The Fairfax County Police Department has a message for those affected by the Trump administration’s downsizing of the federal government: Come check us out.
The department launched a dedicated recruitment initiative on Tuesday (April 1) “aimed at hiring experienced professionals seeking stable and rewarding career opportunities in public safety.”
Two Displaced by Fair Oaks House Fire — “On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, around 7:10pm, #FairfaxsBravest responded to a house fire in the 4000 block of Middle Ridge Drive.” No injuries were reported, but two people lost their home, and the fire, which appears to have started inside the garage, caused an estimated $105,442 in property damages. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Facebook]
Wawa Plots N. Va. Expansion — The convenience store and gas station chain has enlisted the real estate firm Rappaport to scout out future locations in Northern Virginia, with Reston, Tysons and Springfield mentioned as possible submarkets. “It could potentially open around 20 stores under the current push, which also includes the cities of Alexandria and Fairfax.” [Washington Business Journal]
Dominion Energy Seeks Rate Increases — “Dominion Energy has filed applications to raise monthly base rates and fuel rate costs in Virginia, as well as establish a separate class for heavy consumers of electricity, including data centers.” A proposed base rate increase of $8.51 per month in 2026 and $2 in 2027 would be the utility’s first since 1992. [WTOP]
Democratic Lawmakers Attempt to Override Youngkin Vetoes — “In a dramatic but ultimately symbolic show of defiance, Virginia House Democrats on Wednesday tried — and failed — to override 13 of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes from this year’s legislative session.” Bills that came up for a vote included gun restrictions, voting rights protections and a minimum wage increase. [Virginia Mercury]
County Launches Survey on Leaf Collections — “Fairfax County residents are invited to take a survey on vacuum leaf collections … It’s open through April 20. The survey asks residents to assess the quality of the leaf collection program, how they learn about the leaf collection schedule, and whether they have recommendations for improvement.” [Annandale Today]
Au Pair Program Assists Office-Bound Federal Workers — For federal workers required to return to the office, au pairs offer “an alternative to traditional child care that works for their schedule. Fairfax County resident Rachel, who did not disclose her last name due to her husband’s federal job, told Patch they have two elementary school-aged children and one preschooler.” [Patch]
MSNBC TV Show Host Reflects on McLean Childhood — Mika Brzezinski, the longtime co-host of the MSNBC talk show “Morning Joe,” grew up in an old farmhouse on Spring Hill Road in McLean, where her family moved in 1976 after Jimmy Carter appointed her father as his national security advisor. “Brzezinski describes her unconventional childhood with palpable joy.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Tysons AAA to Offer PreCheck Enrollment to Travelers — “AAA is working with TSA PreCheck enrollment provider IDEMIA to provide enrollment at its AAA Tysons Corner location. The TSA PreCheck event will be held from April 29 to May 2 at 8300 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, VA. Hours are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — There’s a chance of showers before 8am and after 2pm, with patchy fog expected between 9 and 10am. Cloudy conditions persist with a high near 80 and a 40% chance of precipitation. That will increase to a 50% chance at night, with possible showers and thunderstorms, mostly cloudy skies and a low around 64. [NWS]
An Oakton-based nonprofit has received two contracts totaling nearly $1 million to expand its support services for Northern Virginia residents with serious mental illness and substance-use disorders.
Announced yesterday (Tuesday), the contracts were awarded to HopeLink Behavioral Health by the state and Fairfax County governments.
Break out the reflective vests and get ready to take the kids to get their pictures with Work Zone Willy: it’s repaving season in Fairfax County.
This year, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are planning various changes for roads around the county, from multiple road diets to crosswalks and bicycle lanes.
The transportation network in Tysons remains a work in progress, especially when it comes to facilities for non-car-based travel.
Recent years have brought some improvements, from the first segments of the Tysons Community Circuit to the addition of publicly accessible park space in central Tysons. The Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) hopes to draw more attention to those existing amenities with new signage.
RELAC will live to cool down residents and businesses near Lake Anne in Reston for at least one more summer.
Reston RELAC President Mark Waddell informed customers on Monday (March 31) that he’s in discussions to transfer ownership of the chilled-water cooling system to a contractor in Maryland, enabling operations to continue after a previously planned hand-off fell through.
Captain Barry Maham, who served with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) for more than 25 years, has died of an occupational-related cancer.
Maham, 50, died Monday (March 31), nearly four-and-a-half years after he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. His death is considered to have occurred in the line of duty, the department said.
Fairfax County’s leadership appears willing to move cautiously forward in considering the creation of a sports and entertainment authority.
However, the responsibilities of a potential independent agency, where it would get its funding and how it would interact with existing public and private facilities still need to be ironed out.
Fairfax County staff have sketched out details of a series of bond referendums for the next five years that would raise just under $2 billion for facility construction and renovation projects.
With both economic uncertainty and higher interest rates causing headwinds, however, alterations could be possible — even likely.
Parents Reflect on Tragic Clifton House Fire — “One year ago, the Brice family’s lives changed forever, by a fire. On April 10, 2024, their Clifton home went up in flames. Zachariah, 3, and William, 6, were trapped inside the home and had to be rescued by firefighters.” [WUSA9]
Advocates Question Closure of Temporary Shelter in Reston — “A temporary overnight shelter that opened in Reston last summer — just before a tent encampment was cleared out — closed its doors Tuesday. Now advocates for unhoused people are expressing deep concern.” The group RestonStrong says the county’s now-open Fair Ridge shelter doesn’t have enough beds to accommodate all of the displaced individuals. [NBC4]
Parents Concerned by Potential College Help Funding Cuts — Local parent Michael Newman says his stepson, who has autism, passed all of his classes at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) last year, thanks to a program called College Steps that supports students with disabilities. However, Fairfax County’s proposed budget eliminates funding that helps families pay for the program. [WTOP]
New Fire Station Gets Closer to Construction — “Construction of the new Gunston Fire Station on Mason Neck in Lorton is slated to begin early this summer, according to Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES). The two-year project … is currently wrapping up the bidding phase.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Restaurant Bans Political Talk — “Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen makes good on its name. Even before McLean’s coastal chic restaurant opened last year, its owners, industry vets chef David Guas (Bayou Bakery) and wife Simone Rathle, knew they wanted to create a ‘neutral zone’ for their neighborhood’s many politicos.” [Axios DC]
County Launches Housing Data Dashboard — Fairfax County has launched a new data dashboard with information on housing and neighborhood livibility. Metrics include “housing costs and inventory, homelessness, the county’s progress towards creating new affordable homes and accessibility to public transit, fresh food locations, mixed-use centers and parks.” [Fairfax County Government]
Planner Proposes ‘Purple Line South’ for N. Va. — “I would argue that we need to build a rapid transit route between Tysons Corner and the denser communities along the southern beltway, carrying people to Alexandria and Counties in Maryland.” The op-ed suggests a rail line would be more efficient than bus rapid transit service, which is currently planned from Tysons to Alexandria on Route 7. [Greater Greater Washington]
Reston Scholarship Fund Accepts Student Applications — “The Reston Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is excited to announce it is now accepting applications for its annual scholarships for the academic year 2025-2026.” Up to 10 scholarships are available for South Lakes High School seniors looking to attend NOVA or George Mason University. [Reston Scholarship Fund]
It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies and highs near 61, along with southeast winds ranging from 8 to 15 mph and gusts up to 23 mph. Wednesday night will be cloudy, with lows around 53, accompanied by southeast winds at around 13 mph and gusts reaching 21 mph. [NWS]
