Jared Serre | FFXnow

Travel agent who defrauded George Mason men’s basketball program sentenced

Published September 11, 2025 at 2:45PM

George Mason's basketball court at EagleBank Arena (photo via George Mason Athletics)

The travel agent who pretended to organize a preseason trip to the Bahamas for the George Mason University men’s basketball team will spend the next 13 months behind bars.

Maurice Eugene Smith, 44, was sentenced today (Thursday) to one year and one month in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud back in April, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.

Around Town

New mural, playground to be unveiled at Merrifield’s Mosaic District later this month

By Jared Serre

Published September 11, 2025 at 1:45PM

Nico Cathcart's mural featuring Mosaic District resident Thy Pham at Strawberry Park in Merrifield (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)

Thanks to a public-private partnership, a new fixture for kids will be unveiled at Merrifield’s Mosaic District later this month.

The Strawberry Park Playground will offer “an array of play features” for the shopping center’s youngest patrons when it officially opens at 5 p.m. on Sept. 26, the Fairfax County Park Authority and property owner and operator EDENS announced today (Thursday).

News

West Falls Church man charged with strangling girlfriend, who died

By Jared Serre

Published September 11, 2025 at 9:15AM

Ana Maria Mena Membreno (photo via GoFundMe)

Fairfax County police are investigating an apparent case of deadly domestic violence that occurred in West Falls Church late last month.

Ana Maria Mena Membreno of Alexandria died last week (Sept. 5) after being transported to a local hospital in life-threatening condition days earlier, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

News

Walkinshaw outperformed mentor with landslide Congressional win

By Jared Serre

Published September 10, 2025 at 3:45PM

Rep.-elect James Walkinshaw (staff photo by Jared Serre)

The main question surrounding the special election yesterday (Tuesday) wasn’t whether Democrats would hold onto Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, but by how much.

Even in an area as deeply blue as Fairfax County, a 50-point victory came as a welcome surprise for James Walkinshaw, who secured just under 75% of the vote to best Republican nominee Stewart Whitson, according to unofficial results.

News

After winning election to Congress, Walkinshaw resigns from Fairfax County board

By Jared Serre

Published September 10, 2025 at 10:10AM | Updated September 10, 2025 at 6:30PM

James Walkinshaw celebrates his election to Congress (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Update at 5 p.m.– James Walkinshaw has officially been sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives

Here's James Walkinshaw being ceremonially sworn-in by Speaker Mike Johnson earlier today.

News

BREAKING: James Walkinshaw projected to win special election for Congress

By Jared Serre

Published September 9, 2025 at 8:00PM | Updated September 10, 2025 at 9:36AM

James Walkinshaw speaks at his election watch party (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Democrat James Walkinshaw will succeed his former boss, the late Rep. Gerry Connolly, as U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, the Associated Press projects.

Walkinshaw, who represents the Braddock District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, bested Republican nominee Stewart Whitson, a former FBI staffer, in today’s special election.

Around Town

Fairfax City’s new Shake Shack will open next week

By Jared Serre

Published September 9, 2025 at 2:45PM

The new Shake Shack in Fairfax City (staff photo by Jared Serre)

The latest addition to Fairfax City’s Kamp Washington shopping center is set to open next week.

Shake Shack, located just steps from the intersection of Main Street and Fairfax Blvd, will officially open its doors on Sept. 17 (Wednesday), a company spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow.

News

Fairfax man pleads guilty over threats to kill federal employees

By Jared Serre

Published September 9, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated September 9, 2025 at 1:16PM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Fairfax man pleaded guilty yesterday (Monday) after he was accused of threatening to kill employees from both the U.S. Postal Service and Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Kenneth R. Woodard, 57, faces 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count each of making threatening communications over interstate commerce and threatening to kill a federal official, the Justice Department announced.

News

What to know about tomorrow’s special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District

By Jared Serre

Published September 8, 2025 at 3:45PM

11th Congressional District candidates Stewart Whitson and James Walkinshaw (photos via campaigns)

Nearly four months after the death of U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, voters will head to the polls to determine his successor.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is Election Day for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, which covers most of Fairfax County and Fairfax City.

News

James Walkinshaw centers commitment to stand up to Trump in run for Congress

By Jared Serre

Published September 5, 2025 at 2:45PM

James Walkinshaw (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Editor’s Note: This article is part of a two-part series of exclusive interviews with James Walkinshaw and Stewart Whitson, who are competing to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. The story on Whitson was published yesterday (Thursday).

If he’s elected to Congress, James Walkinshaw won’t have any trouble finding his way around Capitol Hill.