Civic leaders in Fairfax County’s oldest African American neighborhood are pressing local leaders to avoid a proposed budget cut that would eliminate a key staff position in their community.
The proposed reduction would “significantly affect the Gum Springs community’s future,” said Linda Brown of the New Gum Springs Civic Association.
A vegan dessert shop known for its giant, fresh-baked cookies hopes to return to Reston this spring.
MidnighTreats is planning to open around late May to early June at Reston Town Center, owner Jemal Mahdi told FFXnow. It’s a relocation for the plant-based bakery, whose original storefront in Plaza America closed after about two years in business.
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.
A federal judge has blocked a $6.2 billion merger of local television giants Nexstar Media Group and Tysons-based rival Tegna until an antitrust lawsuit is resolved.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley in Sacramento, California, made the ruling late Friday (April 17) afternoon, finding that eight attorneys general and DirecTV were likely to prevail in their legal bid to stop the merger. The attorneys general, all Democrats, and DirecTV contend the merger will lead to higher prices for consumers, stifle local journalism and that the deal runs afoul of federal laws designed to protect against monopolies.
Bomb Threat Cleared on Dulles-Bound Plane — “A United Airlines flight coming from Denver landed safely at Dulles International Airport Monday morning after a reported bomb threat, according to officials. Before departing from Denver International Airport, ‘United flight 2408 deplaned safely via airstairs due to a security concern,’ according to a Dulles statement.” [NBC4]
Lawsuits Filed Over Potomac Sewage Spill — “The Justice Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment have filed separate lawsuits against D.C. Water over the pollution of the Potomac River due to a massive sewage spill from a ruptured pipe back in January.” [WTOP]
Sen. Warner’s Daughter Has Died — “Sen. Mark Warner (D) and his wife, Lisa Collis, shared today (Monday) that their daughter Madison Warner has died. The 36-year-old died after decades of battling juvenile diabetes and other health issues, according to their statement.” [ALXnow]
Immigration Advocates Mixed on Spanberger — “In the wake of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, Democrats in Virginia’s legislature passed a handful of bills to help combat what they see as injustices by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Governor Abigail Spanberger signed some of those bills … but immigration advocates hope legislators will reject some she amended.” [WVTF]
Historic Civil War Center Set to Reopen — The interpretive center at Historic Blenheim in Fairfax City will reopen to visitors tomorrow (Wednesday) after closing over the winter for maintenance. The facility will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a free guided tour of the Historic Blenheim house on Saturdays at 1 p.m. [City of Fairfax]
Steakhouse Chain Files for Bankruptcy — “801 Restaurant Group, the parent company of the 801 Chophouse chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 10, a move the company says is intended to restructure debt and keep its restaurants operating rather than shutter them outright.” The first 801 Chophouse on the East Coast opened in Tysons in 2024. [Des Moines Register]
Watch Out for Tick Bites — “As spring arrives and the weather warms up, tick activity increases around Virginia. Increased tick activity means that Virginians need to be aware of the risks that ticks can pose to people … There are several illnesses that ticks can spread in Virginia, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Alpha-gal Syndrome.” [Virginia Department of Health]
Lake Anne Award Winners Announced — “Lake Anne Plaza in Reston presented its first Good Neighbor Awards on Saturday, recognizing a child and an adult for contributions to the community.” Five-year-old Elianna Malesic won in the kids’ category for helping clean up litter, while local artist Pat McIntyre was the adult honoree for hosting a free weekly crafts table every Saturday. [Patch]
It’s Tuesday — Expect widespread frost before 10 am, followed by sunny weather with a high near 62°F. Winds will be calm, shifting to the south at about 6 mph in the afternoon. At night, there is a 30% chance of showers after 2 am, with partly cloudy skies and a low around 50°F. [NWS]
Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.
Calling all budding artists & writers Ages 8 – 12, spend your day off of school at The Community Studio working with a professional Graphic Novelist to bring your big ideas to life. September's featured artist is Brigitta Blair.
Before and after care is available. Space is limited
Good Monday 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 — Apr 20, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Tuesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect widespread frost before 10 a.m., followed by sunny skies and a high near 61°F. Winds will be calm in the morning, becoming southwest at about 6 mph in the afternoon. On Tuesday night, there’s a slight 20% chance of showers after 2 a.m., with partly cloudy skies and a low around 50°F. South winds will range from 7 to 10 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.
Entering the multipurpose room at the Vienna Community Center last Friday afternoon (April 17) was like stepping into a time capsule.
For an open house to celebrate the facility’s 60th anniversary, the Town of Vienna’s Parks and Recreation Department set up displays on one side of the room covered with nostalgia-triggering newspaper clippings and photographs, many of them provided by local residents.
Friday Night Live! is coming back to Herndon, capping off last week’s heat wave with the release of its upcoming schedule.
The popular summer concert series produced by the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce will return to the Town Green on May 22, kicking off with cover band Lost in Paris.
A local businessman is seeking to rezone a Franconia property to make way for Fairfax County’s second Sheetz location.
Basim Mansour, who owns the home improvement company Michael and Sons, petitioned county officials earlier this month to approve his plan, which replaces two “underperforming” office buildings with the gas station and convenience store chain.
After months of sometimes confusing commercials, mailers and political campaigning, Virginians will decide tomorrow (Tuesday) whether to allow an off-cycle redrawing of the state’s Congressional districts.
Voters will head to the polls to weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment supporting a one-time, mid-decade redistricting process, one that would shift the current partisan balance for the House of Representatives to one where Democrats are favored in 10 of 11 districts.
