News | FFXnow - Part 245

Gov. Youngkin maintains support for federal cuts and tariffs despite ‘near term’ pain in Virginia

Published April 17, 2025 at 11:30AM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaking at the Capital One headquarters in Tysons on Feb. 24, 2025 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) continues to throw his support behind federal job cuts and heightened tariffs, despite many Virginia officials’ and economists’ warnings of economic fallout.

In a CNBC interview yesterday (Monday), Youngkin acknowledged the pain that President Donald Trump’s economic decisions have already caused many Virginia residents. However, he argued that the layoffs are in the United States’ long-term interests and argued that tariffs will accelerate investments across the United States, including in Virginia.

British Invasion: Founding Father’s home hosting British car show next weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published April 17, 2025 at 9:45AM | Updated April 24, 2025 at 12:45PM

Britain on the Green car and motorcycle show (photo via Britain on the Green/Facebook)

George Mason may have helped kick the British out of America, but the British are taking over his Gunston Hall estate in Lorton next Sunday with a car show.

The Britain on the Green car and motorcycle show will return on Sunday, April 27, for its 27th year. The event is held on the lawn of Gunston Hall (10709 Gunston Road).

Decline in corporate sponsorship causes challenges for Reston Pride organizers

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 17, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated April 17, 2025 at 4:25PM

Vendor tables at the 2023 Reston Pride Festival (courtesy of Jennifer Heffner Photography)

Despite a decline in corporate support, organizers of the 2025 Reston Pride Festival say they are moving forward with what is planned as the largest in the event’s history.

Set to run May 31-June 1 at Lake Anne Plaza, the event’s all-volunteer organizing committee has begun a last-minute effort to attract sponsors, after a number of those that had participated in the past opted against doing so in 2025.

Man charged with abduction and attempted sexual assault in Seven Corners

By Vernon Miles

Published April 16, 2025 at 4:50PM

A Fairfax County police car (file photo)

A Falls Church man has been arrested following a reported abduction and attempted sexual assault early this morning (Wednesday).

According to a release from the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD), a woman said she was forced into a vehicle at the 6100 block of Arlington Boulevard, near a popular Target.

NOVA Parks leader to retire after overseeing regional park system’s expansion over 20 years

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 16, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated April 17, 2025 at 1:01PM

NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert at a Juneteenth 2024 event (courtesy NOVA Parks)

When Paul Gilbert finishes leading NOVA Parks, the regional park system will be nearly 2,000 acres larger than it was when he started.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority announced last Friday (April 11) that Gilbert will retire as its executive director by the end of 2025. His 20-year tenure included the addition of 15 new parks and several signature attractions, from the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial at Occoquan Regional Park to the winter light festivals in Bull Run and Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

Driver killed in fatal crash south of Merrifield

By Vernon Miles

Published April 16, 2025 at 1:10PM

Fatal crash at Prosperity Avenue and Morningside Drive (staff photo by Jared Serre)

One man was killed in a single-vehicle crash at Prosperity Avenue and Morningside Drive near the Mantua neighborhood and south of Merrifield.

According to police, the driver struck a tree near the intersection and was declared deceased at the scene. The crash occurred around noon, according to scanner traffic.

D.C. region leaders still not sold on I-495 Southside Express Lanes proposal

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 16, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated April 17, 2025 at 1:17PM

I-495 "Southside Express" HOT-lanes proposal (via Virginia Department of Transportation)

A recent briefing from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) did little to quell questions and concerns from regional leaders about a proposal to extend the I-495 Express Lanes from Springfield into Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The Southside Express Lanes project is a “complex and lengthy” undertaking, VDOT Northern Virginia District Megaprojects Director Michelle Shropshire told the D.C. region’s Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at a meeting yesterday (Tuesday).

Lorton man gets prison time after Dulles Airport officials found child sex abuse material on phone

By Jared Serre

Published April 16, 2025 at 9:45AM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Lorton man will spend most of the next two decades in federal prison after coercing young girls to create and send him sexually explicit content on social media.

Jose Alejandro Belmonte Cardozo, who pleaded guilty in November to one count of transporting child pornography, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison yesterday (Tuesday) by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

NEW: Visas revoked for multiple international students at GMU

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 16, 2025 at 9:00AM

George Mason University (file photo)

More than a dozen international students at George Mason University have recently had their visas terminated or revoked by the federal government, the university says.

The U.S. departments of state and homeland security apparently changed the statuses of 15 students without any involvement by or prior notice to university officials, GMU President Gregory Washington and Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell told the community yesterday (Tuesday).

Futsal court and other improvements could be coming to Dunn Loring neighborhood park

By Vernon Miles

Published April 15, 2025 at 2:30PM

The basketball court at Dunn Loring Park (image via Fairfax County)

Some major upgrades could be coming to Dunn Loring Park’s athletic fields.

The Fairfax County Park Authority announced last week that it’s exploring plans to resurface and expand the existing basketball court at 2540 Gallows Road, possibly turning it into a dual-purpose basketball/futsal court.