Herndon | FFXnow

Au pair testifies against Brendan Banfield in Herndon double murder trial

Published January 14, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated January 14, 2026 at 7:25PM

Juliana Peres Magalhães is escorted into the courtroom before continuing her testimony, during the double murder trial for Brendan Banfield in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner, Pool)

On the second day of Brendan Banfield’s trial for the February 2023 killings of his wife and another man at a Herndon-area home, the woman originally accused of fatally shooting the man testified against her alleged former lover in Fairfax County court.

Juliana Peres Magalhaes, who was employed by the Banfield family as an au pair, testified following opening arguments yesterday (Tuesday) in Fairfax County Circuit Court with Judge Penney Azcarate presiding. Brendan Banfield is facing seven felony charges — including four counts of aggravated murder — in relation to the killings of 37-year-old Christine Banfield and 39-year-old Joseph Ryan.

News

Trial begins against husband charged with Herndon double homicide

By Associated Press and Angela Woolsey

Published January 12, 2026 at 11:45AM

A framed photo of Brendan Banfield and Juliana Peres Magalhães on his bedside table in Herndon, provided by police as evidence in their murder case against him (courtesy Fairfax County Police Department via AP, FILE)

Jury selection began this morning (Monday) in the postponed trial against a Herndon man accused by prosecutors of concocting a scheme with his family’s au pair to frame a stranger in the fatal stabbing of his wife.

Brendan Banfield is charged with aggravated murder in the February 2023 killings of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan at the Banfields’ home in northern Virginia. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.

News

Western High School could be name of Fairfax County’s new western high school

By Emily Leayman

Published January 12, 2026 at 10:00AM | Updated January 27, 2026 at 9:34AM

The lobby of the former King Abdullah Academy, which will be converted into a new public high school for western Fairfax County (via FCPS/YouTube)

The Fairfax County School Board could opt for a geographical reference, rather than a person, for the newest high school’s name.

On Thursday (Jan. 8), Superintendent Michelle Reid presented Western High School as her final name recommendation for the future school at 2949 Education Drive in the Herndon area.

News

Planning commission backs new express Flagship Carwash for Dranesville area

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 9, 2026 at 1:45PM

A Flagship Carwash express location in Ashburn (via Flagship Carwash)

Plans for a new Flagship Carwash express location near the intersection of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Dranesville Road north of Herndon have won support from the Fairfax County Planning Commission.

“I think we’ve gotten to a really good point with this application,” Dranesville District Commissioner Alyssa Batchelor-Causey said after discussion and before a final vote on Wednesday night.

Countywide

Fairfax County to close offices, reduce services for Christmas 2025

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 23, 2025 at 2:45PM

Christmas lights illuminate the entrance of the Vienna Community Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Christmas is in the air, which means many local government services are about to wind down so their workers can take off for the holiday.

Like on Thanksgiving, municipal offices for Fairfax County and the towns of Vienna and Herndon will all be closed tomorrow and Thursday (Dec. 25) for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Fairfax City will close its government offices starting at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Around Town

Sports, trading card shop opening in Herndon early next year

By Jared Serre

Published December 23, 2025 at 10:00AM

Goatz Sports Cards in Herndon (photo courtesy of Bryan Janick)

A store selling increasingly-popular cardboard collectibles plans to open in Herndon early next year.

Scheduled for a grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 3, Goatz Sports Cards replaced a former chiropractor’s office in the strip of businesses at 208 Elden Street.

News

Public hearing to name FCPS’ new western high school set for tonight

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 18, 2025 at 8:30AM

The lobby of the former King Abdullah Academy, which will be converted into a new public high school for western Fairfax County (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools officials are starting to close in on a name for the new high school expected to open in the Floris area south of Herndon next year.

The Fairfax County School Board will hold a public hearing at its meeting tonight (Thursday) to accept community feedback on potential names recommended earlier this month by FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid.

Around Town

How Herndon Parks and Rec plans to celebrate 50-year anniversary in 2026

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published December 17, 2025 at 8:30AM

Runners pass the Herndon Community Center during one of the town's Herndon Festival races (courtesy Herndon Parks and Recreation Department)

In 1976, Jimmy Carter won the presidential election over the Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, Queen Elizabeth traveled to Virginia for the nation’s bicentennial, and “Happy Days” was appointment TV for millions of Americans.

That same year, the Town of Herndon created its Parks and Recreation Department with just one full-time staffer and one Fairfax County-owned park.

News

Herndon site near future western high school deemed ‘suitable’ for data center

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 16, 2025 at 11:45AM

Site work appears to be already underway to prepare the former Word of Grace property at 13832 Redskin Drive in Herndon for data centers (via Google Maps)

Plans are solidifying for another data center facility in the Route 28 corridor just east of Dulles International Airport.

A Fairfax County planner affirmed this month that a proposed data center would be “suitable” for the former Word of Grace Christian Church property at 13832 Redskin Drive in Herndon, and that the facility would be “fully consistent” with local ordinances, according to a letter uploaded to the county’s land use database yesterday (Monday).

News

Herndon hotel owner requests plan change to allow conversion into housing

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 11, 2025 at 8:30AM

Hyatt House in Herndon (via Google Maps)

The owner of Herndon’s Hyatt House appears ready to move forward with a potential redevelopment, but it may have to wait a little longer for any changes to be considered.

New York-based developer Widewaters has asked the Town of Herndon to amend its comprehensive plan for the hotel site at 467 Herndon Parkway to allow housing as “a viable near term redevelopment option,” according to the submitted request.