Donald Trump | FFXnow

Published June 2, 2025 at 9:15AM

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detain a person on Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Maryland (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Fairfax County and hundreds of other localities across the country were labeled “sanctuary jurisdictions” last week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for limiting their cooperation with federal immigration officials.

The department accused the localities on the list — which was published on its website last Thursday (May 29) before apparently being removed over the weekend — of obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from enforcing federal immigration laws, stating that they will all receive formal notices of non-compliance.

Countywide

Legislators suggest Virginia needs to take more active role in food safety

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 30, 2025 at 1:45PM

Del. Mark Sickles (D-17) (photo via campaign website)

Virginia may need to enact more food safety requirements at the state level in response to cutbacks and deregulation efforts by the Trump administration, two legislators and several advocates said at a recent forum.

“We have historically, in my opinion, not done the kind of oversight we need to do. We’ve let the federal government do most of it,” Del. Mark Sickles (D-17) said during the press event on May 28.

News

White South Africans admitted by Trump administration arrive at Dulles Airport

By Associated Press

Published May 12, 2025 at 3:45PM

Afrikaner refugees from South Africa arrive, Monday, May 12, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

By MATTHEW LEE, REBECCA SANTANA and MOGOMOTSI MAGOME Associated Press

DULLES, Virginia (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday welcomed a small group of white South Africans as refugees, saying they face discrimination and violence at home, which the country’s government strongly denies.

Countywide

Fairfax arts groups start to feel the sting of federal downsizing, economic uncertainty

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 12, 2025 at 9:15AM | Updated May 12, 2025 at 10:14AM

ArtsFairfax sign at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County arts organizations have not been immune from the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal government.

Both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) have started rescinding funding awards from projects and organizations they say don’t fit the priorities of President Donald Trump.

Countywide

Jam-packed GMU board meeting becomes battleground in national school diversity fight

By Vernon Miles

Published May 2, 2025 at 2:30PM | Updated May 4, 2025 at 4:50PM

Students and faculty protesting outside of a Board of Visitors meeting (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

George Mason University Board of Visitors meetings aren’t typically jam-packed, but a battle over diversity programs among the school’s leadership has stirred up the university’s student body.

At a meeting yesterday (Thursday), board members questioned university staff on whether the school is complying with the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in education.

Countywide

Report: FCPS affirms commitment to diversity in response to federal funding threat

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 30, 2025 at 2:30PM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools is one of two Virginia school divisions that reportedly declined to sign a form committing it to complying with federal anti-discrimination laws and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred race from being considered in college admissions.

Superintendent Michelle Reid instead sent a “modified certification and assurance document” to Virginia education leaders last week affirming FCPS’ compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Virginia Mercury reported yesterday morning (Tuesday).

News

Decline in corporate sponsorship causes challenges for Reston Pride organizers

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 17, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated April 17, 2025 at 4:25PM

Vendor tables at the 2023 Reston Pride Festival (courtesy of Jennifer Heffner Photography)

Despite a decline in corporate support, organizers of the 2025 Reston Pride Festival say they are moving forward with what is planned as the largest in the event’s history.

Set to run May 31-June 1 at Lake Anne Plaza, the event’s all-volunteer organizing committee has begun a last-minute effort to attract sponsors, after a number of those that had participated in the past opted against doing so in 2025.

Countywide

NEW: Visas revoked for multiple international students at GMU

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 16, 2025 at 9:00AM

George Mason University (file photo)

More than a dozen international students at George Mason University have recently had their visas terminated or revoked by the federal government, the university says.

The U.S. departments of state and homeland security apparently changed the statuses of 15 students without any involvement by or prior notice to university officials, GMU President Gregory Washington and Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell told the community yesterday (Tuesday).

Countywide

Local leaders seek united front as D.C. region responds to economic upheaval under Trump

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 10, 2025 at 2:30PM

D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk and Charles County Board of County Commissioners President Reuben Collins at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' April 9, 2025 board meeting (via COG/YouTube)

Regional leaders seem to agree that they must cooperate and coordinate in an effort to blunt impacts of Trump administration’s gutting of the federal workforce.

But that may not be so simple in a region where jurisdictions across the D.C. metropolitan area typically have competed, rather than collaborated, to achieve economic development goals.

News

Kings Park West seniors join nationwide anti-Trump protests

By Vernon Miles

Published April 7, 2025 at 3:45PM

Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw (at center) joined residents of the Woodleigh Chase Senior Living Community for a "Hands Off" rally on Braddock Road (photo by Michael Feil)

Rona Hitlin-Mason is afraid for the future she leaves behind for her grandchildren.

Hitlin-Mason and over 50 other residents or friends of residents at Woodleigh Chase — a retirement community off Braddock Road in Kings Park West — took to the streets on Saturday (April 5) to join in a day of nationwide protests against President Donald Trump.