SEIU Virginia 512 has been elected as the exclusive collective bargaining agent for Fairfax County government workers (courtesy SEIU Virginia 512)
A long-coming, sometimes bitter battle over the right to represent thousands of Fairfax County government workers ended in victory last week for one union, even as another cried foul over the election process and results.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local Virginia 512 announced last Friday (May 16) that county government workers have elected it as their exclusive bargaining unit for future contract negotiations after the largest organizing push among general government employees in Virginia history.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The battle over Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s student admissions policy isn’t quite over after all.
More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court passed on an opportunity to weigh in, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares accused Fairfax County Public Schools today (Wednesday) of “intentional” discrimination against Asian American students applying to the magnet school in Annandale.
A Metrobus at the Tysons Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
D.C.-area leaders continue to find common ground elusive when it comes to increased collaboration between the region’s bus systems.
While the possibility of merging all local bus systems has already been taken off the table, the DMV Moves task force is still searching for the sweet spot where systems could work better among themselves and with Metrobus.
U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (photo courtesy Congressional office)
Rep. Gerald “Gerry” Connolly, an influential Democratic voice for nearly 30 years as a local and national legislator, has died. He was 75.
Connolly, who represented Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, died this morning (Wednesday) at his Mantua home of esophageal cancer, an illness he had battled on-and-off since November 2024, his family announced.
Sunset Hills Road approaching the Reston Town Center expansion (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
GW Parkway Reopens After Storm — “The National Park Service (NPS) plans to reopen the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) before the Wednesday morning rush hour.” A 2.5-mile stretch of the parkway south of Alexandria had been closed since a storm on Friday (May 16) brought down or damaged more than 50 trees. [NPS]
Fairfax Man Killed in ATV Crash — “Police are investigating after a man was killed and a woman was seriously hurt in an ATV collision in Brandywine over the weekend.” Prince George’s County police say the crash on May 17 involved an ATV driver, identified as a 35-year-old man from Fairfax, crashing into a pickup truck and trailer. [DC News Now]
Metro to Roll Out Tap-to-Pay Option — Metro is currently testing a system at some stations that will allow riders to pay by tapping a credit or debit card. “An official launch is on the way, Metro general manager Randy Clarke posted recently: ‘Stay tuned for more details later this month.'” [Axios DC]
Meeting on Braddock Road Improvements — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will share the results of a study of the “S-curve portion of Braddock Road” at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday) in a virtual public information meeting. The study looked at potential improvements between Pleasant Valley Road and Old Lee Road, and at the Braddock Road and Old Lee Road intersection. [VDOT]
Food Hall NearsGrandOpening — “Pop-Up District recently opened [at Eden Center in Falls Church] with a limited lineup that includes Vietnamese, Korean, and Thai food vendors, plus a coffee shop and bakery. When its grand opening arrives in June, expect expanded menus, a Japanese-inspired bar, rotating retail pop-ups, DJ nights, and hours stretching from 8 AM to 2 AM.” [Washingtonian]
Fairfax City Pub Celebrates 20 Years — “City of Fairfax business leaders and elected officials presented a plaque to the owners of The Auld Shebeen Irish Pub & Restaurant on Saturday, honoring their 20 years of making memories in Old Town.” [Patch]
WaPo Reviews McLean Restaurant — “Supisa Teawboot figured she’d sell a lot of pad thai when she opened Sorn Thai in McLean in March. Patrons surprised her when they ordered more kanom jeen namya instead. The entrée, rice noodles with fish curry, is … a lovely introduction to a Thai restaurant unlike any other in Northern Virginia.” [Washington Post]
It’s Wednesday — Expect showers with a high near 60°F. There’s a 100% chance of precipitation, potentially accumulating between a quarter and half an inch. At night, the low will be around 56°F, with a 70% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
The 2025 ArtsFairfax Awards recipients (courtesy ArtsFairfax)
ArtsFairfax has unveiled the 2025 recipients of its annual awards, which will be given out this fall in a new location.
The 2025 ArtsFairfax Awards will honor a local arts teacher and supporters of Fairfax County’s artistic community on Oct. 24 at the Hyatt Regency Reston (1800 Presidents Street) — a change in venue after four consecutive years at Capital One Hall in Tysons.
Fairfax's Jeff McKay and Maryland member Joe McAndrew at the May 16, 2025, DMV Moves meeting (screenshot via WMATA)
In part due to opposition from Fairfax County leaders, the regional DMV Moves task force appears to have abandoned a proposal for a regional sales tax to provide additional Metro funding.
A collaborative effort between the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), the DMV Moves task force has been working for a year on developing funding alternatives.
