Sign advertises the Fairfax County Planning Commission's public hearing on a proposed family shelter at 3997 Fair Ridge Drive (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Plans to convert a former extended-stay hotel into an emergency family shelter are moving forward after the Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously approved the project, despite pushback from nearby residents.
Commissioners voted 9-0 (with two members absent) to allow the shelter at 3997 Fair Ridge Drive across from Fair Oaks Mall. Formerly an Extended Stay America hotel, the site will be repurposed to provide emergency temporary housing for families experiencing homelessness and serve as a domestic violence shelter.
A Fairfax County Public Schools substitute teacher has been arrested and dismissed from her job for allegedly assaulting a student at Dogwood Elementary School (12300 Glade Drive).
The county’s Child Protective Services received a referral on Sept. 25, 2024 indicating that a substitute teacher had assaulted a student at the Reston school, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a press release on Saturday (Feb. 1).
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.
The concept plan for Laurel Highlands' proposed housing development on Ox Road (via Fairfax County)
Fairfax County Planning Commission members will try again next month to find the appropriate level of residential development on a series of parcels on Ox Road (Route 123) in the Lorton area.
A developer — L&F Laurel Highlands LLC — has proposed building almost two dozen new single-family houses on eight acres of mostly vacant land at 9224, 9300 and 9304 Ox Road near the intersection with Hooes Road.
Local law enforcement is still on the lookout for one suspected serial burglar, despite arresting two others in recent days.
The Fairfax County Police Department is seeking help from the community to identify a man believed to have perpetrated two burglaries and two larcenies in nine days.
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.
The Richmond Highway and Buckman Road intersection in Hybla Valley (via Google Maps)
One of the pedestrians struck in a hit-and-run crash on Richmond Highway earlier this week has died, police say.
Erica Tibbs, 33, of Alexandria and her 5-year-old child were crossing Richmond Highway (Route 1) near the Buckman Road intersection in Hybla Valley around 8:34 p.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 29) when an SUV driver hit them, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
