As Fairfax County’s guaranteed income pilot reaches the one-year mark, officials say they’re identifying the residents most in need, as they work to improve social services programs.
Launched in October 2023, the Economic Mobility Pilot — funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and the Fairfax County Human Services Council’s Innovation Fund — provides $750 in unrestricted monthly payments to 180 randomly selected households.
As the 2025 General Assembly session approaches, Fairfax County leaders are hoping for the best while bracing for the worst when it comes to unfunded mandates and associated costs handed down from Richmond.
“We can’t continue to sustain all these state operations that are dropped in our lap,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at a meeting of the board’s legislative committee on Tuesday (Oct. 15).
Fairfax County leaders say it likely will be up to Congress to give public libraries relief from a complex and costly process of obtaining electronic materials.
In its first joint meeting with the Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees in three years, the Board of Supervisors heard from the local library system on Tuesday (Oct. 15) on its efforts to get e-books and other electronic items without breaking the bank.
An apparent dispute between a customer and the employees of a nightclub in Woodlawn took a dangerous turn last weekend, police say.
Officers were dispatched to Club One in Woodlawn Shopping Center (8786 Richmond Highway) at 12:58 a.m. on Sunday (Oct. 13) after a caller reported a man brandishing a gun, according to the police scanner.
Speed Cameras Proposed on GW Parkway — Rep. Don Beyer plans to introduce legislation in January to allow speed cameras on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, particularly around the Belle View Road and Belle Haven Blvd intersections, which remain “confusing and dangerous” despite previous changes. Design work is underway on a road diet and other improvements in the corridor. [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Task Force Returns From Hurricane Relief — “VA-TF1 has been demobilized by @fema after supporting the local response in Florida & North Carolina for Hurricane Helene.” The urban search and rescue team was expected to return to its base in Chantilly after 7:30 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday). [VA-TF1/Twitter]
New Details in Herndon Double Murder Case — Fairfax County police believe Brendan Banfield’s mother helped pass along messages to Juliana Peres Magalhaes after the au pair was arrested and charged with murder, according to a search warrant affidavit. Banfield is also accused of murder after his wife was stabbed and a stranger shot at his home. [NBC4]
Fire Station Construction Prolonged — “Construction of the Fort Buffalo Station Fire on Sleepy Hollow Road in Seven Corners is nearly completed, but it’s not expected to open until February due to a construction problem.” Delivery of the apparatus bay’s front doors has been delayed by a change in manufacturer. [Annandale Today]
Reston VC Firm to Create National Security Fund — “Venture capital firm Razor’s Edge Ventures aims to raise a half-billion dollars — its largest fund to date — to invest in companies developing national security technology, an area of increasing interest to investors. The company indicated the $500 million goal for its fourth fund in an Oct. 1 Securities and Exchange Commission.” [Washington Business Journal]
Volunteers Tackle Invasive Plants Along GW Parkway — “National Park Service officials say that 29 percent of the parkway’s plants are invasive, not native to the area. Local volunteers with the Friends of Dyke Marsh, the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail and others work regularly, trying to manage these plants, but it’s a daunting task.” [On the MoVe]
Springfield Neighborhood Built by Students — “Spring Village Estates in Springfield may look like many other Fairfax County neighborhoods … But for those in the know, one thing makes the neighborhood stand out: It was built with the help of high school students” under a partnership between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Foundation for Applied Technical Education. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Springfield Town Center Hosts Fall Festival — “Join us for the Springfield Town Center Fall Fest on Saturday, October 19th from 11 AM-5 PM in the parking lot next to the Macy’s Parking Garage. This family-friendly event allows you to stroll through the dozens of fun exhibitors outdoors while enjoying various fall activities including pumpkin decorating, live music, a DJ, character performances, a magic show, and much more.” [Springfield Town Center]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 58 degrees with north winds from 7 to 11 mph and gusts up to 18 mph. For Thursday night, clear conditions will continue, along with a low of approximately 42 degrees, accompanied by northwest winds at about 7 mph. [NWS]
Fairfax County Public Schools leaders don’t appear to be losing sleep over three of the district’s nearly 200 schools failing to meet full accreditation standards.
While 192 county schools have been fully accredited for this school year by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Justice High School in Lake Barcroft and Sandburg and Whitman middle schools in Fort Hunt and Hybla Valley, respectively, were rated “accredited with conditions” due to shortcomings in reported student achievement levels.
Pulte Home Company is planning to build two apartment buildings in the existing Caywood at Woodland Park office complex near the Herndon Metro Station.
The proposed development is set to go before the Fairfax County Planning Commission tonight (Wednesday). If approved, the county would rezone the 12-acre site from planned development commercial to residential in order to allow 72 multi-family residential units across two five-story buildings.
In anticipation of finalizing an agreement for the long-awaited downtown redevelopment, Town of Herndon officials are turning their attention to the arts organizations that will be at least temporarily displaced by the project.
Interim town manager Christopher Martino told the Herndon Town Council at a work session yesterday (Oct. 15) the town is on track to complete a final comprehensive agreement with developer Comstock by an imposed Dec. 10 deadline after years of delay.
Vienna’s plan to build a public aquatics and fitness center has already secured one major backer.
Navy Federal Credit Union — the town’s largest employer with 5,100 people working at its corporate headquarters (820 Follin Lane) — has offered to provide funding for the facility’s design, the Town of Vienna announced last Thursday (Oct. 10).
A proposal by the Humane Society of Fairfax County to expand its dog-kennel operations in Centreville has run into flak from a neighbor over noise concerns.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended on Oct. 9 that the Board of Supervisors approve the request, but several commission members acknowledged heartburn over the decision.
