News

Alexandria Concerned by Fairfax Data Center — “Data center plans just outside Alexandria city limits has raised concerns among residents and officials.” Starwood Capital Group’s Plaza 500 site in Lincolnia was permitted by Fairfax County by right, but residents are planning to protest the project ahead of a Sept. 24 public hearing by the planning commission on an electrical substation to power the facility. [ALXnow]

Call for Action After Midair Crash Report — “Exactly six months after the National Transportation Safety Board issued recommendations following the 2025 midair collision of an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Reagan National Airport, Chair Jennifer Homendy is calling for further action from Congress.” [WTOP]

Big Spending Expected on Amendments — “At least eight referendum committees have been formed in the lead-up to this fall’s vote on three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution” that deal with abortion rights, same-sex marriage and voting rights for formerly incarcerated people. “Virginia law requires organizations or individuals that spend more than $10,000 advocating in a statewide referendum to register with the Department of Elections.” [VPM News]

Pay Transparency Law in Effect — “The new law, which took effect July 1, requires employers to include a good-faith wage or salary range in public and internal job postings for openings, promotions, transfers and other employment opportunities. It also bars employers from asking applicants about their salary history or using prior pay when making hiring and compensation decisions.” [Virginia Mercury]

Tysons Consultant Sheds Some Workers — According to an earnings report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, Booz Allen Hamilton had about 30,900 employees, as of June 30, down 7.5% from 33,400 a year earlier. “Execs indicated during Friday’s earnings call that the company plans to ramp up hiring for its national security work,” despite a decline in federal government contract work. [Washington Business Journal]

Property Owners Seek to Evict Absent Tenants — “The tenants of the derelict building in Bailey’s Crossroads that formerly housed the Zaaki Restaurant have refused to fix up or vacate the property for years, despite court orders to do so. An eviction hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2 at the Fairfax County General District Court.” [Annandale Today]

Fitness Studio Opens in Fairfax City — “After years as a Fit Body Boot Camp member, coach and mentor to others, [Sarah] Crissup said she decided she wanted to spend what she calls her ’10 good years left’ building something for herself instead of another company … That decision led to the opening of Fairfax Fit Body Boot Camp, a new fitness studio in Fairfax City.” [Patch]

Police Tips for Safe Online Shopping — “Buying and selling items through online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, and Ebay make it easy to find great deals. While most transactions go smoothly, meeting a stranger to exchange cash and goods does carry some risk.” [FCPD]

It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms before 11 a.m. and again after 2 p.m., with partly sunny skies and a high of 85°F. There’s a 70% chance of rain. At night, there’s a 60% chance of precipitation, likely before 11 p.m., followed by isolated showers until 2 a.m. The sky will be mostly cloudy, with a low near 68°F. [NWS]

Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.

Two Injured in Farmers Market Crash — “A woman and a child were taken to the hospital Saturday morning after an older woman drove into them at a Fairfax Farmers’ market … Fairfax County police say it happened around 11 a.m. in a parking lot near the Main Street Center. The driver is said to have confused the gas pedal with the brakes and crashed into a stand at the market, according to police.” [WTOP]

Vigils for People Killed by ICE — “Communities nationwide, including some in the DMV, held vigils Saturday for people killed during interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There have been two instances this month, one in Texas, the other in Maine. A pack of people lined a busy intersection along Route 29 in Centreville.” [NBC4]

Va. Given Early Primary Spot — “Virginia voters may get a say in picking the next Democratic presidential nominee before most of the country does. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted [on Friday, July 24] to give the Commonwealth one of six spots in the early window of the party’s 2028 presidential nominating calendar. Virginia would go last of the six, on Feb. 29, 2028.” [ARLnow]

Crash Into Chantilly Post Office — A minivan driver crashed through the front window of a U.S. Post Office in Chantilly on Friday afternoon. Police and firefighters helped the driver extract her vehicle from the building, but no injuries were reported, FFXnow was told. [Reddit]

Judge Rules Against Abortion Drug Restrictions — “A federal judge in Virginia ruled Thursday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not sufficiently justify restrictions imposed in 2023 on a drug used to terminate early pregnancies, adding another layer of complexity to a string of legal cases with opposing goals that could affect future abortion access.” [Virginia Mercury]

Regulator Refuted Data Center Pollution Report — “Internal emails obtained by POLITICO through a public records request paint a portrait of an agency that moved quickly to defend the only data center in Virginia that is powering itself — in what former officials and environmental health advocates described as an unusual effort to shape the debate around an industry whose global epicenter is in the state.” [Politico]

New Wine Shop Opens at Lake Anne — “Opening the door to Kinship Wine + Wares feels like you’re stepping into your friend’s cozy living room. That was the goal for owner Jennifer Monago at her new shop at Reston’s Lake Anne Plaza. There, you can try the certified sommelier’s favorite wines and browse the curated vintage décor.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Open House on Reston East Plan Tonight — “Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn invites residents to a July 27 open house on the Reston East Planning Study. This study will consider changing the Comprehensive Plan to allow residential development in the area north of Sunrise Valley Drive between Upper Lake Drive and Hunter Mill Road.” [Hunter Mill District Office]

It’s Monday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m., with mostly sunny skies and a high of 87°F. Chance of rain is 50%. Monday night will be partly cloudy with a low of 70°F, with a 30% chance of precipitation. [NWS]