Jeff McKay | FFXnow

Report: Costs of relocating FBI HQ to Springfield site were overstated

Published February 4, 2025 at 9:45AM

The General Services Administration Warehouse in Springfield, potential site of the FBI's new headquarters (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The federal agency that led the search for a new FBI headquarters site provided some inaccurate estimates of the costs associated with a Springfield relocation, possibly hampering Fairfax County’s bid for the project, a new report found.

The inaccurate cost information was one of a few issues with the site selection process identified by the inspector general for the General Services Administration (GSA), which began a review in late 2023 in response to complaints from Northern Virginia’s Congressional delegation and concerns raised by the FBI.

Countywide

Fairfax County supports response to deadly plane and helicopter crash at DCA

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2025 at 12:00PM | Updated January 30, 2025 at 3:09PM

Response to airplane and helicopter crash in the Potomac near National Airport, as seen from Gravelly Point (staff photo by James Cullum from ARLnow)

The D.C. region is reeling in the aftermath of a crash involving an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport that officials say left no survivors.

Arriving from Witchita, Kansas, the airplane was making its descent when it collided with the helicopter over the Potomac River around 8:50 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday). The crash drew a massive emergency response that included personnel from Fairfax County’s police and fire departments.

Countywide

NEW: Fairfax County casino bill advances to full Senate for first time

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 28, 2025 at 2:30PM

The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee votes 9-6 to report S.B. 982 to the full bill to the full Senate (via Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn/Bluesky)

The push to allow a casino in Fairfax County has officially entered new territory.

After tabling similar legislation proposed by state Sen. Dave Marsden (D-35) last year, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee voted 9-6 this morning (Tuesday) to report Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell’s (D-34) bill to add the county to Virginia’s list of eligible casino hosts to the full chamber.

Countywide

Fairfax school board approves new contract with teachers, but pay raises depend on county budget

By James Jarvis

Published January 14, 2025 at 9:00AM

The Fairfax County Public Schools administrative center in Merrifield (file photo)

Fairfax County Public School teachers have more rights than they did a week ago after the school board unanimously approved the Fairfax Education Unions’ (FEU) first collective bargaining agreement in nearly 50 years on Thursday (Jan. 9).

The agreement promises better wages, hours, benefits and working conditions, but questions still remain about how much funding the Board of Supervisors will provide when it finalizes the county budget in May.

Countywide

Gov. Youngkin cites Fairfax cases in bid to pressure localities to assist ICE

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 20, 2024 at 11:15AM

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announces a budget proposal on Dec. 12, 2024 that would require localities to comply with federal immigration detainers or lose funding (Photo by Austin Stevens, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin)

Undocumented immigrants in Fairfax County and elsewhere in Virginia could face threats on two fronts in the new year, with both national and state elected leaders proposing policies targeting that population.

As incoming president Donald Trump plans mass deportations, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled a budget proposal this week that would require local governments to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and withhold funding from those with cooperation-limiting policies, including Fairfax County.

Countywide

Fairfax County tax reduces plastic bag circulation, raises $6 million

By James Jarvis

Published December 16, 2024 at 2:30PM

A plastic grocery bag (via Christopher Vega on Unsplash)

Fairfax County’s plastic bag tax has pulled in more than $6 million in revenue and taken an estimated 3 million plastic bags out of circulation nearly two years after it was enacted, county officials say.

“There are 3 million fewer plastic bags in circulation in Fairfax County since the bag tax was enacted, which 100% shows the intention is working,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said during an environmental committee meeting last Tuesday (Dec. 10).

Countywide

N. Va. leaders criticize possible return-to-work edict for federal employees

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 16, 2024 at 11:15AM

Work from home (via Chris Montgomery/Unsplash)

A number of regional leaders are pushing back on the incoming Trump administration’s goal of having federal workers quickly return to offices five days a week.

Despite concerns about the impact of work-from-home patterns on local transit and the commercial office sector, requiring federal workers to be back in the office full-time brought concerns from speakers at a recent Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA) forum.

News

Local leaders want to maintain pressure on Maryland over American Legion Bridge

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 12, 2024 at 9:00AM

Traffic heads from McLean into Maryland on the American Legion Bridge (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Virginia leaders plan to keep prodding their Maryland counterparts in the direction of revitalizing the American Legion Bridge to both ease existing congestion and provide additional transit options.

At a Dec. 5 forum sponsored by the Dulles Area Transit Association (DATA), Northern Virginia leaders acknowledged being irked by Maryland’s more cautious approach to addressing the transportation bottleneck.

Countywide

FCPS agrees to teacher pay raises in union contract, but county might struggle to fund them

By James Jarvis

Published December 6, 2024 at 9:45AM | Updated December 6, 2024 at 10:50AM

Tina Williams, president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, speaks at a rally prior to a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to allow collective bargaining of county government workers (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

With Fairfax County facing another major budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year, local public school leaders are once again confronting difficult decisions regarding teacher pay raises.

This time, though, there’s a twist: Fairfax County Public Schools has a tentative agreement with the Fairfax Education Unions representing teachers and other employees that includes a roughly $150 million request for a 7% across-the-board pay hike for educators and support staff.

News

Federal cybersecurity contractor to expand Herndon operations

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 4, 2024 at 2:30PM

AttainX's headquarters are in the Hallmark Building offices at 13873 Park Center Road in Herndon (via Google Maps)

A Herndon-based cybersecurity company is planning to ramp up its local operations.

Buoyed by recent Department of Defense contracts, AttainX will invest $175,000 and create 32 new jobs to expand its operations in Fairfax County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced today (Wednesday).