Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools is one of two Virginia school divisions that reportedly declined to sign a form committing it to complying with federal anti-discrimination laws and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred race from being considered in college admissions.

Superintendent Michelle Reid instead sent a “modified certification and assurance document” to Virginia education leaders last week affirming FCPS’ compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Virginia Mercury reported yesterday morning (Tuesday).


Countywide

Six months after being defeated by Rep. Gerry Connolly in what turned out to be his final election, the most recent Republican nominee for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District will return to the campaign trail.

Mike Van Meter, who garnered almost 33% of the vote in the 2024 general election against the longtime Democratic incumbent, confirmed to FFXnow that he plans to run for the seat in the 2026 midterm elections.


News

Fairfax County police are investigating a shooting outside a nightclub in Bailey’s Crossroads that sent a man to the hospital early this morning (Wednesday).

Officers responded to the Black Rose Lounge at 5815 Seminary Road at 1:02 a.m. for a report of shots fired. According to the police scanner, officers in the neighborhood heard “what we believe is a lot of gunfire” and sent someone to “check it out” before the official dispatch came in.


News

An Alexandria woman has been arrested in connection with a bank robbery that occurred in Annandale on Monday (April 28).

The Fairfax County Police Department alleges that Vicky Vien Phung, 36, took just over $1,000 from the Capital One Bank at 7030 Little River Turnpike before fleeing.


Event

Menopause is more than a physical transition—it can also be a time of profound change in how we see ourselves and what we want from life. As familiar roles, responsibilities, and priorities shift, many women find themselves asking, “Who am I now?” In this presentation, we'll explore how our identities have been shaped and consider which parts of ourselves still fit and which may be ready to change.

RSVP: erica@indigotangles.com


Countywide

A survey of Northern Virginia business leaders found high levels of uncertainty after months of turmoil from tariff policies and federal job cuts.

The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (NVC) and communications agency Pinkston released a Q2 Business Leader Survey yesterday (Tuesday) that collected feedback from business organizations in Fairfax, Falls Church, Reston and other locations around Northern Virginia.


Around Town

One dine-in restaurant at Fair Oaks Mall seems to have permanently closed its doors.

Brio Italian Grille, housed near Cheesecake Factory and the mall’s northeast entrance, said in a sign posted to its front door earlier this month that it has “temporarily closed,” apologizing for the inconvenience and thanking guests for their patronage.


Countywide
Trees frame large digital screen over Strawberry Park at the Mosaic District (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

D.C. Sues Virginia Drivers Over Unpaid Traffic Fines — “D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced Monday that the District of Columbia filed five lawsuits against drivers from Maryland and Virginia.” The prosecutor alleges that the drivers, including residents of Lorton and Herndon, collectively owe more than $400,000. [Washingtonian]

Fairfax County Spa Relocates to Alexandria — “Last month, King’s Beauty Center and Nail Bar/King’s Men Spa fully opened at 1102 King Street. Until the end of May, they’re offering 20% off all their services.” The owner previously “ran a smaller salon in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County for 13 years.” [ALXnow]

Reston School Celebrates 30th Anniversary — Aldrin Elementary School will celebrate 30 years today (Wednesday) with a school assembly at 3 p.m. followed by a community reception at 4:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to wear red, white and blue or spiritwear to show their pride, and firecracker ice pops will be handed out. [Aldrin Elementary School]

New Signage Planned for Bailey’s Crossroads Area — “Fairfax County is developing a gateway signage project for the Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners commercial revitalization districts.” A survey to solicit community input on the characteristics of both neighborhoods and they could be incorporated into the sign designs will launch next Monday (May 5). [Annandale Today]

Roofing Company to Leave Herndon After Merger — “Connecticut-based QXO Inc. closed its acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply Inc. on Tuesday, just a month after inking a deal with the Herndon construction company.” The company, which employs 8,000 people, will be rebranded as QXO and consolidate “headquarter functions in Greenwich.” [Washington Business Journal]

County to Increase Zoning Fees — “Starting July 1, Fairfax County will implement the second phase of updated fee schedules for Land Development Services (LDS) and zoning applications. The adjustments are intended to reflect the increase in costs related to inflation and personnel over recent years while ensuring the continuation of high-quality county services.” [Fairfax County Government]

Shuttered Climate Program Funded Chesapeake Bay Conservation — “The U.S. Department of Agriculture in April announced the termination of its $3 billion ‘climate smart’ program, a grantmaking initiative that was supporting hundreds of millions of dollars in conservation work in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.” [Bay Journal Media]

It’s Wednesday — There’s a 20% chance of showers after 2 pm, though mostly cloudy skies will eventually turn sunny, with temperatures reaching around 80. The night will be partly cloudy with lows near 60. [NWS]


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 29, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌤️ Wednesday’s forecast

The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to gradually sunny, reaching a high near 80 degrees and accompanied by a northwest wind at 8 mph. By Wednesday night, expect partly cloudy skies, a low of around 60 degrees, and a light east wind. 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 now-retired Fairfax County Public Schools teacher is facing criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a student and a colleague.

Detectives began investigating Mary Simons, 63, of Arlington after Child Protective Services received a tip on March 28 alleging that she had assaulted a student while teaching at Parklawn Elementary School in Lincolnia, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.