News

Fresh off its $50 billion merger with rival Discover, Capital One has turned to the Scotts Run neighborhood in Tysons as its next acquisition target, setting the stage for a possible expansion of its headquarters campus south of Route 123 (Dolley Madison Blvd).

Through an affiliate named Dolley Madison West LLC, the financial corporation spent $125 million between Feb. 24 and 26 to buy approximately 14.7 acres of land along a roughly half-mile stretch of Old Meadow Road and Chain Bridge Road, the Washington Business Journal reported.


Countywide

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors doubled down yesterday morning (Tuesday) on their opposition to a Tysons casino — and ramped up criticism of state legislators pushing the measure.

“This was absolutely a direct attack on local government,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said at the March 17 meeting, which came three days after state legislators passed legislation that would add Fairfax County to the list of Virginia localities eligible to host a casino.


News

A modest single-family house on a sprawling 8.3-acre lot in Reston could be parlayed into dozens of new homes for seniors if a recently submitted development proposal is approved.

Under the name SMT Land Holdings, the Reston-based home builder Gulick Group is seeking a special exception from Fairfax County for an independent living community to replace a one-story house that has stood at 11000 Baron Cameron Avenue since 1966, per local property records.


Announcement

Mental health shapes how we lead, love, work, parent, communicate, and show up in the world—yet too often, these conversations stay hidden.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, join local nonprofit Rock Recovery for Strength Not Stigma—an unforgettable evening of honest conversation, community, and impact.


Countywide
Platform in the middle of a placid Lake Newport in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Potomac Recreational Advisory Lifted — “The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is lifting the remaining recreational water advisory for the Potomac River from the American Legion Memorial Bridge (I-495) to the Route 120 Chain Bridge.” The department will “continue to monitor sampling data as available,” with efforts to clean up the Jan. 19 sewage spill in Maryland continuing. [VDH]

Women Killed in Domestic Stabbings Mourned — “The Nepalese community gathered Tuesday to honor two women killed in a gruesome domestic attack, while also offering prayers for the man accused of the slayings. The memorial service, held weeks after a violent stabbing rocked a Mantua apartment complex, focused on the lives of Mamta Thapa and her mother, Binda Thapa.” [WUSA9]

Input Wanted on GW Parkway Trees — “The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public input on big-picture plans for GW Parkway’s vistas and foliage — a topic that has previously sparked significant controversy. A virtual public meeting on ‘long-term care of historic scenic views’ will be held at 6 p.m. today (Wednesday), and comments are being accepted online. [ARLnow]

Study Considers Congestion Pricing in D.C. — “A D.C.-backed study of how congestion pricing might work in the city is now public, following years of wrangling. With that drama in the rearview mirror, policymakers can start to confront thornier questions about whether the policy is the right fit for D.C.,” though even the most supportive current elected officials don’t expect to start charging commuters any time soon. [WAMU]

Housing Bills Sent to Governor — Though the General Assembly nixed a few more radical bills, “many housing proposals are on their way to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk — some of which she has already stated she will sign into law. The bills represented a flurry of efforts to address housing issues including affordability, supply, renter protections, and state input on local zoning decisions.” [Virginia Mercury]

Belle Haven Office Building for Sale — “The 97,581-square-foot, eight-story office at 5845 Richmond Highway, currently branded as the Belle Haven Professional Center, is 56% leased to a mix of medical and professional tenants, according to marketing materials.” A floodplain and resource protection area limit potential redevelopment options, so the site is instead being pitched to businesses that would be interested in occupying it. [Washington Business Journal]

New Florida Flight Planned at Dulles — “Frontier Airlines Inc. is adding another route out of Dulles International Airport with plans to launch nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this spring. The daily flights to Fort Lauderdale, its ninth nonstop destination linking to Dulles, will begin on May 21 via an Airbus A320 aircraft.” [WBJ]

Vienna Photo Show Winners Named — “Amateur photographers from across the region showcased their talent in the 2026 Vienna Photo Show, displaying a collection of unique, award-winning photos at the Vienna Community Center March 14-15, 2026 … This year’s event featured 156 entries from 60 photographers and 171 attendees.” [Town of Vienna]

New Legal Notice — Restaurant seeks ABC wine, beer, mixed-beverage on/off-premises license. [Public Notices]

It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny weather with a high near 42 degrees and light, variable winds shifting to the south at 6 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low of around 31 degrees and a southeast wind at about 5 mph. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.


Event

Fil-Am Spring Fest 2026 is a free Filipino-American cultural festival hosted by Fil-Am FEST Inc. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax, Virginia.

The festival celebrates Filipino culture, heritage, food, music, dance, small businesses, and community connection. Guests can enjoy cultural performances, Filipino food vendors, family-friendly activities, artisan and retail vendors, community partner booths, and nonprofit initiatives.


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 — Mar 17, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of around 42 degrees and light winds becoming southerly at 6 mph by the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low near 31 degrees and a south wind at 6 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.


Countywide

Despite the pleas of one local lawmaker, Fairfax County officials will not revisit their Trust Policy restricting information sharing with federal immigration enforcement agencies anytime soon.

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity proposed revisiting the policy at today’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors, but the suggestion was rejected without discussion by the other nine members — all Democrats.


Countywide

The signature of Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) is the lone step remaining before Northern Virginia localities receive a new tool to combat excessive vehicle noise.

“There was some drama with this bill,” acknowledged its patron, Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6), in a March 16 newsletter to constituents.


Countywide

A dispute over ending a sales tax exemption on data centers stood in the way of the Virginia General Assembly passing a state budget passing before its regular session ended.

Over the past 18 years, Virginia became the world’s largest data hub, but community opposition to data centers has swelled. Most recently, in Fairfax County, environmental groups are questioning plans to sell part of a county-owned parcel at 3721 Stonecroft Blvd in Chantilly to data center developer Starwood Capital Group.


News

New buildings are still going up in Tysons, as anyone who has passed the Indigo at McLean Station, Exchange at Spring Hill and Flats at Tysons construction sites can attest.

But 16 years into Fairfax County’s plan to remake Tysons into a downtown community by 2050, developers behind some of the area’s more established neighborhoods have started to focus less on expanding their properties than on bolstering what they’ve already built.