Development option 1 for Woodland Park (via Fairfax County)
Hundreds of housing units could be coming near the Herndon Metro station.
At its Sept. 23 meeting, the Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning and development plan amendment to support the proposed Woodland Park redevelopment. A Board of Supervisors hearing has not yet been scheduled.
The Fairfax County Police Department released these images of suspects in an armed robbery Sept. 27 in Springfield. (Courtesy of FCPD)
The Fairfax County Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects in a smash-and-grab armed robbery of a Springfield jewelry store over the weekend.
Officers responded to a report of a robbery Sunday (Sept. 27) around 3:30 p.m., at Dubai Jewelers (7010 Brookfield Plaza). Four men had arrived at the shop in a black Acura sedan, left the car, and then smashed the front glass door to get inside, police said in a release.
A skipper butterfly settles on pink flowers in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Shooting Injures 2 People in Hybla Valley — Officers responded to a non-fatal shooting in the 7700 block of Richmond Highway Tuesday. Police found two men with non-life-threatening injuries and believe the incident is isolated.” [Fairfax County Police Department/X]
FCPS Spending More on School Bus Fuel — “Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia’s largest division, has nearly 1,600 diesel buses that drive about 85,000 miles every day, a spokeswoman said in a statement. The district doesn’t pay public pump prices, instead getting fuel as part of the consortium with the county’s Department of Vehicle Services. However, it’s still paying almost $2 more per gallon on average so far this year compared with last year’s average, and $1.23 more per gallon in mid-September than in July.” [WTOP]
Chantilly Emergency Room Plans Scrapped — “HCA’s StoneSprings Hospital Center in Dulles had been under contract to purchase a former deli at 3980 Corsair Court and planned to convert the roughly 11,000-square-foot space into a standalone ER with 11 exam rooms, a spokesperson told the Business Journal earlier this year … But the property is up for sale again, and Sterling-based brokerage Legat Commercial Real Estate is marketing it for $7 million as a standalone restaurant building or a potential redevelopment opportunity.” [Washington Business Journal]
Congressional Reps Seek Answers on Military Mental Health Care — “Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs and Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, are pressing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine whether service members have sufficient access to mental health care during deployments. In their letter, the lawmakers point to concerning conditions aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford during its 326-day deployment.” [Office of Rep. James Walkinshaw]
County’s Housing Voucher Wait List to Open — “The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) will be accepting pre-applications for the Project-Based Voucher (PBV) waitlist. Telestar Court and The Exchange at Spring Hill Station are new properties within the FCRHA’s PBV portfolio. The Housing Waitlist will be open from Monday, October 5, 2026, at 8 a.m. through Sunday, October 11, 2026, 11:59 p.m.” [Fairfax County]
Haunt: Dark Encounters Opens This Weekend at Workhouse Arts Center — “This isn’t your typical haunted house. This year, the Workhouse is trading theatrical gimmicks for raw, unrelenting tension. Guests are guided through dense woodland to uncover the mystery of five friends who vanished in 1996. It’s immersive, it’s unsettling, and it’s built to make every shadow feel personal.” [Workhouse Arts Center]
Reston YMCA Recognized for 25-Year Milestone — “The board approved a resolution honoring the YMCA’s anniversary and recognizing its youth programs, wellness initiatives and community partnerships. The recognition was requested by Board Chairman Jeff McKay and Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.” [Patch]
ICE Enforcement Affects New Construction in Virginia — “Stepped-up immigration enforcement is disrupting construction across Virginia and Maryland, a Richmond homebuilder says, slowing how quickly new homes can get built. Virginia’s construction industry is more reliant on immigrant labor than the nation overall, with nearly 28% of its workers — and almost 38% of its trades workers — being foreign-born, per a National Association of Home Builders analysis of 2024 census data.” [Axios D.C.]
It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 80°F and a calm wind shifting to the southwest at 6 mph in the afternoon. By Wednesday night, the weather will turn mostly cloudy with a low of around 64°F, accompanied by a south wind around 6 mph. [NWS]
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The Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)
A McLean man was sentenced last week following the May 2025 shooting of a man said to have kicked his Tesla.
Kianmehr Shirinipaziziba, 20, was sentenced Friday (Sept. 25) to 10 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter; four years and four months of that sentence were suspended.
Victor Hoskins is flanked by Board Chair Jeff McKay and County Executive Bryan Hill (screenshot via Fairfax County)
Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday lauded the service of Victor Hoskins, who spent more than seven years as president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority before departing over the summer.
Hoskins was honored at the same meeting supervisors expressed appreciation for the work of Christopher Leonard, who recently retired as deputy county executive for health and human services.
The Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)
A Fairfax County Circuit Court judge last week issued a summary judgment against the Town of Herndon in its ongoing legal battle against Comstock after the developer backed out of a long-stalled downtown redevelopment project in 2024.
The town’s lawsuit, filed last year, had demanded that Comstock return the title of a nearly 5-acre site in the northeast quadrant of the Elden and Center Street intersection, that had been transferred to the developer with plans for a mixed-use block with apartments, an arts center, retail space and a parking garage.
Nell at 555 apartments under construction along Herndon Parkway in June 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Apartment rents across the D.C. region are high, but a new data analysis suggests they likely would have been even pricier had the COVID-19 pandemic not intervened.
August’s median regional rent across the D.C. region was about 2.5% below what it would have been had Covid not upended the rental market in the early 2020s, according to projections reported Sept. 24 by Apartment List.
The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (file photo)
A man who prosecutors say terrorized dozens of young girls to obtain sexually explicit material — and was previously convicted in Fairfax County of the sexual assault of two minors—was recently sentenced to 40 years in prison on federal charges.
Malachi Morgan Thomas, 24, of Woodbridge, pleaded guilty in April to one count of production of child sexual assault material and one count of possession. He was sentenced on Friday (Sept. 25) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Participants in a rally at Great Falls Park to support National Park Service workers amid federal government cuts hold up signs (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County and neighboring localities are feeling the impact of federal government workforce reductions and immigration enforcement, according to a recent regional survey.
The report released last Thursday (Sept. 24) from Gallup and the Greater Washington Community Foundation, titled “Voices of the Community: DC, Maryland, Virginia,” incorporated research on federal government disruptions on the region’s residents.
Bicyclists on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Dunn Loring (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Crash Seriously Injures Motorcyclist in Springfield — “Police said medics transported the motorcyclist, a man, to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. According to officials, no other vehicles were involved in the collision.” [DC News Now]
Duke of Edinburgh Visiting Mount Vernon — “His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 1, as part of a visit to the United States marking America’s 250th anniversary. He will be accompanied by British Ambassador to the United States Sir Christian Turner. The current duke is Prince Edward, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Youth Advocates Push Back on Increased Marijuana Penalties — “The maximum civil penalty for consuming or offering marijuana in public is set to rise from $25 to $250 on July 1, 2027, the same day retail sales are scheduled to begin. A second offense also carries a $250 fine and requires substance-use education or treatment, or both, if available, while a third or subsequent offense is a Class 4 misdemeanor.” [Virginia Mercury]
Fairfax City Candidates to Participate in Voter Event — “Fairfax City voters will have an opportunity Wednesday to meet candidates running for mayor, City Council and School Board ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.” [Patch]
Jake’s Ice Cream Spotlighted on National TV — “Jake’s Ice Cream in Falls Church was featured on the September 23 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show in a segment called the ‘Drew-Gooders.’ The segments celebrate ‘inspiring people doing good in the world.’ Robin Rinearson opened Jake’s Ice Cream on Columbia Pike in 2021 after her “differently-abled” nephew Jake was laid off from his job.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Arlington and Alexandria Intervene in Dominion Energy Merger Case — “Intervening in the proceeding means that Arlington and Alexandria can provide expert testimony about impacts on local residents, question witnesses in the hearing and engage in any potential settlement discussions.” [ARLnow]
Juveniles Dead in Crash After I-395 Chase — “‘One passenger died at the scene,’ VSP said in a release. ‘Three other occupants were transported to area hospitals, where the driver and a second passenger succumbed to their injuries. The final occupant remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.'” [ALXnow]
Nightly Ramp Closures at I-495, Route 123 Interchange Begin — “Weather permitting, the I-495 (Capital Beltway) and Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) interchange will have nightly closures for paving Monday night, Sept. 28, through Saturday night, Oct. 3, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.” [VDOT]
Kennedy Center Employees Claim Repairs Were Delayed — “In a letter to Congress, former staff members alleged Executive Director Matt Floca halted a funded plan to address roof issues in April. The Kennedy Center closed earlier this month after officials cited deterioration near the roof and a partial ceiling collapse.” [Fox5DC]
It’s Tuesday — The weather will be mostly sunny with temperatures reaching a high of 76°F, accompanied by northwest winds at 5 to 8 mph. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 60°F and a light west wind. [NWS]
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