Fairfax County’s new western high school won’t be named Western High School after all.
The school board voted unanimously last Thursday (Feb. 12) to instead adopt “Skyview High School” as the new name of the former King Abdullah Academy campus at 2949 Education Drive, near Dulles International Airport and the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in the Floris area south of Herndon.
Fairfax County officials are cautiously optimistic about the prospects for state legislation that would let certain localities use monitoring equipment to fine owners of excessively noisy vehicles.
House Bill 55, patroned for a second year by Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6), passed the House of Delegates yesterday (Tuesday) on a 64-34 vote after a third reading.
What will Herndon look and feel like in 2050?
That’s the big question behind Herndon 2050 — the Town of Herndon’s Comprehensive Plan update that will help shape policies, priorities, and decision-making for the next 20 years.
This is more than a planning document. It’s a vision for tomorrow.
Right now, the Town is asking residents, business owners, community stakeholders, and visitors to participate in an important first step: the Herndon 2050 community survey. While there will be additional opportunities for engagement throughout the planning process, this initial survey is critical in helping establish the community’s priorities and overall vision for the future of Herndon.
The survey closes Monday, May 18 at 11:59:59 PM.
Share your vision! Herndon2050.org
The Comprehensive Plan serves as the Town’s long-range policy guide and influences how Herndon grows, develops, and invests in the future over time. The decisions made through this process will help shape the community for current residents and future generations alike.
The new plan will establish policies and recommendations covering a wide range of topics, including:
In short, Herndon 2050 will help guide how the Town evolves — from neighborhoods and business districts to trails, parks, transportation systems, gathering spaces, and redevelopment opportunities.
At the heart of Herndon 2050 is community input.
The Town wants to hear directly from the people who live, work, and spend time in Herndon. What should the community prioritize? What should be preserved? Where are there opportunities for improvement? What kind of experience should Herndon provide 20 years from now? (more…)
A venture capital firm that focuses on national security and technology companies is bouncing from one growing Reston development to another.
Currently based at Reston Town Center, Razor’s Edge Ventures will relocate its headquarters to the Row at Reston Station after signing a lease for approximately 15,000 square feet of space, property owner Comstock Companies announced Wednesday (Feb. 11).
This year’s Very Godly VBS, inspired by The Titan’s Curse, invites children into the world of Camp Half-Blood to explore faith, courage, belonging, and community through storytelling, music, crafts, games, science, and reflection in a fun and welcoming environment for all.
Location: The Falls Church
Police have made arrests in connection to two different Springfield-area shootings earlier this month.
Suspects in both the Feb. 6 incident in the 7600 block of Cork Glen Way and a Feb. 13 incident at Springfield Town Center have been taken into custody, the Fairfax County Police Department recently announced.
The Golf Outing will be at the Chantilly National Country Club. Gather your friends for a fantastic day on the greens, enjoy friendly competition, and help us create a brighter future for our youth. Together, we can swing for a cause that truly matters to support area children receiving mental health counseling. Registration and Practice: 8:00-9:00am Tee Time: 9:00am Shotgun Start Lunch and Awards ceremony: 1:30pm- 2:30pm
Another measles case has been detected in Fairfax County, this time in the Lorton area.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, an adult who recently traveled abroad has been diagnosed with measles after visiting a local grocery store and two Inova facilities, potentially exposing other people.
Town Halls Planned on Explosion — “Fairfax County will host two town hall meetings on Tuesday, Feb. 17, for residents affected by the ongoing fire-related incident in the Centreville area. These meetings are an opportunity for community members to receive the latest updates, ask questions and hear directly from county officials.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
Senate Passes Fairfax County Casino Bill — “A proposal to bring a casino and entertainment district to Northern Virginia passed the state’s senate Friday, even as some Fairfax County leaders and residents criticized the idea. After a 23-14 vote, the measure will now head to the Virginia House of Delegates.” [WTOP]
Faith-Based Affordable Housing Legislation Passed — “The Senate voted 21-18 on Wednesday [Feb. 11] to pass state Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-29)’s SB 388, which would eliminate the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt nonprofits to develop affordable housing on their properties. The legislation might still need final approval in the House next year, however.” [ARLnow]
Reproductive Freedom Amendment Set for Ballot — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee reproductive freedom in Virginia’s Constitution, clearing the final step before the measure heads to voters in November.” The amendment wouldn’t expand access to abortion beyond what’s currently legal, but enshrining reproductive freedom in the state’s bill of rights would make it harder to change the law in the future. [WHRO]
State Police Helped With ICE Detentions — “Virginia State Police (VSP) aided federal immigration agents in apprehending nearly 200 people between February 2025 and February of this year, when Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) ended the 287(g) agreements established under her Republican predecessor … Per a VSP spokesperson, a total of 60 of the agency’s employees were given credentials under its” agreement. [WRIC]
Police Traffic Stops Rise in Virginia — “Law enforcement officers conducted more than 1.24 million stops last year, a 7% increase from 2024, according to new data from the Virginia State Police … In raw numbers, Fairfax County recorded the highest number of stops last year, with more than 117,000 encounters, a reflection of its large population and proximity to Washington, D.C.” [Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism]
HIV Program Funding Uncertain — “The Virginia Department of Health has not yet developed a clear plan for how to manage lost services that provide wraparound care for the state’s most vulnerable residents with HIV, the state epidemiologist said Friday. Late last year, the department significantly reduced funding for” a federal program that provides medical services “for low-income residents living with HIV.” [Cardinal News]
Local Firefighter Dies After Illness — “With deep sadness, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department announces the death of Firefighter Brandon Winfield on Thursday, February 12, 2026, following a brief illness.” The fire department’s honor guard transported Winfield’s body to a funeral home during a ceremony yesterday (Monday). [FCFRD]
Franconia District Office Moving — “The process of moving the Franconia District Supervisor’s office from 6121 Franconia Road to its new location at 7130 Silver Lake Blvd has begun. Staff from my office and I will continuously serve you remotely … Unfortunately, walk-in services and community room use will not be available beginning Tuesday, February 17, 2026, through Sunday, March 15.” [The Lusk Report]
It’s Tuesday — Expect patchy fog to clear by 8am, giving way to partly sunny skies and a high near 55 with light southwest winds. As for Tuesday night, it’ll turn cloudy with a low around 43. The calm wind will gradually pick up from the south at around 5 mph after midnight. [NWS]
Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.
Dozens of Centreville residents are still unable to return home almost a day after a fiery explosion possibly fueled by a natural gas leak rocked their neighborhood.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded around 9:48 p.m. yesterday (Sunday) to the 14300 block of Quail Pond Court in the Belle Pond Farm neighborhood after receiving multiple calls about “a loud explosion.”
Good Friday 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 13, 2026.
Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.
Here is what’s going on Saturday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Here are the events planned for Sunday:
Expect sunny conditions with a high around 53 and southwest winds at 5 to 8 mph. Saturday night will become mostly cloudy, and the temperature will drop to a low of around 32, accompanied by calm winds. See more from Weather.gov.
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. 👋
A pedestrian suffered critical injuries in a crash that occurred this evening (Friday) in the heart of downtown McLean.
Police and units with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched around 6:10 p.m. to the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Beverly Road for the crash, according to scanner traffic.
