Associated Press

Tysons media company’s merger blocked for now by federal judge

Published April 21, 2026 at 8:30AM

FILE - Chairman, President and CEO of Nexstar Broadcasting Group Perry Sook attends the 24th Annual Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York on Oct. 29, 2014. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

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.

Countywide

Democrats line up to run in Virginia congressional districts, even before voters approve them

By Associated Press and Angela Woolsey

Published April 14, 2026 at 8:15PM

Voters walk outside the Fairfax County Government Center during early voting for the Virginia redistricting referendum, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Even before Virginia voters decide on a new congressional map, Democrats are piling in to run for districts proposed under a redistricting plan that is designed to give their party a near sweep of the state’s U.S. House seats.

The latest entrant is Olivia Troye, who was an aide to former Republican Vice President Mike Pence and has become a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. She announced today (Tuesday) that she’ll run in Virginia’s newly created 7th Congressional District — one of five that would include Fairfax County — joining an already crowded field.

Countywide

Virginia legislators debate whether to scrap tax breaks for data centers

By Associated Press

Published March 11, 2026 at 11:45AM

FILE - Cars drive past data centers that house computer servers and hardware required to support modern internet use, such as artificial intelligence, in Ashburn, Virginia, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

By OLIVIA DIAZ and MARC LEVY Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Nearly two decades ago, Virginia gave tech companies a tax break on equipment and software, and they began to build. The state became a data center hub, and they kept building. Residents bemoaned the noise while they built some more. Artificial intelligence boomed, and the power grid strained — still, more building.

News

Former Va. first lady Dorothy McAuliffe to run for Congress in proposed 7th district

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published March 11, 2026 at 10:20AM

FILE - Dorothy McAuliffe speaks during a campaign event for her husband Virginia democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe at Lubber Run Park, July 23, 2021, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Former Virginia first lady Dorothy McAuliffe is officially running for Congress.

The onetime state department official and wife of former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced today (Wednesday) that she will campaign for the proposed 7th Congressional District seat, which would include Annandale, Burke, West Springfield, West Falls Church and Pimmit Hills in Fairfax County.

Countywide

Virginia Supreme Court allows redistricting referendum, with early voting starting Friday

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published March 5, 2026 at 8:30AM

FILE - The state and U.S. flags fly over the Virginia State Capitol as the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly gets underway, Jan. 10, 2024, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

For the second time, Virginia’s Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that voters can cast ballots on a Democrat-led congressional redistricting plan that could help the party win four more U.S. House seats, as the justices review legal challenges to the effort.

The court ruled that a statewide referendum can be held on April 21 on whether to authorize mid-decade redistricting, upending a temporary restraining order put in place by a Tazewell County judge last month. It comes after the top court made a similar ruling last month in a related case.

Countywide

Judge blocks Virginia Democrats’ redistricting referendum two weeks before early voting

By Associated Press

Published February 20, 2026 at 8:30AM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia court on Thursday effectively blocked Democrats’ planned April voter referendum to redraw the state’s congressional maps, another potentially devastating blow to the party’s effort to pick up four more U.S. House seats in the national redistricting battle.

Countywide

Virginia redistricting election will go forward while court considers appeal

By Associated Press

Published February 13, 2026 at 2:15PM

FILE - The state and U.S. flags fly over the Virginia State Capitol as the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly gets underway, Jan. 10, 2024, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press

Virginia voters will get to cast ballots on a congressional redistricting plan benefiting Democrats while a court battle plays out over the legality of the effort.

News

JUST IN: Fairfax’s Ilia Malinin secures US figure skating team gold at Milan Cortina Olympics

By Associated Press

Published February 8, 2026 at 5:00PM | Updated February 8, 2026 at 6:48PM

Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the figure skating men's team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

MILAN (AP) — It seemed only fitting that Ilia Malinin was the first one to get his Olympic gold medal after the U.S. successfully defended its team title by holding off the Japanese on Sunday night in the three-day competition at the Milan Cortina Games.

News

When to catch Fairfax natives Ilia Malinin and Brandon Kim at the Winter Olympics

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published February 6, 2026 at 3:50PM | Updated February 6, 2026 at 6:02PM

Ilia Malinin, of the United States, practices during a figure skating training session ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are officially underway in Italy, with the opening ceremony unfolding this afternoon (Friday).

For Fairfax County viewers, eyes will be particularly fixed in the coming days on two local athletes: figure skater Ilia Malinin — a 2023 Marshall High graduate who still lives in Vienna and trains at Reston’s SkateQuest — and speedskater Brandon Kim, a 2020 Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology making his Olympic debut.

News

CIA ends publication of its popular World Factbook reference tool

By Associated Press

Published February 4, 2026 at 7:10PM

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, seated at center, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, standing in back, listen during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Close the cover on the CIA World Factbook: The spy agency announced Wednesday that after more than 60 years, it is shuttering the popular reference manual.