Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

News

Inova brings specialist care clinics together at new Herndon facility

By Vernon Miles
Ribbon cutting for Inova Cares Clinics and Inova Juniper Program (image via Inova)

Last month, Inova officially opened a new care center in Herndon, bringing together its family, women, and children-specialized clinics under one roof.

The new facility is located at 365 Herndon Parkway, Suite 105, just across Fairfax County Parkway from Reston Hospital.

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News

Another developer offers to finally bring housing to Kingstowne Towne Center

By Vernon Miles
Northwest view of a multifamily residential building proposed to replace office building at Kingstowne Towne Center (via Design Collective/Fairfax County)

While office and retail markets are struggling, a new application could bring more residents and — hopefully — more customers to Kingstowne Towne Center.

On paper, the 35-acre Kingstowne Towne Center is a mixed-use parcel, blending commercial and residential development. In reality, though, housing has yet to materialize at the shopping center, with various projects languishing even after getting Fairfax County’s approval.

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News

Report: CIA buys Dulles office building, but stays hush-hush about its use

By Vernon Miles
Two of the Dulles Discovery office buildings (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Washington Business Journal did a little snooping and discovered that McLean’s own Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is buying up a new office in Dulles.

The Journal reported on Friday (June 27) that the CIA — appropriately through a pseudonym but linked to the same exclusive ZIP code — has purchased the 434,000-square-foot Dulles Discovery 2 office building at 13870 Air and Space Museum Parkway.

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Countywide

How the Metrobus overhaul, launching Sunday, will affect Fairfax service

By Vernon Miles and Angela Woolsey
A sign posted to a light pole in Fairfax City notifies Metrobus riders of the upcoming Better Bus Network launch (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro’s first major overhaul of its bus network in decades is set to take effect this coming Sunday (June 29).

Approved by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Board of Directors last November, the Better Bus Network redesign will introduce revised routes and new signage, while also eliminating a number of stops.

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News

Fairfax City considers expanding ban on guns in public places

By Vernon Miles
Fairfax City Hall sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Four years after voting to prohibit firearms on public property, the Fairfax City Council is contemplating whether to expand those restrictions.

At a city council meeting on Tuesday (June 24), Fairfax leaders took a preliminary look at the 2021 ordinance and planned further discussion for another meeting on July 22.

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Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools try to mitigate expectations for upcoming redistricting

By Vernon Miles
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid discusses the countywide boundary review with the school board at a June 17, 2025 work session (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County School Board leaders warned locals not to expect an upcoming redistricting to fix all of the county’s student population problems.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is currently working through its first major school boundary overhaul in 40 years, but at a work session on June 17, School Board members said there’s a thin line to walk between making overdue school boundary adjustments and avoiding significant disruptions to families in the school system.

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Countywide

Fairfax school board blames communication failures for FY 2026 budget clashes

By Vernon Miles
Fairfax County School Board logo (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Fairfax County School Board members faced the embarrassment earlier this year of having to reduce salary increases previously promised to staff under a landmark labor contract.

Moving forward, school board representatives said at a work session on June 17 that they need to drastically change how Fairfax County Public Schools’ needs and commitments are communicated throughout the budget process.

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Around Town

Fireworks and fun run planned at Lake Fairfax Park this weekend

By Vernon Miles
Lake Fairfax Park (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Parking passes are now available for the annual Independence Day fireworks at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive) in Reston.

This Saturday (June 28) will bring a full day of festivities to the park, capped off with an early Fourth of July fireworks show in the evening.

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News

Fairfax leaders brace for uphill fight to reroute DCA airplanes away from county

By Vernon Miles
An airplane takes off from Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A study of how to reduce the impact of airplanes on Fairfax and nearby communities has found that it would help to have fewer planes flying over Fairfax and nearby communities.

Two years after getting hired to identify strategies to reduce the noise impact from Reagan National Airport (DCA) on nearby localities, the consultant Vianair has reported back with findings that basically mirror what local governments have been saying for years.

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Around Town

Photos: Barnes & Noble starts new chapter at Tysons Corner Center

By Vernon Miles
Barnes & Noble store manager Mike Doliani at the reopening of the Tysons Corner Center location (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Taylor and Joe left their West Virginia home around 7:30 and made the over two-hour trip into Virginia for the chance to be among the first shoppers to enter the newly reopened Barnes & Noble at Tysons Corner Center.

While stores come and go at the mall, the temporary closure of Barnes & Noble at the mall last May left a hole for Taylor, Joe, and dozens of other patrons who lined up at the grand reopening Wednesday (June 18) morning.

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