Fairfax County intends to move forward with phasing out the use of police officers as school crossing guards.
The Fairfax County Police Department would eliminate crossing guards at local public high schools and turn to contractors to fill vacancies at elementary and middle schools under the fiscal year 2027 budget proposed on Tuesday (Feb. 17) by County Executive Bryan Hill.
Authorities are still working to stabilize and identify the exact source of the natural gas-related home explosion in Centreville on Sunday (Feb. 15). The ongoing leak has led to days-long evacuations and gas service shutoffs for nearby homes.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates gas transmission pipeline incidents, is leading the federal investigation into the home explosion.
Summer starts here, and it’s packed with something for everyone. Join us at Reston Station for a season of free, family-friendly events designed to keep your calendar full and your nights unforgettable. From fitness and live music to movies under the stars, this is where summer comes to life.
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May 27 – September 2
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June 2 – September 1
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May 29 – September 25
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Saturday Nights
June 6 – August 29
Visit our website for the full schedule and details.
Toastique’s expansion in Fairfax County will continue next month with an opening at Reston Town Center.
The gourmet toast chain is planning to hold a grand opening for its new location at 11900 Inspiration Street on Saturday, March 7, offering $50 in reward dollars to the first 100 customers who make a purchase of at least $10.
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.
What Bills Are Still Alive in General Assembly — “The 2026 General Assembly reached its midpoint Tuesday night as lawmakers hit crossover, the session’s deadline for legislation to pass its chamber of origin and move to the other side of the state Capitol … At crossover, Democrats have moved several of their highest-profile priorities, and they approved three constitutional amendments that will appear on November’s ballot.” [Virginia Mercury]
Emergency Declared for Potomac Sewage Spill — “D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared local public emergency regarding the sewage spill in the Potomac River, according to the Mayor’s Office. The declaration allowed her to also make a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration request, which could bring in federal support to help respond to the disaster.” [NBC4]
Fatal Crashes Increasing in Region — “Vehicle crashes in the D.C. region remain below pre-pandemic levels but have been rising since 2020, and crash-related fatalities have increased almost continuously since 2015, according to the findings of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board’s 2025 Roadway Safety Study.” [WTOP]
Residents Share Thoughts on Possible Casino — “A proposal to allow Northern Virginia voters to weigh in on whether to build a casino in Fairfax County has advanced to the state’s House of Delegates. And even though the latest plan doesn’t specify Tysons as the location for the project, some community members there are still skeptical.” [WTOP]
Report on Deadly Mid-Air Crash Finalized — “A dizzying range of factors led to last year’s deadly collision between an Army helicopter and a regional jet over the Potomac River, per the final National Transportation Safety Board report out Tuesday.” Identified issues included the proximity of a helicopter route to the path airplanes use to approach Reagan National Airport, “unsustainable” traffic levels at DCA, high workloads for control tower operators and more. [Axios]
New Metro Railcars Running Late — “The next series of Metro railcars will modernize the transit agency’s fleet, but delivery of those trains could be delayed. The 8000 series is supposed to be in service in 2028, but Metro signaled it is not happy with the way the timeline stands right now.” [NBC4]
Community Center to Celebrate 20 Years — The recently reopened “Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate in Reston will celebrate its 20th anniversary this July. The center, which first opened on July 10, 2006, serves as an intergenerational hub for the community.” A community celebration will be held on Aug. 15. [Patch]
Eden Center Celebrates Lunar New Year — “The Vietnamese community celebrated the Lunar New Year at the Eden Center on Feb. 17 with a lion dance, speeches, the raising of Vietnamese and American flags, recognition of Vietnamese military veterans, and fireworks.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain to begin mainly after 3pm with a high near 48°F. An east wind of 5 to 10mph accompanies an 80% chance of precipitation. There’s a 100% chance of rain and patchy fog at night, with a low around 42°F. New rainfall may reach a quarter to half an inch. [NWS]
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*Mamistad Groups meet IN PERSON-only the introductory Zoom call is virtual. 🙂
Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for.
Good Wednesday 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 — Feb 18, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect rain to start after noon, with patchy fog clearing up by 1pm and a high near 47°F. The east wind will blow at 5-10 mph, and there’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with potential accumulations ranging between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. On Thursday night, rain will persist, with temperatures dropping to around 42°F, an east wind at 6-9 mph, and a 100% chance of precipitation. New rainfall amounts could be between a quarter and a half inch. 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.
Meet WSHnow, FFXnow’s newest sister site.
The recently launched website is designed to serve as a one-stop hub for local news from Fairfax County and other communities across the D.C. region.
Though Fairfax City has a varied dining scene, a couple from Nepal saw a void that they could fill with their home country’s cuisine.
The resulting restaurant Wow Nepal, located at 10728 Fairfax Blvd, had its soft opening on Jan. 28. Chef Bewek Bastola runs it alongside his wife, Samrina Pandit.
Del. Dan Helmer, a Democrat who has represented southwestern Fairfax County in the House of Delegates since 2020, is once again running for Congress.
The 44-year-old announced his candidacy today (Wednesday) to represent the newly-drawn 7th Congressional District — a sprawling “lobster-shaped” district that includes Helmer’s Fairfax home while stretching east to Arlington County, west to Augusta County and south to Goochland County.
Please stop flushing wipes down the toilet, even if they’re labeled “flushable,” Fairfax County said in a recent message to community members.
The county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services urged residents late last week to avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper after a mass of non-disposable wipes clogged a regional sewer pipeline, exacerbating overflows into the Potomac River.
