Countywide
Dragon performers navigate crowd at the Asian Festival on Main in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

SCOTUS Rejects Redistricting Appeal — “The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Virginia’s bid to restore a congressional map that would have given Democrats a chance to pick up four seats in the closely divided House of Representatives.” The court order was “issued without any noted dissent.” [Associated Press]

Boy Hospitalized by Shooting Range Mishap — “A 14-year-old boy was hospitalized after a shotgun exploded in his hands while at a Centreville shooting range on Sunday, according to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) … The teen was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his hand.” [DC News Now]

Va. Could Allow Single-Stairway Buildings — Last week, “the state’s Board of Housing and Community Development advanced a proposal to allow single stairways in four-story buildings, setting it up for potential adoption in the next state code requirements.” Some lawmakers and advocates say the revision to building standards “could unlock housing development on vacant or underutilized lots.” [Virginia Mercury]

Grandmother Graduates From GMU — “At 72 years old, Irma Garcia of Woodbridge is graduating from George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree — decades after first putting her education on hold to raise her family.” She joined thousands of other students who celebrated at commencement ceremonies this past weekend.” [FOX5]

Beauty School Coming to Annandale — “A cosmetology school is expected to open in June on the corner of Columbia Pike and Annandale Road in central Annandale … The owner, Katy Hennessey, plans to offer classes leading to certifications in cosmetology, acrylic nails, and eyelash and eyebrow procedures.” [Annandale Today]

McLean Satellite Company Makes Acquisition — “Iridium Communications, a global satellite communications company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the remainder of Aireon, a joint project it started in 2011, for $366.7 million. Currently, Iridium owns 39% of McLean-based Aireon, operator of the world’s only space-based” real-time global air traffic information system. [Virginia Business]

Meeting on Route 29 Improvements — “The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host an in-person community meeting on the Route 29 Active Transportation Study at 7 p.m.” tomorrow (Tuesday) at Timber Lane Elementary School. FCDOT will present proposed improvements to the street, including sidewalks, bike paths, transit stops and crossings.” [FCDOT]

RCC Lauded for Water Safety Education — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation earlier this month declaring May as Water Safety Month … The proclamation cited the Reston Community Center’s efforts in providing swimming instruction and safety training for residents of various ages.” [Patch]

New Legal Notice — Business seeks retail on/off-premises wine-beer license; objections within 30 days. [Public Notices]

It’s Monday — It will be sunny with a high of around 95 degrees, and winds will shift to the south at 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Monday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to about 72 degrees and a south wind of around 8 mph. [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 — May 15, 2026.

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

  • Fresh Market to permanently close Vienna grocery store this month (19255 views)
  • Report: New plan to overhaul Dulles Airport would cost $22B, finish in 2034 (14491 views)
  • ‘Shark Tank’-funded menswear startup to open retail store in Reston Town Center (14023 views)
  • Chairman McKay lashes out at school board member over budget criticism (13556 views)
  • Drone light show to replace fireworks for Fairfax County’s Independence Day celebration (11342 views)
  • N. Va. family to launch Iraqi-style shawarma restaurant in Vienna (11125 views)
  • What’s the difference between a trust and a will in Virginia? (11053 views)
  • FCPS proposes budget cuts to cover $28 million funding gap (9748 views)
  • Approved Booz Allen office redevelopment will deliver half of Herndon Metro promenade (8893 views)
  • Judge dismisses lawsuit alleging FCPS retaliated against teacher for abortion claims (8616 views)
  • Man’s Arlington abduction arrest might trigger more jail time for Reston cases (8127 views)
  • Fairfax’s plan to manage trash collections countywide appears dead for now (6458 views)
  • UPDATED: Teen charged with murder for fatal stabbing at Huntington condo complex (4657 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

    Expect sunny weather with a high of around 84°F, and calm winds shifting to a 5 to 9 mph southwest breeze in the morning. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy with a low of approximately 65°F, accompanied by southwest winds at 5 to 9 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.

    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. 👋


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    News

    The night before freshman orientation at George Mason University, 17-year-old Saniya Dilip Darediya sat in her room and cried.

    Having just arrived in the U.S. from India, she recalled, “I was scared and afraid I might not belong here.”


    News

    The Hyatt Regency hotel at Tysons Corner Center has put the finishing touches on a new look for its guest rooms.

    The $13 million redesign, led by the Texas-based interior design firm FlickMars, transformed the hotel’s 300 rooms with furniture and decor inspired by the kinds of fashion brands that shoppers will find at the neighboring mall, according to a press release.


    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


    News

    The Town of Herndon is considering a number of changes to Bennett Street intended to make walking and cycling around the local high school safer.

    Mike Shindledecker, the town’s transportation engineer, unveiled a preferred concept at a community meeting in the Herndon High School cafeteria on Wednesday (May 13) that would narrow the four-lane road to one travel lane in each direction.


    Opinion

    Whether you’re seeking general academic support for your child or more intensive test preparation services, options abound in Fairfax County for programs that will keep kids’ minds sharp outside of class.

    Here are the nominees for “Best Tutoring Service in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite center below? Write them in!

    Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 29.

    A few weeks ago, we voted on the Best Real Estate Agent for Sellers in Fairfax County. The results are now official:

    1. Nikki Lagouros (Berkshire Hathaway)
    2. Debbie Doğrul (Debbie Doğgrul Associates)
    3. Casey Samson (The Casey Samson Team)

    Countywide

    Fairfax County supervisors have reacted tepidly to a staff proposal for imposing what might be termed a “trash tax” on Fairfax’s property owners to support solid waste disposal.

    “I don’t think we’re ready. It’s kind of a hard sell,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said in response to the proposal, floated at the May 12 meeting of the board’s Environment Committee.


    Countywide

    Republican lawmakers accused Fairfax County’s top prosecutor and sheriff of being soft on crime and endangering lives due to policies limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement — a charge both denied during a tense congressional hearing yesterday (Thursday).

    Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano and Sheriff Stacey Kincaid testified that they do not provide preferential treatment to immigrants, as congressional Republicans repeatedly alleged throughout the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement hearing.


    News

    A man from the Groveton area will face a slew of criminal charges once he leaves the hospital after allegedly stealing a delivery van and crashing it multiple times on Richmond Highway, injuring himself and another driver.

    Officers responded around 3:31 p.m. on Wednesday (May 13) to Richmond Highway and Lorton Road in Lorton after receiving reports of “a multi-vehicle crash involving a stolen package delivery van that had been taken earlier in the day” in Fort Belvoir, the Fairfax County Police Department said.