General Assembly | FFXnow

Published November 21, 2025 at 9:15AM | Updated November 21, 2025 at 9:46AM

Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano and Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi listen to crime survivors at the National Organization of Victim Advocacy's office in Old Town Alexandria on Nov. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

As the federal government slashes public safety funding, including grants supporting programs for crime victims, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano joined other top prosecutors in Alexandria this week to hear stories from survivors.

For more than an hour on Wednesday (Nov. 19), Descano, Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Deghani-Tafti and Norfolk CA Ramin Fatehi listened to crime survivors at the National Organization of Victim Advocacy (510 King Street) headquarters, next door to the Alexandria Courthouse.

Countywide

Casino critics dominate Fairfax County board hearing on legislative priorities

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 19, 2025 at 11:45AM | Updated December 10, 2025 at 2:40PM

A 'No Fairfax Casino' sign (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Critics of expected legislation that could allow a casino in Tysons dominated a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors hearing yesterday (Tuesday) on 2026 priorities for the Virginia General Assembly.

Speakers from organizations representing residents in Tysons, McLean and Reston — along with the mayor of Vienna — urged supervisors to be more explicit in voicing opposition to the proposal, which likely will return to Richmond early next year.

Countywide

Plan for dedicated Metro funding wins support from key D.C. region leaders

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 17, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated November 17, 2025 at 4:06PM

Boarding a Metro train at the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A plan to upgrade Metro’s service and long-term sustainability by establishing dedicated funding for the transit system won backing Monday afternoon (Nov. 17) from two key panels.

The boards of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) each formally endorsed the funding plan laid out in late October by the DMV Moves Task Force at a joint meeting.

Countywide

N. Va. officials show initial support for proposed transit funding increases

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 12, 2025 at 10:00AM

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission board discusses transit funding recommendations at its Nov. 6, 2025 meeting (via NVTC/YouTube)

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) on Thursday (Nov. 6) gave its support to two transit-funding initiatives currently working their way through a complex review process.

With no dissents, the commission signaled its backing of recommendations of the DMV Moves task force and the General Assembly’s Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee, also known as the SJ28 Subcommittee after the state Senate resolution that established it.

News

Fairfax City Council is seeking permission to increase tax rate on hotel stays

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 12, 2025 at 9:15AM

Residence Inn by Marriott in Fairfax City (via Google Maps)

Fairfax City Council members voted unanimously Oct. 28 to ask the General Assembly to remove the existing cap on taxes levied on hotel stays in the city.

The City Charter currently caps the rate at 4%, below most jurisdictions across Virginia. In Fairfax County, the occupancy tax rate increased from 7% to 9% on Oct. 1, with different portions of the revenue going toward general county funds, tourism and regional transportation.

News

Vienna could seek state funding for proposed W&OD Trail visitor center

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 10, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated November 10, 2025 at 1:37PM

The Washington & Old Dominion Trail visitor center could replace the office building at 125 Church Street (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna intends to seek state funding to support a planned Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail visitor center.

The request for $8 million is among more than two dozen priorities identified in the town’s legislative agenda for the Virginia General Assembly’s upcoming 2026 session.

Countywide

State legislators propose $400M more in annual Northern Va. transit funding

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 6, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated November 7, 2025 at 12:01PM

A Fairfax Connector bus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A state legislative panel set up to identify potential new funding for Northern Virginia transit completed its work this week by delivering a firm starting number: $400 million annually.

But the panel opted against prioritizing which funding streams would work best as it readied its report for consideration during the 2026 General Assembly session.

Countywide

Fairfax Democrats: Election results a ‘direct message’ rebuking Trump, Republicans

By Jared Serre

Published November 5, 2025 at 2:45PM

Democrats watch governor-elect Abigail Spanberger deliver a victory speech during a watch party for the Nov. 4, 2025 general election at Banditos in Fairfax (staff photo by Jared Serre)

After Virginia Democrats exceeded expectations in yesterday’s elections, optimism is high among Fairfax County lawmakers.

Flipping each of Virginia’s statewide offices with Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones winning, respectively, for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general was only a portion of the party’s statewide success on Election Day.

Countywide

Polls open for Va. gubernatorial election after strong early voting period across Fairfax County

By Jared Serre

Published November 4, 2025 at 9:15AM

A "vote here" sign outside the PARC at Tysons, one of Fairfax County's polling precincts (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Voters across Virginia are now casting their Election Day ballots, but many in Fairfax County have no need for a last-minute trip to their polling place.

Just shy of 190,000 voters in Fairfax County cast a ballot during the early voting period, which ran from Sept. 19 through 5 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 1). That’s a jump of 7.4% compared to 2021, which is the last time the three statewide races were on the ballot.

Countywide

Fairfax delegate leads Democratic campaign for ‘historic’ majority in Virginia House

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 3, 2025 at 10:00AM

Delegate Dan Helmer speaks at a luncheon for the grassroots Democratic organizing group Network NOVA (courtesy Dan Helmer for Virginia)

As early voting in Virginia’s November elections came to a close on Saturday (Nov. 1), Fairfax Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) was on the road in a final push to secure a victory not just for himself, but for Democratic candidates across the state.

As the campaigns chair for the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, a role he landed based on his defeat of Fairfax County’s last Republican delegate, Tim Hugo, in 2019, Helmer has been tasked with overseeing races in all 100 House districts — every single one of which will have a Democrat on the ballot.