FFXnow - Fairfax County, Va. local news

FFXnow Daily Debrief for Feb 18, 2026

Published February 18, 2026 at 9:00PM

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 — Feb 18, 2026.

7:30 am: Morning Notes for February 18, 2026 | 🗣️ Comments
8:30 am: Arlington tech companies to open Fairfax offices, bringing over 300 jobs | 🗣️ Comments
9:15 am: State could punt decision on N. Va. transit funding plan, but Fairfax leaders not giving up yet | 🗣️ Comments
10:00 am: Historic Fairfax Courthouse closure spurs call for renewed focus on building maintenance | 🗣️ Comments
11:45 am: Farm-fresh burger chain Good Stuff Eatery to open Springfield location | 🗣️ Comments
1:45 pm: Residents told to stop flushing wipes as Potomac River sewage cleanup continues | 🗣️ Comments
2:45 pm: Del. Dan Helmer announces run for newly-drawn 7th Congressional District | 🗣️ Comments
3:45 pm: New restaurant Wow Nepal brings couple’s favorite home recipes to Fairfax | 🗣️ Comments
4:45 pm: Introducing WSHnow, a curated hub for local news about the D.C. region | 🗣️ Comments

📅 Upcoming events

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

10:30 am: Fall for the Book Mini Fest
3:30 pm: Alexandria Teen Science Cafe/ Empowering The Future
👉 5:30 pm: Webinar: Credit Score 101 (Online)

🌧️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect rain to start after noon, with patchy fog clearing up by 1pm and a high near 47°F. The east wind will blow at 5-10 mph, and there’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with potential accumulations ranging between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. On Thursday night, rain will persist, with temperatures dropping to around 42°F, an east wind at 6-9 mph, and a 100% chance of precipitation. New rainfall amounts could be between a quarter and a half inch. 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

Introducing WSHnow, a curated hub for local news about the D.C. region

By FFXnow.com

Published February 18, 2026 at 4:45PM

The WSHnow home page on Feb. 18, 2026

Meet WSHnow, FFXnow’s newest sister site.

The recently launched website is designed to serve as a one-stop hub for local news from Fairfax County and other communities across the D.C. region.

Discover expanded luxury: Indigo at McLean Station announces major Phase II updates and November 14th open house

Published November 4, 2026 at 10:45AM

Imagine stepping out of your door and being a brief, 0.3-mile walk from the McLean Metro Station. Indigo at McLean Station is redefining affordable Northern Virginia living, combining an unbeatable Tysons location with brand-new, high-end amenities.

Mark your calendar for our upcoming Open House on Saturday, November 14th, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, where you can explore everything our growing community has to offer.

Both Phases Now Open for Tours

This exclusive event gives you full access to tour both Phase I and Phase II of our stunning community. Whether you are looking to relocate immediately or planning your next move, we have layouts tailored to your timeline:

Phase I (Immediate Move-In Available): Move right into our modern homes designed for households qualifying under the 60% Area Median Income (AMI) guidelines.
Phase II (Now Leasable): Ready for immediate move-ins, select apartment homes in Phase II are now available to lease. This phase introduces studio, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom configurations across 50% to 70% AMI tiers.

Double the Amenities, Double the Community

With the introduction of Phase II, Indigo at McLean Station has dramatically expanded its resident perks. When you tour the community, you will experience a wealth of brand-new spaces designed to elevate your daily routine:

Upgraded Fitness & Relaxation: Enjoy full access to an additional, state-of-the-art fitness center and a second designer club room perfect for hosting friends.
Premium Work & Welcome Spaces: Experience our elegant, expansive new lobby and a fully equipped business center tailored for remote professionals.
Outdoor & Pet Luxuries: Pamper your four-legged family members at our brand-new, on-site pet spa (with no breed restrictions) and explore additional outdoor amenity spaces and walking trails.

Stack Your Savings

Attendees who submit an application during the event can unlock our exclusive, event-only leasing incentive. Receive an additional 1/2 month of rent free—applicable strictly to Phase I apartments. Best of all, this time-sensitive special stacks directly on top of our premier active promotion of Up to Two Months Free on Select Apartments!

Plan your visit to 1750 Old Meadow Rd, McLean, VA 22102 this November 14th. Browse Our Available Floor Plans, check real-time pricing, and review income qualification criteria on our website, or call our leasing team directly at (571) 786-5546. Can’t make the Open House? Schedule a Tour Today.

Schedule a Tour

Around Town

New restaurant Wow Nepal brings couple’s favorite home recipes to Fairfax

By Emily Leayman

Published February 18, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated February 18, 2026 at 4:02PM

Wow Nepal in Fairfax (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Though Fairfax City has a varied dining scene, a couple from Nepal saw a void that they could fill with their home country’s cuisine.

The resulting restaurant Wow Nepal, located at 10728 Fairfax Blvd, had its soft opening on Jan. 28. Chef Bewek Bastola runs it alongside his wife, Samrina Pandit.

News

Del. Dan Helmer announces run for newly-drawn 7th Congressional District

By Jared Serre

Published February 18, 2026 at 2:45PM

Dan Helmer (photo courtesy of campaign)

Del. Dan Helmer, a Democrat who has represented southwestern Fairfax County in the House of Delegates since 2020, is once again running for Congress.

The 44-year-old announced his candidacy today (Wednesday) to represent the newly-drawn 7th Congressional District — a sprawling “lobster-shaped” district that includes Helmer’s Fairfax home while stretching east to Arlington County, west to Augusta County and south to Goochland County.

Event

Free Memory Screening

November 18, 2026 8:00 am -5:00 pm

Event location

Conquest Research (VHC Campus)

1635 N George Mason Drive Suite 455

Arlington, Virginia 22205

Add to Calendar

Are you concerned about your memory? Or a family member's?

Memory screening is the first step in evaluating cognitive problems. It's easy and quick to be screened. The is a series of questions that evaluates short term memory, visual-spatial skills, attention, language fluency, and abstract reasoning. The visit will last about 2 hrs and includes a debriefing with a physician.

Countywide

Residents told to stop flushing wipes as Potomac River sewage cleanup continues

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 18, 2026 at 1:45PM

Crews are working on a bypass system to divert wastewater from the Potomac River after a sewer line collapse in Maryland (via DC Water)

Please stop flushing wipes down the toilet, even if they’re labeled “flushable,” Fairfax County said in a recent message to community members.

The county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services urged residents late last week to avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper after a mass of non-disposable wipes clogged a regional sewer pipeline, exacerbating overflows into the Potomac River.

Around Town

Farm-fresh burger chain Good Stuff Eatery to open Springfield location

By Jared Serre

Published February 18, 2026 at 11:45AM

Good Stuff Eatery is coming soon to Springfield Plaza (staff photo by James Cullum)

A local restaurant brand that prioritizes farm-fresh ingredients is eyeing Springfield Plaza for its next location.

Good Stuff Eatery intends to open its first Fairfax County location this summer, deputy CEO Micheline Mendelsohn told FFXnow. “Coming Soon” signage has already appeared on the targeted storefront, located at 6418 Springfield Plaza.

News

Historic Fairfax Courthouse closure spurs call for renewed focus on building maintenance

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 18, 2026 at 10:00AM

A vehicle passing the Fairfax County Historic Courthouse (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County supervisors have directed staff to return in coming weeks with information on the physical conditions of the local government’s more than 200 buildings.

The request for information was made Tuesday (Feb. 17) by Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, who contends maintenance of older buildings constructed between the 1960s and 1980s has been “consistently deferred in favor of new projects.”

Countywide

State could punt decision on N. Va. transit funding plan, but Fairfax leaders not giving up yet

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 18, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated February 18, 2026 at 2:30PM

Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County officials sent mixed messages last Friday (Feb. 13) over General Assembly progress, or lack of it, toward dedicated transit funding for Northern Virginia.

Legislation to establish dedicated transit funding is unlikely to be acted on during the month remaining in the 2026 legislative session, county staff reported at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Legislative Committee.

News

Arlington tech companies to open Fairfax offices, bringing over 300 jobs

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 18, 2026 at 8:30AM

The office building at 8270 Greensboro Drive in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A pair of Arlington-based technology companies are planning new offices in Fairfax County, collectively promising over 300 new jobs.

First, the space tech manufacturer Umbra announced last Thursday (Feb. 12) that it will expand to Reston, opening a 20,000-square-foot office expected to host over 100 employees. Then, defense contractor Grvty revealed yesterday (Tuesday) that it will establish a new corporate headquarters in Tysons.