With the last day of school coming up fast, Fairfax County Public Library hopes to see more kids cracking open books over summer break, instead of putting them away.
The county library system will kick off its annual summer reading program this Saturday, June 13 with the return of its Children’s Summer Reading Festival, a free event organized by the nonprofit Fairfax Library Foundation.
Fairfax County’s drinking water utility is joining several D.C.-area organizations in a regional study to evaluate backup water supply alternatives to the Potomac River.
Fairfax Water is joining Maryland’s WSSC Water and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a $25 million “Secure the Source” study to explore potential large-scale alternatives that could provide several weeks of emergency backup water supply for over 5 million residents in the D.C. region currently served by the Potomac.
Hate Incidents at Thoreau Middle School — “A Northern Virginia father said he’s sad and angry after two classmates at Thoreau Middle School in Vienna allegedly targeted his daughter with drawings of swastikas. He said he decided to come forward after seeing a News4 story last week about another student at that school who said he was called the N-word multiple times and had water dumped on his head.” [NBC4]
No ICE Reforms in Federal Funding Bill – “The Republican-controlled House on Tuesday narrowly passed a roughly $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill” that will extend through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. Fairfax County’s “Rep. James Walkinshaw … told Morning Edition that Democrats unsuccessfully pushed for changes such as limits on face coverings, body camera requirements and clearer use-of-force standards.” [NPR]
Metrobus Detours for UFC Event — Starting at 10 p.m. tonight “through Monday at 6am, road closures in support of the Freedom250 UFC event will cause bus detours” on several Metrobus routes, including the F19 Mount Vernon Estate Express from southeastern Fairfax into D.C. The bout is scheduled to take place on the White House lawn this Sunday (June 14). [WMATA/Bluesky]
Va. Residents Seek to Halt UFC Fight — “The Justice Department on Tuesday urged a federal judge to reject a lawsuit seeking to stop the White House’s Ultimate Fighting Championship event scheduled for this weekend.” The lawsuit was filed this past weekend by the Public Integrity Project, which is representing “a political activist and Vietnam veteran” from Virginia. [ABC News]
More Damage Found to Potomac Pipe — “DC Water is once again working to repair a damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor. The utility says crews discovered corrosion and broken supports in another area of the pipe in Potomac, Maryland, on Tuesday.” The issue was found in different section from the one that collapsed in January, “triggering a massive sewage spill into the Potomac River.” [WUSA9]
Interactive Art Installed in Annandale — “The ‘Conversation Bench,’ installed by Community Art for Everyone (CAFE) on June 8, is part of the Art in Daily Spaces project.” Located in the Eileen Garnett Civic Space at 7200 Columbia Pike, “it consists of two attached pink-and-blue chairs facing in opposite directions with a glass screen between them.” [Annandale Today]
Fairfax City Redevelopment Proposed — “A proposal to replace four office buildings on Chain Bridge Road with a mixed-use development of apartments, office space, retail and structured parking moved through another review step Monday during a Fairfax City Planning Commission work session.” [Patch]
Public Health Center Closing Tomorrow — “Services offered at the Fairfax County Health Department’s West Springfield Public Health Center (located in the Cary Building at 8136 Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield) are being transitioned to the Franconia-Springfield Public Health Center. The last day for client services at West Springfield is June 12, 2026.” [Fairfax County Health Department]
Students Succeed in Problem-Solving Competition — Seven fourth-grade students from Forestville Elementary School in Great Falls are celebrating after finishing in third place at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals. Held at Iowa State University from May 27-30, the competition challenged 54 teams from eight different countries “to solve technical problems in creative ways.” [FCPS]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny weather with a high of 96°F and heat index values reaching 104°F. There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 pm. Night will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 73°F and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. [NWS]
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The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved what amounts to a pilot program that will look at the impacts of reducing some road speeds from 25 to 20 mph.
Board members voted 10-0 yesterday (Tuesday) to take advantage of powers delegated by the General Assembly in 2024, giving localities the power to reduce speed limits on certain roadways under control of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Fairfax County residents still have plenty of opportunities to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday with reflection, celebration and an eye toward the future.
“It’s amazing to look at our plans for June, [and] just wait until you see July and the rest of the year,” Elizabeth Maurer, chair of the Fairfax County 250th Commission, said when briefing the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors yesterday (Tuesday).
Fairfax County planners want to expedite their review process for public school facilities with several projects on the horizon.
The county Planning Commission’s schools committee held a meeting to discuss Fairfax County Public Schools’ upcoming capital projects on June 4.
Fatal Crash on Old Keene Mill Road — Police officers responded yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) to a single-vehicle crash on Old Keene Mill Road near Tiverton Drive in Springfield. “An adult driver was pronounced deceased on scene. Two adult passengers were transported with injuries, one life-threatening.” [FCPD/X]
Wanted Herndon Man in Custody — Wanted on charges of abduction, carjacking, assault and more following an alleged altercation at his home, Cristian Vasquez Alvarenga “has been taken into custody in the area of Elden St and Alabama Dr,” Herndon police announced yesterday morning. “Thank you to multiple community members that called in after seeing him.” [Herndon Police/Facebook]
One Hospitalized After I-95 Crash — “One person needed to be rescued and taken to the hospital after a crash on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County, officials said Tuesday.” Dispatched shortly after 5 p.m. to I-95 south near the I-395 split in Springfield, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue crews found “several vehicles that had been involved in a crash. One person was trapped.” [DC News Now]
Falls Church Tests Sip-and-Stroll Program — “From 5-10 p.m. this Saturday, Little City Sips will allow residents to partake in alcoholic beverages on the go, while enjoying entertainment, a lively atmosphere and libations from local restaurants, available in branded cups. The sip-and-stroll will be piloted around a section of W. Broad Street and Park Avenue.” [ARLnow]
Volunteer Fire Depts Seek New Recruits — A new campaign from the International Association of Fire Chiefs is targeting a new generation of volunteer firefighters “through social media campaigns and marketing materials.” Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department Chief Shawn Stokes says that “over the years, it has become harder and harder to recruit ready volunteers.” [WTOP]
Loudoun Winery Up for Sale — “Aspiring winemakers in Northern Virginia have a new opportunity to purchase a fully operational vineyard. Carriage House Wineworks, a boutique winery in Waterford, is now on the market. The property at 40817 Browns Ln., Waterford, is currently listed for $1,990,000.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Nearly $12M Sought for McLean Mansion — “Sneak a peek at this ultra-luxury property for sale on McLean’s so-called ‘Gold Coast,’ where exclusive riverfront estates enjoy sweeping vistas of the Potomac River and its cascading falls. The 2.4 acre Bella Vista property, located at 1159 Crest Lane, is perched right at the water’s edge. The asking price: $11.9 million.” [Arlington Magazine]
Free America 250 Concert in Annandale — “The Mason District Arts Council’s Mason Arts 250 program is presenting ‘America the Beautiful at 250,’ an afternoon of music and poetry, on June 13 at John Calvin Presbyterian Church … The Mason Arts 250 series kicked off last Sunday with a free concert by the NoVA Lights Chorale.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — There’s a 50% chance of precipitation with storms especially possible 2-7 p.m. Skies will be mostly cloudy with a high near 88°F. A 30% chance of precipitation remains at night, when skies will partially clear and temperatures dip to a low around 72°F. [NWS]
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Fairfax County leaders are reacting with a mix of anxiety and irritation to the continued lack of a state government budget.
“This is not a trivial issue — it’s not the way a state like Virginia should be acting,” Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting today (Tuesday).
Lawn Mower Fire Extinguished — Fairfax County firefighters responded around 2:40 p.m. yesterday (Monday) to a house fire in the 5800 block of Glen Forest Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads. “First-arriving crews located a lawn mower on fire with extension to a rear deck … All occupants exited the home prior to #FCFRD arrival. No civilian or firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]
Kennedy Center Name Restored Online — “The top of the Kennedy Center’s website now refers to ‘The Kennedy Center,’ not ‘The Trump Kennedy Center.’ The text in branding on the website had been changed as of Monday morning, ahead of the June 12 deadline to remove President Donald Trump’s name.” [NBC4]
Ticks Becoming More Common in Region — “In fact, ticks have been on the up-and-up locally and beyond for the past several years. CDC data shows a 57 percent jump in DC Lyme disease cases between 2012 and 2023 — and that’s only what has been reported.” [Washingtonian]
N. Va. Bus Policies Too Inconsistent, Metro Leader Says — “Inconsistent policies on bus fares and enforcement are creating confusion among riders and challenges for transit in Northern Virginia, Metro’s top official says.” WMATA CEO Randy Clarke suggested to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission “that riders aren’t entirely to blame for the region’s high rate of fare evasion — and that local leaders should do more to help.” [ARLnow]
Merrifield Boxing Studio to Close — “BASH Boxing will be closing its locations in Ballston, Rosslyn and Fairfax County’s Mosaic District on Sunday, June 21, according to a mass email sent to customers just before noon today (Monday) … The interval workout studio said the closures were ‘a difficult decision made after careful consideration of many factors.'” [ARLnow]
Permits Issued for Eataly in Tysons — “Fairfax County late last month approved buildout plans that look to [set] the stage for Oscar Farinetti’s popular, Italian food hall chain [to] step into the prominent two-level space at Tysons Corner Center formerly occupied by American Girl.” [Washington Business Journal]
Ten Local Companies in Fortune 500 — “Fairfax NOVA remains strong in the 2026 Fortune 500 rankings, with 10 Fairfax-headquartered companies listed among the largest publicly traded corporations in the United States.” The highest-ranked Fairfax County company on the list is Tysons-based Freddie Mac at no. 55. [Fairfax County EDA]
New CSB Director Appointed — “Jordan A. Scheff has been appointed executive director of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), effective Monday, June 15.” Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Developmental Services since 2017, he will succeed Daryl Washington, who resigned as head of the CBS after accepting a position in Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration. [Fairfax County Government]
New Legal Notice — Hearing June 15, 2026 on Clifton meals tax increase, ≥1%, FY2027. [Public Notices]
It’s Tuesday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high around 84°F and a light south wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. By Tuesday night, the weather will turn mostly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 68°F and a consistent south wind of about 8 mph. [NWS]
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More than 20,000 Fairfax County residents were counted as jobless for the 10th consecutive month in new employment data.
With 612,551 Fairfax residents employed in the civilian workforce and 20,272 looking for jobs, April’s unemployment rate of 3.2% was up from 2.8% year-over-year, according to data reported June 3 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.
