News

The first phase of work is underway in the redevelopment of Isaac Newton Square, an office park in Reston that will be transformed into a mixed-use neighborhood in phases over the next 20 years.

Work started at the end of September at the northern end of the site to preserve a line of willow oak trees located along Isaac Newton Square North near Wiehle Avenue. Improvements to streets and infrastructure, such as stormwater facilities, utilities and bioretention facilities, are also in the works.


Countywide
A tree with fall colors next to My Eye Dr in Spectrum at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Police Wrap Up Traffic Safety Campaign — “The Fairfax County Police Department has concluded the 2025 ‘Road Shark’ campaign, issuing nearly 50,000 citations and warnings to dangerous drivers on Fairfax County roadways over the last five waves. This represents a 43% increase from 2024.” [FCPD]

Region Braces for Loss of Food Benefits — “In days, the impacts of the government showdown could go from bad to much worse after the Department of Agriculture said it doesn’t have enough money to pay for SNAP Benefits or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in November … Stephanie Berkowitz with Northern Virginia Family Services says the impact of losing SNAP, even for a month, can’t be overstated.” [NBC4]

Local GOP Takes Issue with Absentee Ballots — “Fairfax County Republican leaders are raising concerns about ballot privacy after discovering a hole punched in absentee ballots could reveal a voter’s decision … Fairfax County election officials are now giving tips on their website about how to properly secure the ballot.” [NBC4]

Man Posing as Firefighter Arrested — “A 28-year-old Manassas man who was posing as a Washington, D.C. firefighter was arrested after he tried to enter a Fairfax City fire station on [Oct. 15], according to police.” The man was charged with impersonating a firefighter and being drunk in public. [Patch]

State Legislators Debate Gambling Expansion — “Virginia began legalizing casinos in 2020 with the first wager cast in 2022 … While recent gambling revenue numbers have dipped across the state, elected officials are holding judgement as more casinos and gambling alternatives are expected to be considered under the new state gambling authority.” [WVTF]

Virginia Reviews Special Education Compliance — “A Virginia commission on Tuesday unanimously accepted a study recommending that policymakers separate the Parent Ombudsman for Special Education’s office from the Virginia Department of Education to improve its ‘neutrality and public trust.'” The study was ordered after “years of ongoing complaints and a federal investigation” into the state’s system for resolving special education-related conflicts. [Virginia Mercury]

Capital One Reports Turnaround After Merger — “Three months after disclosing a $4.3 billion loss, Capital One’s profit jumped 80% year-over-year in the third quarter. Its revenue surged 53%. And its net interest income rose 54%, according to an earnings report released Tuesday.” The boost came after the financial corporation closed a $35 billion acquisition of rival Discover in May. [Banking Dive]

UVA Complies with Trump Admin Demands — “The University of Virginia has agreed to abide by White House guidance forbidding discrimination in admissions and hiring, becoming the latest campus to strike a deal with the Trump administration as the college tries to pause months of scrutiny by the federal government.” [Associated Press]

It’s Thursday — Expect a sunny day with a high around 62 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 7 to 14 mph and gusts reaching up to 23 mph. For Thursday night, the skies will be mostly clear with the temperature dropping to around 41 degrees, and a northwest wind blowing at 5 to 7 mph. [NWS]


Sponsored

Summer starts here, and it’s packed with something for everyone. Join us at Reston Station for a season of free, family-friendly events designed to keep your calendar full and your nights unforgettable. From fitness and live music to movies under the stars, this is where summer comes to life.

BELOVED YOGA

Monday & Wednesday Nights

May 27 – September 2

TRAMPOLINE FITNESS

HOSTED BY VIDA FITNESS

Every Tuesday Night

June 2 – September 1

LIVE MUSIC

Friday Nights

May 29 – September 25

ALL-AMERICAN MOVIE MAGIC & MORE

Saturday Nights

June 6 – August 29

Visit our website for the full schedule and details.


Around Town

Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Oct 22, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies and a high of 61 degrees, accompanied by a west wind ranging from 8 to 13 mph and gusts reaching 24 mph. Tonight, look forward to clear skies and a low of around 40 degrees, coupled with a 5 to 7 mph west wind. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


Around Town

Efforts to expand Bunnyman Brewing‘s footprint at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton are officially on the move.

DrinkLocal LLC, which operates Bunnyman Brewing, has received approval for a lease to control a second storefront across from its existing bar, bringing another dining option to the campus.


Event

The Reston Museum’s next program, held on June 3rd at 7:00PM, will feature the talented students of the South Lakes High School STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Team/National Art Honor Society, who will discuss the creative and technical process behind their upcoming public art installation at the Lake Thoreau spillway. This fascinating program will provide attendees with a behind-the-scenes-look at how students developed the concept for the installation and worked through the planning, engineering, environmental and artistic considerations involved in creating public art for a community space. Program takes place at South Lakes High School and admission is free. For more information visit: restonmuseum.org.


News

Retail activity was booming in Tysons for the first half of this year, surging past pre-pandemic levels, the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) found in a recent report.

Released last month, the retail-focused market report for the second quarter of 2025 offered some positive economic news for Fairfax County at a time when the federal government shutdown and rising unemployment have kept the larger D.C. region on edge.


Around Town

A Reston storefront is the latest expansion target for a local brand offering Argentinian cuisine.

Empanadas de Mendoza, a stalwart at Fairfax-area farmers markets, is moving into a recently-vacated space in North Point Village Center.


News

The Centreville High School teacher who alleged that a social worker had helped students obtain abortions in 2021 is now on paid leave.

Fairfax County Public Schools Director of Employee Relations William Fulton notified Zenaida Perez on Monday (Oct. 20) that she has been placed on paid administrative leave, effective immediately, after investigators released a report last week challenging the veracity of her claims.


News

As Fairfax County Public Schools leaders consider a policy to guide the usage of artificial intelligence in classrooms, a lab program from Virginia Tech is already preparing some students to be at the forefront of technological change.

Bucknell Elementary School in Groveton is the new home of the Thinkabit Lab Innovation Space, a tactile learning hub developed by the wireless technology manufacturer Qualcomm that’s designed to pique students’ interests in science and prepare them for careers in technology.


News

The Town of Herndon is seeking public feedback for a new plan to guide future housing development.

TPMA, a consultant hired by the town this spring, launched a community survey last Wednesday (Oct. 15) to get a better understanding of the current state of housing in Herndon and what residents of both Herndon and the wider D.C. region would like to see prioritized in the years to come.