Around Town

Good Thursday 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 — Apr 9, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Friday’s forecast

The weather will start off partly sunny, gradually becoming fully sunny, with temperatures reaching a high of around 75°F. Expect a south wind at 5 to 10 mph during the day. Friday night will be partly cloudy with a low near 55°F, and winds from the south at 6 to 9 mph will shift to the west after midnight. 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

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has rejected legislation that would’ve opened the door for a casino in Fairfax County.

The governor vetoed SB 756 from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell today (Thursday) ahead of an April 13 deadline for her to take action on all of the bills passed by the General Assembly during its 2026 session.


News

Fairfax County is starting to narrow down its options for the artwork that will grace its future Richmond Highway bus rapid transit (BRT) stations.

Earlier this week, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) launched a survey that asks community members to rank three different windscreen designs proposed for each of the bus service’s nine planned stations.


Countywide

Community members may soon get more information on local transportation projects across Fairfax County earlier in the development process — but they also may find their input opportunities cut off earlier, too.

That was one potential scenario considered by county supervisors and staff on April 6, as they brainstormed ways to improve a process they acknowledged can take frustratingly long.


Event

Flowers, Fine Art & Fashion is an immersive cultural experience presented by People of The Garden LLC, where nature, creativity, and modest couture converge in a breathtaking indoor garden setting.

Guests will journey through a living landscape featuring dramatic floral installations, botanical art, and a one-of-a-kind rectangular runway designed around lush greenery and sculptural plantings. Throughout the evening, attendees will experience a curated runway presentation showcasing modest fashion designers, alongside original fine art, artisan vendors, and interactive floral experiences.


Around Town

For the past six months, ArtStream’s Virginia Company B has been developing and rehearsing a war of the worlds, featuring a clash of famous show-business and historical figures.

And tomorrow night (Friday), “The Great Put-Together!” makes its world premiere at James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Road, #114) in the West Falls Church area of Fairfax County.


News

As the deadline for her to act on 2026 General Assembly legislation approaches, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed additional bills yesterday (Wednesday) on health care, housing and energy, including a few championed by Fairfax County lawmakers.

The governor has approved hundreds of bills since the General Assembly session ended on March 14. The latest round of bills includes a codified right to contraception, limits on prior authorizations on prescription drugs from insurance plans, stricter emissions standards for data centers, tools to incentivize and preserve affordable housing, and a longer mandatory waiting period before landlords pursue evictions.


News

A vehicle explosion rattled Burke earlier this morning (Thursday), sending the driver to the hospital and shutting down Lee Chapel Road.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched around 7:34 a.m. to Lee Chapel Road at Old Keene Mill Road for a vehicle fire near Burke Town Plaza, a shopping center anchored by Safeway.


News

Fairfax County is pinning all its hopes for a new round of regional transportation funding on a single major project, but local travelers could also benefit from some of the other contenders.

As authorized last fall by the Board of Supervisors, the county is seeking $463 million from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for its planned “The One” bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which would serve nine stations along a 7.4-mile stretch of Richmond Highway, also known as Route 1, from Huntington to Fort Belvoir.


News

Five people have been arrested and charged in connection with reported thefts of merchandise from various businesses last month, including four people in Reston alone.

The arrests, which occurred between March 17-27, were part of what the Fairfax County Police Department called a “coordinated enforcement effort” that resulted in 17 felony and 15 misdemeanor charges.