With Fairfax County facing another major budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year, local public school leaders are once again confronting difficult decisions regarding teacher pay raises.
This time, though, there’s a twist: Fairfax County Public Schools has a tentative agreement with the Fairfax Education Unions representing teachers and other employees that includes a roughly $150 million request for a 7% across-the-board pay hike for educators and support staff.
The new year promises to bring at least one sure bet: First Watch cafes will continue to spring up across Fairfax County.
After opening its largest restaurant yet in Fair Lakes this summer, the national chain is expanding to three more locations in the county, all of them expected in the first half of 2025.
Finding an affordable apartment home in Tysons Corner that matches your fast-paced lifestyle just got easier. Indigo at McLean Station delivers the ultimate connected experience, situated just steps from the McLean Metro Station. We invite you to experience our neighborhood firsthand during our Open House on Saturday, November 14th, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Explore Your Perfect Floor Plan
Come Tour our community spaces and see inside a variety of layouts. We are proud to feature move-in ready options across both phases of the property:
A Tech-Forward, Pet-Friendly Neighborhood Vibe
Indigo is built around cutting-edge convenience and a vibrant, friendly atmosphere. Residents enjoy premium digital and physical perks that make everyday life stress-free:
Unmissable Leasing Promotions
Take advantage of the best affordable housing incentives in Northern Virginia. Apply during our November 14th Open House event to claim our stackable special: Get an extra 1/2 month of rent free, valid ONLY for Phase I apartments. This event-specific discount can be combined with our ongoing incentive of Up to Two Months Free on Select Apartments.
Join us at 1750 Old Meadow Rd, McLean, VA 22102 to find your new home. For complete layout details, qualifying income limits, and virtual video walkthroughs, visit our official website or connect with our leasing office at (571) 786-5546. Can’t make the Open House? Schedule a Tour Today and we’ll be happy to show you around.
*Specials apply to new applicants only, on select apartments, are subject to change, and may have additional terms and conditions.
A teen died after they were hit by a driver while crossing Old Keene Mill Road in Burke on Wednesday (Dec. 4).
While crossing at the Sydenstricker Road intersection near Pohick Regional Library, the 14-year-old pedestrian apparently walked into the westbound lanes on Old Keene Mill Road and was struck by the driver of a Ford Fusion, the Fairfax County Police Department said yesterday (Thursday), citing a preliminary investigation by detectives.
Metrobus Cracks Down on Fare Evasion — “Before the pandemic, about 25% of passengers didn’t pay when they got on a Metrobus, General Manager Randy Clarke said. But since then, about 70% haven’t been paying. In an effort to address that, the transit agency launched a targeted campaign this week, hoping that officer visibility and efforts will make customers think twice before avoiding the cost.” [WTOP]
Springfield Neighborhood Braces for Data Center Impacts — “As [Richard Andre Newman is] approaching 60, he’s considering selling his Fairfax County home and moving away. That’s because he’s getting a new neighbor: Plaza 500, a 466,000-square-foot data center and an adjacent electrical substation to be built a few hundred feet from townhomes, playgrounds and a community center.” [Associated Press]
Dominion to Expand Annandale Substation — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Dec. 4 approved the expansion and modernization of the Westcott Substation along the Holmes Run trail.” Dominion Energy says the upgraded station will better “manage additional energy demand, such as electric vehicle charging and storage of surplus energy generated by solar power cells.” [Annandale Today]
McLean Central Park Ribbon-Cutting Delayed — “Due to the extremely cold temperatures forecasted for Saturday, the planned ribbon cutting at McLean Central Park will be postponed until early Spring on a date to be determined. Stay tuned for updates and announcements on my social media pages.” [Supervisor Jimmy Bierman/Facebook]
Google Among Investors in McLean Finance Company — McLean-based Range has raised $28 million from Google seed fund Gradient Ventures and others “to help it bring artificial intelligence to the forefront of the wealth management industry.” The company’s custom AI-driven software could someday provide direct assistance to its 1,200 clients, who must earn at least $350,000 a year. [Washington Business Journal]
Annual Pancake Breakfast Returns to Turner Farm — “The Turner Farmhouse Foundation is hosting its annual pancake breakfast and open house on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9:30-11 a.m. Parking is available on site with volunteers able to assist. The event is open to the public at no cost.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Mount Vernon Trail to Get New Water Fountains — “Thanks to a grant the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail received from the National Park Foundation this past summer, seven new water fountains will be coming to the Mount Vernon Trail in 2025.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies, a high of 37 and a northwest wind with gusts as high as 23 mph. During Friday night, the skies will be mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to a low around 24 degrees. [NWS]
StoryWorx: Workhouse's First Ever FREE Book Festival
Sat, Nov 14 | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Lorton, VA
Meet bestselling authors Angie Kim (Happiness Falls), 4× NFL Pro Bowler Ken Harvey (first-ever dramatic reading), and Emmy-winning WUSA9 anchor Wisdom Martin, plus Marcie Atkins, Omar Abed, Ellen R.B. Smith, and more for panels, signings, poetry, and workshops. Kids' Corner features author readings, crafts, and storytime. Browse the artisan market, catch a live Upstart Crow podcast, and explore the Workhouse galleries and artist studios—all part of Second Saturday.
Good Thursday 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 — Dec 5, 2024.
Here is what’s going on Friday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 36 degrees with a northwest wind blowing at 11 to 15 mph, gusting up to 24 mph. Friday night will bring mostly clear conditions and a low of around 23 degrees, along with a west wind at 6 to 8 mph. 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.
The Madison Warhawks girls and boys varsity basketball teams have enjoyed significant success in recent years, and each opened its 2024-25 campaign with victories.
The host girls defeated Riverside of Leesburg, 40-23, and the boys traveled to Haymarket and rallied to down the Battlefield Bobcats, 68-55, after trailing 36-29 at halftime.
A standout high-school field-hockey career ended recently when Potomac School senior Bella Kim played her final match.
Kim finished as the Potomac School’s all-time leading goal scorer in the girls high-school sport with 74 goals, including a single-season program best this fall with 25.
Future parking lots and garages across Fairfax County will need to devote a larger percentage of spaces to support those with disabilities.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal Tuesday (Dec. 3) changing the ratio of accessible spaces to total spaces from the current one per 25 spaces to one in 15. The change took effect at midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
An Alexandria man believed to have shot another man in Woodlawn yesterday (Wednesday) has been arrested.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, Dominique Witaker, 36, was engaged in a verbal argument with another man — who was known to him — when he allegedly shot the other man in the lower body.
