Countywide
Paddleboarders coast toward the fountain at Lake Anne in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax City Asked to Repay Funds for Canceled Trail — “The Virginia Department of Transportation has formally requested that Fairfax City repay $3.5 million in concessionaire funding used for the now-canceled George Snyder Trail project, according to a April 6 letter from the agency.” Mayor Catherine Read said at an April 14 work session that the city “was in communication with the state” on the repayment process. [Patch]

GW Parkway Resurfacing Begins — Starting yesterday (Thursday), the National Park Service is repaving the parkway in Alexandria after previously working on the section “between Spout Run Parkway and Interstate 395 in Arlington. Crews will resurface the road and replace pedestrian crossing medians between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and First Street.” [ALXnow]

Democrats Split on Proposed Data Center Ban — “Most Democrats in Congress have criticized the moratorium proposal harshly. Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner dismissed the plan as ‘idiocy’ during an event hosted by Axios.” Meanwhile, Mo Seifeldein, a former Alexandria council member who’s challenging Rep. Don Beyer in Virginia’s 8th District, has expressed support for a pause on data center development. [Politico]

Book Vending Machine Added at Reston School — “The RoSigle Foundation, a local nonprofit, recently installed a book vending
machine at Langston Hughes Middle School, giving students a fun and engaging way to access free reading material. The initiative supports the organization’s broader mission to promote literacy and educational equity.” [Reston Letter]

New Chicken Restaurant Coming to Lincolnia — “Love & Honey Fried Chicken is replacing another chicken restaurant at Pinecrest Plaza in Lincolnia. The space, at 6544 Little River Turnpike, is being renovated following the closure of Hot Lola’s, which opened in February 2023.” [Annandale Today]

McLean AI Startup Raises Millions — “Rilian has raised $17.5 million in new funding to further expand the development of its artificial intelligence-powered cybersecurity tools for the defense sector.” The company plans to use the funding from 8VC, a venture capital firm started by Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale, to hire more engineering staff, boost marketing and continue building out its products “for the U.S. military and its allies.” [Washington Business Journal]

Baby Born in Reston Miles From Home — “Akosua was born at Reston Hospital on October 26, 2025, at just 1 pound, 1 ounce — and more than 5,000 miles from her home in Ghana. Her mother, Afua, was 23 weeks pregnant when she traveled to the U.S. to attend her cousin’s wedding last fall.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Sporting Events to Watch for — “Sports fans looking to catch a game this spring have a number of options to explore without leaving the county.” Highlights include home games for Old Glory DC and DC Divas, the District’s professional rugby and women’s football teams, which will be playing at George Mason Stadium and Lewis High School, respectively. [Fairfax County Government]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny weather with a high near 81, although there is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms developing after 2 p.m. Night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. [NWS]


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 23, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

There is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 PM, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 82°F. Winds will be light and variable, shifting to the north at about 5 mph in the afternoon. Later, the night will be mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, and temperatures will drop to a low of around 55°F, with southeast winds around 6 mph. 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.


Sponsored

The bakery that knows your order. The pediatrician your kids grew up with. The contractor your whole street recommends. These are the businesses that give Fairfax County its character. The same neighbors who open FFXnow every day are also the people looking to support local businesses in their area.

FFXnow is where Fairfax County turns for local news, reaching 600,000 readers a month and 9 million pageviews a year, making it one of the most-read local news sites in Virginia. People come to keep up with the county, and along the way, they find the businesses that make it run.

Our readers tell us this works. 67% say they’re more likely to support a business that advertises with FFXnow, and 33% have made a purchase after seeing an ad or sponsored article. Next to news your neighbors already trust, your business reads as part of the conversation, not an interruption.

If you own a business in Fairfax County, we’ve got more than one way to get involved, whether you’re introducing your business, promoting an event, or telling your story. And because FFXnow is independent local journalism, your support helps keep Fairfax County informed, too.

If reaching your neighbors has been on your mind, we’d love to help you find the right fit.

Explore every option at lnn.co/advertise, email hello@lnn.co, or call 703-348-0583.


Around Town

A national outdoor furniture retailer held a grand opening for its new Springfield store today (Thursday).

Fortunoff Backyard Store is now open at Springfield Commons, with a new, 11,000-square-foot store and showroom at 6721B Frontier Drive. The showroom sells a variety of outdoor furniture, including dining sets, chaises, gazebos, fire pits and other patio decor.


Countywide

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D)’s substitute to Fairfax County legislators’ collective bargaining bill has been rejected by the Virginia General Assembly.

The General Assembly is holding a reconvened session to consider the governor’s amended and vetoed bills, including SB 378 and HB 1263 from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) and Del. Kathy Tran (D-18). The General Assembly did not take up Spanberger’s substitute to the legislation yesterday or today (Thursday).


Event

Join us for the Saint Ann Fall Festival on Saturday, September 26! Start the day with our Fun Run at 9:30 AM, followed by the Fall Festival beginning at 10:00 AM.
This family friendly celebration is open to the entire Arlington community and offers something for everyone! Enjoy rides and inflatables, live entertainment, family friendly Bingo, raffles, a Beer Garden, delicious food, and plenty of opportunities to gather with the community.
The festival is also a celebration of Saint Ann’s diverse Catholic community, featuring food and entertainment representing our Filipino, Latino, and Peruvian communities, along with some local favorites.
This year’s entertainment includes a live band in the Beer Garden, and exciting Bolivian and Peruvian dance performances. Admission is free, and tickets for food, rides, and activities can be purchased at the festival.
Come celebrate with us and experience the warm, welcoming spirit of Saint Ann! We look forward to welcoming the greater Arlington community for a fun-filled day together.
The Fall Festival will take place rain or shine! Come join the fun!


News

A nonprofit that provides day programs for adults with disabilities has expanded its services to Hybla Valley.

Joined by local and state-level elected officials as well as program participants and their families, Specially Adapted Resource Centers (SPARC) celebrated the opening of its newest site at the Hybla Valley Community Center (7950 Audubon Avenue) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday (April 17).


News

A fresh startup headquartered at Reston Station is testing the waters for its automated, contact-free laundry services lockers.

Washera deployed the lockers in public for the first time earlier this month at the coworking offices Venture X Brambleton (23710 Schooler Plaza) in Loudoun County, founder and CEO Ali Alawad told FFXnow.


News

State Del. Elizabeth Guzmán on Wednesday launched a campaign for Virginia’s new 7th Congressional District following Tuesday’s redistricting referendum approval.

Guzman, a Prince William resident who represents Virginia’s 22nd House District, joins a crowded field in the new 7th District, including former first lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe, state Del. Dan Helmer and several others.


Around Town

Taste of Vienna is set to return this weekend, putting a spotlight on local restaurants while also raising funds for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (Vienna VFD).

The 13th annual food festival will take over the fire department’s parking lot at 400 Center Street South from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. this Saturday (April 25).


Countywide

Three congressional candidates wagered on the outcome of their own elections on Kalshi, according to the prediction market, which said yesterday (Wednesday) that it fined and suspended the men from their platform for five years.

It is the latest high-profile case of alleged insider trading on prediction markets including Kalshi and Polymarket, which have brought bipartisan scrutiny from Congress and calls for stricter regulations of the websites where people can put money on just about anything.