School Board member Melanie Meren (screenshot via FCPS)
Some Fairfax County School Board members hope closer collaboration with their Board of Supervisors’ counterparts will make for smoother future budget processes than was experienced earlier this year.
Fairfax County Public Schools needs to convince local elected officials and the broader community that “we are being as strategic as possible with every dollar,” Mason District School Board member Ricardy Anderson said during a school board work session on Tuesday (Sept. 9) about budget planning and communications strategies.
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The McLean Art Gallery will open at Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean on Sept. 17, 2025 (courtesy McLean Art Society)
While McLean awaits the arrival of a permanent downtown arts center, residents will be treated to a temporary showcase of local artists at the Chesterbrook Shopping Center.
The McLean Art Gallery is set to open behind Starbucks at 6224B Old Dominion Drive on Sept. 17, the McLean Art Society announced Monday (Sept. 8).
A United Airlines team participates in the annual Dulles Plane Pull (via MWAA)
Dulles Day is coming in for a landing this Saturday (Sept. 13).
The annual Special Olympics Virginia fundraiser will return to Dulles International Airport for a 34th year with a variety of activities, including the signature Dulles Plane Pull organized by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police Department.
Looking up at the Skymark apartment building in Reston Town Center from RTC West (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Beltway Lane Closures Planned in Tysons — “Lane and ramp closures will begin Friday at 9 p.m. and continue until 9 a.m. Sunday on the northbound lanes of the Capital Beltway between Leesburg Pike and the George Washington Parkway. Triple lane closures and ramp closures will be in effect Friday and Saturday nights, VDOT said, and a single lane closure is planned all day Saturday” as construction on the new I-495 Express Lanes continues. [WTOP]
Homeless Shelter Operator Scrutinized — “Staff at the homeless shelter in Bailey’s Crossroads and other shelters run by New Hope Housing are not being paid on time, have seen their health benefits canceled, and have been spending their own money for supplies like toilet paper and food.” Fairfax County’s housing office says the nonprofit is currently “out of compliance” with its contract, and New Hope Housing is facing a wrongful death lawsuit after a supportive housing resident died in a fire. [Annandale Today]
Virginia Eases Covid Vaccine Rules — “In recent days, residents of Virginia and other states began to need a prescription from their primary care provider in order to get a COVID vaccine, a change prompted by shifting federal requirements. An order the Virginia Department of Health issued Wednesday now makes it easier for eligible Virginians to get vaccines in the weeks ahead by dropping the prescription requirement.” [Virginia Mercury]
Superintendent Statement on Shootings — In light of “the senseless and devastating attacks at Evergreen High School in Colorado and at Utah Valley University” on Wednesday (Sept. 10), Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid assured families that school officials “continue working hard to ensure everyone is safe as this remains a critical priority at FCPS.” [FCPS]
State and Dems Clash Over University Boards — Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera recently instructed university rectors to ignore directives from Senate Democrats telling them not to recognize contested board appointees. “Senate Democrats have rejected a long list of appointments to boards of Visitors this year, accusing them of being too partisan. The rejections have left multiple vacancies on the boards. 10 GMU board members have been removed, along with seven at VMI and five at UVA.” [Virginia Scope]
Stuff the Bus Food Drive Returns — “Fastran buses, along with Fairfax County Fire Department trucks, will be at several sites from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. [tomorrow] for this Hunger Action Month event to combat hunger. Please consider donating non-perishable food items and gift cards at the below locations.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Taste of Annandale Coming Up — “This year’s Taste of Annandale promises to be bigger and better than ever. This family-friendly community festival with more than 100 vendor booths is Sept. 20, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space, 7200 Columbia Pike.” Attractions include live music, a 5K, a petting zoo, a chili cook-off and more. [Press release]
Ken Burns Doc Preview at Mount Vernon — “Registration opens September 24 to see Emmy and Grammy Award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns unveil his latest documentary series at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. Burns will offer remarks and share clips from the six-part series ‘The American Revolution’ on Oct. 29.” [ALXnow]
It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of around 81 degrees and a north wind at about 6 mph, shifting to the east in the afternoon. On Friday night, the skies will be mostly clear with a low temperature near 60 degrees. [NWS]
Expect sunshine and a high of 81 with north winds at 6 mph, shifting to the northeast in the afternoon. Friday night will be mostly clear with a low of 59, as southeast winds at 5 mph become calm in the evening. See more from Weather.gov.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin with regional leaders and Systems Planning & Analysis staff (staff photo by Vernon Miles)
Just a couple of weeks after accusing state officials of undermining Fairfax County’s economic development work, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay found himself cutting a ribbon with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to celebrate an economic development win for the county.
Local and state officials gathered at the Alexandria headquarters of defense contractor Systems Planning & Analysis this afternoon (Thursday) to announce its plans to invest $46.9 million in both the city and Fairfax County.
Presentation honoring Disability Voting Rights Week (screenshot via Fairfax County)
Fairfax County supervisors and advocates on Tuesday (Sept. 9) celebrated the progress in integrating local residents with disabilities into the elections process.
The Board of Supervisors designated this week (Sept. 8-12) as Disability Voting Rights Week in Fairfax County, recognizing the need to make voting accessible to the roughly 15% of the local electorate that face disability-related challenges.
George Mason's basketball court at EagleBank Arena (photo via George Mason Athletics)
The travel agent who pretended to organize a preseason trip to the Bahamas for the George Mason University men’s basketball team will spend the next 13 months behind bars.
Maurice Eugene Smith, 44, was sentenced today (Thursday) to one year and one month in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud back in April, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.
