Around Town

Update — CVS announced on Thursday, March 12 that it has decided not to close its store at Reston Station in April after all after reevaluating its upcoming plans. 

Earlier: Commuters entering and exiting the Wiehle Metro station in Reston will soon no longer be greeted by CVS Pharmacy.


Countywide
Late afternoon clouds over the Fairfax Blvd service drive outside Genki Izakaya in Scout on the Circle (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vigil Held for Stabbing Victims — “About a hundred people paid their respects at a vigil for the two women who were stabbed to death at their Fairfax home on Feb. 23.” The vigil for Binda and Mamta Thapa was held Friday (March 6) at the Margate Manor Apartments and “organized by Prabha Bhattarai, founder and president of the PKP Tender Hearts Foundation, an organization that supports the Nepalese community.” [Annandale Today]

McKay Doesn’t Plan to Order Casino Referendum — “If Virginia passes a bill to pave the way for a casino in Fairfax County, the chairman of the county board says he won’t put the issue before voters … The bill has not yet made it to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk as lawmakers in both chambers still need to address the differences in the versions of the bill that was passed.” McKay says he won’t support a referendum on a casino based on the bill “in its current form.” [WTOP]

Bill on Sexual Abuse Cases Heads to Governor — “In Virginia, the civil statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases runs out 20 years after a survivor is no longer a minor. But what if crucial evidence doesn’t come out until after that? House Bill 1020 gives survivors another chance to have their day in court” by restarting the 20-year statute of limitations if new evidence is uncovered. [WRIC]

Murder Charge Dropped in Stabbing Case — “The family of a man stabbed to death near a bus stop in Groveton last year said they’re disappointed and angry that prosecutors decided not to pursue the second-degree murder case against the suspect … The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office chose to drop the murder charge against Reed, citing a lack of evidence to support a prosecution.” [WUSA9]

Lawsuit Challenges Reproductive Rights Amendment — “At the core of a new Bedford County-based lawsuit challenging Virginia’s pending reproductive rights amendment is an allegation that House of Delegates Clerk Paul Nardo failed to send copies of the amendment to circuit court clerks around the state, as required by law. However, a bill Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed last month retroactively removed that part of state code.” [Virginia Mercury]

Belle Haven Fire Started in Bedroom — “On Wednesday, March 4, at 4:13 a.m., the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded to reports of a house fire in the 2600 block of East Side Drive … Fire investigators determined the fire originated within the wall of a second-floor bedroom as the result of an electrical event.” No injuries were reported, but the fire caused an estimated $20,129 in property damages. [FCFRD]

Temporary Music Venue Planned in Annandale — “Johnny P, a local entrepreneur, has big plans for the two vacant buildings on Columbia Pike that were damaged in a fire in 2023. He hopes to use the building that formerly housed the Thai Sushi Eats restaurant as a temporary live music venue called ‘Music Flavor’ – until the building is torn down and the property is redeveloped.” [Annandale Today]

Blood Drive Today in Chantilly — “Inova is experiencing a critical blood shortage. Join us for the Sully District Blood Drive on Monday, March 9. Help make sure that life-saving blood products are available.” As of last night (Sunday), four time slots remained available for the blood drive, which will take place at the Sully Government Center from 2-6 p.m. [Fairfax County Government/X]

New Legal Notice — Applicant seeks license to manufacture and sell alcohol on/off-premises. [Public Notices]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 72 degrees, accompanied by a calm wind shifting to the south at around 5 mph in the afternoon. As night falls on Monday, the sky will remain mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to a low around 48 degrees and the wind remaining calm. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Friday 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 6, 2026.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  • UPDATED: Man shot by police on I-495 after allegedly stabbing multiple people (59942 views)
  • Comstock urged to further dim mistakenly permitted Reston JW Marriott sign (17103 views)
  • BREAKING: Fairfax County casino bill passes House of Delegates (12340 views)
  • NOW: Two injured in multi-vehicle crash on Route 29 as snow falls (6661 views)
  • French bakery starts serving fresh bread, pastries in Idylwood (4555 views)
  • ‘Not a question of if’: FCPD sent warnings about stabbing suspect before Hybla Valley killing (4410 views)
  • BREAKING: Democrat-endorsed Tom Dannan wins Braddock seat on school board (4316 views)
  • Pedestrian dies from injuries after BMW crash on Annandale road (4149 views)
  • Apartments under construction on former Merrifield office site (3136 views)
  • Arlington-founded bakery aims to open Vienna location this spring (3047 views)
  • Completed path gives residents direct route to Innovation Center Metro station (3027 views)
  • 📅 Upcoming events

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

    Here are the events planned for Sunday:

    🌦️ Saturday’s forecast

    Dense fog is expected to clear by 10am, followed by gradual clearing and a high near 69. South winds will be present at 5-11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. Saturday night will bring showers, mainly between 7pm-1am, under mostly cloudy skies with lows around 64. Winds will continue to gust up to 24 mph, and there is 60% chance of precipitation, with less than a tenth of an inch expected. 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.

    We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋


    Announcement

    A Step In Time Chimney Sweeps is proud to provide professional chimney services for homeowners for over 25 years. As part of our Summer Special, we are currently offering professional chimney inspections to help homeowners prepare their fireplaces and chimney systems before the heavy winter burning season begins again.

    Our experienced team specializes in chimney inspections, chimney cleaning, chimney repairs, chimney relining, chimney cap installation, crown repairs, masonry work, fireplace services, wood stove installations, dryer vent cleaning, and much more.


    Around Town

    Tysons Galleria will soon lose another longstanding tenant.

    The mall is home to one of 12 Saks Fifth Avenue stores now slated to permanently shutter as part of the fashion retailer’s ongoing bankruptcy restructuring. The list also includes a location at The Collection in Chevy Chase.


    Around Town

    Two eateries around the Mosaic District’s central green space are teaming up to bring new late-night experiences to the mixed-use district.

    On two Saturdays (March 7 and 14), NAJA Mediterranean and Mom & Pop will host a late night shawarma and coffee pop-up outside the latter’s location (2909 District Avenue in Merrifield) from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.


    Around Town

    An extensive “comic and pop culture experience” is coming to Lorton’s Workhouse Arts Center (9518 Workhouse Way) this weekend.

    Comicworx, a convention-style event featuring celebrity guests, vendors and more, will take place at the campus tomorrow (Saturday) — the first such event in the history of the venue.


    Countywide

    Fairfax County is continuing its recent push to trim costs, pursuing budget cuts that are less drastic than the ones proposed last year but could still result in some notable programming changes.

    Released on Feb. 17, County Executive Bryan Hill’s advertised fiscal year 2027 budget plan would reduce spending by $32.9 million and eliminate 107 positions, bringing the total amount of cuts since FY 2024 up to $124.5 million.


    News

    A Harrisonburg man who claimed to be a pastor is now in Fairfax County custody after being accused of a sexual assault in Merrifield, police said today (Friday).

    Marco Antonio Ocampos Zamora allegedly traveled to Merrifield for an in-person “counseling session” with a woman he met online who believed he was a pastor. The woman told detectives that she was sexually assaulted during the session, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.


    Opinion

    With spring right around the corner, Fairfax County residents might be thinking about giving their house or business a thorough cleaning. For those without the time or inclination to undertake such a challenge themselves, professionals are available to get your home looking organized and spotless.

    Here are the nominees for “Best Cleaning Service in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite business below? If not, write them in!

    Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, March 20.

    Voting for the Best Home Renovation Firm in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday, March 13 at 8:30 a.m.

    Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Bicycle Shop around Fairfax. The results are now official:

    1. The Bike Lane
    2. Green Lizard Cycling
    3. Bikenetic