Countywide

Two local public safety agencies are sounding the alarm on an increase in scam calls targeting Fairfax County residents.

Both the Sheriff’s Office and the Fire and Rescue Department are warning about recent schemes that fraudulently seek payments from seemingly random targets.


Countywide
A garden is still flowering at the Vienna Town Green (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fireworks Aimed at Police Breaking up Fight — Two Vienna police officers suffered minor injuries after someone set off fireworks at them while they were responding to a fight “involving a large crowd of high school students” at McDonald’s near James Madison High School on Friday (Sept. 26). Fairfax County and Virginia state police assisted with dispersing the crowd. This isn’t the first student fight to create issues at local McDonald’s, and fireworks were reportedly lit inside the Reston franchise on the Fourth of July. [DC News Now]

Driver Injured in Tysons Crash — Fairfax County firefighters responded yesterday (Sunday) afternoon to “a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Tyco Rd. Crews arrived with one patient still inside. The patient was evaluated on scene and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Swastika Found in Vienna School Bathroom — James Madison High School “Principal Liz Calvert informed families Thursday of the swastika etched into a wall in a boys bathroom on the school’s second floor. Staff quickly removed the symbol and started an investigation.” [Patch]

Woman Killed in Accidental Shooting — “Officers responded to the scene of the reported shooting in the row house community in the 4500 block of Derring Lane in Fair Oaks around 3:45 p.m. Friday. The gun ‘inadvertently discharged’ while another person in the house was cleaning it, police explained.” [WUSA9]

Full Impact of Federal Worker Cuts Looms — “When the fiscal year ends Tuesday night, government workers who have been on paid leave for months will be officially out of their jobs. A prolonged shutdown, which could also begin next week, could delay pay for remaining federal workers, too — and contractors, who don’t usually get back pay from shutdowns, would suffer as well.” [Washington Post]

Petition Objects to Potential Magnet School — “Some Fairfax County families are worried that the long-promised new high school in the western part of the district could become a magnet school instead of a traditional, community-based campus. Almost 300 people signed a petition urging Superintendent Michelle Reid and other county leaders to make it a regular public high school.” [WTOP]

Korean Cafe Coming to Annandale — “Dessert 39, a franchise company based in Korea, is coming to 7326A Little River Turnpike. The shop will open in the long-vacant storefront formerly occupied by the Manoa Bakery Café.” [Annandale Today]

Virginia Increases Proficiency Standards — “Virginia students will soon face tougher academic expectations. Nearly a month after school leaders demanded greater transparency, the State Board of Education voted Thursday to support raising the benchmarks — or cut scores — for math and English, setting off a debate over how the changes will affect classrooms.” [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Monday — Clouds will increase throughout the day, reaching a high near 79 degrees, accompanied by a 6 mph east wind. Tonight, there is a 20% chance of showers after 2am, with cloudy skies and a low of 66 degrees in a light northeast wind. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Friday 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 — Sep 26, 2025.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  • Dulles mobile lounges could last another two decades, airport officials say (14259 views)
  • Fast-casual seafood restaurant opens today in Fairfax City (12112 views)
  • Next phase of Reston Town Center expansion wins planning commission’s support (11847 views)
  • Push to replace Merrifield commercial complex with housing advances (9494 views)
  • Bakery known for handmade croissants now open in Tysons (9089 views)
  • AMC Theatres to be reborn in Tysons with planned renovation (9083 views)
  • JUST IN: Pedestrian dies after being struck by hit-and-run driver, police on Route 1 (7118 views)
  • Reston’s Community Yard Sale returns this Saturday (5928 views)
  • Oktoberfest events coming to Vienna, Reston and more (5598 views)
  • Vienna private school refines plans for proposed expansion (3753 views)
  • Springfield townhouses heavily damaged in two-alarm fire (3191 views)
  • 📅 Upcoming events

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

    Here are the events planned for Sunday:

    ⛈️ Saturday’s forecast

    Scattered showers are expected before 11am, transitioning to a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 2pm, with showers likely and potential thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog is expected before 4pm and after 5pm. Cloudy skies and a high near 74 are forecasted, with calm winds becoming east around 6 mph in the morning. There is a 70% chance of precipitation and potential for new rainfall amounts of a tenth to a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts in thunderstorms. For Saturday night, showers are likely, mainly before 2am, alongside patchy fog, a low around 63, and a northeast wind of 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%, with new precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. 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.

    We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋


    Around Town

    As of now, a Starbucks store in Fair Lakes is the brand’s lone Fairfax County location on the chopping block.

    The last day of business for the cafe, located at 12599 Fair Lakes Circle in East Market, will be tomorrow (Saturday), an employee confirmed to FFXnow.


    Countywide

    Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares accused Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano today (Friday) of engaging in one of the “most horrific patterns of both incompetency and ignoring victims” that the Commonwealth has ever seen.

    An investigative report released by the attorney general alleges that an “alarming pattern of misconduct” by the prosecutorial office has led victims and their families to feel forgotten and lacking in justice.


    News

    Six people lost their home this morning (Friday) to a fire that investigators say was caused by issues with an electric vehicle charger.

    A resident of the house in the 6600 block of Mainsail Court in Burke discovered the fire in their garage after smelling smoke, prompting all occupants to evacuate, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD).


    Opinion

    There are dozens of happy hours to try around Fairfax County, perfect for an after-work drink or leisurely afternoon with friends.

    Here are the nominees for “Best Happy Hour in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite place below? If not, write them in!

    Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10.

    Voting for the Best Wing Spot in Fairfax is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.

    Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Tailor in Fairfax. The results are now official:

    1. Merrifield Tailor & Organic Dry Clean
    2. The Tailor Shop
    3. Best Tailoring Inc

    News

    A Fairfax County residential community built primarily for middle-class African American families in the 1960s and 1970s has been officially recognized by Virginia as a historic property.

    William H. Randall Estates is one of 10 new inclusions on the Virginia Landmarks Register approved by members of the Virginia Board of Historic Resources at their Sept. 18 meeting.


    Around Town

    A new spot for shoes, accessories and other apparel opened at Tysons Corner Center this week.

    The fashion brand Cole Haan officially opened its doors on the second floor of the mall yesterday (Thursday), bringing a variety of leather goods to its first location in Fairfax County.