The Trump administration has released a new list of localities and states it considers “sanctuary jurisdictions,” and Fairfax County is no longer on it.
The Justice Department identified some three dozen states, cities and counties as so-called sanctuary jurisdictions on Tuesday (Aug. 5), two months after the federal government quietly removed a much longer list that included many localities that support the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies.
A community forum slated for this evening (Wednesday) aims to gather more input as Fairfax County officials work on strategies to support the growing number of electric vehicles on local roads.
The online forum, set to run Aug. 6 from 6 to 7 p.m., will be another step toward the adoption of a Fairfax County Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Strategy. The project is being led by Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination and Department of Vehicle Services.
Police Seek Fatal Crash Witnesses — “Virginia State Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed or taken video of Saturday night’s fatal crash on I-66 in Fairfax County to contact the person investigating the incident, according to authorities.” [Patch]
Immigrants Rights Groups Launch Hotline — “The new PODER Virginia campaign is looking for immigrants, their families and allies to call in with stories in order to paint a more complete picture of deportation activity to possibly identify patterns.” Taking calls from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., the hotline at 844-ALERT-VA was announced by Centreville Immigration Forum, the Legal Aid Justice Center and other groups that advocate for immigrants. [NBC4]
Dulles Flight Had Engine Failure — “A United Airlines flight bound for Germany declared ‘mayday, mayday, mayday’ with an engine failure last month, forcing the jet to hastily retreat to the Washington, D.C., area, tower recordings and the carrier said Monday … Flight 108, a Boeing 787 with 219 passengers and 11 crew members, was headed to Munich when it had to turn back for Dulles International Airport.” [NBC News]
Reston Man Deported to Belgium — A 33-year-old Belgian man living in Reston was deported on July 31 after authorities learned he was a fugitive convicted of sexually exploiting a child in his native country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said. The man allegedly fled to the U.S. in April 2013 to avoid serving prison time and didn’t disclose his criminal history. An immigration judge ordered his removal on June 26, ICE said. [WJLA]
Metro Radio Issues Found — “The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission released its study of Metro’s radio communication system on Monday and revealed that some key deficiencies remain, despite a plan to improve the system after response delays during a deadly 2015 incident.” [WTOP]
Local Restauranteur Wins Award — “The DMV’s premier Laotian chef Seng Luangrath, the owner of several restaurants, including Padaek in Seven Corners, was named Restaurateur of the Year by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. The award was presented on Aug. 3 at the 43rd annual RAMMYS Gala at the Walter Washington Convention Center.” [Annandale Today]
McLean Startup Offers Autism Care — “Positive Development Inc. has raised $51.5 million in new funding to expand autism care to more kids and families as demand for its services mounts.” Making headway on getting its services covered by insurance companies, including Anthem in Virginia and CareFirst in the D.C. region, the startup hopes to “double its footprint in the next handful of years.” [Washington Business Journal]
Merrifield Furniture Business Promises Discounts — “Merrifield-based GoodbyHello, founded by longtime friends Michelle Baldwin and Mollie Skopil, works with manufacturers to sell their overstock, canceled orders, and returns in like-new condition. It also sells lightly used items right from its customers. With these methods, it’s able to offer furniture and other home goods for lower prices.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Wednesday — There is a 20% chance of showers after 3pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 82°F accompanied by an east wind at 3-7 mph. Wednesday night, expect cloudy skies to turn partly cloudy, with a low of around 67°F and an east wind near 6 mph. [NWS]
The number of Fairfax County residents seeking employment is up by a third year-over-year in new state data, as Northern Virginia continues to grapple with the Trump administration’s slashing of federal government jobs.
A total of 23,561 county residents were reported as looking for work in June’s unemployment figures, provided to FFXnow by state officials on Monday (Aug. 4).
Falls Church Getting First Roundabout — “Construction work on the first traffic circle in Falls Church is gearing up. Signs are in place for the project at S. Maple Avenue and Annandale Road, which will convert the existing four-way stop with traffic lights into what transportation planners hope will be a better travel experience.” [ARLnow]
DCA Crash Review Could Change Air Travel — “The National Transportation Safety Board is now reviewing three days of testimony from last week’s public hearings into the Jan. 29 midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. One of the country’s leading aviation safety analysts believes that sweeping changes are likely to come not only to the operations near DCA, but to the entire aviation system as a result of this crash.” [WTOP]
Vacant Tysons Parcel Up for Auction — “The vacant 1.8-acre lot at 8346 Leesburg Pike on a map — technically 8350 Leesburg Pike in property records — will be auctioned off Sept. 4, according to Alex Cooper Inc., the auctioneer.” Owned by an affiliate of NVCommercial Inc, the parcel was slated to become two high-rises — one with a hotel and housing over retail and another with apartments and a “public facility” over retail — under the Tysons Central plan approved by Fairfax County in 2013. [Washington Business Journal]
Dolphins in Chesapeake Bay — “The researchers had found their subjects: Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins that call the waters around Chesapeake Bay home. Researchers estimate at least 500 to 600 of these dolphins have regularly visited the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay over the past decade, with one sighting dating back to the 19th century.” [Washington Post]
Popular Tysons Cafe Expands — “Shotted Specialty Coffee, a Saudi-inspired coffee bar, has opened its newest location at 7380 Atlas Walk, Gainesville, VA. This is the fourth Shotted location, joining ones at Tysons Corner Center, Tysons Galleria and Dulles Town Center.” [Patch]
Police Celebrate National Night Out — “RA members are invited to join their neighbors in celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with two free events focused on building community spirit and strengthening partnerships with local law enforcement. Reston Association is proud to support both events, which are open to the public and offer fun, food and family-friendly activities.” Other events are planned at Fairfax County’s community centers, the Mosaic District, Annandale Shopping Center and elsewhere. [Reston Association]
Final Events at The Block — “The Block food hall has scheduled a few final events before it shuts down for good at the end of the month. The venue is hosting an ‘everything-must-go thrift pop-up’ every Tuesday, 5-9:30 p.m., on Aug. 5, 12, 19, and 26. On Aug. 16, it’s ‘Last Call at The Block,’ featuring Arylia, DJ Knom, and DJ Adobo, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.” [Annandale Today]
More Stops Added to Discovery Trail Challenge — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is proud to announce that three exciting new sites have been added to the odyssey! Discover hidden wildlife hotspots at Huntley Meadows, step into a bygone era at Grist Mill Park’s historic barn and check out Mount Vernon Rec Center’s brand-new recreation facilities.” [FCPA]
It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high near 84 and calm winds shifting to an easterly 6 mph breeze in the afternoon. Tuesday night will see similar cloud cover, alongside a low of 69 and a southeast wind at 5 mph, diminishing to calm winds later in the evening. [NWS]
Apartment rental rates across Fairfax County continue to rise, even as national costs are falling.
All seven county corridors tracked by Apartment List showed year-over-year increases in July, according to new data reported last Wednesday (July 30).
Walker Road Reopens — The new Walker Road bridge reopened “to traffic late Friday night, Aug. 1. Remaining project work, which includes grinding the bridge deck smooth and finishing the shoulders, guardrail and the asphalt approaches, will occur via weekday daytime lane closures. Final project completion is scheduled late this fall.” [VDOT]
Homeless People Found Dead — “Three apparently homeless people died on the streets in Annandale on July 29, the Fairfax County Police Department confirms. Officers responded to a report of two people unresponsive outside the Goodwill store at 7031 Columbia Pike at 6:45 a.m. They discovered an adult male and an adult female deceased.” A third person was found deceased behind the 7-Eleven an hour later. [Annandale Today]
Tysons Firm Hired to Build Ballroom — “On July 31, The White House announced its plan to build a new ballroom. The $200 million project will begin next month and is expected to be completed before the end of President Donald Trump’s term … McLean-based Clark Construction is on board to build the ballroom.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Pet Dies in Apartment Fire — “#FairfaxsBravest are on scene of a 2-alarm garden-style apartment fire in the 7900 blk of Charles Thomson Ln in Annandale. Units arrived to smoke/fire showing & located a fire on the 3rd floor. Fire is under control. No injuries. Sadly 1 pet was found deceased. 14 units affected.” [FCFRD/X]
Football Coaches Put on Leave — “Two football coaches at Fairfax High School in Virginia have been placed on leave, following allegations of recruitment violations last school year. The allegations come less than one month before the season’s kickoff on Aug. 28.” FCPS says it’s working with independent investigators on the issue, which embroiled Hayfield Secondary School last year. [WTOP]
Gaza Protest in Vienna — “A group of citizens met at Peterson Lane Park, 599 Malcolm Road, NW, for a planned protest [on July 25]. The protestors walked from Malcolm to Lawyers Road, and then to the area of Colin Lane, NW, protesting the events in Gaza. The citizens were using bullhorns and other items to create noise. They were warned of the violation of using a portable public address system and that it was also a violation to protest a residence.” [Vienna Police]
County Offers Back-to-School Vaccine Clinics — “The Fairfax County Health Department’s back-to-school immunization clinics begin Friday, August 1 from 1-4 pm at the Joseph Willard Health Center and Mount Vernon District Office clinics. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are also welcome.” [Fairfax County Health Department]
Twin Peaks Cast Visits Tysons — “Thirty-five years after that first premiere, the two cast members and executive producer Sabrina S. Sutherland (who worked as production coordinator on the original series and executive producer on Twin Peaks: The Return) are going on a cross-country tour to chat with fans and share stories … On Monday, Aug. 4, the group stops at Capital One Hall in Tysons.” [Washington City Paper]
Middle Eastern Food Festival Returning — “Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church in McLean is preparing for a celebration of culture, cuisine, and community at the 32nd Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival on Aug. 30 and 31. Attendees can enjoy Middle Eastern favorites such as Kibbeh, Shish Kabob, Roast Lamb, Falafel, and more.” [Patch]
It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day ahead with a high temperature of approximately 87 degrees. The calm morning wind will transition to an easterly 6 mph breeze in the afternoon. As night falls, the sky will become partly cloudy and the temperature will drop to around 66 degrees. The southeast wind of 5 mph will subside and become calm as the evening progresses. [NWS]
The new student representative to the Fairfax County School Board is urging school leaders to enforce consistent standards, now that new restrictions on student phone use are being rolled out countywide.
Starting with the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, Fairfax County Public Schools will prohibit students in all grades from using their cell phones at any point during the day — with the exception of high school students during lunch. Teachers can also no longer incorporate phones into instructional activities.
It’s been a rough six months for federal government workers, and few places in the country have been hit as hard by layoffs as Fairfax County.
Based on 2023 Census estimates, approximately 80,000 people — or 13% of the county’s entire workforce — are employed by the federal government, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority reported this spring. But with drastic cuts initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in recent months, that number has likely plummeted.
Federal Workers Paid Not to Work — “The government is paying more than 154,000 federal employees not to work as part of the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program, according to two administration officials … Critics have argued that the administration’s tactics of using buyouts and administrative leave have been wasteful because the public is paying tens of thousands of employees not to work for months.” [Washington Post]
Groveton Woman Faces Prison — “A Fairfax County mother is back in jail after she pleaded guilty to chaining her children to a table while she was away at work … In court on Tuesday, Del Cid Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of abduction and one count of assault and battery. Other charges were dropped.” She faces up to 11 years in prison at a sentencing hearing in November. [NBC4]
Virginia Considers Revising Election Cycle — “The Joint Subcommittee to Study the Consolidation and Scheduling of General Elections met for the first time last week to begin exploring whether Virginia — one of just a handful of states with statewide elections in odd-numbered years — should sync up with the federal calendar and move all general elections to even-numbered years.” [Virginia Mercury]
Herndon Police Recover Guns, Drugs — “On July 21, 2025, after receiving an alert for a vehicle that was stolen out of a neighboring jurisdiction, officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. During the traffic stop, officers seized a gun, drugs, cash, and a scale.” A 29-year-old man from Sterling received firearm and drug possession charges, while a juvenile was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. [Herndon Police/Instagram]
Overnight Fairfax Parkway Closures — “Weather permitting, Route 29 northbound and southbound will be closed at the Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) interchange to install bridge beams as part of the Fairfax County Parkway widening north project … Northbound and southbound Route 29 will be simultaneously closed as follows” on Aug. 4-8 with the following week serving as a backup if needed. [VDOT]
Seven Corners Sign Designs Unveiled — “Design consultants hired by Fairfax County’s Community Revitalization Section presented several gateway signage concepts for Seven Corners and Bailey’s Crossroads at a meeting on July 30.” Several of the Seven Corners designs create stars using the number 7, while the Bailey’s Crossroads logos feature the “interwined letters B and C.” [Annandale Today]
Inside Peppa Pig Experience — “Families with Peppa Pig fans are going to be spending a lot more time at Tysons Corner Center. Hidden behind the walls of CAMP is the toy store’s new immersive Peppa Pig experience.” The themed pop-up made its debut on July 25 and is open during store hours “from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Seasonal Workers Wanted for Burke Lake Park — “Drop-in interviews at the Burke Lake Park Info Center will be held Aug. 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (no appointment needed!) Come by to explore job opportunities, complete an application and interview on the spot all in one visit!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Friday — Showers are possible before 10am, with a chance of more showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Expect mostly cloudy skies and a high of around 78 degrees. The precipitation probability for the day stands at 20%. At night, the clouds will give way to mostly clear skies and a low temperature of around 64 degrees. [NWS]
