News

A call to address an apparent race on the Capital Beltway (I-495) turned into a lifesaving operation for the Virginia State Police last night (Sunday).

According to the VSP, its troopers were dispatched around 10:52 p.m. for a report of “multiple vehicles driving recklessly” near southbound I-495 and Braddock Road in the Springfield area.


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools has managed to significantly reduce its bus driver vacancies, which in turn is bumping up on-time rates.

As part of her “Opening of Schools” report, Superintendent Michelle Reid reported last Thursday (Sept. 25) that 96% of bus routes were completed on time to start the current school year — a figure that astounded some School Board members.


News

A resident of the Vienna Park Apartments was arrested last week after allegedly pursuing his roommate while holding a machete.

Officers were called to the 100 block of Patrick Street SE at 8:16 p.m. on last Monday (Sept. 22) for a “report of a man chasing his roommate with a machete,” the Town of Vienna Police Department said in its most recent weekly crime round-up.


Announcement

We love fall at Art House 7 and can’t wait for you to explore all our offerings. Painting, drawing, ceramics, and sewing/crocheting are our perennials, along with less traditional mediums. Kawaii Style Drawing and Digital Art are among our new classes for kids. We offer an excellent 6-week program for high schoolers preparing their college portfolios. Want something shorter? We have 3-week classes, including linocut notecards. Love ceramics? We have a dedicated studio that comfortably accommodates wheel and hand-building classes. 

Fall 1 Session begins Tue. Sep. 8.


News

A much-needed makeover is in the works for the playground behind Reston’s Home Depot.

Construction is scheduled to start in October on a renovation of the Reston North Park playground, requiring a temporary closure of the site at 11760 Stevenage Road, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced last Thursday (Sept. 25).


Event

Join us for the Saint Ann Fall Festival on Saturday, September 26! Start the day with our Fun Run at 9:30 AM, followed by the Fall Festival beginning at 10:00 AM.
This family friendly celebration is open to the entire Arlington community and offers something for everyone! Enjoy rides and inflatables, live entertainment, family friendly Bingo, raffles, a Beer Garden, delicious food, and plenty of opportunities to gather with the community.
The festival is also a celebration of Saint Ann’s diverse Catholic community, featuring food and entertainment representing our Filipino, Latino, and Peruvian communities, along with some local favorites.
This year’s entertainment includes a live band in the Beer Garden, and exciting Bolivian and Peruvian dance performances. Admission is free, and tickets for food, rides, and activities can be purchased at the festival.
Come celebrate with us and experience the warm, welcoming spirit of Saint Ann! We look forward to welcoming the greater Arlington community for a fun-filled day together.
The Fall Festival will take place rain or shine! Come join the fun!


News

One man was hospitalized after being shot by a Fairfax County police officer in Burke last night (Sunday).

Officers responded to the 9700 block of Church Way around 10:15 p.m. after receiving a report of a man armed with a weapon — later identified as a chainsaw, according to scanner traffic.


Countywide

Two local public safety agencies are sounding the alarm on an increase in scam calls targeting Fairfax County residents.

Both the Sheriff’s Office and the Fire and Rescue Department are warning about recent schemes that fraudulently seek payments from seemingly random targets.


Countywide
A garden is still flowering at the Vienna Town Green (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fireworks Aimed at Police Breaking up Fight — Two Vienna police officers suffered minor injuries after someone set off fireworks at them while they were responding to a fight “involving a large crowd of high school students” at McDonald’s near James Madison High School on Friday (Sept. 26). Fairfax County and Virginia state police assisted with dispersing the crowd. This isn’t the first student fight to create issues at local McDonald’s, and fireworks were reportedly lit inside the Reston franchise on the Fourth of July. [DC News Now]

Driver Injured in Tysons Crash — Fairfax County firefighters responded yesterday (Sunday) afternoon to “a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Tyco Rd. Crews arrived with one patient still inside. The patient was evaluated on scene and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Swastika Found in Vienna School Bathroom — James Madison High School “Principal Liz Calvert informed families Thursday of the swastika etched into a wall in a boys bathroom on the school’s second floor. Staff quickly removed the symbol and started an investigation.” [Patch]

Woman Killed in Accidental Shooting — “Officers responded to the scene of the reported shooting in the row house community in the 4500 block of Derring Lane in Fair Oaks around 3:45 p.m. Friday. The gun ‘inadvertently discharged’ while another person in the house was cleaning it, police explained.” [WUSA9]

Full Impact of Federal Worker Cuts Looms — “When the fiscal year ends Tuesday night, government workers who have been on paid leave for months will be officially out of their jobs. A prolonged shutdown, which could also begin next week, could delay pay for remaining federal workers, too — and contractors, who don’t usually get back pay from shutdowns, would suffer as well.” [Washington Post]

Petition Objects to Potential Magnet School — “Some Fairfax County families are worried that the long-promised new high school in the western part of the district could become a magnet school instead of a traditional, community-based campus. Almost 300 people signed a petition urging Superintendent Michelle Reid and other county leaders to make it a regular public high school.” [WTOP]

Korean Cafe Coming to Annandale — “Dessert 39, a franchise company based in Korea, is coming to 7326A Little River Turnpike. The shop will open in the long-vacant storefront formerly occupied by the Manoa Bakery Café.” [Annandale Today]

Virginia Increases Proficiency Standards — “Virginia students will soon face tougher academic expectations. Nearly a month after school leaders demanded greater transparency, the State Board of Education voted Thursday to support raising the benchmarks — or cut scores — for math and English, setting off a debate over how the changes will affect classrooms.” [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Monday — Clouds will increase throughout the day, reaching a high near 79 degrees, accompanied by a 6 mph east wind. Tonight, there is a 20% chance of showers after 2am, with cloudy skies and a low of 66 degrees in a light northeast wind. [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 — Sep 26, 2025.

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

  • Dulles mobile lounges could last another two decades, airport officials say (14259 views)
  • Fast-casual seafood restaurant opens today in Fairfax City (12112 views)
  • Next phase of Reston Town Center expansion wins planning commission’s support (11847 views)
  • Push to replace Merrifield commercial complex with housing advances (9494 views)
  • Bakery known for handmade croissants now open in Tysons (9089 views)
  • AMC Theatres to be reborn in Tysons with planned renovation (9083 views)
  • JUST IN: Pedestrian dies after being struck by hit-and-run driver, police on Route 1 (7118 views)
  • Reston’s Community Yard Sale returns this Saturday (5928 views)
  • Oktoberfest events coming to Vienna, Reston and more (5598 views)
  • Vienna private school refines plans for proposed expansion (3753 views)
  • Springfield townhouses heavily damaged in two-alarm fire (3191 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

    Scattered showers are expected before 11am, transitioning to a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 2pm, with showers likely and potential thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog is expected before 4pm and after 5pm. Cloudy skies and a high near 74 are forecasted, with calm winds becoming east around 6 mph in the morning. There is a 70% chance of precipitation and potential for new rainfall amounts of a tenth to a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts in thunderstorms. For Saturday night, showers are likely, mainly before 2am, alongside patchy fog, a low around 63, and a northeast wind of 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%, with new precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. 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. 👋


    Around Town

    As of now, a Starbucks store in Fair Lakes is the brand’s lone Fairfax County location on the chopping block.

    The last day of business for the cafe, located at 12599 Fair Lakes Circle in East Market, will be tomorrow (Saturday), an employee confirmed to FFXnow.