Author: Jared Serre

Jared Serre covers local business, public safety and breaking news across Local News Now's websites. Originally from Northeast Ohio, he is a graduate of West Virginia University. He previously worked with Law360 before joining LNN in May 2024.

Around Town

Fairfax County’s second Sheetz could open in Franconia area

By Jared Serre
A Sheetz gas pump in Haymarket (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A local businessman is seeking to rezone a Franconia property to make way for Fairfax County’s second Sheetz location.

Basim Mansour, who owns the home improvement company Michael and Sons, petitioned county officials earlier this month to approve his plan, which replaces two “underperforming” office buildings with the gas station and convenience store chain.

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News

What to know about Tuesday’s special election on Congressional redistricting

By Jared Serre
Signs at the Fairfax County Government Center supporting and opposing Virginia's redistricting constitutional amendment on the ballot for an April 21, 2026 special election (staff photo by James Cullum)

After months of sometimes confusing commercials, mailers and political campaigning, Virginians will decide tomorrow (Tuesday) whether to allow an off-cycle redrawing of the state’s Congressional districts.

Voters will head to the polls to weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment supporting a one-time, mid-decade redistricting process, one that would shift the current partisan balance for the House of Representatives to one where Democrats are favored in 10 of 11 districts.

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Countywide

Supervisors to honor retiring Chief Judge Penney Azcarate

By Jared Serre
Chief Judge Penney Azcarate (photo via Fairfax County Government/Flickr)

Fairfax County Circuit Court Chief Judge Penney S. Azcarate will be honored by the local Board of Supervisors ahead of her retirement later this summer.

The 10-member board voted unanimously Tuesday (April 14) to prepare a resolution honoring Azcarate, who will retire June 31 after nearly 20 years as a judge in Fairfax County — including the last 10 as chief judge of the Circuit Court.

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News

BREAKING: Former LG Justin Fairfax killed wife, self in Annandale, police say

By Jared Serre and Associated Press
Fairfax County police secure the home of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, in Annandale, Va., Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax is one of two people found dead early this morning (Thursday) after an apparent murder-suicide in Annandale.

Fairfax, 47, shot and killed his wife, 49-year-old Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, before turning the gun on himself inside the family’s home in the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive, the Fairfax County Police Department confirmed.

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Around Town

Life-size Lego Star Wars event coming to Seven Corners

By Jared Serre
The LEGO Star Wars SMART Play installation (photo courtesy of J Strategies)

A life-size Lego Star Wars experience will bring an immersive world to a Seven Corners business this weekend.

Starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday (April 19), the neighborhood’s Target store, located at 6100 Arlington Blvd, will host the installation to commemorate the brand’s new SMART Play initiative.

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News

State health officials warn against eating two fish species from Occoquan Watershed

By Jared Serre
The Occoquan River opens into Belmont Bay in Mason Neck (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Officials from the Virginia Department of Health are advising residents not to consume certain species of fish caught in the Occoquan Watershed.

Elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) — a manmade chemical used in products ranging from carpet to firefighting foams — have been observed in samples of largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish collected from the waterway, health officials said today (Tuesday).

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News

FCPD: Man believed to be serial nude burglar arrested in Centreville

By Jared Serre
The nude burglary suspect captured on surveillance camera (photo via FCPD)

Fairfax County police have arrested a man believed to be the naked burglar who has recently targeted Centreville-area homes.

Two weeks after home surveillance footage was released showing a man wearing nothing but a face covering and sneakers in a local backyard, the man — a resident of the London Towne neighborhood — was taken into custody this morning (Monday).

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News

Fairfax High student found guilty of assault for ‘grabbing butts’ of other students

By Jared Serre
Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A student at Fairfax High School was convicted yesterday (Thursday) of assault and battery after being accused of groping more than a dozen of his female classmates.

Israel Christopher Flores Ortiz, an 18-year-old who is currently a junior at the school, was found guilty by a judge on nine misdemeanor counts that stemmed from numerous instances of what prosecutor Jenna Sands described as “grabbing butts.”

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News

FCPD crackdown on retail thefts leads to five arrests in March

By Jared Serre
A parked Fairfax County police car (file photo)

Five people have been arrested and charged in connection with reported thefts of merchandise from various businesses last month, including four people in Reston alone.

The arrests, which occurred between March 17-27, were part of what the Fairfax County Police Department called a “coordinated enforcement effort” that resulted in 17 felony and 15 misdemeanor charges.

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News

State trooper struck on I-495 in Huntington while chasing driver

By Jared Serre
A Virginia State Police vehicle (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A Virginia State Police officer was hospitalized after being struck by a driver last night (Tuesday) on the Capital Beltway (I-495) in the Huntington area.

The trooper, who has not been publicly identified, was struck near Telegraph Road by a passing motorist during a foot pursuit, according to a VSP spokesperson. The trooper was transported to an area hospital shortly thereafter.

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