Countywide
Pavilion near baseball field in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Police Officer’s Gun Fired in Tysons Corner Center — “On the afternoon of April 2, a D.C. police captain was at Level99 … when he lost his personal weapon while playing a game, Fairfax County police said. A teen found the weapon, thought it was a prop and pulled the trigger, investigators said. No one was shot.” [NBC4]

GOP Suggests Returning Part of N. Va. to D.C. — Republican Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Georgia) introduced legislation last week that would “Make D.C. Square Again” by ceding Arlington and Alexandria back to the District “in the wake of Virginia voters approving a redistricting referendum to benefit Democrats’ representation in Congress.” [ARLnow]

Metro Board Approves Automation Plan — “The WMATA board of directors voted [on April 23] to endorse a plan to fully automate the Red Line and add platform screen doors as part of its capital improvement plan. The other lines would come next. The changes wouldn’t be finished on the Red Line until 2032 at the earliest, and are contingent on federal funding.” [Washingtonian]

Bill Makes Contraceptives Free — “Contraceptive services will soon be free for all privately-insured Virginians under a new law starting in 2027. The Contraceptive Equity Act, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Fairfax), will require insurers to cover a broader range of birth control methods without patients having to pay out-of-pocket.” [WHRO]

Mobile Home Fire in Chantilly — Fairfax County firefighters responded just after 1 a.m. on Friday (April 24) to a fire that engulfed a mobile home in the 14500 block of Trans World Avenue in Chantilly. No injuries were reported, but an investigation into the cause of the fire remains underway. [FCFRD/Facebook]

FCPS Principal Defends Early Release Days — “Fairfax County elementary school teachers are using the extra time they receive on monthly early release days to plan, finish trainings, meet with parents and support chronically absent students,” according to Mosaic Elementary School principal Mahri Aste. She says she understands parents’ concerns about the school calendar, but the loss of the scheduled planning time will “impact kids.” [WTOP]

D.C. Considers Self-Driving Taxis — “Robotaxis could be allowed on D.C. streets under a new bill that lays out the rules of the road for autonomous vehicles, providing an alternative to Ubers and Lyfts or traditional taxis.” D.C. Council member Charles “Allen said he sought to address a number of concerns about autonomous vehicles, ranging from safety to congestion to the displacement of human workers.” [Washington Post]

McLean Houses Sell for Combined $25M — “The deals, which create a 6-acre compound across some of the most expensive and exclusive land in Greater Washington, closed 10 days apart. First, on April 14, Arthur and Linda Rodbell sold 1137 and 1169 Crest Lane to Splinter VA LLC for $12.825 million. Then, on Friday, 1173 and 1175 Crest, known as Easter Hill, sold for $12.45 million.” [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Monday — Expect patchy fog before 7 a.m., followed by sunny skies with a high around 69°F. Light winds will shift to an eastward direction at 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Monday night will be mostly clear, with a low near 47°F and southeast winds of 3 to 7 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 — Apr 24, 2026.

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

  • UPDATED: Bren Mar Park Elementary deemed OK to open after two-alarm fire (57266 views)
  • Fairfax County voters supported redistricting amendment except in four precincts (30812 views)
  • Fairfax County police sergeant arrested on sexual abuse charges (26005 views)
  • Fairfax County’s second Sheetz could open in Franconia area (23109 views)
  • BREAKING: Va. voters approve redistricting amendment, as Fairfax results pour in (22232 views)
  • Herndon concert series Friday Night Live! unveils 2026 lineup (22200 views)
  • Fairfax High student sentenced to jail for groping multiple girls (17722 views)
  • Historic Dunn Loring Center to close ahead of replacement with elementary school (16504 views)
  • Tysons Galleria’s closing Saks Fifth Avenue might turn into a fitness center (11211 views)
  • Gum Springs leaders rally to save ‘pillar of community’ from county budget axe (8913 views)
  • Independent bookstore crawl gets underway this weekend in N. Va. (8852 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 likely showers and possible thunderstorms after 5 pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 66°F. East winds will blow at 10 to 13 mph, with gusts up to 22 mph, and a 60% chance of rain, ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, especially higher during thunderstorms. On Saturday night, showers and potential thunderstorms will continue, with lows around 47°F and northeast winds at 14 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. There’s a 90% chance of rain, with new precipitation amounts between a quarter and half an 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.

    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. 👋


    News

    A woman was critically injured in a two-vehicle crash this afternoon (Friday) on Route 29 near the Centreville Regional Library.

    Police, firefighters and a medic with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to Route 29 at Machen Road around 5:32 p.m. for a crash involving at least one reportedly trapped person, according to scanner traffic.


    Countywide

    Two Fairfax County Police Department employees were among 19 individuals statewide honored yesterday (Friday) at Virginia’s ninth annual Unsung Heroes Awards.

    Presented by the Virginia attorney general’s office, the awards honor those in and out of government who provide extraordinary support for, and a voice to, victims of crime.


    Event

    April 17-May 3, Fridays and Saturdays at 7. Sundays at 2.

    A musical retelling of George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion,” Lerner & Loewe transport us to 1912 London, where one’s accent and speech patterns define one’s class and one’s future. Join Eliza Doolittle as she transforms under the tutelage of phonetics master Henry Higgins to improve her prospects. From the Cockney crowd among the flower stalls at Covent Garden, to the titled lords and ladies at the horse races at Ascot, to the Royal Ball, Eliza learns, and teaches, all of us a thing or two about class.


    News

    A Fairfax Connector bus was one of two that collided head-on near the Pentagon this morning (Friday), injuring 23 people, including Defense Department workers.

    The Omni Ride and Fairfax Connector transit buses struck each other shortly before 7:30 a.m., according to a press release from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Emergency personnel transported 18 of the injured to local hospitals for further medical evaluation. Five were treated at the scene.


    Countywide

    A paid family and medical leave program will be set up for the first time in Virginia after Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed legislation from Fairfax County state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38) and Prince William County Del. Briana Sewell (D-25).

    Boysko, who represents Reston, Herndon, Great Falls and McLean in the Virginia Senate, told FFXnow she has worked on the legislation for eight years.


    Around Town

    For over three decades, the Tephra ICA Arts Festival has engaged the Fairfax County and Northern Virginia community through arts and performances. The festival will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a two-day event on May 16-17 at Reston Town Center for the public.

    It will have 200 artists nationwide and from the D.C. region, dance performances, original paintings and a concert.


    Opinion

    Whether you’re selling a home or a business, Fairfax County has professionals with the expertise and negotiating savvy to ensure you get the best possible return on your investment.

    Here are the nominees for “Best Real Estate Agent for Sellers in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite agent below? Write them in!

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

    Voting for Best Moving Company in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday, May 1 at 8:30 a.m.

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

    1. Pond Roofing & Exteriors
    2. St. Joseph’s Roofing
    3. Marshall Roofing

    Countywide

    Fairfax County supervisors are being asked to provide additional funding for library materials, with some advocates stressing the value of increasing print holdings.

    “Libraries are in fact in desperate need,” Langley High School junior Mia Nash told the Board of Supervisors at an April 15 public hearing on the fiscal year 2027 budget.