News

Many Fairfax County School Board members initially celebrated the purchase of the now-defunct King Abdullah Academy building in the Herndon area, but that excitement is now being tempered by a simmering conflict over what form the proposed new high school should take.

There are a range of models available, from traditional or traditional-with-academies types of school to a magnet program similar to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.


News

Fairfax County police have arrested a man who was involved in a barricade situation in Bailey’s Crossroads over the weekend.

Asenai Zigita was taken into custody this afternoon (Thursday) near the Barcroft View Apartments by over a dozen officers with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Fugitive Tracking and Apprehension Unit, who gathered outside the Bailey’s Crossroads fire station after making the arrest.


Around Town

Kirby Club in Merrifield will undergo some major changes this fall.

The Middle Eastern restaurant, which opened at the Mosaic District (2911 District Avenue) in late 2022 to some acclaim, will take on a new name and revamped menu in mid-September when owner Rose Previte hands over control to longtime team member Tariq Alaeddin.


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

An Alexandria man was arrested earlier this week in connection to a carjacking in the Groveton neighborhood of Fairfax County.

David Rodney Lewis II, 34, is accused of assaulting a delivery driver in the 3300 block of Lockheed Blvd before jumping into the victim’s vehicle and driving off, the Fairfax County Police Department says.


Event

Clear Out. Shred Securely. Give Back.
Sept. 19th | from 9-12 | Bring your unwanted documents to be securely shredded on-site by Priority 1 Shredding while helping support our local community!

Join Us To:
~Securely shred your unwanted documents
~Protect your personal information
~Help care for our environment
~Make a donation to help those in need
Non – Perishable Food or Personal Care Donations are welcome and appreciated!


News

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.


News

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).


Countywide

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.”


Countywide
A summer day at Fountain Square in Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

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]


Around Town

Good Wednesday 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 — Aug 27, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

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.

🌅 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.


Announcement

The Virginia Hurricanes Girls Basketball program is holding tryouts for its 3rd Grade and 5th Grade travel teams, competing in a full schedule this Fall and Winter season. Join a competitive, supportive program built to develop skilled, confident players on and off the court.

Registration is required at: https://www.virginiahurricanes.net/basketball/aau-teams