Countywide

‘No Kings’ Rally in Annandale — “The pedestrian bridge over the beltway in Annandale was packed with ‘No Kings’ protestors with signs and American flags on Oct. 18. Many beltway drivers honked and flashed their lights to show their support. There were No Kings events at Bailey’s Crossroads, Falls Church, throughout Fairfax County, and all over the country” as millions of people expressed their opposition to the Trump administration. [Annandale Today]

Brush Fire Extinguished in Centreville — “Just after 4 p.m. [on Sunday, Oct. 19], #FairfaxsBravest responded for reports of smoke on the side of Braddock Rd prior to Newton Patent Dr. Units arrived on the scene to find a brush fire that was quickly spreading. Crews quickly contained and extinguished the fire. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Update on Maryland’s Beltway Plans — “In August 2023, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore announced a plan to reconstruct the American Legion Bridge and add managed lanes … Although a Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) spokesperson confirmed to 7News that the plan is still in effect, more than two years later, the project has still not secured any federal grants, and Maryland appears not to be even close to starting any construction.” [WJLA]

Nighttime Fairfax County Parkway Closures — “Weather permitting, northbound Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) between Route 123 (Ox Road) and Burke Centre Parkway (Route 643) will have nighttime closures Sunday night, Oct. 19, through Thursday night, Oct. 23, for stormwater pipe installation as part of the Fairfax County Parkway south widening project.” [VDOT]

Reminder to Watch Roads for Deer — “Fall is breeding season for deer and you can expect to see more of them on our roads. Please be aware that deer are unpredictable and crashes with them are a safety concern. There are hundreds of reportable accidents involving deer in the county and more than half of our annual crashes occur during the months of October, November, and December.” [FCPD]

Korean Immigrant Builds New Restaurant — “Since July, Han has been following the same routine in an unassuming strip-mall space in Chantilly, within deafening distance of the Dulles landing path. Baek Ban, her new restaurant, is named after the simple bento-like set meals centered around rice and available in Seoul’s high-quality cafeterias and mom-and-pop lunchrooms.” [Washingtonian]

Inova Nurse Wins National Award — “A D.C.-area nurse had an idea to change the way her hospital fed babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and her project just won her national recognition. ‘It is a big deal, and it was shocking,’ said Renee Bloom, who is an NICU RN Unit Supervisor at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Virginia.” [WTOP]

Drug Takeback Day Returning to Vienna — “For the second time this year, the Vienna Police Department is participating in the 29th National Drug Take Back Day … On Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Vienna residents are invited to drop off medications at the collection site in front of the Vienna Police Department.” [Vienna Police]

It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day with highs near 65 degrees and west winds blowing at 13 to 15 mph, gusting up to 28 mph. The night remains clear with lows around 44 degrees, and the west wind slowing to 6 mph before becoming calm during the evening. [NWS]

Attorney General Candidates Spar in Debate — “In their only debate of the election cycle, Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares and Democratic challenger Jay Jones laid out their plans should they be elected Virginia’s top prosecutor Thursday night at the University of Richmond … Both men portrayed themselves as defenders of the law who would work to stem crime statewide, enforce consumer protections and uphold Virginians’ rights.” [Virginia Mercury]

Space Industry Conference Postponed — “Connected DMV, one of the hosts of the conference, has moved spaceNEXT to Feb. 18-20, saying the [federal government] shutdown hindered its ability to attract speakers across key agencies who need federal travel approvals … SpaceNEXT was set to take place on Nov. 11-12 at Capital One Hall in Tysons, which remains the venue.” [DC Inno]

Dolly Parton Library Coming to N. Va. — “A new Northern Virginia chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library announced Thursday it is launching a fundraising campaign to provide free books to young children, with Alexandria [becoming] the first city in the region to host the program.” [ALXnow]

Honeygrow Arrives in Lincolnia — “Honeygrow, a fast-casual dining spot in Barcroft Plaza, opens tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Honeygrow specializes in stir-frys, salads, and ‘Honeybar’ desserts. It’s located at 6464 Lincolnia Road in the space formerly occupied by Chico’s Natural Pet Market.” [Annandale Today]

New Shop Opens at Dulles Airport — “We’ve got The Goods @ IAD!!!!! This new addition has just opened its doors … From travel essentials to the latest tech from iStore, sweet treats from Dylan’s Candy, and a dazzling array of unique gifts, souvenirs, self-care items, delicious snacks, and grab-and-go goodies, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your journey!” [Dulles Airport/X]

Ace Hardware Celebrates Vienna Opening — “The Town of Vienna officially welcomed its newest neighbor, Ace Hardware, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 9, 2025. Vienna residents, business leaders, public officials, and other community members gathered for the highly-anticipated opening.” [Town of Vienna Economic Development]

Grants Available for Fairfax City Nonprofits — “The City of Fairfax is offering a competitive grant process for human services nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Fairfax City. Applications will be accepted from Oct. 8 through Dec. 1 … This grant opportunity is intended to help nonprofit safety net providers remain sustainable by mitigating some of their financial burdens.” [City of Fairfax]

Glow-in-the-Dark Show in McLean — “McLean’s Alden Theater is planning a truly glowing performance this month. Lightwire Theater will present Dino-Light on Friday, October 24. The group combines puppetry, dance, and electroluminescent technology to create extravagant light-up creations.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

New Legal Notice — Sonesta ES Suites is seeking an ABC alcohol license for 12815 Fair Lakes Parkway; objections due within 30 days. [Public Notices]

New Legal Notice — Sonesta ES Suites is applying for an ABC hotel beer/wine license for 13700 Coppermine Road in Herndon; objections due in 30 days. [Public Notices]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 63 degrees with a northwest 6-to-8-mph wind during the day. On Friday night, the sky will be mostly clear with a low temperature of around 46 degrees, accompanied by calm wind conditions. [NWS]

Judge Blocks Federal Worker Firings — “President Donald Trump’s administration for now must stop firing workers during the government shutdown, a federal judge ordered on Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco said the cuts appeared to be politically motivated and were being carried out without much thought.” [Associated Press/ARLnow]

Vienna Man Charged With Keeping Classified Documents — “A prominent foreign affairs analyst and senior State Department adviser was arrested over the weekend and charged with illegally storing sensitive government records after federal agents found more than 1,000 pages of secret documents at his home, the Justice Department said Tuesday.” [New York Times]

Youngkin Quiet on Paused Federal Grants — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration is not providing Virginia legislators or the public details of hundreds of millions of dollars of paused federal grants, according to records requests and documents acquired by VPM News and WAMU.” Secretary of Finance Stephen Cummings most recently told a state Senate committee in September that $466 million in grant funds have been paused or canceled. [VPM News]

Parents Worried by Special Education Cuts — Recently, some state elected officials and “members of the Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) gathered to address cuts that could affect not only children with disabilities but all children. Parents of children with disabilities expressed alarm at the U.S. Department of Education cuts that happened over the weekend.” [NBC4]

Paving Work to Close Dulles Toll Road Lanes — “ALERT: The two left eastbound lanes of the Dulles Toll Road will be closed for paving beginning at 10 a.m. on October 16. thru October 20. The lanes will closed from Leesburg Pike through the main toll plaza. Prepare for potential delays and avoid the left lanes.” [Dulles Toll Road/X]

Loudoun Struggling to Draw Young Adults — “Families are increasingly moving away from the D.C. region, a trend that’s especially true in one of the wealthiest Virginia suburbs. Loudoun County is the only D.C. area suburb that didn’t add to its 25-44 age group population, according to a WTOP analysis of census data from 2024.” [WTOP]

Grand Opening Coming for Reston Sushi Restaurant — “Kusshi Sushi, a Montgomery County-born restaurant brand known for its modern take on Japanese dining, will officially open its eighth location on Saturday, October 18th, at Reston Town Center … Kusshi will host an exclusive Bluefin Tuna Cutting Ceremony at 4pm on opening day.” Limited seatings will then be available for a curated tuna omakase tasting menu. [MoCo Show]

New Crime Novel Set in N. Va. — Author Patricia Cornwell “has sold a staggering 100 million books, and in her latest novel, Sharp Force — the 29th installment in the Scarpetta series — the character is once again on the trail of a serial killer. And this time around, the victims are in Northern Virginia.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny conditions and a high temperature around 62 degrees, accompanied by a north wind blowing at 9 to 14 mph and gusts reaching up to 26 mph. Thursday night will be clear with the temperature dropping to a low of around 42 degrees, while the north wind continues to blow at approximately 8 mph. [NWS]

Reston Convenience Store Burglarized — “On October 12, at 10:13 p.m., officers responded to the Kile Mart located at 1611 Washington Plaza in Reston for an alarm. Three unknown suspects forced entry into the business and stole vape products and other merchandise. The suspects fled the business before police arrival.” Fairfax County detectives are looking for the public’s help to identify the suspects. [FCPD]

Va. ICE Facilities Using Solitary Confinement More — “Virginia’s ICE facilities in Farmville and Caroline County have risen in national rank for placing more people in solitary confinement between 2023 and this past August. Both are now among the nation’s top 10 for solitary confinement use despite being far smaller than other detention center sites in the U.S.” [Axios Richmond]

Braddock District Candidate Forum Tonight — The Democratic, Republican and independent candidates for the Braddock District supervisor seat will gather at Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road) at 7 p.m. for a forum. Organized by the Braddock District Council of Community Associations, the forum will give voters an opportunity to hear from all three contenders ahead of a special election on Dec. 9. [Braddock District Council/Facebook]

GMU Board Could Meet Despite Lack of Quorum — “State Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, and Charles Stimson, the rector of the George Mason Board of Visitors, disagree on whether the board’s executive committee can meet and take actions this week … The GMU board currently only has six of the 16 board positions filled after Senate Democrats blocked several of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointments.” [Virginia Scope]

Brunch Chain Coming to Fairfax — “Another Broken Egg Cafe, a growing chain of restaurants open only for breakfast, brunch and lunch, has inked a lease to replace the McDonald’s that recently shuttered at University Mall.” The lease for 10645 Braddock Road, which was confirmed by property manager Van Metre Companies, will give Another Broken Egg its first Fairfax County location after the Florida-based chain announced plans for a Loudoun County franchise in June. [Washington Business Journal]

McLean Rideshare App Battles D.C. Regulators — Empower, a local startup that presents itself as an alternative to Uber and Lyft, has been embroiled in a years-long legal battle with D.C. officials over its lack of a license to operate in the city. “After the CEO was threatened with jail time, he said the company would shut down its D.C. operations by October 10. But in a Hail Mary play [last] week, Empower now says that it will break its contracts and offer the service to drivers for free.” [The 51st]

Local Furloughed Fed Shares Experience — “Jay Reddy has spent more than 30 years as an attorney with the U.S. Department of Labor. But even after decades of public service, he says this year has been the most unpredictable of his career. Reddy is one of thousands of federal employees currently furloughed as funding disputes continue.” [WUSA9]

Why Fall Leaves Have Been Less Colorful — “Leaf-peeping season has arrived in the Northeast and beyond, but weeks of drought have muted this year’s autumn colors, and sent leaves fluttering to the ground earlier than usual.” [Associated Press]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 70 degrees with a north wind at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. For Wednesday night, the skies will remain clear, and the temperature will drop to around 45 degrees. The north wind will persist at approximately 9 mph. [NWS]

Tysons Offices Bought for Possible Data Center — Affiliates of Serverfarm, a California-based data center investor, acquired the office buildings at 7990 and 7980 Quantum Drive in mid-September for $37 million and $13 million, respectively. The 7990 Quantum building is already home to the 44,000-square-foot Equinix DC7 data center, but the 7980 building’s proximity to the Reserve at Tysons Corner apartments, which are 150 feet away, means the Fairfax County board’s approval is required for any data center development. [Washington Business Journal]

Government Shutdown Drags On — “Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted Monday the federal government shutdown may become the longest in history, saying he ‘won’t negotiate’ with Democrats until they hit pause on their health care demands and reopen.” [Associated Press]

Cause of Franconia House Fire Identified — “On Sunday, October 12, around 8:00am, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded to reports of a house fire in the 5800 block of Queens Gate Court.” No injuries were reported, but the fire resulted in an estimated $259,338 in property damages. Investigators found that the fire started from “improperly discarded ashes” in a plastic trash can next to the garage. [FCFRD]

Oldest Metro Railcars Retired — “The era of carpeted Metro trains ended with the official retirement of railcars dating to the 1980s … The 2000 series railcars began service in 1983. They had to be pulled out of storage to help carry riders a few years ago when there were wheel issues with the 7000 series.” [NBC4]

Maternal Mortality Data Funding at Risk — “Virginia’s Maternal Mortality Review Team will continue its operations until August of next year. The future of the team, however, will depend on future congressional action and Virginia’s willingness to continue it.” [Virginia Mercury]

Comet Could Be Visible Over D.C. Region — “It has been five years since the Northern Hemisphere had a really bright and beautiful comet to see, which was Comet NEOWISE. Sky watchers can now start looking for Lemmon about 90 minutes before dawn and starting Thursday, it may be visible in the predawn and post-sunset dark skies.” [WTOP]

World’s Largest Earthquake Drill Coming — “The Great Southeast ShakeOut is the world’s largest earthquake drill. People in homes, schools, offices and other places all practice the same thing at the same time. The drill happens every year on the third Thursday in October. That’s Oct. 16 this year, and it starts at exactly 10:16 a.m.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Vienna to Give Away Free Tree Seedlings — “Get a free tree at the Town’s fifth annual Native Tree Seedling Giveaway! The event takes place Saturday, Oct. 18, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (or until the last tree is given away) outside the Vienna Community Center … Volunteers will give away 150 bareroot seedlings in six species.” [Town of Vienna]

It’s Tuesday — The weather will be mostly cloudy and reach a high near 70, accompanied by a north wind at 11 to 14 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. Tuesday night will see mostly clear conditions, with temperatures dropping to around 54 and a north wind around 8 mph. [NWS]