Jared Serre | FFXnow

Some, but not all, 11th District GOP candidates condemn ‘theatrics’ of DOGE cuts

Published June 24, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated June 27, 2025 at 1:36PM

GOP Congressional candidates Lucas Rand and Karina Lipsman (staff photos by Jared Serre)

Roughly half of the Republicans seeking to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District condemned the process — but not the result — used by the Trump administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash the federal workforce.

Speaking to voters at a forum on Sunday (June 22), three of the candidates expressed a distaste for the way in which tens of thousands of federal government workers have been fired since President Donald Trump took office in January, allegedly to reduce spending.

Around Town

Gourmet toast cafe chain is expanding to Great Falls

By Jared Serre

Published June 23, 2025 at 10:00AM

The location of the forthcoming Toastique in Great Falls (staff photo by Jared Serre)

A cafe that takes a unique approach to a popular breakfast offering is targeting Great Falls for a new storefront.

Gourmet toast cafe chain Toastique is aiming to officially open in Great Falls this fall, though it’s still in the early stages of setting up the restaurant, marketing manager Jolie Richards told FFXnow.

Countywide

Summer’s first heat wave could hit Fairfax County this weekend

By Jared Serre

Published June 20, 2025 at 3:30PM

Sun glaring on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Summer weather is officially on the way, bringing the D.C. region its first heat wave of the season.

Fresh off multiple days of severe storms, Fairfax County is expected to see searing temperatures starting this Sunday (June 22), according to county officials.

News

Democrats, Republicans schedule candidate forums in 11th Congressional District race

By Jared Serre

Published June 20, 2025 at 9:15AM

Election Day voters check in at Cunningham Park Elementary School in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Candidates seeking to fill out the remainder of Rep. Gerry Connolly‘s term in Congress will speak directly to voters next week.

With a special election set for Sept. 9, both Democrats and Republicans have scheduled candidate forums to give voters insight into their potential nominees, who will be determined on Saturday, June 28.

Countywide

Voter turnout jumps for Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Fairfax County

By Jared Serre

Published June 18, 2025 at 11:45AM

Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones (photos via campaign websites)

Though only one party had races on the ballot, Fairfax County saw a year-over-year increase in voter turnout for yesterday’s primary election.

Approximately 9% of the county’s registered voters cast a ballot on Tuesday, June 17, according to unofficial results — a jump from the 7.98% overall turnout last June, when both parties had U.S. House races on the ballot.

News

Charges dropped against man accused of extorting Annandale woman over citizenship status

By Jared Serre

Published June 17, 2025 at 1:45PM

Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A West Virginia man is no longer facing jail time after being accused of extorting a woman from Annandale over her citizenship status.

The Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office decided last Wednesday (June 11) not to prosecute the 51-year-old man, according to court records, though no reason was explicitly provided.

Around Town

Buffalo Wild Wings offers free wings for a year at new Herndon location

By Jared Serre

Published June 17, 2025 at 10:00AM

Buffalo Wild Wings Go is set to open this week in Herndon (courtesy Buffalo Wild Wings)

Buffalo Wild Wings is giving away more than 31,000 wings to celebrate the grand opening of its new location in Herndon later this week.

On Thursday (June 19), the first 100 customers in line at the sports bar chain’s newest restaurant at 304 Elden Street will receive six free wings a week for a full year — totaling 312 wings per person over the next 52 weeks.

News

Alligator escapes trailer, seeks room at Fairfax County motel

By Jared Serre

Published June 16, 2025 at 11:40AM | Updated June 16, 2025 at 3:46PM

An alligator wandered free on the grounds of a Huntington motel for some time early this morning (Monday).

The reptile appeared to break free from its enclosure in the parking lot before pacing around the grounds of the Budget Host Alexandria on Richmond Highway, according to scanner traffic. Fairfax County police officers responded to the incident at 12:10 a.m.

News

Ex-CIA staffer and Vienna resident sentenced for sharing top secret information

By Jared Serre

Published June 12, 2025 at 9:15AM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (file photo)

A former CIA analyst will spend the next three years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to improperly sharing top secret national defense information.

Asif William Rahman, 34, of Vienna, was sentenced yesterday (Wednesday) to a total of 37 months in prison — down from the maximum possible sentence of 20 years.

News

FCPD: Groveton man accused of secretly filming minors while hosting events

By Jared Serre

Published June 11, 2025 at 4:30PM

Victor Souphom (photo via FCPD)

A Groveton man used his position as the leader of a local cultural organization to film minors with hidden cameras, the Fairfax County Police Department says.

Victor “Xai” Souphom, 52, was arrested and charged May 29 with two counts of unlawful filming of a minor — felony charges that, together, carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.