Fairfax County needs to take a more hands-on approach to helping owners repurpose aging commercial properties, one local government leader says.
“We know where they are. We have this information. Let’s identify the top 10, 15 opportunities and let’s go to them,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at an Economic Initiatives Committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 10).
For a second year in a row, the Virginia Senate will consider legislation that could pave the way for a casino in Fairfax County.
Senate Bill 756, championed by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34), was advanced on a 10-5 vote yesterday (Tuesday) by the chamber’s Finance and Appropriations Committee with a key revision — criteria that limited potential casino sites to Tysons have now been dropped.
Northern Virginia ended 2025 with nearly 44% more people unemployed than it had started the year.
A total of 57,728 residents were counted as jobless for December, up from 40,203 a year before, according to figures reported Feb. 6 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Democrat Wins State Senate Election — “Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) is getting a promotion in Richmond. Voters in [Tuesday’s] special election gave the Democrat a sweeping victory against Republican Julie Robben Lineberry … setting her up to succeed Sen. Adam Ebbin as he joins Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration.” [ALXnow]
Prosecutor Fired After Removal From Case — After being cited for public drinking and getting removed from the high-profile murder case against Brendan Banfield, senior deputy prosecutor Eric Clingan was fired by the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office on Jan. 12 — days before the trial began. “Clingan said he was ‘wrongfully and unfairly terminated and pursuing litigation.'” [WTOP]
Groveton Fatal Shooting Still Unsolved — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau are seeking the community’s assistance in solving a murder that occurred in Groveton more than four years ago.” Ronald Worthy Jr., a 19-year-old Virginia State University student, was found dead with “apparent gunshot wounds” in the Beacon Hill apartment where he was living for the summer with his grandmother on July 27, 2021. [FCPD]
Post-Winter Storm Thaw Finally Begins — “That ‘snowcrete‘ — named for its rock-hard consistency — is finally poised to begin a long, slow fade. Temperatures are expected to climb above freezing each day in the D.C. area for the foreseeable future, with some days next week reaching the 50s or higher.” [Capital Weather Gang]
Bill Could Shift Energy Costs to Data Centers — The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee passed a bill on Monday (Feb. 9) that “would effectively require, with approval from state regulators, new data centers and other high energy use facilities (HEUFs) to cover more of the costs required to serve them.” State Sen. Louise Lucas proposed the amendment to her own bill, which originally focused on energy assistance programs and a push for Dominion Energy to underground its power lines. [VPM News]
Culmore Library Programs Move to Church — “Now that the Culmore Community Library is closed for an HVAC replacement project – and isn’t expected to reopen until January 2027 – library programs will be held at the Culmore Church in Bailey’s Crossroads. According to updated plans for the pop-up library, it won’t have books, said FCPL Marketing and Communications Director Sara Prohaska.” [Annandale Today]
Reston School Helps Student Artists Flourish — “For decades, as part of [Hunters Woods Elementary School’s] artist in residence program, sixth graders have worked with a local artist to produce artwork that gets displayed in the library, hallways or outside the school building. The school’s PTA covers the program costs and the artwork remains there permanently, offering students an opportunity to establish their legacy before leaving for middle school.” [WTOP]
It’s Wednesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high temperature near 44 degrees and winds potentially gusting up to 32 mph. The nighttime will be partly cloudy with a low temperature around 29 degrees. [NWS]
Trump Wanted Dulles Airport Renaming — The Trump administration suggested it would release funding for a rail tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey if Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to have Dulles International Airport and Penn Station in New York City renamed after President Donald Trump. “Schumer (D-N.Y.) declined the offer, according to two people with knowledge of the request.” [Politico]
Bill to Decriminalize Homelessness Set Aside — “In 2024 the US Supreme Court okayed the use of criminal penalties for homelessness. And Thursday morning, an effort to block Virginia localities from doing so was killed in a House of Delegates subcommittee,” which sent it to a housing commission for review. Patron Del. Joshua Cole said he hopes to bring the bill back in 2027. [WHRO]
One Injured in Ice Bank Crash — “One person sustained minor injuries after an overturn crash in Tysons on Sunday, according to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). Police responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash shortly after 6:30 p.m. in the 1800 block of Tysons Blvd. There, investigators found that a car had overturned after striking an ice bank.” [DC News Now]
Arrest in Smash-and-Grab Burglaries — “A man was arrested and charged for a series of smash-and-grab burglaries targeting phone stores in Fairfax County. Surveillance video shows the man using a rock and a hammer to break into the store and take items inside.” Most of the targeted stores were along the Richmond Highway corridor, but a Metro by T-Mobile on Arlington Blvd in West Falls Church was also hit, police said. [WUSA9]
Construction to Close Worldgate Drive Lane — “On Tuesday, February 10, a lane closure will be in effect on Worldgate Drive due to crane installation” for contractor Peraton’s new office. “Routes 921 and 952 will be impacted. Bus Stops #3824 and #3825 will be temporarily closed during this work. Passengers may use Bus Stop #6356 as an alternate stop.” [Fairfax Connector/X]
Correction: FFXnow initially suggested the crane installation is for BXP’s planned redevelopment of vacant offices along Worldgate Drive, but a spokesperson for the developer says it’s related to the new office building for Peraton.
Vienna Ice Skater’s Backflip Was Historic — “His moves in Milan aren’t just awe-inspiring, but historic: [Ilia] Malinin is the first person to legally land a backflip at the Olympics in five decades.” The move was banned from 1977 until 2024, partly due to safety concerns, but French skater Surya Bonaly performed a backflip at the 1998 Olympics out of a desire “to make her mark on history,” despite knowing it would cost her points. [NPR]
Braddock Supervisor Highlights Priorities — “Rachna Sizemore Heizer, the newly installed Braddock representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, told residents at an open house on Feb. 4 that her top priority is constituent services … Other priorities include helping small businesses, economic development, and support for education, parks, and trails.” [Annandale Today]
Minneapolis Mayor Grew Up in Oakton — “There’s no denying that Minneapolis is making headlines lately. And come to find out, the city’s 44-year-old mayor, Jacob Frey, grew up in Northern Virginia. We spoke with Frey about his NoVA upbringing and ties to the area.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Tuesday — Expect partly sunny skies today, a high near 48, and a south wind at 3-7 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 35. The south wind will increase to 7-9 mph before turning northwest after midnight. [NWS]
A potential statewide special election on mid-decade redistricting could put further stress on Fairfax County’s elections office, which has already been stretched thin over the past six months.
For now, however, the county’s election officials say the situation remains under control.
Fairfax Schools Open on Time — “This weekend our weather team traveled around the county to see first hand the progress of ongoing efforts to clear snow and ice from sidewalks and bus stops. We are pleased to report that these efforts have done enough for us to return to our regular school day. With that in mind, all FCPS schools and offices will open on time for Monday, February 9, 2026.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Students Report Man Following Them — “City of Fairfax Police are actively investigating a suspicious incident involving a group of children who reported on Thursday [Feb. 5] seeing a man following them as they walked home from school, first in Van Dyck Park and later in their neighborhood. The children described the man as wearing black winter gear.” [City of Fairfax Police]
Man Killed in Four-Vehicle Crash Identified — Fairfax County police are continuing to investigate a four-vehicle crash on Braddock Road that killed one driver who is believed to have crashed into a police cruiser, setting off a chain reaction of rear-end crashes at a red light. The initial driver — Dariush Bakhtiani, 57, of Centreville — was transported to a hospital, where he died. [FCPD]
Measles Exposure at National Airport — “A pre-school age child with measles traveled through Reagan National Airport and on a Yellow Line Metro train last week.” The child, a resident of another state, traveled through the airport on Jan. 26, according to the Virginia Department of Health, which says the state has now reported six cases of measles this year. [ARLnow]
Transit-Oriented Housing Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk — “Bills that could allow by-right zoning for apartment buildings, townhomes and mixed-use developments in certain commercial corridors cleared the Senate Thursday, one of several proposals to boost housing supply working through the Virginia legislature.” [Virginia Mercury]
Human Services Building Closed After Flooding — “Due to the flooding issue this morning, Friday, Feb. 6, the Pennino building will be closed a minimum of one week and potentially longer. If you have a scheduled appointment at this location, please contact the agency you were visiting to reschedule.” The flooding was caused by a “water line break” in the building, which houses the county’s family, neighborhood and human services agencies. [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
Centreville Burglary Under Investigation — “On January 24, at 11:25 a.m., officers responded to the 13900 block of Big Yankee Lane … for a burglary report. The victim was alerted by a neighbor that their home was burglarized. Officers reviewed surveillance footage and observed two men forcibly enter the residence through the back door around 8:46 p.m. on January 23.” Police are offering a $5,000 reward for information that results in an arrest of the suspects, who appear to have stolen two guns. [FCPD]
Tysons Company Loses Big on Bitcoin — “Strategy Inc. reported its largest loss ever in the fourth quarter — a whopping $12.4 billion — as the Tysons company took a massive write-down on the value of its bitcoin holdings.” Though the loss “essentially wiped out” its profits from 2025, the company “formerly known as MicroStrategy continues to load up on the cryptocurrency, acquiring more than 41,000 bitcoins in January alone.” [Washington Business Journal]
Indian Restaurant Eyes Tysons Location — The Texas restaurant Dum ‘N Grill is planning to expand around the country, including with locations in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. “Over in Fairfax County, Dum N Grill is working on a location at the Tysons Corner Center shopping mall.” [The Burn]
New Legal Notice — Establishment seeks ABC Marketplace Wine and Beer On-Premises license. [Public Notices]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high temperature around 33 degrees, with northwest winds of 3 to 6 mph. The night will bring mostly cloudy skies and a low temperature near 22, accompanied by calm winds. [NWS]
After a couple days where temperatures ticked above freezing, the D.C. region will see a return of the frigid weather responsible for the “snowcrete” still piled up on many sidewalks and roadways.
The National Weather Service has issued Extreme Cold and High Wind warnings for the region, including Fairfax County, that are scheduled to take effect at 4 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday).
Virginia Democrats released their long-awaited redistricting proposal yesterday (Thursday) in a bid to expand the party’s presence in Congress while countering similar gerrymandering attempts by Republicans.
Party leaders rolled out a map that’s projected to give Democrats an advantage in 10 of Virginia’s 11 Congressional districts, and as expected, much of that comes at the expense of Northern Virginia — the bluest part of the state.
Person Hospitalized After Falling Down Slope — “At 2:14pm #FCFRD responded to 700 blk of Bulls Neck Rd in McLean for a person who fell down a slope. Crews found 1 civilian 200ft down a ravine on steep hill. Tech Rescue crews operated on rope systems to remove the civilian who was transported w/ non-life-threatening injuries.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/X]
Trump Official Target of Alleged Murder Attempt — “A Maryland man is facing attempted murder charges after reportedly showing up to the Arlington home of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Russ Vought while armed. Colin Demarco, 26, was taken into custody Jan. 22, five months after the Aug. 10 incident,” though his arrest wasn’t announced publicly by police until yesterday (Thursday) evening. [ARLnow]
Longtime Local Reporter Among WaPo Layoffs — “On Wednesday, The Post announced plans to move on from that legacy as part of widespread cuts to the newsroom. The layoffs, affecting more than 300 of the roughly 800 journalists at the paper, are landing hard on the local news desk, where [Martin] Weil has worked since 1965. He was among those laid off, one of the last ties to the paper’s Watergate era.” [NY Times]
House Democrats Pass Gun Control Bills — “Virginia House Democrats on Thursday muscled through a sweeping package of gun control legislation, passing more than half a dozen bills aimed at restricting access to certain firearms, tightening storage requirements and expanding civil liability for the gun industry, as Republicans … spoke forcefully in opposition but were ultimately unable to stop the measures.” [Virginia Mercury]
Arrest for Tire Theft Spree — A Maryland man has been charged with several counts of larceny for allegedly stealing tires from “numerous” vehicles in the Fair Oaks district. Police began investigating the thefts after a reported incident on Oct. 24 at the Extended Stay on Route 50, but the man wasn’t arrested until last Sunday (Feb. 1) when his vehicle triggered a license plate alert in the Town of Herndon. [FCPD]
Police to Escort Monks’ Walk for Peace — “Our Police Department is planning to assist with the Monks’ Walk for Peace as they travel through our county.” After receiving a hearty welcome in Richmond, the Buddhist monks are expected to arrive for lunch at the Hoa Nghiem Pagoda in Fort Belvoir this Sunday (Feb. 8), Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn says. [Fairfax County Government/Bluesky]
Reston Association Rec Passes Available — “Reston Association is excited to announce that Recreation Passes for the 2026 season are now available. Recreation passes provide access to RA pools, tennis and pickleball courts.” RA members can receive a pass free of charge as part of their annual assessment, and for the first time this year, they can choose to have their pass automatically renewed when they pay their assessment. [Reston Association]
Burke Lake Park Scouts for Seasonal Hires — “Drop-in interviews at the Burke Lake Park Information Center will be held Feb. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 from noon to 5 p.m. Appointments are not necessary, so come by to explore job opportunities, complete an application and interview on the spot — all in one visit!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
New Legal Notice — Hotel seeks limited beer and wine ABC on/off-premises license. [Public Notices]
New Legal Notice — Hotel seeks limited ABC license for beer and wine, on/off-premises. [Public Notices]
It’s Friday — Snow is likely after 2pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 34. A calm wind will shift to the south at 5mph. Precipitation chance is 40%. On Friday night, snow may occur before 1am, followed by gradual clearing and a low around 13. Winds will be light, becoming northwest at 13-18 mph and possibly gusting up to 31 mph. Precipitation chance remains at 40%. [NWS]
