Around Town

Good Thursday 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 — Feb 13, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect sunshine and a high of 37 degrees, accompanied by a 9 to 14 mph northwest wind, gusting up to 22 mph. In the evening, the clouds will increase, and temperatures will drop to a low of about 27 degrees. A light and variable wind will turn southeast, reaching around 5 mph after midnight. 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

A loss for one restaurant chain is another one’s gain.

Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings is moving into a long-vacant storefront in Burke Town Center, though it is unclear when exactly the restaurant will open its doors.


Around Town

A longtime tenant of Merrifield’s Gatehouse Plaza has permanently closed its doors.

Uno Pizzeria & Grill, located at 3058 Gate House Plaza, served its final slice late last month after 25 years in business.


News

The current school year will be the last official one for King Abdullah Academy.

After close to a decade in the Herndon area, the Islamic private school announced in late January that it will close for good after the 2024-2025 academic year, citing challenges with identifying a “viable financial path to self-sustainability.”


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.


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools is facing a legal and financial dilemma after the Virginia High School League’s (VHSL) executive committee voted to ban transgender student athletes from competing in girls’ sports.

The league, which governs public school sports and other competitions across Virginia, announced the policy change on Monday (Feb. 10) after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to withhold funding from educational and athletic institutions that let transgender girls and women to compete in female sports.


Countywide

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reacted tepidly this week to a staff proposal that would shift wildlife management responsibilities from the county’s police department to the Fairfax County Park Authority.

“We need a little more time to discuss this [and] make sure we think this through, very carefully,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said at a meeting of the board’s safety and security committee on Tuesday (Feb. 11).


Countywide

Lawmakers deciding on a controversial bill to develop a casino and entertainment complex in Tysons Corner tabled a decision Wednesday after House leadership moved the bill between House committees for consideration.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell’s Senate Bill 982 would have added Fairfax County to the list of Virginia localities eligible to develop a casino that backers say would bring jobs and revenue for the county and commonwealth.


News

Clogged wastewater pipes will once again require a temporary shutdown of Scott’s Run Nature Preserve.

The park at 7400 Georgetown Pike is scheduled to close next Monday, Feb. 17 so a contractor’s crews can address a “critical blockage” stopping up the siphon system that carries wastewater from McLean, under the Potomac River and into Maryland, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services announced yesterday (Wednesday).