A church’s plan to add 71 townhouses on its Idylwood property won unanimous support from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Aug. 26).
The proposal represents a “rare and valuable opportunity” to meet a number of county goals, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said.
On paper, Reston’s lakes are open for all members of the public to visit, but in reality, usage of the lakes is uneven due to gaps in programming and amenities, a new report found.
After more than a year and a half of study, Reston Association’s Lakes Equity Working Group will present its assessment of the accessibility and inclusiveness of the four manmade lakes managed by RA at the board of directors’ meeting tonight (Thursday).
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Fairfax leaders unanimously agreed on Tuesday (Aug. 26) to reinforce existing local economic development work, while criticizing efforts at the state level.
“Virginia’s economy is dependent in no small part on Fairfax County’s success,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said. “Now is the time to double down. If Virginia is not going to step up … we will.”
Student Test Results Released — “Virginia students made slight gains on state tests last year, according to new data released Wednesday, the first using a revamped exams pushed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin … Still the pass rates on the exams have struggled to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.” [Washington Post]
State Medicaid Systems Outdated, Study Says — “With new federal rules requiring states to track enrollees’ work hours and conduct twice as many eligibility checks each year, Virginia is facing a potentially steep price tag to comply. Currently, only 11% of the state’s local social service agencies complete the majority of applications within the federally required 45-day timeline, according to the study.” [Cardinal News]
Great Falls Contractor Sentenced — “A 43-year-old Great Falls man who pleaded guilty in April to acting as an illegal agent of the Iranian government in the U.S. was sentenced Monday in federal court to 12 months in prison, according to court records … U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan also ordered Rahmati to serve three years of supervised release, court records say.” [Patch]
Spanberger Would End ICE Cooperation Order — “Democratic nominee for governor Abigail Spanberger says one of her first acts if elected would be to undo Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s February directive requiring Virginia law enforcement to help carry out federal immigration crackdowns — a policy she argues wastes local resources and undermines community trust.” [Virginia Mercury]
D.C. Tourism Drops — “It’s already been a tough year for D.C. tourism with a data firm projecting a 5.1% drop in international visitors this year. There’s concern the surge of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops could drive away more visitors … Destination D.C., the city’s tourism marketing organization, is attempting to reassure wary travelers.” [WTOP]
Va. Supreme Court Elects New Chief Justice — “A Black woman will serve as the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Chief Justice for the first time ever following a unanimous vote. The Justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia unanimously elected Justice Cleo E. Powell as the court’s Chief Justice-elect, according to an Aug. 26 press release from the Virginia State Bar.” [WRIC]
Animal Shelter Waives Adoption Fees — “The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is thrilled to host a ‘Clear The Shelters’ fee-waived pet adoption event from Friday, August 29, through Sunday, August 31. Nearly 100 pets will be looking for homes, including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits and more.” [FCAS]
Students Invited to Decorate Waste Trucks — “If you’re a kid with artistic talent, or know of any, help us spread the word about the first Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP) Truck Art Design Contest. The contest challenges participants to raise awareness about the benefits of zero-waste practices.” The competition is open to all Fairfax County students with a submission deadline of Oct. 3. [DPWES]
It’s Thursday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 81°F and a calm wind transitioning to a southwest breeze of 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. As for Thursday night, anticipate partly cloudy skies, lows around 61°F, and a gentle south wind at 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]
Local author and Fairfax County Public Library librarian Luis D. Aponte invites parents and community leaders to an empowering discussion inspired by his book “A Safe Place: How to Prevent the Next School Shooting.” Drawing on seven years of research into more than 1,200 U.S. school shooting incidents, he shares practical, nonpartisan, research‑based steps families and schools can use to strengthen safety and emotional well‑being. Discover hopeful, community‑building solutions that help every child feel supported and able to thrive. Attendees receive two free ebooks, with a paperback signing to follow.
Adults. No registration required. Free event. For more information, visit ASafePlaceBook.com.
Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 27, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect a mostly sunny day with a high around 80 degrees, as calm winds shift southwest at about 6 mph in the afternoon. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a low near 61 degrees and a southwest wind at 3 to 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
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.
Fairfax County is on the lookout for local artists who can add “community charm” to the bus stations for The One, the bus rapid transit (BRT) system planned for Richmond Highway (Route 1).
The county’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has partnered with ArtsFairfax to identify artists to decorate the station windscreens with digital art.
With just a few months to go before they’re expected to vote on new school boundaries, many Fairfax County School Board members say there are still critical information gaps that need to be addressed.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is undergoing its first boundary review in nearly four decades, an overhaul that could have a dramatic impact on students and their families.
Fairfax County supervisors agreed to give a developer more leeway in what residents can have access to a planned senior living apartment complex at Reston Station development.
The Board of Supervisors voted 10-0 yesterday (Tuesday) in support of Comstock’s request for a second option on the future age-restricted building to be located on a 4.22-acre site at 1831 Wiehle Avenue.
Those attending Fairfax County School Board meetings in the future may need to give themselves a little extra time to get settled in.
Starting this school year, Fairfax County Public Schools announced that it will expand its growing weapons screening program to school board meetings, requiring attendees to pass through OpenGate detectors before gaining entry.
