Herndon is officially taking legal action against Comstock Companies after the developer backed out of its long-stalled downtown redevelopment project last year.
The town filed a lawsuit in Fairfax County Circuit Court this afternoon (Friday) demanding that Comstock return the nearly 5-acre site that it planned to transform into a mixed-use block with an arts center, apartments, retail space and a parking garage.
Updated — An 18-year-old man from Lorton has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding for allegedly assaulting a Fairfax Connector bus driver earlier this month.
The Fairfax County Police Department announced on July 21 that Javantai Johnson was identified as the man behind the assault based on a community tip. He was arrested on Saturday, July 19 in Stone Ridge with help from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and is now in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.
Per-square-foot home-sales prices were flat across Fairfax in June, and other data points were mixed as the county’s real-estate market closed out the first half of 2025.
The average per-square-foot sales price for homes that went to closing last month in Fairfax was $369, according to figures reported yesterday (Thursday) by Bright MLS, the Mid-Atlantic’s multiple-listing service.
A ranking of localities by their bicycle-friendliness has Fairfax City near the top in Virginia.
The City of Fairfax came in seventh place in Virginia in PeopleForBikes’ 2025 ranking of cities, which were released in mid-June. Fairfax came in 22nd across the south as a whole, and 286th in the U.S.
Fairfax County police are now turning to the public for help with identifying a suspect in a stabbing that occurred late last month at the Build America Plaza retail center in Bailey’s Crossroads.
Officers responded to the 3800 block of South George Mason Drive at 6:03 a.m. on June 29 after a man called 911, reporting that he had been stabbed twice, according to scanner traffic.
Impact of Medicaid Changes Still Unclear — A final, nonpartisan analysis is still pending on how many Virginians could lose Medicaid coverage due to the recently signed federal reconciliation bill, which adds new work requirements starting in January 2027, among other changes. “The uncertainty has left many wondering if they or loved ones will be impacted — and set the stage for partisan bickering.” [Virginia Mercury]
Transfers of Police on Double Murder Case Questioned — “A hearing to determine if certain evidence was kept from defense attorneys in the murder case against Branden Banfield turned the spotlight on the Fairfax County Police Department, accused of moving investigators from their units after disagreements over theory [alleging Banfield’s guilt].” [WUSA9]
Potential Connolly Successors on Key Issues — “James Walkinshaw, a longtime Connolly staffer and Fairfax County supervisor, won the Democratic primary. Stewart Whitson, a former FBI agent and Army combat veteran, is the Republican candidate. WTOP’s Scott Gelman sat down with both candidates to ask them about issues important to Northern Virginia voters.” [WTOP]
Virginia Drops in Business Ranking — “For the first time in three years, Virginia is no longer considered the best state for business on CNBC’s annual ranking. The Commonwealth landed at No. 4, ceding its first-place spot to North Carolina. This is the lowest Virginia has ranked on the list since 2018.” CNBC attributed the drop mostly to federal workforce cuts. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Learn About Lake Accotink Study — “Next Saturday, July 19, there will be an open house to provide the community with an opportunity to learn more about the ongoing Smaller Lake Accotink Preservation Feasibility Study. The open house will be in the cafeteria of Kings Glen Elementary School (5401 Danbury Forest Drive, Springfield) from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and you can drop in at any time.” [The Walkinshaw Advisory]
FBI HQ Slows Federal Budget Process — Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) recessed a committee meeting yesterday (Thursday) after Democrats and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski narrowly passed a budget bill amendment that would prohibit federal dollars from being used to relocate the FBI’s headquarters anywhere other than a previously selected site in Greenbelt, Maryland. The committee had hoped to send one of its 12 appropriations bills to the full Senate. [NBC4]
Stream Restoration Project Coming — “The City of Alexandria is gearing up to begin construction this summer on a stream and trail restoration project on Holmes Run in the Dora Kelley Nature Park. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2026. This is the last of four major projects along Holmes Run Stream Valley to repair extensive damage caused by rainstorms six years ago.” [Annandale Today]
Outdoor Screening of Reality Show in Tysons — “Fans of the Bravo television series ‘The Valley’ should mark July 22 on their calendar. That’s when The Boro, Tysons’ premier destination for luxury urban living, is hosting an outdoor screening of the show’s season two finale.” [Patch]
It’s Friday — Mostly sunny skies and a high near 89 could be followed by showers and thunderstorms, most likely between 5-7 p.m. Night will bring partly cloudy skies and a low around 73. The chance of precipitation is 30%. [NWS]
By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday opened a civil rights investigation into the hiring practices at George Mason University, expanding a national campaign against diversity policies to Virginia’s largest public university.
A Maryland man who struck and knocked unconscious a gate agent at Dulles International Airport earlier this year pleaded guilty today (Thursday) to interfering with security screening personnel.
Christopher Stuart Crittenden faces a maximum of 10 years for the crime, though federal prosecutors will recommend a sentence no greater than the low end of sentencing guidelines, according to the terms of a plea agreement.
A former teacher at White Oaks Elementary School in Burke will surrender her teaching license amid accusations that she physically assaulted students at the school.
Elizabeth Yoshimi Nagagata, who previously worked as a special education teacher at the school, entered an Alford plea on June 18 to two misdemeanor counts of assault & battery, allowing her to plead guilty while maintaining her innocence.
Housing costs are daunting for Fairfax County residents in general, but for seniors with limited financial resources, even subsidized housing options are becoming increasingly beyond their means, county staff say.
“We’re starting to see some disconnect,” Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development Director Tom Fleetwood said, describing the “emerging challenges” to the Board of Supervisors at a housing committee meeting on Tuesday (July 8).
