A Woodbridge man who was previously convicted in Fairfax County for the sexual assault of two minors faces 40 years in prison after coercing dozens of underage victims to send him sexually explicit material.
Malachi Morgan Thomas, 24, pleaded guilty yesterday (Thursday) in federal court to two counts of sexual exploitation of children, as well as one count of possession of child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.
The water in Lake Thoreau is finally high enough to allow crews to begin clearing sediment.
Delayed from last fall due to insufficient water levels, Reston Association now anticipates beginning the approximately four-week process of dredging Lake Thoreau’s Westcove next week.
An increased fee for non-riders is one option reportedly being considered to ease traffic and parking constraints at the West Falls Church Metro station in Idylwood.
Traditionally one of Metro’s sleepiest stops, the West Falls Church station has become a hub of activity in recent months due to simultaneous construction on three different developments.
United Airlines is testing a digital tracker for airport security wait times after the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown snarled lines at major airports across the country.
Touting the tool as the “first of its kind” from a major U.S. airline, United added the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wait times tracker to its mobile app on Wednesday (April 1). It’s currently available for seven pilot locations, including Dulles International Airport.
Potomac Interceptor Upgrades Backlogged — “The D.C.-area utility responsible for a massive sewer line that failed catastrophically in January had planned to reinforce the aging section years ago but repeatedly delayed construction as federal officials studied potential environmental impacts.” [Washington Post]
School Safety Legislation Signed — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed a new batch of legislation centered on school safety, student well-being and expanded support systems in Virginia’s public schools, alongside measures addressing public health protections and food insecurity among children.” [Virginia Mercury]
Data Vague on Police Use of License Plate Readers — More than six months after Virginia adopted a law requiring law enforcement agencies to report “specific purposes” for their use of automated license plate readers, a “VCIJ at WHRO analysis of 200,000 search logs from Flock Safety data … shows that officers across the Commonwealth frequently relied on broad or vague justifications when searching the systems.” [VCIJ at WHRO]
McKay Outlines County’s Top Priorities — In a March 31 episode of the Connect With County Leaders podcast, “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said affordable housing, economic development, public safety and school funding remain among the county’s top priorities, while county leaders continue to focus on transportation investment and a broader tax base.” [Patch]
Free Film Festival in Tysons — “The 12th annual Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival will take place April 9 and 10 in Tysons. Screenings are free to the public, but registration is required. LOOK Dine-in Cinemas at the Boro in Tysons will host the event.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Szechuan Restaurant Coming to Bailey’s Crossroads — “Yeshi Kitfo, the Ethiopian restaurant at 3400 Washington Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads, has permanently closed. The restaurant is undergoing a complete renovation.” Comments from a construction worker and a building permit indicate that the space will be filled by Chili Wok, which has a location in Vienna. [Annandale Today]
Park Authority Intern Program Lauded — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is proud to announce that we have been recognized for the second year in a row as a 2026 Top Employer for Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. This recognition highlights FCPA’s dedication to providing meaningful work-based learning experiences that empower the next generation of leaders.” [FCPA]
Nominations Open for Park Volunteers Award — “The Park Authority is now accepting nominations for the annual Elly Doyle Park Service Awards Program, recognizing the outstanding contributions of volunteers … Nominations are due by Friday, May 22, 2026.” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — Expect fog in the morning before 10 a.m., then mostly sunny skies with a high near 82°F. Winds from the south will range from 7 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. Overnight, there is a 20% chance of showers before 2 a.m., with partly cloudy skies and a low around 65°F. [NWS]
Hilton is still among the best companies to work for in the U.S., but it’s no longer number one, according to Fortune.
After holding the top spot in 2024 and 2025, the hospitality giant, which has been headquartered in Tysons since 2009, slipped to no. 2 behind Synchrony — a financial services company located in Stamford, Connecticut — in Fortune’s annual ranking of the country’s 100 Best Companies to Work for.
A local lawmaker believes legislation providing a tool to regulate excessive vehicle noise will become law this year after falling short in 2025.
The measure currently sits on the desk of Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), having passed both houses of the General Assembly earlier this year.
Nearly two months after their community library branch closed, Kingstowne residents will soon have a brand-new spot to check out books.
The neighborhood’s new regional library, under construction since 2023, will celebrate its official grand opening on Saturday, April 11 as part of the ribbon cutting for the new Franconia Governmental Center (7130 Silver Lake Blvd).
The Town of Herndon is planning to maintain its current tax rates in the new fiscal year, but residents should still brace for increases in their property tax, water and trash bills.
Town Manager Dan Hoffman officially submitted a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget to the Herndon Town Council yesterday (Wednesday) that holds local real estate, lodging and meals taxes at their existing rates of 27 cents per $100 of assessed value, 6% and 4.5%, respectively.
A new Fairfax County government pilot program aims to make life easier for small business owners seeking to make minor alterations before they open their stores.
The Tenant Support Services (TSS) initiative is designed to move applicants through the permit approval process more efficiently by providing “early guidance, clear expectations and coordinated review support,” county officials said in announcing the effort.
