FFXnow - Fairfax County, Va. local news

Published September 16, 2025 at 1:50PM | Updated September 22, 2025 at 11:59AM

A Trans Day of Visibility rally outside a school board meeting at Luther Jackson Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent (FCPS) Michelle Reid sent a message to the school community explaining more about the ongoing legal fight with the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Alexandria dismissed a lawsuit the Fairfax and Arlington school boards filed against the DOE after the federal department froze their funding. The DOE put the schools on “high risk” status and restricted their access to federal funds after they refused to rescind policies allowing students to use bathrooms and other facilities that match their gender identity.

News

Board of Supervisors eyes December for Braddock District special election

By Jared Serre

Published September 16, 2025 at 11:45AM

Board Chair Jeff McKay (screenshot via Fairfax County)

A new Braddock District Supervisor could be seated by the end of this calendar year.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors officially petitioned the Fairfax Circuit Court on Tuesday to schedule a special election to fill the vacancy — one of the initial steps following last week’s resignation by James Walkinshaw.

A post from Schar School

Ready for the next step in your career? Explore graduate programs near D.C.

Published July 28, 2026 at 10:45AM

Advance Your Career. Explore Graduate Programs Near D.C.

Are you looking to make a real impact in government or public service? Advanced education can be the key, and it’s closer than you think.

The Schar School offers master’s degrees and graduate certificates designed to help students build expertise, advance their careers, and make an impact in their communities and professions. Located just minutes from Washington, D.C., the Schar School combines rigorous academics with access to the institutions, organizations, and networks shaping policy and public service today.

Students benefit from:

• Renowned faculty with academic and real-world experience
• Hands-on learning through applied research and policy simulations
• Connections to government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations
• Access to one of the nation’s most dynamic professional environments

Graduate programs are available in areas including:

• Public Policy
• International Affairs
• Public Administration
• National Security and Defense
• Government and Public Management

Explore programs, connect with admissions, and discover the graduate pathway that’s right for you.

Explore Programs

News

Taste of Annandale returns this weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published September 16, 2025 at 10:05AM

Dancers at Taste of Annandale 2024 (photo via Taste of Annandale)

The annual Taste of Annandale event returns this weekend, bringing a little bit of everything to 7200 Columbia Pike.

The free event is set for Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. with a truly ecclectic array of activities.

Countywide

Fairfax County supervisors seek to reduce red tape around affordable housing

By Scott McCaffrey

Published September 16, 2025 at 9:15AM

Fairfax County officials in 2025 broke ground on an affordable housing project at 2990 Telestar Court in Merrifield (staff photo by Jared Serre)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed staff last Tuesday (Sept. 9) to take a six-month-long deep dive into current housing policies, hoping to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles hampering the creation of more affordable units across the community.

“This is absolutely an essential part of our economic strategy,” said Board Chairman Jeff McKay, who proposed the action. “It comes up in every conversation with the public.”

Event

Botanical Estate: Flower, Fashion, & Fine Arts Show

August 22, 2026 3:30 pm -8:30 pm

Hawa Center Fairfax

4401 Fair Lakes Court

Fairfax, Virginia 22033

Website Contact Social

Flowers, Fine Art & Fashion is an immersive cultural experience presented by People of The Garden LLC, where nature, creativity, and modest couture converge in a breathtaking indoor garden setting.

Guests will journey through a living landscape featuring dramatic floral installations, botanical art, and a one-of-a-kind rectangular runway designed around lush greenery and sculptural plantings. Throughout the evening, attendees will experience a curated runway presentation showcasing modest fashion designers, alongside original fine art, artisan vendors, and interactive floral experiences.

Countywide

Metro looks to improve bus service after reliability dropped last year

By Scott McCaffrey

Published September 16, 2025 at 8:30AM

A Metrobus in Seven Corners (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

On-time Metrobus performance declined in fiscal year 2025 from the previous two years, leading transit leaders to plan more aggressive moves to keep the buses on schedule.

“We’ll be focusing on things in our direct control,” said Jordan Holt, senior director of performance, benchmarking and customer service at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) at the Sept. 11 meeting of WMATA’s safety and operations committee.

Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for Sep 15, 2025

By FFXnow.com

Published September 15, 2025 at 9:00PM

Good Monday 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 15, 2025.

7:30 am: Morning Notes for September 15, 2025 | 🗣️ Comments
8:30 am: Old Town Fairfax developments slowed by city leadership changes | 🗣️ Comments
9:15 am: Fairfax homes for sale lingering on market for increasing amounts of time | 🗣️ Comments
10:00 am: Suspect arrested after early-hours shooting in Dranesville | 🗣️ Comments
11:45 am: Bus rapid transit could be coming to Herndon, but dedicated bus lanes are unlikely | 🗣️ Comments
1:45 pm: Bulldozer stolen from McLean construction site and sold on Facebook, suspect arrested | 🗣️ Comments
2:45 pm: Hybla Valley fire station to be redeveloped with emergency shelter and housing | 🗣️ Comments
3:45 pm: How Fairfax County Public Library hopes to avoid ‘ugly’ budget cuts | 🗣️ Comments

📅 Upcoming events

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

4:00 pm: Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia 4th Annual Pickleball & Golf Festival
👉 5:30 pm: Credit Score 101 — Free Webinar

⛈️ Tuesday’s forecast

Showers and potential thunderstorms after 2pm are expected, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 72. A northeast wind will range from 13-17 mph, gusting up to 28 mph, and a 50% chance of precipitation. Tuesday night will likely have more showers, possibly a thunderstorm, a low around 60, and a north wind of 11-15 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. Precipitation is expected at 70%, with new rainfall of a tenth to a quarter of an inch, potentially higher during thunderstorms. 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.

Countywide

How Fairfax County Public Library hopes to avoid ‘ugly’ budget cuts

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 15, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated September 16, 2025 at 4:08PM

The new fiction section at the George Mason Regional Library in Annandale (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) officials see a way to avoid considering any serious budget cuts for nearly a decade, but it hinges on a big gamble: construction projects starting on schedule.

For fiscal year 2027, which will begin on July 1, 2026, the public library system is seeking its current funding of $36.5 million after the county directed all agencies stick to their existing service levels, according to a memo submitted by FCPL Director Eric Carzon to Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget Director Phil Hagen on Friday (Sept. 12).

News

Hybla Valley fire station to be redeveloped with emergency shelter and housing

By Vernon Miles

Published September 15, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated September 15, 2025 at 4:01PM

Proposed design of new Penn Daw Fire Station and supportive housing at 2801 Beacon Hill Road (image via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County could be moving forward soon with the rezoning of the outdated Penn Daw Fire Station.

The plan is to replace the current facility off Route 1 at 2801 Beacon Hill Road with a new mix of fire station, emergency shelter and supportive housing.

News

Bulldozer stolen from McLean construction site and sold on Facebook, suspect arrested

By Jared Serre

Published September 15, 2025 at 1:45PM

Fairfax County Police Department vehicle (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A 34-year-old man faces 10 years in prison after being accused of stealing a bulldozer from a McLean construction site and selling it online.

Dushon Raynard Sheperd, of Michigan, is awaiting extradition to Fairfax County after being arrested in Kentucky earlier this week. He’s been charged with one count of larceny by false pretense.