Another Starbucks in Fairfax County has unionized.
Baristas at the coffee giant’s Barcroft Plaza store in Lincolnia voted 9-6 yesterday (Tuesday) to join Starbucks Workers United, an affiliate of the labor union Workers United that now represents more than 12,000 Starbucks workers at over 700 locations across the U.S.
A Maryland man has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly attacking geese in Fairfax City last month.
Officers with the City of Fairfax Police Department responded at 9:54 a.m. on June 11 to 11201 Fairfax Blvd after receiving a report of an animal cruelty case, according to a press release.
Fairfax officials acknowledge they have no easy solutions to offset rising costs of operating the local government’s trash collection facilities.
Fairfax property owners might need to pay for future funding shortfalls — a possibility that may be equally unwelcome to county supervisors as they prepare for an election year in 2027.
Fairfax County’s school board recently passed a resolution supporting limitations on screen time and access to devices by grade level, as well as opt-out options for families.
On the same night, members voted to approve a one-year extension of a contract for a hybrid fourth-grade social studies curriculum, covering an electronic book text, the ability to replace print textbooks as needed, and supplemental materials that can be printed.
Fairfax County is finally making progress on filling in sidewalk gaps along Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston, though the project has created some temporary obstacles for pedestrians.
Construction on the Sunrise Valley Drive Walkway began on April 30 and is now on track to finish by the end of next week (July 13-19) for one segment near Soapstone Drive, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.
Most bus riders along portions of Route 7 seem skeptical of placing future transit stops in the center of the busy roadway, but local leaders at least want the option considered before being discarded.
A recent survey of riders along the portion of the bus rapid transit (BRT) line proposed to connect Tysons to Alexandria found 60% preferred retaining curbside stops. The remainder were split between moving to center-of-the-road stops or having no opinion.
Reston Library Closed for HVAC Repairs — “Reston Regional Library is currently closed for HVAC repairs. The branch will reopen as soon as repairs are made. This closure is expected to last through July 12 as facilities management awaits parts. Holds and due dates will be extended until the branch reopens.” [Fairfax Library/Instagram]
Dead Fish Found in Potomac River — “The Maryland Department of the Environment is investigating a large number of fish deaths in the Potomac River, a phenomenon known as a ‘fish kill.’ Scientists believe the fish kill is likely the result of what’s called a ‘summer turnover,’ when warmer water from the surface and cooler water from lower down suddenly mix.” [WTOP]
Va. Joins Challenge to ICE Reporting Change — “Virginia is joining a 22-state effort led by New York Attorney General Letitia James urging President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse a new federal policy ending investigations and public reporting of deaths that occur shortly after immigrants are released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.” [Virginia Mercury]
Volunteers Map Heat in N. Va. — “To better understand the urban heat island in Fairfax County, Arlington and the City of Alexandria and identify ways to reduce impacts, the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions and George Mason University’s Virginia Climate Center are partnering on a new initiative … The alliance is seeking volunteers to help collect heat data on the measurement day, which is expected to occur between July 8 and 24.” [Capital Weather]
Tysons Mall Owner Expands Holdings — “An affiliate of Macerich (NYSE: MAC) paid $5.9 million last month for 8138 Watson St., a half-acre property that is home to the See Clearly Vision eyecare center, according to public records.” The Tysons Corner Center developer now owns the entire 7.75-acre triangle between International Drive and Watson Street except for a Capital One bank branch, but the company declined to comment on any specific future development plans. [Washington Business Journal]
Lt. Gov. Seeks Proactive Review of Dominion Merger — “Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi on Monday urged state utility regulators to require Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy to answer dozens of detailed questions about their proposed merger before formally filing the transaction, arguing Virginia’s six-month review process is too short to adequately scrutinize what would become the largest utility merger in U.S. history.” [Virginia Scope]
Chantilly Office Site Acquired — “Pulte Homes has purchased an 83,300-square-foot single-story office building located at 13990 Parkeast Circle and an adjacent 6.4-acre parcel … from Bethesda-based Finmarc Management Inc. for $26.36 million.” Part of the Park East Corporate Center, which was approved for residential redevelopment in 2024, the 14-acre site could be turned into 126 townhomes and 32 condos. [WBJ]
Shoppers Support Local Food Bank — “Customers at Wegmans stores across the company raised a record $769,300 during this year’s Fill the Bus/Fill the Backpack campaign, with donations from the Reston store helping support Food for Others as summer demand for food assistance rises.” Capital Area Food Bank and the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries were also beneficiaries. [Patch]
Grant to Fund Route 1 Public Art — “The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation is proud to announce it has been selected to receive a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant.” With the grant funding, SFDC will work with Mount Vernon at Home and the Nepenthe Gallery to implement new art installations and “engage older residents throughout the project” to ensure the artwork helps create accessible and welcoming spaces. [Press release]
New Legal Notice — Public hearing on high school boundaries scheduled July 16, 2026. [Public Notices]
It’s Wednesday — Expect patchy fog until 10 a.m., and mostly cloudy skies. The high will be near 82°F. Showers and thunderstorms are likely after 2 a.m. with a 70% chance of precipitation. Skies will remain mostly cloudy at night, with a low around 71°F. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Facing an uphill battle to unseat Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary, four challengers used a recent campaign event to carve out their own political lanes:
Their distinctions provided some fireworks at the July 1 debate, hosted by the Arlington County Democratic Committee. But as even one candidate publicly acknowledged, voters in the 8th District are likely to stick with Beyer this election season.
After four months of study and community meetings, Fairfax County Public Schools has unveiled Superintendent Michelle Reid’s initial recommendation for Skyview High School’s future attendance boundaries.
Under Reid’s proposal, which was publicly released last Thursday (July 2), the new public high school at 2949 Education Drive in Herndon would pull from students currently assigned to Westfield, Chantilly and South Lakes high schools, starting with the 2027-2028 school year.
A Houston-based developer is proposing another apartment complex at Springfield Town Center, while leaving open the potential for a third building.
Hanover Company submitted an application to Fairfax County at the end of June seeking to amend a 2009 development plan for roughly 11 acres at the corner of Spring Mall and Frontier drives on the southeast corner of the property. The proposal could eventually bring 1,065 units to the area.
