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]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
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]
Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.
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.
Divide Over Data Center Tax Breaks Persists — “The new fiscal year starts next month, but Virginia still has no budget. And leaders in the General Assembly are still divided over what to do about a tax break for data centers.” [WVTF]
More Details on Ex-CIA Official’s Alleged Gold Bar Stash — “The former senior CIA official found with more than $40 million worth of gold bars in his house allegedly created a fake, highly classified intelligence program that he used as a conduit to funnel millions of dollars for his personal use, according to people familiar with the criminal investigation.” [Washington Post]
Bill Would Require DHS Reports to Congress — “Rep. James R. Walkinshaw, who represents Virginia’s 11th District and serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to notify Congress within 72 hours of any serious bodily injury or death involving people in federal custody or caused by DHS personnel.” [Patch]
Vienna Man Challenging Traffic Tickets — “A Northern Virginia man says he has spent years fighting traffic tickets tied to a car he doesn’t own, after someone allegedly created fake copies of his vanity license plate and used them on other vehicles.” The citations, tickets and violations have mostly come from D.C. and Prince George’s County in Maryland. [FOX5]
Va. Bans Weapons in Mental Health Care Facilities — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed legislation prohibiting firearms and other dangerous weapons in medical facilities that provide mental health and developmental services, saying the measure will help protect patients, visitors and healthcare workers from workplace violence.” [WSET]
Road Closure in Lincolnia — “Weather permitting, Fifth Street (Route 1144) between Cherokee Avenue (Route 2246) and Chowan Avenue (Route 2241) will be closed to through traffic Monday, June 8; Tuesday, June 9; Wednesday, June 10; and Thursday, June 11, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day for drainage pipe replacement … Drivers are asked to follow posted detour signs.” [VDOT]
Photos for America’s 250 Time Capsule Wanted — “The Virginia congressional delegation invites individuals across the Commonwealth to submit photographs to be considered for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. The delegation is collecting photographs that represent the many treasures Virginia has to offer in 2026 … The capsule will be opened on the nation’s 500th anniversary, July 4, 2276.” [Sen. Mark Warner]
MLK Pool Splash Pad Opens — “Fairfax County Park Authority welcomes the local community to beat the heat this summer at Martin Luther King, Jr. Pool — with an inclusive splash pad … The new, all-access splash pad opens for the 2026 summer season, replacing the tot pool that once stood in its place.” [FCPA]
It’s Monday — Expect sunny conditions with a high of around 83°F and an east wind at 7 to 9 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 58°F. Winds from the southeast at 5 to 10 mph will become lighter after midnight, with possible gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]
The Fairfax County government’s efforts protecting seniors from scams is about to enter the texting era.
As part of the Silver Shield anti-fraud effort of the Department of Family Services, a text-message service is being developed to provide timely but not overwhelming amounts of messages for those who sign up. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors was briefed on the program at the June 2 meeting of its Older Adults Committee.
A new law from a Fairfax County state delegate will set statewide limits on minimum parking requirements years after the county completed a major overhaul of its standards.
Del. Irene Shin (D-8), who represents parts of Herndon, Oak Hill and Chantilly, introduced HB 888 to limit the minimum amount of parking that localities can require for mixed-use and residential developments within a half-mile of mass transit facilities or public transportation stations.
Fairfax Water’s efforts to reduce the amount of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in local drinking water come with “potentially significant costs,” Fairfax County supervisors were told on Tuesday (June 2).
“PFAS, from where I sit, is going to be a generational issue,” said Jamie Bain Hedges, general manager of the water utility, during the 90-minute meeting between the Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax Water Board.
Unhealthy Air Alert Issued — “The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has forecast a Code Orange air day for [today], June 5, in part of the metropolitan Washington region, including DC and Northern Virginia … Code Orange levels mean the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups like people with heart or lung disease like asthma or emphysema, older adults, and children.” [COG]
Attempt to Toss Murder Convictions Rejected — “Brendan Banfield is set to be sentenced Friday as the Fairfax County chief judge denied a motion to set aside his convictions in the so-called ‘au pair affair’ murders … Defense attorney John Carroll told Chief Judge Penney Azcarate that Fairfax County prosecutors made three errors during Banfield’s prosecution, and that those errors influenced the jury’s decision.” [WTOP]
More Info Wanted on Trump Arch — “The National Capital Planning Commission has kept alive the triumphal arch that President Donald Trump wants built between the Memorial Bridge and Arlington National Cemetery. However, the body is requesting more information on” potential air travel, traffic and construction impacts. [Associated Press/ARLnow]
Guide to Regional Drought Watch — “Regional officials stress that while there is currently an adequate supply of water in the Potomac River and backup reservoirs, residents and businesses are encouraged to take simple, voluntary steps to reduce water use and help protect the region’s water resources if dry conditions persist.” [Fairfax County Government]
Va. Schools Seek for Local Tax Option — “Mathews and other localities hope … lawmakers and the governor approve changes to state law that would allow all localities to generate tax revenue for school construction projects, which have historically been costly for jurisdictions. If approved, voters in each locality decide through a referendum whether to adopt an additional local sales tax to fund school construction and maintenance.” [Virginia Mercury]
Gun Background Checks Surge — “As a new state law banning certain guns classified as ‘assault firearms’ is about to take effect, Virginia is seeing a big spike in background checks for gun transactions. The number of background checks is not necessarily a one-to-one indicator of sales, but it does generally correlate with a surge in people purchasing guns.” [WJLA]
Metro Rolls Out Pride-Themed Vehicles — “This June, Metro is celebrating Pride Month with a specially wrapped train, bus, and Metro Access vehicle, featuring the theme ‘Proudly Join Us on Metro.’ The vehicles will travel throughout the system from June 5-30, and the Pride bus and Metro Access vehicle will participate in the Capital Pride Parade.” [WMATA]
Dashboard Offers Look at Water Quality — “A new dashboard gives the public near real-time water quality data for the Potomac and Anacostia rivers … Water quality is top of mind after last winter’s sewage spill and the Potomac River’s designation as America’s Most Endangered River.” [Axios DC]
It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of 93°F and calm winds shifting to the west at about 6 mph in the afternoon. Night will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 69°F and a gentle south wind blowing at 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]
