News

Opponents of a potential casino in Tysons have begun lobbying local officials to oppose the proposal in 2026.

Using the monthly public-comment period of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Linda Walsh of the No Fairfax Casino Coalition asked the local elected leaders to stand firm against the proposal.


Countywide

While Virginia’s unemployment rate has been ticking up for months, the state’s Republican leadership contends the jobless rate is just one piece of a larger, more complex economic puzzle.

“Virginia has jobs,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in an Aug. 19 statement accompanying the latest batch of state employment figures. “This month’s reports reflect modest payroll growth, continued positive revisions in recent months, and strong labor force demand, reinforcing the resilience of Virginia’s job market.”


News

Work began on Monday (Aug. 25) to overhaul a currently awkward intersection along Route 50 (Fairfax Blvd) in Fairfax City.

While construction may cause some disruptions, the resulting reconfiguration of the area where Fairfax Blvd, Warwick Avenue and McLean Avenue meet should make travel smoother and safer in the future, according to the city.


Countywide
Native plants in the rain garden at Oakton Library (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Record Labor Day Weekend Travel Expected — “Labor Day weekend travel is expected to surpass last year’s record levels, with the Transportation Security Administration preparing to screen hundreds of thousands more passengers than during the 2024 holiday.” Today (Friday) is expected to be the busiest day with airports preparing for 2.91 million passengers. [Axios]

Early Voting Expands — An additional nine sites will be open for early voting in the 11th Congressional District special election, starting today through Saturday, Sept. 6. All locations will be available Monday through Friday from 1-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular polling places will open on the day of the Sept. 9 election, which will be a school-free day for Fairfax County students. [Fairfax County Government]

Cookie Shop Opens in Tysons Mall — “Chip City Cookies will be celebrating the grand opening of its new Tysons Corner Center location on Friday by giving a free cookie to the first 100 customers with any purchase. The doors will open at 11 a.m.” This is the oversized cookie company’s third Northern Virginia location and first in Fairfax County following openings in Arlington. [Patch]

Firefighters Train in West Falls Church Homes — “Before Fairfax County tears down nine houses on Barrett Road in the Falls Church area, the Fire Department is using the vacant houses for training exercises … On Aug. 26, a crew from the Edsall Road (#26) fire station was at Barrett Road to practice rescuing a firefighter trapped in a burning building – although they didn’t set the house on fire.” [Annandale Today]

Contract Dispute Heads to Trial — A legal battle involving two Reston-based federal contractors is likely heading for a jury trial following recent procedural rulings by a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge. CACI International sued Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) in July 2024, alleging that the other company breached a joint U.S. Air Force contract by not paying CACI its full share and poaching employees. [Washington Business Journal]

Students Seek to Encourage Civil Discussions — After observing how often conversations about hot-button issues escalate into yelling, Peter Kisselev, “Sam Stankiewicz and Abhi Tiwari, students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia, launched ‘Normal Debate.’ The website, the three said, provides users with the opportunity to create posts about politics and other topics.” [WTOP]

Preview of Tysons Fall Market — The Tysons Mixed Market, now in its third year, will return this fall with a season-opening event next Thursday, Sept. 4. Hosted by The Boro and the Tysons Community Alliance, the market “brings together nearly 30 local vendors and artisans, small businesses, and more community-focused features all tucked in the middle of Fairfax County’s economic powerhouse that is Tysons.” [Out and About Fairfax]

Falls Church Festival Returning — “The annual Falls Church Festival is approaching, bringing back a day of live music, activities and tastings from local restaurants. Over 90 vendors and civic organizations will join the fun as the festival returns for its 49th year from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13.” [ARLnow]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny conditions and a high temperature near 80 degrees during the day, accompanied by a northwest wind at 5 to 9 mph. By Friday night, the skies will turn partly cloudy, while the temperature dips to a low around 57 degrees. A 6 mph north wind is anticipated throughout the night. [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 — Aug 28, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies and a high near 79 degrees, as well as a northwest breeze of 5 to 10 mph, with possible gusts reaching 18 mph. Come Friday night, the skies will be partly cloudy, and temperatures will dip to around 56 degrees, accompanied by a gentle north wind at around 7 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.


News

Many Fairfax County School Board members initially celebrated the purchase of the now-defunct King Abdullah Academy building in the Herndon area, but that excitement is now being tempered by a simmering conflict over what form the proposed new high school should take.

There are a range of models available, from traditional or traditional-with-academies types of school to a magnet program similar to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.


News

Fairfax County police have arrested a man who was involved in a barricade situation in Bailey’s Crossroads over the weekend.

Asenai Zigita was taken into custody this afternoon (Thursday) near the Barcroft View Apartments by over a dozen officers with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Fugitive Tracking and Apprehension Unit, who gathered outside the Bailey’s Crossroads fire station after making the arrest.


Around Town

Kirby Club in Merrifield will undergo some major changes this fall.

The Middle Eastern restaurant, which opened at the Mosaic District (2911 District Avenue) in late 2022 to some acclaim, will take on a new name and revamped menu in mid-September when owner Rose Previte hands over control to longtime team member Tariq Alaeddin.


News

An Alexandria man was arrested earlier this week in connection to a carjacking in the Groveton neighborhood of Fairfax County.

David Rodney Lewis II, 34, is accused of assaulting a delivery driver in the 3300 block of Lockheed Blvd before jumping into the victim’s vehicle and driving off, the Fairfax County Police Department says.