Herndon Municipal Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)
A proposal that would’ve established zoning rules for casinos is expected to be withdrawn when it goes before the Herndon Town Council later this month.
The Herndon Planning Commission indicated at a work session on Monday (May 4) that it will recommend denial of the zoning ordinance amendment, which defined a casino and set parameters for how one could be approved, Mayor Keven LeBlanc confirmed to FFXnow and other outlets, including Patch.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli chats with Mason District Little League players during a ceremonial opening day (courtesy Washington Nationals)
Youth baseball players in Annandale marked the ceremonial start of their spring season on Saturday (May 2) with practices, visits from Little League alumni — and a first pitch thrown by Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli.
The visit was courtesy of the Nationals’ Team UP program, which supports local youth leagues throughout the D.C. metro area, including the Mason District Little League.
The county’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously yesterday (Tuesday) to have planning staff review a comprehensive plan amendment significantly expanding the amount of non-residential uses allowed on the Crescent Apartments property at 1513 and 1531 Cameron Crescent Drive.
Updated design of Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center (via City of Fairfax)
Fairfax County leaders have joined their Fairfax City counterparts in backing an overhaul of their adjacent health and community facilities.
The county’s Board of Supervisors ratified an agreement yesterday (Tuesday) with the Fairfax City Council to move forward with construction of a new $127.2 million Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center in the 3700 block of Blenheim Road in the City of Fairfax.
Pond near George Mason University’s Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Elevated Gas Prices Continue — “Virginia drivers are feeling more pressure at the gas pump. And fuel prices continue to rise. The average fuel cost in Virginia has risen to above $4 per gallon, according to AAA data. Prices are the highest they’ve been since late July 2022,” driven by the ongoing war in Iran. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Potomac Water Quality Improving After Spill — “Heading into the summer, environmental advocates are stressing the importance of continued water quality monitoring along the Potomac River, even as months of testing has shown E. coli levels are back to normal following January’s massive sewage spill.” [WTOP]
Va. Opposes USPS Gun Mailing Plan — “Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones on Tuesday joined 21 other states in opposing a proposed United States Postal Service rule that would allow certain firearms to be sent through the mail, warning the change could undermine state gun laws and make it easier for prohibited individuals to obtain weapons.” [Virginia Mercury]
Millions Dropped From SNAP Benefits — “At least 2.5 million low-income people quickly lost help affording groceries under a Republican-passed law that added new requirements for the nation’s largest nutrition program and shifted hundreds of millions of dollars in costs from the federal government to states, according to a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.” [Maryland Matters]
Transmission Upgrades Slowing Energy Projects — “Costs and delays related to upgrading transmission infrastructure are blocking new power sources from getting onto the grid in Virginia, according to a new analysis … It found that 103 power plants in Virginia have withdrawn or been significantly delayed by network upgrade bottlenecks since 2018, mostly clean energy projects.” [VPM News]
Italian Restaurant Expanding to Herndon — “Exciting news for the team at a popular Italian restaurant in Loudoun County – they are expanding and opening a new location in Herndon … The owners of Urbano Modern Italian announced they will be bringing a new restaurant to the Woodland Park Crossing shopping center.” [The Burn]
Teacher Wins Lottery Jackpot — “A Fairfax County teacher won a $986,399 jackpot in the Virginia Lottery’s The Lamp: Dark Arts online game after deciding to play on his wife’s birthday, according to a Virginia Lottery press release. The winner, who was not identified, later told his wife during a walk that he had a gift for her,” calling the winnings “truly life changing.” [Patch]
Scholarships Awarded to Local Students — “Some of the students honored at the Hispanic Leadership Alliance awards ceremony on May 4 are the first in their families to go to college, others came to the U.S. alone, and some just learned English a couple of years ago.” The organization “presented $1,000 scholarships to 29 Fairfax County seniors at a banquet at the FCPS Willow Oaks Administrative Center.” [Annandale Today]
New Legal Notice — Restaurant seeks ABC license for wine and beer, on/off-premises. [Public Notices]
It’s Wednesday — There’s an 80% chance of rain with showers and possible thunderstorms likely after 5 pm, with a high near 77°F, and south winds at 15 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. At night, showers and possibly thunderstorms will continue. The low will be around 55°F. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Police and fire response to crash on Richmond Highway at Armistead Road in Lorton (via FCPD/X)
A motorcyclist suffered serious injuries in a collision with a dump truck this afternoon (Tuesday) on Richmond Highway in Lorton.
Police and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched around 1:43 p.m. to Richmond Highway at Lorton Road near Gunston Plaza for a crash described initially as involving “an 18-wheeler,” according to scanner traffic.
A cyclist heading east on Jones Branch Drive in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
With the weather warming up, the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) is encouraging local residents and workers to explore the area on two wheels instead of four.
For National Bike Month, the community development organization has launched a “Tysons Trek & Treat” challenge where commuters can win prizes for traveling via bike, walking, scooter or other methods of transportation that don’t involve sitting alone in a car.
A 25 mph speed limit sign in a residential neighborhood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors formally adopted a fiscal year 2027 budget this morning (Tuesday), while also setting a future public hearing on local control of speed limits in some areas.
The board set a June 9 public hearing on a proposed ordinance that, if enacted, would give the county more autonomy to reduce speed limits in residential and business districts.
San Francisco Giants' Bryce Eldridge breaks his bat during an at-bat against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
James Madison High School alum Bryce Eldridge is getting another shot at the majors after he was called up yesterday (Monday) by the San Francisco Giants.
A slugging and pitching star for the Warhawks, which won two state championships during his career, Eldridge was drafted by the Giants in 2023 with the 16th overall pick.
Proposed site plan for redeveloping Tysons Plaza (via Land Design/Fairfax County)
A plan to transform the Tysons Plaza office campus into a mixed-use complex where people would live and shop in addition to working is starting to solidify.
Developer JBG Smith, which acquired the property at 1410, 1420 and 1430 Spring Hill Road last year, submitted a rezoning application to Fairfax County yesterday (Monday) that proposes replacing the easternmost of the three office buildings with a mid-rise apartment building.