politics | FFXnow

Fairfax case alleging school-assisted abortions now in federal court

By Charlotte Rene Woods / Virginia Mercury

Published February 2, 2026 at 11:15AM

Zenaida Perez speaks during a press conference in front of the Fairfax County Courthouse on Oct. 29, 2025 (staff photo by Jared Serre)

A legal challenge alleging that a Fairfax County Public Schools employee helped minors get abortions without their parents’ consent is now in federal court in a case that hinges on a First Amendment free speech claim.

FCPS teacher Zenaida Perez, plaintiff in the case, is seeking to prove that school officials have defamed her and are in violation of the Virginia Whistleblower Protection Law. Perez alleged in 2025 that another FCPS staff member assisted minors with seeking abortions. FCPS’ internal probe refuted her claims.

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Interfaith vigil for Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Reston inspires mourning, calls for action

By Jared Serre and Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2026 at 3:45PM

Rep. James Walkinshaw speaks during a vigil held in Reston (via United Christian Parish/YouTube)

A capacity crowd filled a church in Reston yesterday (Thursday) to remember two U.S. citizens recently shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minnesota.

Rep. James Walkinshaw, who helped organize the vigil, was joined by local religious and human rights leaders at United Christian Parish to commemorate the lives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, along with others who have recently died in the custody of or during encounters with federal immigration agencies.

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Restonian running for Congress supports mid-decade redistricting, calls midterms ‘crucial’

By Emily Leayman

Published January 29, 2026 at 2:45PM

Bree Fram, a military member forced to retire due to the Trump administration's transgender ban, is running for Congress. (courtesy of Bree Fram for Congress)

Former Space Force Col. Bree Fram (D) hopes to become the second transgender member elected to Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, but she’s not sure yet which district she would represent.

Last week, Fram filed to run in the strongly Democratic 11th Congressional District that currently covers a significant portion of Fairfax County. However, her campaign is monitoring whether a mid-decade redistricting push by Virginia Democrats would move her Reston home to the Democrat-leaning 10th Congressional District or even another district currently represented by a Republican.

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Partial federal shutdown seems increasingly likely as Democrats demand ICE changes

By Associated Press

Published January 28, 2026 at 4:30PM | Updated January 28, 2026 at 7:43PM

A demonstrator holds a sign during a rally outside of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — As a partial government shutdown looms at week’s end, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has laid out a list of demands for the Department of Homeland Security, including an enforceable code of conduct for federal agents conducting immigration arrests and a requirement that they identify themselves to the public.

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Virginia Democrats to appeal after judge rules redistricting resolution illegal

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published January 27, 2026 at 5:20PM

FILE - The state and U.S. flags fly over the Virginia State Capitol as the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly gets underway, Jan. 10, 2024, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

A Virginia judge ruled Tuesday that a proposed constitutional amendment letting Democrats redraw the state’s Congressional maps was illegal, potentially foiling their efforts to pick up seats in the U.S. House in November.

Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. struck down the legislature’s actions on three grounds, ruling that lawmakers failed to follow their own rules for adding the redistricting amendment to a special session; failed to approve the amendment before the public began voting in last year’s general election; and failed to publish the amendment three months before the election, as required by law.

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Vienna residents protesting ICE’s fatal shooting of Renee Good line Maple Avenue

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 12, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated January 13, 2026 at 5:00PM

Scenes from Jan. 11, 2026 ICE Out for Good protest on Maple Avenue in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A near-constant cacophony of car horns issued from the core of Maple Avenue in Vienna yesterday afternoon (Sunday), and this time, it wasn’t an expression of frustration with congestion.

Instead, passing drivers were honking in support of protestors lining both sides of the town’s main street in response to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shooting poet and mother Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday (Jan. 7).

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Sen. Kaine leads renewed push in Congress to limit Trump’s war powers after Venezuela raid

By Associated Press and Angela Woolsey

Published January 8, 2026 at 11:15AM | Updated January 8, 2026 at 11:48AM

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., speaks to reporters about a war powers resolution regarding Venezuela on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

The Senate advanced a resolution Thursday that would limit President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela, sounding a note of disapproval for his expanding ambitions in the Western Hemisphere.

Democrats and five Republicans voted to advance the war powers resolution on a 52-47 vote and ensure a later vote for final passage. It has virtually no chance of becoming law because Trump would have to sign it if it were to pass the House. Still, it was a significant gesture that showed unease among some Republicans after the U.S. military seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid.

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Fairfax Democrats quickly schedule primary for Jan. election to replace Bulova

By Jared Serre

Published December 12, 2025 at 11:50AM

Del. David Bulova (via Channel 16 screenshot)

Fairfax Democrats are wasting no time in their bid to retain David Bulova’s seat in the House of Delegates.

Local party officials have scheduled a firehouse primary for next Tuesday (Dec. 16) — only five days after news of Bulova’s departure as the 11th House District’s delegate became public.

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SCOOP: Gretchen Bulova will seek husband’s seat in House of Delegates

By Jared Serre

Published December 11, 2025 at 12:30PM

Gretchen Bulova (photo courtesy of candidate)

Fairfax Democrats won’t have to look far for a candidate to succeed Del. David Bulova (D-11) in the House of Delegates.

Gretchen Bulova will seek to replace her husband as the 11th House District’s delegate once he officially joins the cabinet of Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger next month, she told FFXnow.

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U.S. House committee launches antisemitism probe into Fairfax County Public Schools

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published November 25, 2025 at 3:45PM

Sign for Fairfax County Public Schools outside the Gatehouse Administration Center (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools is one of just three districts nationwide facing a federal investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce, which alleges Jewish students are being harassed and subjected to open antisemitism.

The scrutiny follows the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages, and Israel’s subsequent war campaign in Gaza that has left over 60,000 Palestinians dead. Tensions over the conflict have spilled into U.S. schools.