Officials cut a ribbon to celebrate the impending opening of new I-495 Express Lanes (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
After more than three years of construction, the new Capital Beltway toll lanes in McLean will welcome their first drivers on Sunday (Nov. 23), just in time for next week’s Thanksgiving travel rush.
Though the start of tolling operations has been delayed by a day due to expected rain tonight (Friday), Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay and other officials gathered this morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in anticipation of the occasion at the Hyatt Regency hotel at Tysons Corner Center.
A 31-year-old Herndon woman has been arrested and charged with the stabbing death of her 79-year-old mother, the Fairfax County Police Department announced today.
A parked Virginia State Police vehicle (file photo)
A woman from Marshall, Virginia, has been charged with reckless driving after allegedly crashing into a Virginia State trooper on I-66 this morning (Friday).
The trooper was responding to another crash involving a tractor trailer and a “passenger vehicle” when the incident occurred around 6:40 a.m. on eastbound I-66 near the Capital Beltway (I-495) in Dunn Loring, according to the state police.
Dulles International Airport's new Concourse E is on track to open in 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Airlines at a growing Dulles International Airport will see higher operating costs in 2026 under a new budget adopted Nov. 19 by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
The $889.5 million package, adopted unanimously by the authority’s board of directors, estimates that the “cost per enplanement” at Dulles will rise from the $11.17 budgeted in 2025 to $12.77 in 2026 — an increase of about 14%.
Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano and Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi listen to crime survivors at the National Organization of Victim Advocacy's office in Old Town Alexandria on Nov. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
As the federal government slashes public safety funding, including grants supporting programs for crime victims, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano joined other top prosecutors in Alexandria this week to hear stories from survivors.
For more than an hour on Wednesday (Nov. 19), Descano, Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Deghani-Tafti and Norfolk CA Ramin Fatehi listened to crime survivors at the National Organization of Victim Advocacy (510 King Street) headquarters, next door to the Alexandria Courthouse.
A Light the World Giving Machine outside AMC Theatres at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Vending machines that encourage charitable giving are returning to Tysons Corner Center just in time for the holidays.
The Light the World Giving Machines, which are sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, will be unveiled outside the AMC Theatres (7850 Tysons Corner Center) at noon tomorrow (Saturday) and continue operations through Jan. 4.
A red fox sitting in brush in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Harris Teeter Plans Layoffs — “North Carolina-based supermarket chain Harris Teeter will permanently close a fulfillment center in Fairfax County on Feb. 1, 2026, resulting in layoffs of 91 employees. Harris Teeter notified the state of the closure and layoffs on Tuesday,” indicating that delivery operations from the site at 6306 Gravel Avenue in Franconia “may begin to wind down in early to mid-January 2026.” [Virginia Business]
Deep Dive Into Virginia Election Data — While the results of Virginia’s Nov. 4 elections won’t be officially certified until Dec. 1 “enough dust has settled since the polls closed on Election Day that we can look at some of the commonwealth’s interesting voting trends in 2025.” The data confirms that voters heavily favored Democrats, with all 133 jurisdictions in the state moving further left compared to the 2021 gubernatorial race. [VPM Media]
Driver Hospitalized After Bailey’s Crossroads Crash — “An adult male is in the hospital in a life-threatening condition following a crash in the 3400 block of Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads shortly before 4 p.m. on Nov. 19.” Police say the man was driving a BMW “at a high rate of speed toward Leesburg Pike when he struck a bollard and lost control of the vehicle.” [Annandale Today]
Fairfax Man Charged with Child Porn — “A 19-year-old Fairfax City man is facing 29 charges of possession of child pornography, according to authorities.” The man was arrested on Wednesday (Nov. 19) following a search of his home “in connection to an unnamed incident that occurred on Sept. 28, according to court documents.” [Patch]
Driver Crashes into Tysons Store — ” A woman has been cited for reckless driving after crashing into the American Girl doll store at Tysons Corner and injuring a wheelchair user Wednesday afternoon, according to police.” [WUSA9]
Bagel Deli Legal Fight Brewing — The owners of Call Your Mother, the D.C. deli that now boasts three Fairfax County locations, filed a lawsuit this week “against Bubbi Bagels — also known as Call Your Bubbi — a bagel shop that opened on the Jersey Shore last year.” Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira argue that the New Jersey shop’s continued use of the name Call Your Bubbi and a similar bagel-focused logo infringes on their trademark. [Washingtonian]
Winter Lantern Festival Returns — “Hundreds of lanterns light the night sky in Tysons for the holiday season,” as the Winter Lantern Festival returns to Lerner Town Square (8025 Galleria Drive) for a fourth year. Featuring light displays, food and entertainment, the festival will open tomorrow (Saturday) and stay through Jan. 20, per its online calendar. Tickets start at $18. [Out and About Fairfax]
It’s Friday — Rain is expected mostly after 1pm, accompanied by mostly cloudy conditions and a high temperature near 56°F. There’s a 50% chance of precipitation. Friday night will see temperatures drop to 49°F with a 90% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Sign for North Point Village Center in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County police believe one man is behind a series of assault and exposure incidents that have occurred near the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Reston over the past month.
Koby Berry, a 27-year-old Reston resident, was arrested on Nov. 15 after he was allegedly caught on video touching a woman “inappropriately” in a store at North Point Village Center earlier that week, the Fairfax County Police Department announced today (Thursday).
Route 29 passing the National Funeral Home and National Memorial Park in West Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is looking for resident feedback on potential improvements along the Route 29 corridor in West Falls Church.
FCDOT has launched a study of the Route 29 corridor, between I-495 in the county to Tripps Run at the Falls Church City border, east of South Maple Avenue.
A public trash can on the sidewalk along University Drive in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax City is seeking community input on how it handles trash and recycling.
The city will hold a public meeting tonight (Thursday) from 7-8 p.m. at Katherine Johnson Middle School (3801 Jermantown Road) on its Solid Waste Management Plan, which is undergoing a state-mandated update and will guide trash, recycling and composting practices over the next 20 years.
