Countywide

A Fairfax County police pilot program that uses drones to gather initial information in emergencies continues to grow after receiving overwhelmingly positive returns.

Launched in fall 2025, the “Drone as First Responder” program features specially-outfitted drones that are deployed and remotely piloted to the location where an emergency is reported.


News

All Centreville residents displaced by the natural gas leak that resulted in a house explosion and fire on Feb. 15 have now been cleared to return home.

Washington Gas says it restored gas service to the 19 remaining evacuated homes by 10 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 24), and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) has now lifted its evacuation order after detecting no gas in the environment for 48 consecutive hours.


News

Residents on and around Fort Belvoir may want to keep some earplugs close at hand today (Thursday).

The U.S. Army installation will host an active shooter preparedness exercise starting at 10 a.m. that could last “several hours” and involve loud noises, including simulated gunshots.


News

Residents have started to return to the Centreville neighborhood that was evacuated last week after a gas leak fueled an explosion and fire that consumed one home.

As of noon yesterday (Sunday), Washington Gas has restored service to 44 homes determined to be clear for re-entry, 42 of which have seen occupants return, the utility said in an afternoon update.


Countywide

Fairfax County intends to move forward with phasing out the use of police officers as school crossing guards.

The Fairfax County Police Department would eliminate crossing guards at local public high schools and turn to contractors to fill vacancies at elementary and middle schools under the fiscal year 2027 budget proposed on Tuesday (Feb. 17) by County Executive Bryan Hill.


News

Authorities are still working to stabilize and identify the exact source of the natural gas-related home explosion in Centreville on Sunday (Feb. 15). The ongoing leak has led to days-long evacuations and gas service shutoffs for nearby homes.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates gas transmission pipeline incidents, is leading the federal investigation into the home explosion.


Countywide

Nine progressive prosecutors around the country, including Fairfax County’s Steve Descano, have joined forces in hopes of holding federal agents accountable for violating state laws.

The Project to Fight Against Federal Overreach (FAFO) coalition, which launched yesterday (Wednesday), aims to “rein in unlawful conduct” amid a growing presence of federal immigration and law enforcement in communities across the country.


Countywide

Long plagued by personnel issues, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) is seeing an unsustainable trajectory of staff turnover — one that staff says demands the immediate attention of lawmakers.

Covid-era initiatives that were once expected to be temporary have become permanent, but only out of necessity, three staffers told a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors committee last week.


Countywide

A new massage ordinance adopted by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Nov. 18) aims to be a compromise, ensuring the safety of clients and staff while addressing concerns about illicit activity, including human trafficking.

County supervisors voted unanimously in support of the amendment to the Fairfax County Code, replacing an ordinance that had been in effect since 2000.


News

The Herndon Police Department is lobbying local lawmakers to allow the installation of red light cameras across the town.

“We want to make sure that we’re staying up with technology and we’re leveraging technology to work for us, because we want to be self-sufficient as a police department,” Herndon Police Chief Steven Pihonak told the town council last week (Nov. 5).


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