Another Starbucks in Fairfax County has unionized.
Baristas at the coffee giant’s Barcroft Plaza store in Lincolnia voted 9-6 yesterday (Tuesday) to join Starbucks Workers United, an affiliate of the labor union Workers United that now represents more than 12,000 Starbucks workers at over 700 locations across the U.S.
A Maryland man has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly attacking geese in Fairfax City last month.
Officers with the City of Fairfax Police Department responded at 9:54 a.m. on June 11 to 11201 Fairfax Blvd after receiving a report of an animal cruelty case, according to a press release.
E-bikes are becoming an increasingly common sight around Herndon, from neighborhood streets and local trails to the W&OD Trail. But as more riders make the switch to electric, some important questions come with them.
Where can e-bikes be ridden? What are the different classifications? What rules should riders follow? What should parents know before their child gets on one?
The Town of Herndon is bringing local and regional experts together to help answer those questions during a free E-Bike Information Session on Wednesday, September 9 at 6 p.m. at the Herndon Community Center.
Whether you already own an e-bike, have a child who rides one, are considering purchasing one or simply share the roads and trails with them, the session is designed to provide practical information residents can use.
Know Before You Ride
Not every e-bike is the same, and understanding the differences is an important part of riding responsibly.
Representatives from the Herndon Police Department and Herndon Parks & Recreation will discuss e-bike classifications, applicable laws, safe riding practices and proper etiquette when sharing streets, trails and shared-use paths.
They’ll be joined by community partners from NOVA Parks, Friends of the W&OD Trail and EBike Connections, giving attendees an opportunity to hear from organizations with different perspectives and expertise.
“As e-bikes become an everyday part of how our community moves, safety is essential,” said Herndon Mayor Keven LeBlanc. “Helping riders and parents understand the rules keeps our streets, trails, and shared use paths safe for everyone.”
Bring Your Questions
This isn’t just a presentation. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions directly to local and regional experts during an interactive Q&A session. Resources including route maps, local program information and practical safety tips will also be available.
For parents in particular, the session offers an opportunity to better understand the rules and classifications surrounding the increasingly popular way young people are getting around.
“Understanding e-bike classifications and trail rules is key to keeping everyone safe,” said Herndon Police Chief Steven Pihonak. “We encourage parents and riders to join us, ask questions, and get reliable answers directly from our officers and our community partners.”
E-Bike Information Session
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Herndon Community Center
814 Ferndale Avenue
Herndon, VA 20170
The information session is free and open to the public, and no advance registration is required. Real-time Spanish-language interpretation will also be available.
Ride one? Thinking about getting one? Have a child who rides one? Or just have questions about the e-bikes you’re seeing around town? Come get the information you need to ride safely and confidently while sharing our roads and trails.
Fairfax officials acknowledge they have no easy solutions to offset rising costs of operating the local government’s trash collection facilities.
Fairfax property owners might need to pay for future funding shortfalls — a possibility that may be equally unwelcome to county supervisors as they prepare for an election year in 2027.
The New York City-based Wonder food hall will continue its expansion across Northern Virginia with a new location opening in Chantilly.
The new location at 13958 Route 50 is expected to open in spring 2027, a spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow. An exact opening date was not yet available.
Dreaming about your next vacation? Join Cruise Planners Beth Borrego and Rod Rodriguez for an inspiring day devoted to ocean and river cruises, guided tours, luxury travel and unforgettable destinations!
Meet representatives from AmaWaterways, Collette, Oceania Cruises and Premier World Discovery. Hear informative presentations, ask questions, explore exciting vacation possibilities and discover which travel experience may be the perfect fit for you.
Fairfax County’s school board recently passed a resolution supporting limitations on screen time and access to devices by grade level, as well as opt-out options for families.
On the same night, members voted to approve a one-year extension of a contract for a hybrid fourth-grade social studies curriculum, covering an electronic book text, the ability to replace print textbooks as needed, and supplemental materials that can be printed.
Fairfax County is finally making progress on filling in sidewalk gaps along Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston, though the project has created some temporary obstacles for pedestrians.
Construction on the Sunrise Valley Drive Walkway began on April 30 and is now on track to finish by the end of next week (July 13-19) for one segment near Soapstone Drive, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.
Most bus riders along portions of Route 7 seem skeptical of placing future transit stops in the center of the busy roadway, but local leaders at least want the option considered before being discarded.
A recent survey of riders along the portion of the bus rapid transit (BRT) line proposed to connect Tysons to Alexandria found 60% preferred retaining curbside stops. The remainder were split between moving to center-of-the-road stops or having no opinion.
Reston Library Closed for HVAC Repairs — “Reston Regional Library is currently closed for HVAC repairs. The branch will reopen as soon as repairs are made. This closure is expected to last through July 12 as facilities management awaits parts. Holds and due dates will be extended until the branch reopens.” [Fairfax Library/Instagram]
Dead Fish Found in Potomac River — “The Maryland Department of the Environment is investigating a large number of fish deaths in the Potomac River, a phenomenon known as a ‘fish kill.’ Scientists believe the fish kill is likely the result of what’s called a ‘summer turnover,’ when warmer water from the surface and cooler water from lower down suddenly mix.” [WTOP]
Va. Joins Challenge to ICE Reporting Change — “Virginia is joining a 22-state effort led by New York Attorney General Letitia James urging President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse a new federal policy ending investigations and public reporting of deaths that occur shortly after immigrants are released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.” [Virginia Mercury]
Volunteers Map Heat in N. Va. — “To better understand the urban heat island in Fairfax County, Arlington and the City of Alexandria and identify ways to reduce impacts, the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions and George Mason University’s Virginia Climate Center are partnering on a new initiative … The alliance is seeking volunteers to help collect heat data on the measurement day, which is expected to occur between July 8 and 24.” [Capital Weather]
Tysons Mall Owner Expands Holdings — “An affiliate of Macerich (NYSE: MAC) paid $5.9 million last month for 8138 Watson St., a half-acre property that is home to the See Clearly Vision eyecare center, according to public records.” The Tysons Corner Center developer now owns the entire 7.75-acre triangle between International Drive and Watson Street except for a Capital One bank branch, but the company declined to comment on any specific future development plans. [Washington Business Journal]
Lt. Gov. Seeks Proactive Review of Dominion Merger — “Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi on Monday urged state utility regulators to require Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy to answer dozens of detailed questions about their proposed merger before formally filing the transaction, arguing Virginia’s six-month review process is too short to adequately scrutinize what would become the largest utility merger in U.S. history.” [Virginia Scope]
Chantilly Office Site Acquired — “Pulte Homes has purchased an 83,300-square-foot single-story office building located at 13990 Parkeast Circle and an adjacent 6.4-acre parcel … from Bethesda-based Finmarc Management Inc. for $26.36 million.” Part of the Park East Corporate Center, which was approved for residential redevelopment in 2024, the 14-acre site could be turned into 126 townhomes and 32 condos. [WBJ]
Shoppers Support Local Food Bank — “Customers at Wegmans stores across the company raised a record $769,300 during this year’s Fill the Bus/Fill the Backpack campaign, with donations from the Reston store helping support Food for Others as summer demand for food assistance rises.” Capital Area Food Bank and the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries were also beneficiaries. [Patch]
Grant to Fund Route 1 Public Art — “The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation is proud to announce it has been selected to receive a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant.” With the grant funding, SFDC will work with Mount Vernon at Home and the Nepenthe Gallery to implement new art installations and “engage older residents throughout the project” to ensure the artwork helps create accessible and welcoming spaces. [Press release]
New Legal Notice — Public hearing on high school boundaries scheduled July 16, 2026. [Public Notices]
It’s Wednesday — Expect patchy fog until 10 a.m., and mostly cloudy skies. The high will be near 82°F. Showers and thunderstorms are likely after 2 a.m. with a 70% chance of precipitation. Skies will remain mostly cloudy at night, with a low around 71°F. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Good Tuesday 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 7, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect a 30% chance of showers and patchy fog before 9am, followed by mostly cloudy skies and a high near 82, with an east wind at 3 to 6 mph. Wednesday night brings a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, especially after 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low of 71. South winds will be around 3 to 5 mph, with rainfall amounts generally under a tenth of an inch, except higher in thunderstorms. 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.
