Piney Branch Stream near the Freeman House in Vienna, seen on April 11, 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The drought conditions plaguing parts of Virginia, including Fairfax County, since last fall are officially the worst the state has experienced in almost 20 years.
Yesterday (Thursday), the U.S. Drought Monitor classified over 60% of Virginia as being in a severe drought based on data collected through Tuesday (April 14). That’s the most widespread drought seen in the state since October 2007, surpassing levels recorded during previous droughts in 2008, 2010, 2023 and 2024, according to Fairfax County.
VHC Health and local officials, including Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, celebrate the opening of the Charlotte S. Benjamin Center for Women's Health in Tysons (courtesy Image Caffeine Photography)
The thousands of patients who visit VHC Health in Arlington for pregnancy-related services and other women’s health needs can now find similar care in Tysons.
The nonprofit health system celebrated the launch of a new location for the Charlotte S. Benjamin Center for Women’s Health at its Tysons Pavilion (1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 210) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 9.
Chief Judge Penney Azcarate (photo via Fairfax County Government/Flickr)
Fairfax County Circuit Court Chief Judge Penney S. Azcarate will be honored by the local Board of Supervisors ahead of her retirement later this summer.
The 10-member board voted unanimously Tuesday (April 14) to prepare a resolution honoring Azcarate, who will retire June 31 after nearly 20 years as a judge in Fairfax County — including the last 10 as chief judge of the Circuit Court.
Cars drive on a hilly section of Prosperity Avenue in Woodburn (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Farmers Market Season Returns — “Fairfax County Farmers Markets return for the 2026 season, bringing farm-fresh produce, baked goods and specialty foods to communities across the county.” The season kicks off tomorrow (Saturday) in Burke, with the Reston and Mount Vernon markets also starting this month. Seven other markets are set to launch in May. [Fairfax County Park Authority]
State Budget Deal Unlikely Next Week — “Legislators are scheduled to meet next week to try to complete the two-year budget for Virginia — but the two chambers, which are both under Democratic control, are no closer to an agreement than they were at the end of the legislative session a month ago.” The General Assembly will reconvene next Thursday (April 23) for a special session as a July 1 deadline to approve a new budget looms. [Virginia Scope]
Early Voting on Redistricting Picks Up — Initially, early voting turnout in Northern Virginia for the proposed constitutional amendment to allow mid-decade redistricting “was largely muted compared to sizable turnout in parts of the state currently represented in Congress by Republicans.” However, more polling places opened last Saturday (April 11), leading to an apparent surge, with voters in Fairfax County alone casting 17,000 ballots. [WTOP]
Trump Arch Design Approved — “A federal commission has approved the design concept for the 250-foot triumphal arch that President Donald Trump wants to build at Memorial Circle.” The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which is filled entirely with Trump appointees, “will review an updated design before taking a final vote at a future meeting.” [ARLnow]
Utility Regulation Bills Revised — “Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling’s (D–Henrico) HB1393 and state Sen. Louise Lucas’ (D–Portsmouth) SB253 cover electric line undergrounding, utility weatherization programs, data center grid costs, long-term fuel payments and more.” LeVere Bolling and a Dominion Energy spokesperson both expressed opposition to amendments proposed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger, saying they undermine the legislation’s goals. [VPM News]
Polling Site Relocation Proposed — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on April 14 authorized a public hearing on an ordinance to relocate the polling place for the Holmes precinct in Mason District from the Culmore Community Library to Bailey’s Elementary School. The hearing will be held on May 5, at 4:30 p.m.” [Annandale Today]
FCPD Trains Recruits for Training — “Inside the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) are nearly 40 police recruits training to reach their goal of becoming police officers. The Pre-Academy Recruit Program, launched in 2017, was created to help police recruits be better prepared before entering the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy.” [WJLA]
Reston Community Yard Sale Coming Up — “One of Reston Association’s longest-running and most popular community traditions returns this month with the semi-annual Community Yard Sale. More than 80 families will set up vendor tables at the event (vendor space is sold out), scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Reston Association parking lot.” [Reston Association]
It’s Friday — There is a 30% chance of showers mainly before 11 a.m., followed by mostly sunny skies with a high near 83°F. Winds will come from the northwest at about 7 mph. Overnight, expect mostly clear conditions with a low around 62°F and light, variable winds. [NWS]
The existing sign for Lake Anne Village Center on Baron Cameron Avenue in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County and its consultant are close to finalizing a new look for signs that will greet residents and visitors as they enter Reston’s Lake Anne Village Center.
A concept design unveiled by Streetsense at a virtual meeting on Tuesday (April 14) swaps the current fountain-oriented logo for a simplified look with blockier font intended to evoke the neighborhood’s 1960s origins and defining Brutalist architecture.
Planned Penn Daw Fire Station with supportive housing and emergency shelter (via BKV Group/Fairfax County)
Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (April 14) unanimously approved the plan to build a new Penn Daw Fire Station, supportive housing and an emergency shelter facility on a 3.5-acre tract just east of Richmond Highway.
The approval marks a significant step forward in a capital project that has been in the works for more than a decade.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has proposed amendments to marijuana legislation that include delaying the launch of a recreational sales marketplace for adults.
The governor’s substitute for HB 642 and SB 542 would move the start of the legal retail market for marijuana from Jan. 1 to July, 1, 2027. It also changes marijuana possession limit from 2.5 to 2 ounces — still up from the current 1-ounce possession limit — and reduced the number of permitted stores from 350 to 200 until Jan. 1, 2029.
Fairfax County police secure the home of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, in Annandale, Va., Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax is one of two people found dead early this morning (Thursday) after an apparent murder-suicide in Annandale.
Fairfax, 47, shot and killed his wife, 49-year-old Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, before turning the gun on himself inside the family’s home in the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive, the Fairfax County Police Department confirmed.
The intercity bus service FlixBus is expanding its presence in the D.C. region with new stops in Tysons and Fredericksburg.
Launching today (Thursday), the Tysons stop on Gosnell Road at Leesburg Pike (Route 7) will provide service to Richmond and the corridor from Bethesda to New York City.
Location of a two-vehicle crash that killed motorcyclist on I-495 near Telegraph Road (via Google Maps)
A motorcyclist died yesterday (Wednesday) after colliding with a pickup truck on the Capital Beltway (I-495).
Around 3:54 p.m., Virginia State Police troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on the highway just west of Exit 176 to Telegraph Road in the Rose Hill area, according to a press release.
