Fairfax County Public Schools resumed regular classes on Monday (Feb. 9) for the first time since a double whammy of snow and ice hit the D.C. region in late January, but many students still encounter blocked sidewalks and intersections on the way to their school or bus stop.
That was the case earlier this week in the Franklin Farm neighborhood near Herndon, where sidewalks around a school bus stop at Old Dairy Road and Tyburn Tree Court remained stubbornly covered in ice.
Scammers Impersonate Sheriff’s Office — “The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) is warning residents about a scam in which criminals are impersonating the Sheriff’s Office and attempting to gain victims’ trust through deceptive voicemail messages.” Residents have reported receiving voicemails from a “Lt. Michael McCrae from the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office. These messages often sound urgent and may reference missed jury duty, legal matters, or requests to return the call. This is a scam message. Residents should not return the call.” [FCSO]
Crash Victims’ Families Call for Aviation Reforms — “Key senators and the families of the 67 dead in an airliner collision with an Army helicopter near the nation’s capital are convinced that advanced aircraft locator systems recommended by experts for nearly two decades would have prevented last year’s tragedy.” [Associated Press/ARLnow]
Rolling Road Down to One Lane Today — “Rolling Road (Route 638) between Viola Street (Route 6010) and Birmingham Lane (Route 4153) will have one lane of alternating traffic via flagging Friday, Feb. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for pavement work as part of the Rolling Road widening project … Drivers should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes.” [VDOT]
Saks Fifth Avenue in Tysons Safe for Now — “Saks Global announced Tuesday that it plans to close eight Saks Fifth Avenue stores, including one in Virginia, as the retail empire moves through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings … The Virginia Saks Fifth Avenue store slated for closure this spring is located at Stony Point Fashion Park in Richmond. As of Wednesday, the store at Tysons Galleria in McLean was not expected to close.” [Patch]
Human Services Building Still Closed — “Progress continues on repairs to the Pennino building, which was damaged last week by flooding, but the building will continue to be closed until further notice. There are several alternate ways to get assistance with services that are offered in Pennino.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
ER Could Replace Chantilly Deli — “CA Healthcare’s StoneSprings Hospital Center wants to establish a new freestanding emergency room in Chantilly. And they are targeting the current site of Santini’s New York Style Deli in Chantilly, The Washington Business Journal reported.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Lincolnia Bank Branch Gone — “The TD Bank on Little River Turnpike and Braddock Road next to Pinecrest Plaza has closed. The bank opened in 2017 in a space previously occupied by an Exxon gas station … TD Bank closed 38 branches in 2025 and planned to close 51 more in early 2026.” [Annandale Today]
Burger Chain Seeking N. Va. Locations — “According to a post on social media from Renaud Consulting, a commercial real estate company – Halal Burger Paradise is looking for new retail opportunities. Its ideal space is between 1,000 s.f.–2,000 s.f. and it’s targeting not just Sterling, Chantilly, and Fairfax, but also Springfield, and Manassas.” [The Burn]
It’s Friday — Expect sunshine and a high of 39°F accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 7 to 10 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. For Friday night, the skies will be mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to a low of around 28°F, with a gentle southwest breeze. [NWS]
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Fairfax County bucked a regional trend downward by recording higher year-over-year home sales in January.
A total of 568 properties went to closing for the month, according to figures reported Feb. 10 by MarketStats by Showing Time. That’s up slightly — 1.4% — from the 560 transactions in January 2025.
Fairfax County officials are pledging more outreach in their efforts connecting panhandlers with services to stabilize their lives and get them off the streets.
“We want to drive people who have need to organizations that can help,” Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay said at a Feb. 10 meeting of the Board’s Health and Human Services Committee.
Person Killed in I-95 Crash — “One person is dead after being struck by an SUV while involved in an argument on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County overnight.” Occupants of two vehicles in an initial crash before 2 a.m. yesterday (Wednesday) had gotten out of their vehicles and were having an “altercation” when one person “stepped into another travel lane, where a Mercedes-Benz SUV that was traveling south struck them, state police said.” [DC News Now]
Man Arrested for Stealing From Reston Beauty Store — “Investigators with Fairfax County Police Department arrested a 22-year-old Herndon man they say was responsible for a series of thefts” that targeted Sephora at Reston Town Center in December and January. The man has been “charged with eight counts of petit larceny and possession of Schedule I/II narcotics and held on a $5,000 bond.” [Patch]
More Sewage Plaguing Potomac River — “After the sewage spill in the Potomac River a few weeks ago, DC Water began pumping the contaminated water and diverting it to the C&O Canal, but on Sunday, another spill released 600,000 more gallons of sewage into the river.” The spill on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 8) “was caused by a massive clog of non‑disposable wipes flushed down the toilet.” [NBC4]
Demand Soars at Reston Skating Rink — Local figure skater Ilia Malinin’s success leading up to and during the Milan Cortina Olympics has fueled a surge in interest at SkateQuest, the Reston facility where he trains. Executive Director Nate Smith and Skating Director Katie Lange say enrollment in their learn-to-skate program has jumped this year, with the next class expected to reach 800 students — up from 550 students for the same period in 2025. [Washington Business Journal]
Ban on Robert E. Lee License Plates Advances — “Virginia Democrats celebrated the advancement of a bill Tuesday that stops the issuance of license plates honoring Robert E. Lee as part of a broader effort to cut ties with the state’s Confederate past. The bill, introduced by Delegate Dan Helmer, is one of a slew of measures targeting the removal of tax dollars from policies that support a Lost Cause narrative.” [Courthouse News Service]
Metro Construction to Affect DCA Trips — “Travelers heading south to Reagan National Airport should budget extra time this weekend because the Crystal City Metro station will be closed. The station will be closed from Saturday, Feb. 14, through Monday, Feb. 16, in the first of 10 weekend closures between now and June.” [ARLnow]
New Arts Education Leader at RCC — “Coming from a huge family of teachers, Rebecca Campana grew up loving the arts and loves working with people in the arts … On Jan. 14, Campana stepped into her new role as the Reston Community Center’s arts education director, following the retirement of Cheri Danaher, who dedicated 35 years of service to RCC.” [Patch]
Actor Reflects on Growing Up in D.C. Area — “DC native Teddy Sears appears in the NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds and Netflix’s The Night Agent.” He says he didn’t try acting until he moved to New York City in his 20s, instead spending his childhood “swimming in McLean” and visiting the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 38 degrees. The northwest wind will be blowing at a speed of 11 to 15 mph, alongside gusts reaching up to 26 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 24 degrees. [NWS]
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]
