Virginia is creating a new office focused on studying the impacts of climate change, and it will be housed at George Mason University.
Mason was authorized to host the Virginia State Climate Office by a provision in the state budget that took effect on July 1 after last-minute negotiations between Gov. Abigail Spanberger and the General Assembly. The governor ultimately signed the two-year spending plan into law on June 29 — just before the end of the fiscal year.
A Utah-based indoor golf simulator company plans to open a second location in Fairfax County, its ninth in Virginia.
Back Nine Golf has filed a permit to modify the 3,647-square-foot space at 11215 Route 29, Suite L, in the back area of the Fairfax Centre shopping plaza, near the Walmart just outside Fairfax City.
The bakery that knows your order. The pediatrician your kids grew up with. The contractor your whole street recommends. These are the businesses that give Fairfax County its character. The same neighbors who open FFXnow every day are also the people looking to support local businesses in their area.
FFXnow is where Fairfax County turns for local news, reaching 600,000 readers a month and 9 million pageviews a year, making it one of the most-read local news sites in Virginia. People come to keep up with the county, and along the way, they find the businesses that make it run.
Our readers tell us this works. 67% say they’re more likely to support a business that advertises with FFXnow, and 33% have made a purchase after seeing an ad or sponsored article. Next to news your neighbors already trust, your business reads as part of the conversation, not an interruption.
If you own a business in Fairfax County, we’ve got more than one way to get involved, whether you’re introducing your business, promoting an event, or telling your story. And because FFXnow is independent local journalism, your support helps keep Fairfax County informed, too.
If reaching your neighbors has been on your mind, we’d love to help you find the right fit.
Explore every option at lnn.co/advertise, email hello@lnn.co, or call 703-348-0583.
Fairfax County leaders have begun working to determine what local steps are needed to implement changes in state cannabis laws, and what regulatory powers they will have.
“We want to make sure we put in place what we need to put in place,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said at the July 7 meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Land Use Policy Committee.
From charity 5Ks to half marathons, Fairfax County hosts a variety of races throughout each year that will get the legs and hearts pumping.
Here are the nominees for “Best Races for Runners in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite event below? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 24.
A few weeks ago, we voted on the Best Golf Course in Fairfax County. The results are now official:
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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:
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Non – Perishable Food or Personal Care Donations are welcome and appreciated!
Vienna leaders are taking a breather, both on plans to build an aquatics and fitness center on the currently vacant Annex property and on the possibility of reversing a meals tax increase primarily intended to fund that facility.
After about 40 minutes of debate, the Vienna Town Council voted 5-2 on Monday (July 6) to schedule a public hearing for Feb. 22, 2027 on whether the town should reduce its meals tax rate from 4% to 3%.
Mod Pizza is shuttering its last restaurant in Fairfax County, making way at Plaza America in Reston for the past decade for a RAMMYs Award-winning chain.
A Mod Pizza spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow that its Reston location will permanently close at the end of September, just over a decade after opening its doors at 11642 Plaza America Drive.
A driver was taken into police custody last night (Thursday) after allegedly traveling the wrong way on I-95 and crashing into two different vehicles on I-395.
The Virginia State Police responded at around 7:37 p.m. after being notified that a vehicle was traveling north in the I-95 Express Lanes in Prince William County at a time when traffic on the highway was supposed to be flowing south, according to a VSP spokesperson.
Pedestrians in Bailey’s Crossroads Crash — “Officers responded around 2:53 p.m. [yesterday] to the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Crossroads Center Way following reports of a crash involving two vehicles. Police said preliminary investigation found one of the vehicles left the roadway and hit three pedestrians,” including one teenager. [WJLA]
Man Charged With Killing Infant in Court — “A Fairfax County man accused of fatally punching his infant daughter appeared in court Wednesday as prosecutors presented testimony from a police detective and the medical examiner about the child’s death.” [WUSA9]
Virginia Improves in Business Rankings — “Virginia has climbed a spot in CNBC’s annual ranking of the best states for business, a year after federal job cuts helped knock it out of the No. 1 position. The state placed third in the 2026 rankings released [yesterday], up from fourth last year.” [ARLnow]
Coaches Top Va. Payroll — “Virginia’s highest-paid workers were in a league of their own: university coaches and athletic directors dominated the top of the state’s payroll, with several earning more than $1 million. University of Virginia head football coach Tony Elliott earned over $3.4 million in total pay, the highest salary for a public employee in the Commonwealth in calendar year 2025.” [Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism]
Autism Therapy Center Opens in Fairfax — “SPARKS ABA is a contemporary applied behavior analysis, or ABA, provider of center-based autism services for children and adolescents ages 2-18 years. The Fairfax Learning Center provides center-based ABA therapy and on-site diagnostic services, as well as speech and occupational therapy.” [Inside NoVA]
Accessory Unit Zoning Review Continues — “In-law suites, au pair apartments and other home add-ons are becoming more popular as families look for flexible ways to live together — or bring in extra rental income. But in Fairfax County, Virginia, actually building one can be a complicated process. Now, county leaders are considering changes that could make it easier for homeowners to add those spaces.” [WTOP]
Park Authority Honors Volunteers — “At its meeting on June 24, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a resolution honoring 21 individuals as 2026 Outstanding Volunteers. These peer-nominated individuals were recognized for their dedication to their community and their invaluable service to the Fairfax County park system.” [FCPA]
Reston Contractor Acquires Fairfax Firm — “Reston federal technology contractor Empower AI has acquired Fairfax’s Highlight Technologies Inc. in a bid to expand its AI and cloud offerings for the federal government … It’s the first acquisition for Empower AI … since New York investment giant KKR & Co. Inc. purchased a majority stake in the company in 2022.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Friday — There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 90°F. There will be a west wind at 5 to 7 mph. Overnight, there’s a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, with isolated showers possible afterward. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 71°F and a light west wind. [NWS]
Good Thursday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Jul 9, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Friday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms after 3 PM, with increasing clouds and a high near 89°F, accompanied by a west wind around 7 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. During the night, scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely before 2 AM, followed by isolated showers until 5 AM. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 71°F and a light west wind, with a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.
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.
