Police and fire boats search the Potomac River after the Jan. 29 mid-air airplane and helicopter collision near Reagan National Airport with the crash site visible in the background (staff photo by James Jarvis)
A new relief fund has emerged to supplement the patchwork of GoFundMe pages and meal trains created to support the families of those who died in last week’s airplane and helicopter crash into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport.
The Capital Area Community Foundations, a partnership of D.C.-area nonprofits that includes the Oakton-based Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, launched a DCA Together Relief Fund on Friday (Jan. 31) to raise money for the families, first responders and organizations providing mental health services and other recovery resources.
Archer Hotel at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fire Burns Down Century-Old Barn in Centreville — Fairfax and Loudoun county firefighters responded around 4:30 a.m. yesterday (Sunday) to a barn fire at Cox Farms at 15621 Braddock Road. While no people were injured, the farm lost “about a dozen chickens, a tractor and a slide were lost in the fire, along with artwork that decorated the barn and a sunflower sculpture.” [WUSA9]
Alleged Serial Killer Convicted of Women’s Murders — “It took a jury only 30 minutes to find ‘shopping cart killer’ suspect Anthony Eugene Robinson guilty of killing two women in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 2021. The jury recommended four life sentences, plus 10 years in prison and a $400,000 fine in the deaths of Allene ‘Beth’ Redmon and Tonita Smith.” [WTOP]
Va. Mothers Advocate for Stronger Driving Laws — “Two Virginia mothers who lost their children in car crashes are turning their grief into action, working with state lawmakers to push for stricter driver and passenger safety laws. Their efforts could lead to new penalties for unlicensed minors driving, expanded driver education in public schools, and a requirement for all adults in a vehicle to wear seat belts.” [Virginia Mercury]
Demolition Looms for Annandale Shopping Center — “The developer of a future mixed-use project at the Eastgate Shopping Center on John Marr Drive in Annandale submitted a demolition plan to Fairfax County on Jan. 28 … Everything to the left of K Market — including Kimen Ramen Izakaya, Pelicana Chicken, The Block, b-Thrifty, ToBe Nails, Sinsegye Department, and Ben Gong’s Tea — is slated for demolition.” [Annandale Today]
Pizza Chain Founders to Open Falls Church Cafe — “A French cafe and creperie with a vintage aesthetic may be opening soon in Falls Church. The Little Falls Cafe is a new concept by Enzo Algarme and Anastasiya Laufenberg, the founders of Pupatella, an acclaimed Arlington-based pizzeria. The team aims for a spring opening.” [ARLnow]
Fairfax City Replaces Sewer — “Crews are replacing 200 feet of an aging sewer line on Orchard Street. The work area extends from Bevan Drive to a utility access point about 200 feet to the west of the intersection. Work is scheduled to take place at the site from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Friday, Feb. 21.” [City of Fairfax]
Tysons ID Verification Company Pursues Growth — “ID.me has closed on a gargantuan $275 million credit facility from Los Angeles’s Ares Management, which is also making a ‘substantial equity investment’ in the digital identity verification company. ID.me announced the financing Thursday and said in a news release it would use its largest-ever funding vehicle to speed its growth.” [Washington Business Journal]
FFXnow Seeks Feedback with Reader Survey — FFXnow is conducting our annual reader survey. “The survey is quick and straightforward to complete, but your responses will significantly influence our direction throughout 2025. Thank you for helping us better serve Fairfax County!” [FFXnow]
It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures around 57°F and gentle south winds blowing at 3-8 mph. By night, the skies will turn mostly cloudy with the temperature dropping to approximately 46°F, as southwest winds pick up to around 7-10 mph. [NWS]
An American Airlines flight passes over nearly two dozen crosses near Gravelly Point, a tribute to the 67 victims of the mid-air collision over the Potomac River (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Two of the three soldiers on the Army helicopter that collided with an American Airlines passenger jet over the Potomac River on Wednesday (Jan. 29) have been identified.
One of the bodies that has been recovered so far appears to be that of Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, a 28-year-old Lilburn, Georgia, native who had served in the Army as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot since 2017, the Department of the Army announced today (Friday).
A preschool kid drawing (via Gabe Pierce/Unsplash)
Fairfax County leaders anticipate asking voters to support funding this fall for early childhood education facilities.
Details of the potential standalone bond referendum, including the proposed dollar amount and projects to be supported, will come when County Executive Bryan Hill unveils his fiscal year 2026 budget and related capital-improvement program on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
A person sits on a bench outside the Providence Rec Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County Park Authority staff laid out a $12 million, multi-year plan on Tuesday (Jan. 28) to factor equity into the costs paid by county residents for park services.
However, FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole’s presentation of the proposal to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a health and human services committee meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 28) sparked concerns about the expected administrative costs.
A sign displays the current cost of using the I-66 Express Lanes from Vaden Drive in Oakton (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
For Virginians who spend hundreds of dollars on tolls each month, relief could be on the horizon — if lawmakers can stomach the price tag.
A proposal to ease toll burdens for frequent drivers and low-income residents cleared a key hurdle in the state legislature this week, as a House Transportation subcommittee advanced the measure for further review.
A “No Outlet” sign has fallen near a street curb in Vienna still blocked by snow (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Construction to Detour GW Parkway Traffic — “Southbound traffic on GW Parkway will be detoured between Route 123 and Spout Run Parkway this weekend. The detour begins at 10 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) and lasts through 5 p.m. on Sunday. One northbound lane will remain open as work on the North Parkway Rehabilitation Project continues.” [ARLnow]
Teen Charged with Herndon Shooting — Police arrested a 15-year-old boy yesterday (Thursday) who allegedly shot a man near Worldgate Centre on Wednesday (Jan. 29). The charges include malicious wounding, use of a firearm to commit a felony, shooting into an occupied vehicle and willfully shooting a gun in public. [Herndon Police/Facebook]
National Airport Crash Highlights Crowding Concerns — “In the wake of a deadly collision near Reagan National Airport between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter, two Virginia Congress members said they’ve been voicing concerns over D.C.’s crowded airspace for ‘many, many years,'” though Sen. Mark Warner noted that the cause of the crash remains to be determined. [WTOP]
Loudoun Supervisors Urged to Oppose Casino Bill — “A coalition of Loudoun residents concerned about a bill passing through the General Assembly that would add Fairfax County to the list of counties eligible to house a casino last week pushed the Board of Supervisors to oppose it. County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) said the board would not take a position on the legislation.” [Loudoun Now]
Halal Eatery Coming to Annandale — “Blazin Halal … is moving into the space formerly occupied by Munch & Co. and Yomie’s Rice X Yogurt in the Eastgate shopping center in Annandale. The shop could open as early as mid-February, says a company spokesperson. It’s located at 4367 John Mar Drive next to Glam Karaoke.” [Annandale Today]
Lingerie Store to Leave Fairfax Corner — “Belle Mode Intimates, a lingerie store in Fairfax Corner, has announced that it will be moving out of its current storefront. The owner, Nicole Martin, says the store will relocate.” The new store will be “in a nearby area” and is expected to open this spring. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Local Golf Courses Named Among Top 50 in U.S. — “Burke Lake Golf Center and Oakmont Golf Center have been recognized as two of the top 50 public golf ranges in the country by Golf Range Magazine. This magazine is published by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) and the Professional Golf Association (PGA).” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Friday — Expect rain with a high near 55, south wind at 9-11 mph, and gusts up to 30 mph. Precipitation is guaranteed, with new amounts ranging from half to three-quarters of an inch. There’s a 50% of continued rain at night until 1am, followed by clearing skies and a low of around 42. [NWS]
A D.C. fire boat searches the Potomac River the morning after the mid-air airplane and helicopter crash outside Reagan National Airport (staff photo by James Jarvis)
The victims of last night’s deadly airplane and helicopter crash outside Reagan National Airport included multiple Fairfax County Public Schools students and their parents, Superintendent Michelle Reid says.
All 64 people on American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, and three soldiers on the military helicopter — a U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk that was on a training mission from Fort Belvoir — are believed to have perished in the crash.
Response to airplane and helicopter crash in the Potomac near National Airport, as seen from Gravelly Point (staff photo by James Cullum from ARLnow)
The D.C. region is reeling in the aftermath of a crash involving an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport that officials say left no survivors.
Arriving from Witchita, Kansas, the airplane was making its descent when it collided with the helicopter over the Potomac River around 8:50 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday). The crash drew a massive emergency response that included personnel from Fairfax County’s police and fire departments.
Justice High School cafeteria staff prepare meals for distribution to students during a snow day (courtesy Donnie Biggs/FCPS)
The Trump administration’s plan to freeze federal spending could’ve disrupted free and reduced-price meals for thousands of students if it had taken effect, according to Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid.
The directive, issued Monday (Jan. 27), ordered federal agencies to halt grants, loans, and other aid and review federal financial assistance programs to ensure they align with President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, which has prioritized cutting government spending and scaling back diversity and equity efforts, among other goals.
