News

The chainsaws have gone quiet, but the fight to preserve trees along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail isn’t over yet.

A number of elected officials, nonprofits and community organizations plan to renew pressure on Dominion Energy over its approach to tree clearings with a rally tomorrow (Saturday) in Vienna.


News

Editor’s Note: This article is part of a two-part series of exclusive interviews with James Walkinshaw and Stewart Whitson, who are competing to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. The story on Whitson was published yesterday (Thursday).

If he’s elected to Congress, James Walkinshaw won’t have any trouble finding his way around Capitol Hill.


News

A West Springfield High School student died earlier this week from a drug overdose, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) officials have confirmed.

FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid announced the death in a letter on Wednesday (Sept. 3), sharing guidance for parents, students and community members.


Opinion

Parks and trails across Fairfax County offer a perfect opportunity to enjoy the fair weather and colorful foliage this fall.

Here are the nominees for “Best Hiking Spot 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, Sept. 19.

Voting for the Best Ramen Restaurant 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 Bowling Alley in Fairfax. The results are now official:

  1. Lucky Strike Tysons Corner
  2. Bowl America Fairfax
  3. Bowl America Burke

Event

The Golf Outing will be at the Chantilly National Country Club. Gather your friends for a fantastic day on the greens, enjoy friendly competition, and help us create a brighter future for our youth. Together, we can swing for a cause that truly matters to support area children receiving mental health counseling. Registration and Practice: 8:00-9:00am Tee Time: 9:00am Shotgun Start Lunch and Awards ceremony: 1:30pm- 2:30pm


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools is rolling out advanced weapons detectors to all middle and high schools, but is that enough to keep schools safe? At least one member of the school board says no.

“Technology can identify a weapon or observe a fight, but it requires a human to intervene to seize the weapon or stop the fight,” Mount Vernon District Representative Mateo Dunne told FFXnow.


Around Town

Cirque du Soleil is back in Tysons.

After visiting George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena last spring, the Canadian circus will once again open up its Big Top at Lerner Town Square (8025 Galleria Drive) for a new show, starting tomorrow (Saturday).


News

Local police recently arrested a man who’s believed to be behind multiple criminal incidents targeting the Sunset Business Park in Herndon, including two arson attempts.

The Herndon Police Department (HPD) dispatched officers to 268 Sunset Park Drive at 5:17 p.m. on Monday (Sept. 1) for a larceny after a security camera was reportedly stolen from one of the storefronts.


Countywide
Drivers on Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) pass under the pedestrian bridge to the Greensboro Metro station in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Trump to Propose Pentagon Renaming — “President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Friday to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War, his latest effort to project an image of toughness for America’s military. The Republican president can’t formally change the name without legislation, which his administration would request from Congress.” [Associated Press/ARLnow]

Raising Cane’s Coming to Merrifield — “Raising Cane’s, the fast-growing chicken fingers chain, has inked a lease to replace a nearly 30-year-old Wendy’s [in Gatehouse Plaza] just off Arlington Boulevard in Merrifield … It is unclear exactly when the Wendy’s will close, but a Raising Cane’s representative tells me the goal is to open by the fourth quarter of 2027.” [Washington Business Journal]

Questions Around Covid Vaccine Access — “Federal policy shake-ups have turned Virginia into one of several states where getting a COVID vaccine now requires a prescription at major pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens … The FDA recently revoked the broad emergency use authorizations for COVID vaccines, ending the blanket access that once let most Virginians walk into a pharmacy to get one without a doctor’s note.” [Axios Richmond]

Minors Followed at Fair Oaks — “A 22-year-old is behind bars after he was accused of touching a person inappropriately at a store and following minors in Fair Oaks … Officers responded to the 12200 block of Apple Orchard Court for a person acting suspiciously just after 9 a.m. on Aug. 31. Two people also reported that the man was acting strangely in the neighborhood and had attempted to follow a minor.” [DC News Now]

FCPS Schedules Next Meetings on Boundary Plan — Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid has announced the next round of community engagement meetings on the countywide boundary review, starting Sept. 15 at Justice High School. “Because this is a busy time of year for our schools, we are working to finalize all of the meeting locations. The meetings will be hybrid, so you may participate in person or virtually via Zoom.” [FCPS]

Mount Vernon Pool Reopens — “Fairfax County Park Authority is excited to welcome the community to the much-anticipated reopening of Mount Vernon Rec Center pool. The swimming facilities now include a heated, indoor pool and beach entry equipped with two spray features.” [FCPA]

Temporary Home for Culmore Clinic — “The Culmore Clinic, a nonprofit healthcare facility that serves lower-income adults, is moving to a temporary space in Falls Church while its current location, at First Christian Church, is being renovated. Eventually, the clinic will move into Kindred Crossing, an affordable housing project for seniors” that’s expected to break ground next door to the church next year. [Annandale Today]

Local Lost Dog Cafe Celebrates Anniversary — Lost Dog Café celebrated its 13th anniversary in Dunn Loring yesterday (Thursday). Opened on the ground floor of the Halstead Square apartments in 2012, the restaurant “has welcomed thousands of patrons who have made it part of their personal stories — from first jobs and first dates to first meals after moving to the neighborhood.” [Lost Dog Cafe]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 88 today, with light southwest winds picking up to 5-10 mph in the morning. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 71 and south winds at around 6 mph. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Thursday 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 4, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Friday’s forecast

The weather will be sunny with the temperature reaching a high of around 88°F, accompanied by a light southwest wind that will increase to 5-10 mph throughout the morning. In the evening, expect mostly clear skies and a low temperature of approximately 70°F, with a gentle south wind blowing at about 6 mph. 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.