Fairfax County officials are ready to let residents move into Kingstowne Towne Center.
At its May 5 meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Halle Companies’ proposal to convert a parking lot into two residential buildings with 646 units at the 35-acre shopping center.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has vetoed collective bargaining legislation from Fairfax County legislators that would have expanded collective bargaining rights in Virginia.
SB 378 and HB 1263 from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) and Del. Kathy Tran (D-18) would have repealed any bans on collective bargaining, mandating that the state and local governments negotiate labor contracts if public employees form a union.
Hartwell Park is coming early fall 2026 to Birchwood at Brambleton, introducing the Fairmont and Worthington Collections of single-level elevator condominiums thoughtfully designed for vibrant, connected 55+ living.
The Fairmont Collection, from the $500s, offers 1- to 3-bedroom residences with private balconies, penthouse residences available, and a den in select residences. With up to 1,661 sq. ft., these right-sized homes offer easy, adaptable spaces for hosting, relaxing or simply enjoying more time to yourself.
The Worthington Collection, from the $700s, is designed for those who aren’t ready to compromise on space. These expansive 2- and 3-bedroom residences offer a den in select residences, private balconies, generous primary suites and up to 2,442 sq. ft. of sophisticated living—with fewer residences on every floor for a quieter, more private home.
At Hartwell Park, thoughtfully planned amenities, scenic surroundings and meaningful social connections create a lifestyle centered on what matters most. Beyond Birchwood, Bram Quarter eateries and Brambleton’s thriving town center continue to evolve with restaurants, retail destinations and services that bring even more convenience to everyday.
Explore the Fairmont and Worthington floorplans, discover the home that feels right for you and join the VIP list to stay connected as Hartwell Park gets closer to opening.
The last time the Fairfax City Council approved a pay raise for its members, the year was 2015. The amount was $12,000 for council members, and $13,000 for the mayor.
During a work session on Tuesday (May 12), council members unanimously agreed it’s time to raise their own salaries — potentially up to the maximum allowed by Virginia law. For cities with a population between 20,000-34,999 people, that’s up to $24,000 for mayors and $22,000 for council members.
The growing tension between Fairfax County’s government and schools leaders over funding spilled into public view yesterday (Wednesday) when Hunter Mill District School Board Representative Melanie Meren shared a hostile text exchange with Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.
In response to a May 7 newsletter where Meren criticized the Board of Supervisors for eliminating high school crossing guards in the county’s fiscal year 2027 budget, adopted on May 5, McKay texted that she “should apologize” for the “crazy words you have put out,” according to screenshots that Meren posted on Facebook and provided directly to FFXnow.
Red Wine, Explained: Tannin, Body & Alcohol
Looking for a fun night out with friends, a unique date night, or a chance to meet new people? Join us at Wine Junction in McLean for a relaxed, approachable wine class featuring a guided tasting of red wines and light bites.
Fairfax County officials now have a lengthy to-do list in their efforts to increase the community’s housing stock.
The goal is to “ensure we keep the pedal down on this priority,” Ben Aiken, a county staffer who serves as project manager for the Housing Task Force, told the Board of Supervisors at a Land Use Policy Committee meeting on Tuesday (May 12).
A Chinese restaurant that generated buzz as soon as it opened in Vienna last year has garnered the attention of the Washington Post.
Elazar Sontag, who took over as the newspaper’s food critic in November following longtime scribe Tom Sietsema’s retirement, has ranked Chef Tan as one of the 10 best new restaurants in the D.C. area.
Despite a relatively stable year-over-year homelessness count in new data, Fairfax County’s level of those experiencing chronic homelessness ticked up more substantially between 2025 and 2026.
A total of 302 people were counted as chronically homeless in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church in this year’s Point-in-Time Survey, coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).
Woman Injured in Stolen Vehicle Crash — Fairfax County police officers responded last night (Wednesday) to “a crash involving multiple vehicles at Richmond Hwy and Lorton Rd in Lorton. An adult female was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Preliminarily, a delivery vehicle was stolen near Backlick Rd and Richmond Hwy in Fort Belvoir. The suspect then crashed into multiple vehicles and is now in custody.” [FCPD/X]
Health Care Bills Signed in Merrifield — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) on Wednesday signed a package of health care bills at Inova Schar Cancer Institute aimed at capping insulin costs, expanding insurance benefits and limiting how insurers use prior authorization and artificial intelligence.” [Patch]
High Security Planned for D.C.’s Fourth of July — “The July 4 celebration on the National Mall has been given the highest-level security designation, an unusual step for Independence Day that will unlock the full weight of local and federal law enforcement resources.” The designation “is typically given to events deemed potential targets for terrorism or other criminal activity” by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. [Washington Post]
Va. Could Mandate Changing Stations in Bathrooms — Virginia doesn’t require public restrooms to include diaper-changing stations, but that could change under a proposal from state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, who represents Alexandria and a sliver of Fairfax County. The state’s Board of Housing and Community Development advanced the proposal at a meeting on Monday (May 11) and will take a final vote “after the public has the chance to weigh in.” [Virginia Mercury]
Seafood Eatery Opens in Annandale — “Mad Seafood is bringing a taste of Louisiana to Annandale. The new restaurant, at the corner of Annandale Road, Poplar Street, and Markham Street, specializes in Cajun-style, farm-raised fish and shrimp.” [Annandale Today]
Congressional Candidate Likely Dropping Out — “A congressional candidate from Falls Church says he will leave the race if the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision on redistricting stands … Like most other contenders in the proposed new 7th District, Schiarizzi said he was awaiting a final outcome before formalizing any plans.” [ARLnow]
New Mural Honors Late Musician — “A new mural going up in Annandale celebrates singer-songwriter Cat Janice, who died of cancer in 2024 shortly after one of her songs, ‘Dance Outta My Head,’ went viral … The mural, located on the side of Annandale Watch & Clock at 4221 Annandale Road, should be completed by the end of next week, says Cat’s mother, Annandale resident Stacey Ipsan.” [Annandale Today]
McLean Restaurant Revived Under New Owner — “At Café Tatti in McLean, chef Giovanni Carlo has created his own version of the winter dish. And he’s not sure if he can ever remove it from the menu. ‘It’s one of the items that drives in new guests,’ says the restaurateur, who took over the 45-year-old restaurant with his wife, Sema, last year.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 65°F and northwest winds at 11 to 14 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 51°F, featuring northwest winds around 11 mph and gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]
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Good Wednesday 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 13, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect increasing clouds today with temperatures reaching up to 64°F. Winds will come from the northwest at 11 to 14 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy, cooling down to around 50°F, with northwest winds at 11 to 13 mph and gusts up to 21 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
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.
