Author: James Jarvis

James Jarvis covers county government, local politics, schools business openings, and development for both FFXnow and ARLnow. Originally from Fauquier County, he earned his bachelor’s degree in government from Franklin & Marshall College and his master’s degree in journalism from Georgetown University. Previously, he reported on Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier counties for Rappahannock Media/InsideNoVa. He joined the ARLnow news team as an assistant editor in August 2023.

News

New VDOT report suggests big fixes for Walker Road hazards in Great Falls

By James Jarvis
The Virginia Department of Transportation is studying Walker Road in Great Falls for potential safety improvements (via VDOT)

The Virginia Department of Transportation has a plan to improve safety along Walker Road in Great Falls, targeting persistent concerns with visibility, speed and overall road design.

The proposed changes — detailed in a safety assessment finalized in October — address high-risk areas identified by residents, who flagged specific trouble spots where conditions are particularly dangerous.

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Countywide

Sliding fees among changes on table to improve park access for low-income Fairfax residents

By James Jarvis
Fairfax County Park Authority logo (file photo)

Cost, distance and limited awareness are keeping many Fairfax County residents from taking advantage of county parks and recreation programs, a recent survey by the Fairfax County Park Authority found.

In response, the park authority is drafting a strategy to bridge the gaps and improve accessibility for underserved communities, focusing on both immediate and long-term solutions.

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Countywide

Fairfax County School Board seeks uniform grading standards across district

By James Jarvis
FCPS Central Office in Merrifield (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Facing growing concerns over inconsistent grading practices, the Fairfax County School Board is moving forward with plans for a comprehensive update of its grading policy for the first time in more than a decade.

The policy revamp comes after years of complaints from teachers, parents, and students that the current system lacks clarity and consistency.

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Countywide

Fairfax Democrats grapple with shifting political landscape after Trump wins presidency

By James Jarvis
Trump and Harris campaign signs outside Cunningham Park Elementary School in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey

In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Fairfax County Democrats are confronting a more competitive Virginia, where heightened Republican mobilization has raised alarms about their hold on power in the purple state.

While Vice President Kamala Harris won Virginia by more than 5 percentage points, her margin was notably lower than President Joe Biden’s in 2020, when he won the state by over 10 points. Similarly, in Fairfax County, Harris captured 65.44% of the vote, down from Biden’s 69.85%.

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Countywide

UPDATED: Incumbent Dems poised to win in Congress, Harris has edge in Fairfax County

By James Jarvis and Angela Woolsey
Election signs outside the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Results from today’s general election are starting to trickle in, and Fairfax County’s initial batch of tallied votes strongly favor Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race.

As of 9:24 p.m., Harris has about two-thirds or 66% of the votes that the county has counted so far, which include some early votes and Election Day results from 127 of the county’s 264 precincts, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.

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Countywide

Fairfax County opens Election Day polls after strong early voting numbers

By James Jarvis
Fairfax residents head to the polls during the 2024 general election (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County saw high early voting turnout for this year’s presidential election, though the numbers didn’t reached the levels seen during the last presidential cycle.

Since early voting began on Sept. 20, over 322,000 residents, or 43% of the county’s 748,492 registered voters, have cast a vote, as of Friday (Nov. 2), the last day of in-person early voting, the Fairfax County Office of Elections posted on Twitter.

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News

Fort Belvoir wildlife crossing touted as solution to animal-vehicle collisions

By James Jarvis
Rep. Don Beyer speaks to crowd under new Fort Belvoir wildlife crossing (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Beneath a bustling stretch of Fairfax County Parkway lies a little-known wildlife crossing that might hold the key to reducing animal-vehicle collisions in Virginia.

Last Wednesday (Oct. 30), Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) and State Sen. David Marsden (D-35) toured the underpass nestled between Davison Army Airfield and Fort Belvoir. Constructed in the 1990s and still one of the state’s few such installations, the 192-foot-long, 20-foot-high structure facilitates safe migration for species from deer and bears to snakes and turtles.

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Around Town

New Kingstowne Starbucks cafe to open before Thanksgiving

By James Jarvis
New Starbucks in Kingstowne Towne Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A new Starbucks is set to open in Kingstowne Towne Center before Thanksgiving.

A spokesperson for the coffee chain told FFXnow that the new location at 5890 Kingstowne Center, Suite 120 — formerly a My Gym — will be over 2,400 square feet with expanded seating and additional parking for customers.

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Countywide

Fairfax leaders to push General Assembly for stricter data center rules

By James Jarvis
Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County supervisors will advocate for data center regulation to be a primary focus of the General Assembly’s 2025 legislative agenda.

Board members expressed support this week for several new recommendations from county staff aimed at granting state agencies and local governments broader authority to regulate data centers, including increased oversight of their environmental impacts.

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Countywide

Fairfax County invites residents to recycle gourds at annual Pumpkin Palooza

By James Jarvis
Pumpkin Palooza disposal bin (courtesy of Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is inviting residents to turn their post-Halloween jack-o’-lanterns from holiday decor to “compost gold” at this year’s Pumpkin Palooza.

Through Nov. 15, the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program is accepting used pumpkins and gourds for composting at the I-95 Landfill Complex (850 Furnace Road) and the I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road).

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