Brendan Banfield looks on during his double murder trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner, Pool)
By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — In the cold formality of a northern Virginia courtroom, Brendan Banfield testified on Thursday that prosecutors got it wrong: He did not fatally stab his wife in 2023, but instead shot the man who did.
Existing Lincoln Lewis Vannoy Odor Control Facility (via Fairfax County Capital Facilities)
The Fairfax County Planning Commission has approved plans to modernize a facility used to reduce the amount of smelly — in some cases potentially lethal — hydrogen sulfide in neighborhoods near Braddock Road in the southwestern part of the county.
The unanimous vote on Wednesday (Jan. 28) paves the way for the 35-year-old Lincoln Lewis Vannoy Odor Control Facility to be replaced with more updated technology to limit unwanted smells emanating from pressure sewers in the vicinity.
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Saturday Nights
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Visit our website for the full schedule and details.
Evening rush hour traffic on Leesburg Pike in Tysons (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Fairfax Connector Resumes Full Service — For the first time since Saturday (Jan. 24), “Fairfax Connector will operate full service with some snow detours on Friday, Jan. 30. All regularly scheduled weekday routes will be in service. The following routes will begin operating with snow detours in the morning until road conditions improve: 151, 152, 161, 162, 231, 232, 310, 321, 322, 334, 703, 803 and 937.” [Fairfax Connector]
Memorial Planned for Midair Crash Victims — “A new memorial in Alexandria will honor the lives of the 67 people killed in last year’s midair collision over the Potomac River, which happened one year ago [Thursday]. A bench, newly planted trees and plaque bearing the names of the 67 victims will be installed on the Potomac waterfront on the northeastern portion of Rivergate Park.” [ALXnow]
N. Va. Skating Community Honors Crash Victims — Ashburn figure skater Alexis “Winch was friends with Everly Livingston, 14, a victim of the regional jet’s mid-air collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River … Winch and a few peers participated in a commemorative tribute skate at the Ashburn Ice House on Tuesday following a sculpture unveiling ceremony.” [Inside NoVA]
Felon Disenfranchisement Partly Struck Down — “A federal judge in Richmond partially struck down Virginia’s felony disenfranchisement rule earlier this month, in a court decision that could make hundreds of thousands of people eligible to vote again — and have broader implications across the southern United States.” Virginia General Attorney Jay Jones is expected to “make a public announcement on the case this week.” [VPM News]
Virginia AG Condemns DOJ Pressure on Minnesota — “Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones joined 21 colleagues on Thursday in sharply condemning the U.S. Department of Justice’s latest push to force Minnesota officials to surrender sensitive state data and dismantle public-safety policies as a condition for federal cooperation, calling it unconstitutional and an overreach of federal power.” [Virginia Mercury]
Fairfax Speed Skater Set for Olympic Debut — “When 24-year old Brandon Kim was growing up in Fairfax, Virginia, he first saw short-track speedskating on television, during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver … Now, he’s preparing to make his Olympic debut in Italy next month.” [WTOP]
Renewed Push for Paid Sick Leave — “While Virginia does have a paid sick leave law, it applies to a narrow scope of workers. House Bill 5 by Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, D-Virginia Beach, would expand that to all public and private sector employees in the state. Workers would be able to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.” State Sen. Jennifer Boysko, who represents Reston, Herndon, Great Falls and McLean, has also proposed a paid family medical leave bill. [Virginia Mercury]
Oakton Golf Center Named Among Best in U.S. — “Oakmont Golf Center range was recognized as one of America’s Top 50 Public Ranges by Golf Range Magazine,” which has now included the facility in its ranking four years in a row. Owned and operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, the range “features 78 lighted stations, with 30 stations that are also covered and heated.” [FCPA]
New Legal Notice — Public hearings on FY2027 budget: Feb 10; overflow Feb 11. [Public Notices]
New Legal Notice — Application for restaurant beer/wine on- and off-premises license. [Public Notices]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of around 21 degrees during the day, with wind chill values dropping as low as -1 due to a 6 mph northwest wind. The night will be mostly cloudy, seeing a low of around 9 degrees, identical wind chill values, and a calm wind that will shift to north at around 6 mph after midnight. [NWS]
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Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 21 degrees and wind chill values down to -3 as the northwest wind blows at around 6 mph. Moving into Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 8 degrees, with wind chills as low as -1. A calm wind will pick up from the north at around 6 mph after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
The Reston Museum’s next program, held on June 3rd at 7:00PM, will feature the talented students of the South Lakes High School STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Team/National Art Honor Society, who will discuss the creative and technical process behind their upcoming public art installation at the Lake Thoreau spillway. This fascinating program will provide attendees with a behind-the-scenes-look at how students developed the concept for the installation and worked through the planning, engineering, environmental and artistic considerations involved in creating public art for a community space. Program takes place at South Lakes High School and admission is free. For more information visit: restonmuseum.org.
People in coats walk along Maple Avenue in Vienna during Winter Storm Fern on Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
At least three people in Fairfax County have died this week in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern and the extreme cold continuing to grip the D.C. region.
The Fairfax County Police Department says its officers have responded to “several” CPR calls for people experiencing heart troubles in recent days, including three cases where the person died.
Bree Fram, a military member forced to retire due to the Trump administration's transgender ban, is running for Congress. (courtesy of Bree Fram for Congress)
Former Space Force Col. Bree Fram (D) hopes to become the second transgender member elected to Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, but she’s not sure yet which district she would represent.
Last week, Fram filed to run in the strongly Democratic 11th Congressional District that currently covers a significant portion of Fairfax County. However, her campaign is monitoring whether a mid-decade redistricting push by Virginia Democrats would move her Reston home to the Democrat-leaning 10th Congressional District or even another district currently represented by a Republican.
The Washington Post's front page for Jan. 28, 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
As rumors of impending layoffs circulate at the Washington Post, the newspaper has confirmed at least one future change: its Springfield printing plant will close.
The 46-year-old facility, which sits just inside the Capital Beltway (I-495) at 7171 Wimsatt Road, is expected to be replaced by a new facility in Loudoun County next year, the Washington Business Journal reported earlier this month.
Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano at a press conference to launch a diversion program in Fairfax City in January 2024 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Nine progressive prosecutors around the country, including Fairfax County’s Steve Descano, have joined forces in hopes of holding federal agents accountable for violating state laws.
The Project to Fight Against Federal Overreach (FAFO) coalition, which launched yesterday (Wednesday), aims to “rein in unlawful conduct” amid a growing presence of federal immigration and law enforcement in communities across the country.
An independent investigation into allegations of improper student-athlete recruitment practices by the football programs at Hayfield Secondary School and Fairfax High School has concluded.
Chicago law firm Baker McKenzie’s report confirmed that both programs violated the Virginia High School League’s (VHSL) eligibility rules in 2024, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid announced yesterday (Wednesday).