A federal judge has dismissed a Centreville High School teacher’s lawsuit alleging retaliation and violations of whistleblower protection laws by Fairfax County Public Schools after she claimed that school staff helped minors obtain abortions.
In his memorandum opinion, issued May 8, Judge Anthony J. Trenga wrote that the teacher, Zenaida Perez, had “failed to plead facts which, when viewed most favorably to her, plausibly give rise to a claim for whistleblower retaliation.”
A Bethesda-based menswear company best known for nabbing a deal with Mark Cuban and Peter Jones on “Shark Tank” will expand to Reston later this month.
Collars & Co, which produces polo shirts with a sturdy, dress shirt-style collar, will open its first permanent location in Northern Virginia in a 1,700-square-foot store at 11869 Market Street. The space was previously occupied by an Allen Edmonds shoe store.
E-bikes are becoming an increasingly common sight around Herndon, from neighborhood streets and local trails to the W&OD Trail. But as more riders make the switch to electric, some important questions come with them.
Where can e-bikes be ridden? What are the different classifications? What rules should riders follow? What should parents know before their child gets on one?
The Town of Herndon is bringing local and regional experts together to help answer those questions during a free E-Bike Information Session on Wednesday, September 9 at 6 p.m. at the Herndon Community Center.
Whether you already own an e-bike, have a child who rides one, are considering purchasing one or simply share the roads and trails with them, the session is designed to provide practical information residents can use.
Know Before You Ride
Not every e-bike is the same, and understanding the differences is an important part of riding responsibly.
Representatives from the Herndon Police Department and Herndon Parks & Recreation will discuss e-bike classifications, applicable laws, safe riding practices and proper etiquette when sharing streets, trails and shared-use paths.
They’ll be joined by community partners from NOVA Parks, Friends of the W&OD Trail and EBike Connections, giving attendees an opportunity to hear from organizations with different perspectives and expertise.
“As e-bikes become an everyday part of how our community moves, safety is essential,” said Herndon Mayor Keven LeBlanc. “Helping riders and parents understand the rules keeps our streets, trails, and shared use paths safe for everyone.”
Bring Your Questions
This isn’t just a presentation. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions directly to local and regional experts during an interactive Q&A session. Resources including route maps, local program information and practical safety tips will also be available.
For parents in particular, the session offers an opportunity to better understand the rules and classifications surrounding the increasingly popular way young people are getting around.
“Understanding e-bike classifications and trail rules is key to keeping everyone safe,” said Herndon Police Chief Steven Pihonak. “We encourage parents and riders to join us, ask questions, and get reliable answers directly from our officers and our community partners.”
E-Bike Information Session
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Herndon Community Center
814 Ferndale Avenue
Herndon, VA 20170
The information session is free and open to the public, and no advance registration is required. Real-time Spanish-language interpretation will also be available.
Ride one? Thinking about getting one? Have a child who rides one? Or just have questions about the e-bikes you’re seeing around town? Come get the information you need to ride safely and confidently while sharing our roads and trails.
The Fresh Market is leaving the Town of Vienna.
The North Carolina grocery chain’s last day of business after nearly 15 years at Danor Plaza will be May 31, employees confirmed to FFXnow.
The Virginia Supreme Court’s nullification on Friday (May 8) of the redistricting referendum narrowly approved by voters last month left local and state-level Democrats reeling.
The Fairfax County Democratic Committee blasted the ruling as “a stunning betrayal” of the majority of Virginia voters — including nearly 70% of Fairfax County voters — who backed the proposed constitutional amendment, which would’ve let the General Assembly implement new Congressional districts drawn to favor Democrats in 10 out of 11 seats.
Join us on September 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time) at 12000 Government Center Pkwy for Pender’s First Annual Angel Fund 5K!
This fun community event supports the Angel Fund at Pender Veterinary Centre, which helps pet owners in Northern Virginia cover unexpected veterinary costs when finances are tight. For over 50 years, Pender Veterinary Centre has been proud to care for pets and their families, and this 5K is all about bringing everyone together to celebrate that bond.
A man who pleaded guilty to two assaults committed in Reston last year could face additional jail time for those crimes following his arrest last week in Arlington.
Koby Berry, 28, was charged with assault and attempted abduction with the intent to defile by Arlington County police last Thursday (May 7) after he allegedly covered the mouth of a woman and tried to push her further into a bathroom at a Pentagon City shopping center the previous day.
Fairfax County police believe a teenager was behind the recent fatal stabbing at the Farrington Place condominiums.
The unnamed 16-year-old boy was arrested by detectives on Wednesday (May 13) and charged with first-degree murder, the Fairfax County Police Department announced yesterday (Thursday).
Man Fatally Shot by Police on Columbia Pike — “A police standoff inside a Columbia Pike 7-Eleven ended with gunfire” last Friday (May 8). A man who had barricaded himself in the convenience store and was reportedly armed with a knife “was shot and killed after officers tried to take him into custody,” Arlington County police said. [ARLnow]
Road Closures in Fairfax, West Springfield — “Willowmeade Drive (Route 5407) between Route 29 and Knight Arch Road (Route 7699) will be closed from 7 a.m. Monday, May 11, until 7 a.m. Thursday, May 14, for Route 29 intersection work as part of the Route 29 widening project.” In addition, a portion of Taft Drive is going to be closed for about a month, starting at 9 a.m. today, for the Rolling Road widening project. [VDOT]
Vehicle Sales Approved for Office Site — “The Board of Supervisors on May 5 authorized a new use for a property in a hidden corner of Mason District with two vacant office buildings. The board passed a motion to rezone the property [at 6850 Versar Center in Springfield] from I-5 to the C-8 [district] to allow the sale of passenger vehicles.” [Annandale Today]
Some Skepticism of DOJ Investigation — “The Department of Justice says it formally launched a new investigation [last] week into Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano … But former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi is skeptical. He says the point may be the announcement rather than the investigation.” [WVTF]
Man Faces Federal Gun Charges — “A Woodbridge man faces federal firearms charges after a Feb. 18 domestic dispute in Herndon … Federal authorities took over prosecution after state-level charges of carrying a concealed weapon and obstruction of justice were dropped in Fairfax County General District Court on May 5.” [Patch]
Fairfax Native Leads Softball Team to First Title — “At the center of the breakthrough season is head coach Maggie Mrowka, a Fairfax County native who became the youngest head coach in Division I college softball when she took over the program last year. Now, in her first season leading the Cougars, Mrowka has guided Charleston to one of the biggest accomplishments in program history.” [WJLA]
Falls Church Plans Cemetery Tours — “A series of monthly walking tours will explore Oakwood Cemetery and the lives of some of those interred there,” starting at 4 p.m. on May 24. “The tours are part of Falls Church’s commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026 and are a welcome addition, said Jim Coyle, who chairs the Falls Church250 Committee.” [ARLnow]
VR Tool Offers Caregivers Insight Into Aging — “Taking care of a loved one at the end of their life can often be a stressful and confusing task, so Fairfax County wants to help. The Virginia county is offering a new virtual training series, developed by Embodied Labs, called Exploring the Dimensions of Aging through Virtual Reality.” [WTOP]
It’s Monday — Expect a 40% chance of rain before 2 PM. The weather will start cloudy but should gradually become mostly sunny, with a high near 67°F and a north wind at 7 to 9 mph. Night will be mostly clear with a low around 45°F. [NWS]
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 — May 8, 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:
Showers and thunderstorms are possible, mainly after 3 PM, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 73°F. Winds from the south will reach speeds of around 11 mph, with gusts up to 21 mph. There’s a 30% chance of precipitation. Saturday night will be mostly clear with a low around 55°F, and a southwest wind of about 5 mph becoming calm later in the evening. 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. 👋
Fairfax County supervisors saluted the Garden Club of Fairfax on May 5 for its members’ efforts over the past century.
“Thank you for all you do in our community,” said Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, who sponsored the centennial resolution while acknowledging that he, unlike club members, lacked a green thumb.
