News

One of Tysons’ more prominent buildings may soon undergo a minor facelift.

The primary tenant of 1850 Towers Crescent Plaza — colloquially known as “that big round building” to southbound drivers on the Capital Beltway (I-495) — has asked Fairfax County officials to approve a plan to update the building’s exterior signage.


News

As the Trump administration continues to gut the federal workforce and budget, a Reston contractor recently got an inadvertent head’s up that one of its research projects could be next on the chopping block.

A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spreadsheet mistakenly emailed to grant recipients on April 30 listed over 150 projects to support child welfare that are apparently being considered for termination, including Child Care and Early Education Research Connections, the Associated Press reported.


Around Town

A rapidly expanding dry-cleaning brand is bringing its latest location to McLean.

Mulberrys Garment Care, which opened its first D.C. location in the Friendship Heights neighborhood in December 2023, has secured a space at 6647-B Old Dominion Blvd in McLean Square for its next expansion in the D.C. region.


Countywide

Fairfax County leaders believe they and other Northern Virginia leaders are getting an unfair deal when it comes to state transportation funding.

The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday (May 13) to send a letter to Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sheppard Miller III, expressing concern about being passed over in the latest round of “Smart Scale” funding for transportation improvements.


Event

Flowers, Fine Art & Fashion is an immersive cultural experience presented by People of The Garden LLC, where nature, creativity, and modest couture converge in a breathtaking indoor garden setting.

Guests will journey through a living landscape featuring dramatic floral installations, botanical art, and a one-of-a-kind rectangular runway designed around lush greenery and sculptural plantings. Throughout the evening, attendees will experience a curated runway presentation showcasing modest fashion designers, alongside original fine art, artisan vendors, and interactive floral experiences.


Opinion

Fairfax County will soon join most other Northern Virginia jurisdictions in having a meals tax.

The Board of Supervisors officially adopted a budget on Tuesday (May 13) that will decrease the local property tax rate by a quarter-cent to $1.1225 per $100 of assessed value, though homeowners will still see their annual tax bill for 2025 rise by an average of $499, due to higher home assessments.


News

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) is advising residents to be careful when storing lithium-ion batteries in the wake of a recent house fire.

Firefighters were dispatched to the 1500 block of Millikens Bend Road in the Dranesville area north of Herndon on Saturday, May 3 just before 7:30 p.m. for the reported fire, the FCFRD says.


Countywide
People under pavilion near Waters Field in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Technical Issues Close County Courts — The Fairfax County Courthouse is closed today (Thursday) “due to ongoing technical difficulties.” Cases scheduled to appear in the county’s Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court “will be continued to another date,” as staff work to resolve the issue. [Fairfax County]

Bike to Work Day Is Here — Fairfax County is hosting more than two dozen pit stops today (Thursday) for this year’s Bike to Work Day, which encourages commuters to hop on a bicycle instead of getting in a car and is taking place throughout the D.C. region. “The first 16,000 who register and check into a pit stop by bike will receive a free T-shirt (this year’s color is red).” [FCDOT]

Recession Possible, GMU Researcher Says — “Terry Clower, director of George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis, told WTOP the region is not in a recession yet, but what happens in the next several months will determine how severe the economic downturn is and how long it will last.” If the Trump administration’s federal government cuts are fully enacted, a recession is “undoubted,” Clower says. [WTOP]

Flight Attendant Training Center Opens — United Airlines will open its new 20,000-square-foot flight attendant training center in Chantilly today. “This is the first facility of its kind in the DC area, and will train flight attendants servicing Dulles International, Reagan National, and Baltimore-Washington International airports.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

New Reston Startup Launches — Kovr.ai “has emerged from stealth with $3.6 million in funding to scale its federal compliance assistance product it says can save millions of dollars and years of document procurement for companies looking to do business with the federal government.” CEO Andrew Black and Chief Technology Officer Sri Iyer both worked for Amazon Web Services before leaving in 2024 to found the new company. [Washington Business Journal]

Annandale School Searches for New Principal — “Fairfax County Public Schools is beginning the search for a new principal for Poe Middle School, but many teachers and parents already know who they want for the job — Interim Principal Sarah Eqab,” who came on board in March after working at Annandale High School. [Annandale Today]

Pet Supply Donation Drive Underway — “The Department of Family Services cares about every family member, including pets. To help keep pets with the families, DFS is hosting a pet supply drive during National Pet Month in May. The drive will run from Sunday, May 11, to Saturday, May 24, with all donations benefiting Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s Pet Pantry.” [Fairfax County DFS]

It’s Thursday — There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog before 11am will shift to clouds and then mostly sunny skies, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 50%, dropping to 40% at night with a low around 66. [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 — May 14, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect showers and possible thunderstorms after 2pm, with patchy fog clearing by 11am. Gradual sunshine later, reaching a high of 79°F and calm southwest winds around 5 mph. Precipitation at 50%. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms likely before 2am, then briefly pausing until 5am, with patchy fog returning. Partly cloudy, a low of 66°F, and calm winds, with a 40% chance of precipitation. 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

A Herndon man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly grabbing and kissing a child.

The victim reported on Monday (May 12) at 8:40 a.m. that she had been walking in the 13300 block of Hungerford Place in the Hutchison neighborhood near Herndon when a man approached her, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.