Jennifer Boysko

Janet Howell, longtime former state senator in Fairfax County, dies at 82

Published August 3, 2026 at 10:00AM

Virginia Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, watches the vote tally board during the Senate session at the state Capitol in Richmond, Va., March 7, 2020. Howell, the veteran Democratic Virginia state senator who co-chairs her chamber’s finance committee, announced Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, that she will not seek re-election. (via Steve Helber/Associated Press file)

Janet Howell, a former Democratic state senator who had represented parts of Fairfax County for decades, has died at age 82.

Howell was first elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991, taking office in 1992 as senator for the 32nd Senate District. The district included Reston, Tysons, Wolf Trap, northern Chantilly and portions of McLean and Arlington County. Before retiring on Jan. 10, 2024, Howell was the longest-serving woman in the state Senate alongside current President pro tempore Louise Lucas (D-18). When Democrats took control of the chamber in 2019, she was the first woman to chair the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.

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Taxes, paid leave program on minds of N. Va. business leaders after General Assembly session

By Emily Leayman

Published July 15, 2026 at 8:30AM

Capital One Center in Tysons on a misty morning (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Optimism among Northern Virginia business leaders is improving, although some expressed worries about taxes and the state’s approval of a paid family and medical leave program.

That’s according to the second-quarter 2026 Business Leader Survey released last week by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and public relations firm Pinkston, revealing the sentiments of the region’s CEOs, senior executives and business owners.

News

Fairfax County small business owner shares support for Va. paid leave program at bill signing

By Emily Leayman

Published May 12, 2026 at 3:45PM

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs legislation on Monday, May 11 that will create a paid family and medical leave program in Virginia (via Office of Gov. Abigail Spanberger)

A North Springfield child care center owner spoke in support of the new paid family and medical leave program at a ceremonial bill signing with Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) and lawmakers yesterday (Monday).

Starting on Dec. 1, 2028, Virginia’s new paid leave program will allow most workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for significant life events like caring for a new child, recovering from serious illness, military family needs or caring for relative with a serious health condition.

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Virginia’s first paid family and medical leave program in pipeline under Boysko legislation

By Emily Leayman

Published April 24, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated April 24, 2026 at 4:16PM

State Sen. Jennifer Boysko speaks at a town hall in McLean as Del. Rip Sullivan looks on (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A paid family and medical leave program will be set up for the first time in Virginia after Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed legislation from Fairfax County state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38) and Prince William County Del. Briana Sewell (D-25).

Boysko, who represents Reston, Herndon, Great Falls and McLean in the Virginia Senate, told FFXnow she has worked on the legislation for eight years.

News

McLean’s state lawmakers encourage residents to call for veto of casino bill

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 1, 2026 at 2:45PM

Del. Rip Sullivan makes a point at McLean Citizens Association legislative forum (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Time is running out for McLean residents to make their voices heard about the controversial Tysons casino proposal, state legislators said Tuesday night.

“This is my call to action: Now is the time, do not wait,” Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6) said yesterday (Tuesday) at a General Assembly roundup session sponsored by the McLean Citizens Association (MCA).

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BREAKING: Revised bill would allow temporary Tysons casino without local approval

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 13, 2026 at 10:30PM | Updated March 14, 2026 at 10:49AM

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell seeks support for SB 756, which would make Fairfax County eligible to host a casino (via Senate of Virginia/YouTube)

The bill to allow a casino in Fairfax County has reemerged after nine days of negotiations with some significant changes from the version that passed the Virginia House of Delegates earlier this month.

The State Senate voted 22-16 today (Friday) to accept a substitute for Senate Bill 756 that would allow a temporary casino establishment in Fairfax before a referendum to permit a permanent development goes to voters.

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Fairfax County casino bill heads to full Senate without site limits

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 11, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated February 12, 2026 at 4:05PM

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell presents his Fairfax County casino bill to the Senate Finance and Appropriations resources subcommittee on Feb. 10, 2026 (via Senate of Virginia/YouTube)

For a second year in a row, the Virginia Senate will consider legislation that could pave the way for a casino in Fairfax County.

Senate Bill 756, championed by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34), was advanced on a 10-5 vote yesterday (Tuesday) by the chamber’s Finance and Appropriations Committee with a key revision — criteria that limited potential casino sites to Tysons have now been dropped.

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Va. Senate bills that would’ve repealed traffic cameras target fees instead

By Jared Serre

Published February 5, 2026 at 11:45AM

A red light camera in the City of Fairfax (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Two bills that would have dramatically changed local governments’ ability to enforce traffic laws have changed course despite bipartisan support in Richmond.

S.B. 297 and S.B. 306, authored by state Sen. Mark J. Peake (R-8), would have repealed the authority of localities to install speed-monitoring and red light cameras, respectively. But as of Monday (Feb. 2), the possibility of a ban has been stripped from both bills.

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Virginia Senate panel advances gun safety bills once vetoed by Youngkin

By Markus Schmidt / Virginia Mercury

Published January 27, 2026 at 10:10AM

Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee hears testimony on State Sen. Jennifer Boysko's firearms storage bill (via Virginia Senate/YouTube)

Democratic lawmakers on Monday advanced a sweeping slate of gun safety proposals — many of them previously vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin — as they test whether Virginia’s new Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger, will take a more favorable view of firearm restrictions.

Over nearly four hours, the Democratic-led Senate Courts of Justice Committee approved more than half a dozen bills tightening rules on assault-style firearms, gun storage, concealed carry reciprocity, ghost guns and weapons in public spaces, while rejecting the lone Republican proposal that would have increased mandatory minimum sentences for repeat firearm offenses.

Countywide

House tables push to add Fairfax to eligible casinos list in Virginia

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published February 13, 2025 at 9:00AM

Sen. Scott Surovell presents his bill to make Fairfax County eligible for a casino to a House Appropriations subcommittee in February 2025 (via Virginia General Assembly)

Lawmakers deciding on a controversial bill to develop a casino and entertainment complex in Tysons Corner tabled a decision Wednesday after House leadership moved the bill between House committees for consideration.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell’s Senate Bill 982 would have added Fairfax County to the list of Virginia localities eligible to develop a casino that backers say would bring jobs and revenue for the county and commonwealth.