovated following the closure of Hot Lola’s, which opened in February 2023.” [Annandale Today]

McLean AI Startup Raises Millions — “Rilian has raised $17.5 million in new funding to further expand the development of its artificial intelligence-powered cybersecurity tools for the defense sector.” The company plans to use the funding from 8VC, a venture capital firm started by Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale, to hire more engineering staff, boost marketing and continue building out its products “for the U.S. military and its allies.” [Washington Business Journal]

Baby Born in Reston Miles From Home — “Akosua was born at Reston Hospital on October 26, 2025, at just 1 pound, 1 ounce — and more than 5,000 miles from her home in Ghana. Her mother, Afua, was 23 weeks pregnant when she traveled to the U.S. to attend her cousin’s wedding last fall.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Sporting Events to Watch for — “Sports fans looking to catch a game this spring have a number of options to explore without leaving the county.” Highlights include home games for Old Glory DC and DC Divas, the District’s professional rugby and women’s football teams, which will be playing at George Mason Stadium and Lewis High School, respectively. [Fairfax County Government]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny weather with a high near 81, although there is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms developing after 2 p.m. Night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. [NWS]

Injuries in Metro Silver Line Collision — “Eleven people are injured after a Metro work vehicle collided with a Silver Line Metro train in the Metro Center station early Wednesday, authorities say … The 11 riders who were hurt have injuries that aren’t considered life-threatening or serious, according to Metro.” [NBC4]

Certification of Redistricting Referendum Results Blocked — A judge in Tazewell County Circuit Court has barred the State Board of Elections from certifying the results of Tuesday’s special election, which saw Virginia voters narrowly approve a redrawn congressional map. Attorney General Jay Jones said his office will appeal the ruling. [CNN]

Spanberger Revisions Rejected on Major Bills — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger now faces a tough choice: whether or not to veto marquee Democratic legislation after the General Assembly did not accept her changes.” While the House of Delegates and state Senate accepted most amendments, they rejected recommendations on bills dealing with prescription drug prices, an assault weapons ban, retail cannabis sales and public-sector unions. [VPM News]

Inside an Anti-Redistricting Watch Party — “All eyes were glued to the screen as the numbers came in, at a small watch party at Lil Havana Cigar Club in McLean, Tuesday night. The group is all opposed to the new congressional redistricting maps, that will give Democrats a 10-1 advantage in Congress.” [WUSA9]

US DOT to Prioritize Congestion Relief — “U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Steven Bradbury told Spotlight on Maryland that the U.S. Department of Transportation is launching what it calls the ‘Freedom to Drive initiative.’ The plan calls on governors nationwide to identify a handful of their state’s worst traffic chokeholds and outline concrete plans to fix them.” [FOX Baltimore]

School Boundary Change Meetings Coming — “When the Fairfax County School Board approved comprehensive districtwide school boundary changes in January, it agreed to hold off on some of the changes, pending additional community engagement.” Meetings on potential changes for Bren Mar Park Elementary School will be held tomorrow (Friday) and for Glasgow Middle School next Tuesday (April 28). [Annandale Today]

Yemeni Cafe Brewing in Falls Church — “Rashfa Cafe hopes to open this June at 310 S. Washington Street, owner and founder Abdulrahman Al Harethi told ARLnow. He wants to share his heritage with the community through Yemeni-sourced coffee and menu items like rawani cake, sabayah pastries and honeycomb bread.” [ARLnow]

Sneak Peek of Hershey Pop-Up in Tysons — “After months of anticipation, The Hershey Super Sweet Adventure pop-up officially opens on Friday, April 24. As a frequenter of Hershey’s Chocolate World since childhood, I had to check out the pop-up to see if it lived up to the hype. And, I have to say, I give it a thumbs-up.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny weather with a high around 81°F and a northwest wind blowing at 3 to 7 mph. By Thursday night, conditions will turn partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 58°F, accompanied by a light northwest wind. [NWS]

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