Around Town

New Orleans-style beignets are on the menu at a new coffee shop opening Friday (Aug. 7) in Herndon.

Beignets & Brew will open at 348 Elden Street #460. The grand opening starting at 7 a.m. will include a ribbon cutting with Herndon Mayor Keven LeBlanc.


News
A man walking through Strawberry Park at the Mosaic District in Merrifield after rain (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Flood Watch Wednesday in Fairfax County — “🌧️ Flood Watch in effect for Fairfax County 4:00 AM–11:00 AM Wednesday (Aug. 5). Heavy rain may bring 2–4 inches in a short time, causing flash flooding in low-lying areas, urban streets, and along creeks and streams.” [Ready Fairfax/X]

Fairfax Hospitals Rank High on Best Virginia Hospitals List — Inova Fairfax Hospital, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and Reston Hospital Center ranked among the top hospitals in Virginia on the 2026-2027 U.S. News and World Report list. This year, the report added regional specialized rankings for cancer, cardiology, heart and vascular surgery, orthopedics and rehabilitation. [Patch]

Metro Touts Reduction in Crime — “For the second year in a row, Metro officials are touting reductions in crime on Metrorail, Metrobuses and at Metro parking lots. ‘We are the safest Metro has ever been. We believe we are the safest transit agency in the country,’ said Randy Clarke, general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Crime still occurs in and around the Metro system, but Clarke and Metro’s police chief say it continues to get safer.” [NBC Washington]

Fairfax Connector Store Changes Coming — “Effective Wednesday, Aug. 19, the West*Park Fairfax Connector Store in McLean will permanently close, and a new Fairfax Connector Store will open at the Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage and Transit Center in Fairfax.” [Fairfax Connector]

Adopt-A-Student Backpack Runs Through Aug. 7 — “Volunteer and Partner Services is excited to once again partner with Roonga, this time for our annual School Supply and Backpack Drive! In order to get started, all you need to do is log onto the live site. July 1 through August 7, 2026, you are invited to Adopt-A-Student and help them start the school year prepared and confident.” [Fairfax County]

Residents Asked to Report Flooding from Sunday Rainstorms — “Some areas of Fairfax County received almost a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours this past Sunday! If you saw any flooding near your home during the recent storms or if you still see standing water, please report it.” [Fairfax County Public Works/X]

It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms, especially before 3pm and again after 4pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high of 87°F. Winds will be light, becoming south at 5 to 7 mph, and there’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch possible. Wednesday night will have a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers until 2am, with a low around 74°F and a south wind at 6 mph. [NWS]

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


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 — Aug 4, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect showers and thunderstorms until 1 pm, followed by likely showers and possible thunderstorms until 2 pm, with continued chances afterward. Patchy fog is expected before 11 am. The high will be near 86 degrees with light winds from the south at 5 to 7 mph. There is an 80% chance of rain, with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, potentially higher during thunderstorms. Wednesday night will have a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, primarily before midnight, with partly cloudy skies and a low of around 73 degrees. South winds will continue at about 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

Fairfax County voters turned out in a trickle for Democratic and Republican primaries Tuesday (Aug. 4) to choose who will move on to the congressional midterm elections in November.

In the lone Democratic primary, Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) earned the nomination in the 8th Congressional District, the Associated Press called at 7:34 p.m. The congressman, vying for his seventh term, defeated four challengers — former Alexandria City Council Member Mo Seifeldein, fired State Department worker Michael Duffin, veteran and former CIA officer Adam Dunigan and military family advocate Lorena Bruner.


Event

When there’s a chill in the air, nothing satisfies like a rich Cabernet, a velvety Merlot, a smoky Syrah, or a brambly Shiraz. So put down your garden rake (the leaves can wait) and head to Arrowine to sample 20 of the Best Bargains in Big, Bold Reds from California, Washington State, and beyond.

We have spent the last two months tasting well over 200 wines and selected the top 20 for you to enjoy during this event. All of these wines overperformed and have exceptional price-to-quality value ratios. We know you will be impressed with our selections.


News

In-person voting turnout has been low in Fairfax County for the dual primary elections, according to Office of Elections data.

Democratic and Republican primaries for the congressional midterms are being held Tuesday (Aug. 4). Fairfax County has a Democratic primary in the 8th Congressional District, and Republican primaries include U.S. Senate and the 10th Congressional District.


News

A data center operator with multiple locations in Northern Virginia is establishing company headquarters in Reston.

Reston Station developer Comstock Companies announced that QTS Data Centers signed a lease at 1800 Reston Row Plaza in Reston Station. The data center operator will occupy 77,000 square feet in the building’s entire 11th, 12th and 13th floors.


News

An earlier version of this story referred to the State Corporation Commission approving a substation, but the SCC approval only incorporates transmission lines.

As plans for the first phase of data centers have been submitted in Lincolnia just outside Alexandria city limits, residents are focusing opposition on an electric substation under review.


News

Five new bicycle docking stations from Capital Bikeshare will be installed in Vienna by mid-August, a first for the town.

Collectively, the docking stations will be equipped with 21 standard bicycles and four electric bicycles that can be rented and returned to any Capital Bikeshare docking station in the metro area.


News

A proposal to replace two aging office buildings with 37 residential units and a small retail facility has met with mixed responses from members of the Fairfax City Council.

While some members praised the proposal for redevelopment of 3541 Chain Bridge Road with housing, others voiced concern about the decline of commercial property in the Northfax area of the city.