Countywide
A rainbow crosswalk painted across District Avenue at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Trump Administration to Withhold Money from Thomas Jefferson High School — “The U.S. Department of Education has notified Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) that it cannot certify their Magnet School grant applications ‘as they are in violation of federal civil rights laws, including Title IX.'” [WJLA]

It’s Thursday — Expect a mostly cloudy day to eventually clear up and become sunny, with temperatures reaching a high near 82°F and a mild north wind at about 5 mph. As for Thursday night, the skies will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to a low around 62°F. A gentle west wind of around 5 mph will begin after midnight. [NWS]

Fairfax Co. Supervisors Tout Proposed Beltway Toll Lane Extension — “Several Fairfax County Supervisors on Tuesday indicated support for a proposal to extend toll lanes through an 11-mile stretch of the Capital Beltway, despite concerns about neighborhood impacts and bike and pedestrian infrastructure.” [WTOP]

Fairfax County Scouts Help Save Father’s Life with CPR — “The Scout’s Motto is ‘be prepared” — and that’s exactly what helped three Longfellow Middle School eighth-graders when the unthinkable happened.” [DC News Now]

Former Vice President Mike Pence Joins Faculty at GMU — “Former Vice President Mike Pence will be joining George Mason University’s Arlington-based Schar School of Policy and Government this fall.” [ARLnow]

New Food and Retail Coming to Dulles — “When the 435,000-square-foot Concourse E opens at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia later this fall, travelers will be able to enjoy some familiar retailers and restaurants, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.” [Patch]


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 — Sep 17, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, reaching a high of around 82 degrees, with a mild north wind at 5 mph. By Thursday night, the skies will be mostly clear, and the temperature will drop to about 61 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind ranging between 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.


News

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) announced yesterday that a series of meetings over the next month will cover plans to add new bike lanes and marked crosswalks around the county.

According to FCDOT, the restriping is scheduled for next year’s repaving season, which typically begins in the spring and ends in November.


Announcement

Alexandria, Virginia – October 1, 2026 – Body Imperium, an Old Town Alexandria strength-training studio, has announced that it is rebranding as Imperium Strength and Longevity, known simply as Imperium.

The new name reflects the studio’s evolution from its Pilates origins into Alexandria’s only strength-training facility powered by ARX® (Adaptive Resistance Exercise) technology. The evolution of the business closely follows founder Victoria Azor’s personal experience building strength and longevity.


News

Uncertainty remains as county leaders and budget staff begin looking toward the fiscal 2027 budget process.

“Overall, we’re kind of sitting in the same place,” said Philip Hagen, director of the county’s Department of Management and Budget. He was briefing members of the Board of Supervisors’ Budget Policy Committee on Sept. 16.


Event

Fall is in its full glory every first Saturday in October with our Manassas Fall Jubilee and 2026 marks the 43rd one! This community-spirited festival spans all of Center Street and side streets, and includes an assortment of fun for kids and adults with over 100 craft and community booths, live music and entertainment, food, and more. Live music ranges from pop to rock to heavy metal, and dance performances include ballet, clogging, and belly dancing. And, the kids will enjoy a meet & greet with Cinderella, pumpkin painting, games, and more!


News

A 30-year-old man accused of brandishing a firearm in a Groveton store earlier this month has been arrested.

The Fairfax County Police Department took the suspect, an Alexandria resident, into custody shortly after the Sept. 12 incident, the department said Wednesday.


News

County supervisors reacted unhappily to how little of their approved funding for pedestrian and bicyclist improvements has filtered down to completed projects.

“How completely unacceptable — it has to change,” said Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman to the news that only about $12 million of the $82.1 million approved for improvements has been encumbered or spent.


News

Fairfax County’s newest Congressman is taking on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) less than a week after taking office.

Rep. James Walkinshaw, sworn in to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District last Wednesday, officially co-sponsored the “Delete DOGE Act” last week, fulfilling a campaign promise to target the agency behind widespread federal workforce cuts.


Countywide
Benches face Belmont Bay at Mason Neck State Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Family Reunited with Missing Cat — “Two years ago, one family’s beloved cat Spencer went missing. Last week, they were finally reunited.” [ABC7]

It’s Wednesday — Showers and potential thunderstorms are likely throughout the day, with temperatures reaching a high near 70°F and north winds of 11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. There is a 60% chance of precipitation, and new rainfall amounts may vary between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, potentially higher during thunderstorms. The chance of showers decreases to 30% before 2am on Wednesday night, with a cloudy low of 63°F and north winds of 6-8 mph. [NWS]

Senators Demand Education Department Restore School Funding — “U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Monday demanding the immediate reversal of federal funding cuts to Alexandria City Public Schools and four other Northern Virginia school districts over transgender student policies.” [ALXnow]

Dranesville Shooting Suspect Charged with Murder — “A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder after police say he rammed the victim’s vehicle with his own and then shot him multiple times.” [FOX5]

Banners Hallmark Shop Files for Bankruptcy — “A Virginia retail chain filed for bankruptcy, telling the court it hopes to recoup its losses during the upcoming holiday shopping season.” [Patch]

Falls Church Officials Prepare for Early Voting This Week — “Falls Church election officials are getting ready for the start of early voting on Friday and the general election in November.” [ARLnow]

Celebrate Guacamole Day at These 5 Northern Virginia Restaurants — “We’re in the last few weeks of summer, so it’s time to savor all the bites, dishes, and ingredients that remind us of sunny days and balmy nights. One of the best? Chips and guacamole. Plus, September 16 is National Guacamole Day, so we’ve rounded up five NoVA restaurants serving up some of the best guac around.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]


Announcement

While our Fall 1 season is in swing, we have some terrific opportunities for making art coming up soon. Our Fall 2 season runs late October through December, with six-week and three-week classes you’ll love. We have some new themes in the mix, including Acrylic Painting Fundamentals (adults) and Sculpting with Nature and Found Objects (4th-6th graders). Explore the wheel together at our parent-child ceramics class. And our perennials always shine: painting, drawing, ceramics, sewing, sculpture, and printmaking. Take a look now!

Fall 2 Session, Oct. 27-Dec. 20