News

A recent briefing from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) did little to quell questions and concerns from regional leaders about a proposal to extend the I-495 Express Lanes from Springfield into Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The Southside Express Lanes project is a “complex and lengthy” undertaking, VDOT Northern Virginia District Megaprojects Director Michelle Shropshire told the D.C. region’s Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at a meeting yesterday (Tuesday).


News

A Lorton man will spend most of the next two decades in federal prison after coercing young girls to create and send him sexually explicit content on social media.

Jose Alejandro Belmonte Cardozo, who pleaded guilty in November to one count of transporting child pornography, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison yesterday (Tuesday) by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.


Sponsored

Hi Fairfax,

My name is Drew, and I wanted to take a moment to tell you about what I’ve been working on as I try to make my way in the world.

This past year, I took a leap that honestly scared me. I challenged the comfortable path I’d been on and built something new with trusted partners and friends: a local roofing and home‑exterior company called All Team Exteriors. On paper, it’s a business. But in my heart, it’s something much more personal than that.

I don’t just want to make a living here — I want to contribute something meaningful to a place that’s helped mold me.

Why I started All Team Exteriors

I’ve worked in environments where professionalism, follow‑through, and integrity weren’t optional — they were the baseline. But when it came to home services, especially roofing, I saw how often homeowners were left frustrated, confused, or ignored. Slow responses. Vague communication. Contractors disappearing mid‑project.

And I thought:

Someone young, hungry, and honest should try to fix this.

So… I’m giving it everything I’ve got.

What I’m trying to build

All Team Exteriors isn’t a giant corporation. It’s not some out-of-state outfit with a call center. It’s me — and a small team of people committed to doing things the right way. We spent an extensive amount of time training under a perennial award-winning roofing company in Arizona this winter and learned what great looks like.

We’re bringing modern tools, photo-documented inspections, real-time updates, fast communication, and a “do what we say we’ll do” mentality. Not because it looks good in a brochure, but because that’s how I’d want someone to treat my own family.

So far we are off to an absolutely amazing start. It’s been a great first summer and we’d love to help you as well. You can give us a call anytime at 703-705-7207 for an absolutely free inspection and estimate on your roof, siding, gutters, doors, and windows. I’d love to have a chance to swing by and meet you and take a look at how we can work together to make your home safer and more secure.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I sincerely hope we can help you and your family soon.


Countywide

More than a dozen international students at George Mason University have recently had their visas terminated or revoked by the federal government, the university says.

The U.S. departments of state and homeland security apparently changed the statuses of 15 students without any involvement by or prior notice to university officials, GMU President Gregory Washington and Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell told the community yesterday (Tuesday).


Countywide
Traffic on Route 50 in West Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Education takes center stage in Virginia governor’s race — “With trust in Virginia’s public schools at a crossroads, education is once again taking center stage in the race for governor — and the two nominees are offering Virginians starkly different paths forward.” [Virginia Scope]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny and breezy conditions with highs near 59°F accompanied by a 14 to 21 mph northwest wind and gusts up to 34 mph. Tonight, the skies will remain clear, with lows around 40°F and a 6 to 11 mph northwest wind, gusting up to 22 mph. [NWS]

Virginia braces for changes to student aid programs — “U.S. Education Department suggests permanently altering Public Service Loan Forgiveness, income-based repayment programs.” [Virginia Mercury]

GMU to Launch Virginia’s First Public Master’s Program in AI — “Students will learn how to manage artificial intelligence with real-world applications beginning in fall 2025.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Could Tysons Corner Casino Proposal Be A Potential Gateway To Online Gaming Legalization? — “Virginia lawmakers have decided to continue discussing the possibility of allowing a new casino complex in Tysons Corner, Fairfax County.” [Washington City Paper]

Watch Out for These New Bakeries Coming Soon to Northern Virginia — “Croissants, cupcakes, and pastries are coming your way.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]


Event

Local author and Fairfax County Public Library librarian Luis D. Aponte invites parents and community leaders to an empowering discussion inspired by his book “A Safe Place: How to Prevent the Next School Shooting.” Drawing on seven years of research into more than 1,200 U.S. school shooting incidents, he shares practical, nonpartisan, research‑based steps families and schools can use to strengthen safety and emotional well‑being. Discover hopeful, community‑building solutions that help every child feel supported and able to thrive. Attendees receive two free ebooks, with a paperback signing to follow.

Adults. No registration required. Free event. For more information, visit ASafePlaceBook.com.


Around Town

Good Tuesday 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 — Apr 15, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect sunny conditions and a high of 58°F, accompanied by a west wind at 14-18 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. The night will be clear with temperatures dipping to around 38°F, and a northwest wind blowing at 7-14 mph, gusting up to 20 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.


Around Town

The first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired in Concord, Massachusetts, 250 years ago this Saturday (April 19).

To commemorate the war’s 250th anniversary, there will be a variety of events around Fairfax County over the next few weeks, continuing a year-long, statewide VA 250 initiative.


News

Some major upgrades could be coming to Dunn Loring Park’s athletic fields.

The Fairfax County Park Authority announced last week that it’s exploring plans to resurface and expand the existing basketball court at 2540 Gallows Road, possibly turning it into a dual-purpose basketball/futsal court.


Countywide

Starting next week, Fairfax County Public Schools will begin rolling out a pilot program intended to prevent guns and other weapons from being brought into school buildings.

Randomly selected high schools in the district will see the installation of OpenGate detectors at the building’s main doors, allowing students, faculty and visitors to be screened when entering the school.


Around Town

The list of top contenders for the 2025 RAMMYS Awards is here, and it includes a few nods to the dining scene in Fairfax County, particularly in Tysons.

Among the five finalists for Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year is Ometeo, which was eligible for the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s (RAMW) annual awards for the first time after opening at Capital One Center (1640 Capital One Drive) in Tysons in December 2023.