News

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) has confirmed that a recent house fire in Reston was sparked by an electrical issue related to its rooftop solar panels.

Firefighters were dispatched to the 2300 block of Colts Brook Drive around 6 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 3) for the blaze, which could be seen around the solar panels when they arrived, the FCFRD said yesterday (Monday) in a blog post.


Countywide
Pedestrian bridge over I-66 to the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Falls Church Getting First Roundabout — “Construction work on the first traffic circle in Falls Church is gearing up. Signs are in place for the project at S. Maple Avenue and Annandale Road, which will convert the existing four-way stop with traffic lights into what transportation planners hope will be a better travel experience.” [ARLnow]

DCA Crash Review Could Change Air Travel — “The National Transportation Safety Board is now reviewing three days of testimony from last week’s public hearings into the Jan. 29 midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. One of the country’s leading aviation safety analysts believes that sweeping changes are likely to come not only to the operations near DCA, but to the entire aviation system as a result of this crash.” [WTOP]

Vacant Tysons Parcel Up for Auction — “The vacant 1.8-acre lot at 8346 Leesburg Pike on a map — technically 8350 Leesburg Pike in property records — will be auctioned off Sept. 4, according to Alex Cooper Inc., the auctioneer.” Owned by an affiliate of NVCommercial Inc, the parcel was slated to become two high-rises — one with a hotel and housing over retail and another with apartments and a “public facility” over retail — under the Tysons Central plan approved by Fairfax County in 2013. [Washington Business Journal]

Dolphins in Chesapeake Bay — “The researchers had found their subjects: Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins that call the waters around Chesapeake Bay home. Researchers estimate at least 500 to 600 of these dolphins have regularly visited the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay over the past decade, with one sighting dating back to the 19th century.” [Washington Post]

Popular Tysons Cafe Expands — “Shotted Specialty Coffee, a Saudi-inspired coffee bar, has opened its newest location at 7380 Atlas Walk, Gainesville, VA. This is the fourth Shotted location, joining ones at Tysons Corner Center, Tysons Galleria and Dulles Town Center.” [Patch]

Police Celebrate National Night Out — “RA members are invited to join their neighbors in celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with two free events focused on building community spirit and strengthening partnerships with local law enforcement. Reston Association is proud to support both events, which are open to the public and offer fun, food and family-friendly activities.” Other events are planned at Fairfax County’s community centers, the Mosaic District, Annandale Shopping Center and elsewhere. [Reston Association]

Final Events at The Block — “The Block food hall has scheduled a few final events before it shuts down for good at the end of the month. The venue is hosting an ‘everything-must-go thrift pop-up’ every Tuesday, 5-9:30 p.m., on Aug. 5, 12, 19, and 26. On Aug. 16, it’s ‘Last Call at The Block,’ featuring Arylia, DJ Knom, and DJ Adobo, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.” [Annandale Today]

More Stops Added to Discovery Trail Challenge — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is proud to announce that three exciting new sites have been added to the odyssey! Discover hidden wildlife hotspots at Huntley Meadows, step into a bygone era at Grist Mill Park’s historic barn and check out Mount Vernon Rec Center’s brand-new recreation facilities.” [FCPA]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high near 84 and calm winds shifting to an easterly 6 mph breeze in the afternoon. Tuesday night will see similar cloud cover, alongside a low of 69 and a southeast wind at 5 mph, diminishing to calm winds later in the evening. [NWS]


Sponsored

Trek & Treat is back with a brand-new route, fun prizes, and a $150 Early Bird incentive if you register by October 1

Game on! The Tysons Trek & Treat Fall Challenge returns this week, running October 2 through November 1. Participants can walk, bike, or roll through Tysons while checking in at stops, earning points, and redeeming them for prizes.

Hosted by Tysons Community Alliance (TCA), the free mobility challenge features five walkable and bike-friendly routes—including a brand-new route this season!—for a range of ages and abilities. Explore The Boro on the Yellow Route, wander past Arbor Row and Tysons Galleria on the Green Route, stroll Scott’s Run Trail and Capital One Center on the Red Route, or take on the Orange and Purple routes by bike or wheels.

There’s no app to download, so just choose a route, grab your phone, and start exploring.

And there’s a good reason to sign up now: pre-register by October 1, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a $150 Experience Tysons e-gift card, redeemable at participating businesses throughout Tysons.

Explore More, Earn More

As you make your way through Tysons, be on the lookout for Trek & Treat check-in stickers posted at stops along each route. Scan the QR code on each sticker to check in, earn points, and keep moving toward your next prize.

While racking up points, you can earn prizes including wireless earbuds, a Bluetooth speaker, an OGIO backpack, Metro SmarTrip cards, portable chargers, and more. Participants can also earn Experience Tysons e-gift cards, including $300 for the Tysons Trailblazer grand-prize winner, $250 for second place, and $200 for third place.

Register and complete at least one check-in by October 10, and you’ll also receive an exclusive “I Trekked Tysons” t-shirt.

So whether you’re looking for a fun way to get outside, discover new corners of Tysons, or earn prizes along the way, Trek & Treat offers plenty of reasons to explore this fall. Registration is easy at tysonsva.org/exploretysons/gameon.

Tysons Trek & Treat Fall Challenge runs October 2–November 1


Legal Notice

The VA Dept of Historic Resources will conduct a public information hearing of the William H. Randall Estates Historic District on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The meeting begins at 6:30 pm and will be held at Martha Washington Library, Room 104A, 6614 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22307. Public comment regarding the proposal will be taken at the time of the hearing or can be sent to Director Julie Langan, Dept of Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Ave, Richmond, VA 23221. This proposal has been recommended eligible for the Virginia Landmarks and National Registers. This proposal will be presented to the State Review Board and the Board of Historic Resources on September 18, 2025. For additional information, contact Amanda Terrell at Amanda Terrell@dhr.virginia.gov or 804-482-8092.

Please address the bill for this notice to Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Fiscal Department, 2801 Kensington Avenue. Phone 804-482-6446/Email: fiscal@dhr.virginia.gov

 


Around Town

Good Monday 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 4, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌥️ Tuesday’s forecast

The weather will be mostly cloudy, reaching a high of 84°F with calm winds turning east at 6 mph in the afternoon. During Tuesday night, there’s a slight chance of showers after 2am, with the temperature dropping to around 68°F. Southeast winds of 5 mph will become calm in the evening, and the precipitation chance stands at 20%. 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.


Event

Join Breast Cancer Collective for the 2026 Walk to Bust Cancer on Sunday, October 18, at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria.
Walk alongside survivors, caregivers, friends, families, and neighbors for an uplifting community event supporting access to breast cancer screening and care across the DMV.
Walk to Bust Cancer brings our community together to turn hope into action and help expand access to timely breast health care. Register to walk, gather your team, and join us at Fort Hunt Park.


News

The Fairfax County Health Department this fall will be renaming its district offices as public health centers.

“The updated names better reflect the full range of services available at these centers,” county officials said, noting that the change will also help avoid confusion with the county’s district supervisor offices.


News

The Fairfax County Police Department announced a major breakthrough today (Monday) in a cold case from 1972.

Police identified the body of a 4-year-old boy who was found in Massey Creek under the Old Colchester Road Bridge in Lorton as Carl Matthew Bryant, police leaders shared at a press conference held at the Fairfax County Public Safety Headquarters at 1 p.m.


News

Attorney General Jason Miyares intends to investigate the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office after the attempted abduction of a 3-year-old from Fair Oaks Mall last month.

Virginia Republicans argued Friday (Aug. 1) that Andres Caceres Jaldin, who allegedly swiped the toddler from a play area on July 18 before being stopped on the mall’s second floor, should have been in custody based on previous criminal charges — not out in the community.


Around Town

The author who wrote and won a Pulitzer Prize for “The Sympathizer” is coming to Reston.

Reston Community Center (RCC) will host Viet Thanh Nguyen at its recently renamed Leila Gordon Theatre on Sept. 27 to kick off its 2025-2026 Professional Touring Artists Series, which will bring established and emerging artists to the Hunters Woods facility (2310 Colts Neck Road).


News

Police expect to bring charges in connection with a crash on I-66 that killed one driver and sent another to the hospital over the weekend.

Troopers responded to a reported crash with injuries at 5:51 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 2) on I-66 West at Fairfax County Parkway near Fair Lakes, according to the Virginia State Police (VSP).


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.