Fairfax Water is on track to fully eliminate the last lead pipes from its network in advance of a 2027 federal deadline.
“We’ll have them replaced by the end of the year,” Fairfax Water general manager Jamie Bain Hedges said at a meeting yesterday (Tuesday) between the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and water authority board members.
Driver in Chantilly Crash Died — A sedan driver involved in a collision with a pickup truck on Pleasant Valley Road yesterday (Tuesday) died after being transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police say. The truck driver was also taken to a hospital with injuries resulting from the crash, which remains under investigation. [FCPD]
Memorial Dedicated to Mid-air Crash Victims — “Surrounded by friends, family and regional leaders, a memorial was dedicated Monday at Rivergate City Park in Old Town North to the 67 victims of the mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport on Jan. 29, 2025 … The memorial was installed by the city and the office of U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8).” [ALXnow]
Felon Voter Registrations Still on Hold — “Virginia’s elections department had until Monday to comply with a federal court order to stop denying voter registration applicants for convictions other than 11 common-law felonies in 1870, a list including arson, manslaughter and murder … Local election officials were told to continue to hold the applications,” pending “further review” and guidance from the state. [VPM News]
Police Plan Traffic Enforcement Campaigns — “Throughout the month, Fairfax County Police Department officers from patrol and specialized units will conduct targeted education and enforcement efforts aimed at reducing fatal, serious injury, and property damage crashes across the county. June’s initiatives will focus on Move Over enforcement, loud exhaust violations, and our Road Shark campaign.” [FCPD]
Dog Prompts Emergency Response to DCA — “First responders met an American Airlines flight at Reagan National Airport Tuesday afternoon after a service dog had an ‘accident’ on the plane, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Traveling in close quarters, several passengers felt ill after the dog relieved itself on Flight 5085 from Nashville after 2 p.m.” [NBC4]
Coalition Advocates for Same-Sex Marriage Amendment — Virginians for Marriage Equality marked the start of LGBTQ Pride Month on Monday (June 1) by formally launching a statewide campaign in support of a November constitutional amendment referendum that “would repeal Virginia’s dormant constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and replace it with language requiring the commonwealth to recognize all marriages, regardless of sex, gender or race.” [Virginia Mercury]
Springfield Man to Compete in Bermuda Boat Race — “The boat that Kevin Sherwood of Springfield, Virginia, bought is still in dry dock as he makes final repairs and preparations ahead of the whole reason he bought the ‘Bay Retriever’ in the first place. If all goes as planned, he’ll get it in the water Wednesday, and starting at noon on Friday, he’ll be heading south down the Chesapeake Bay on a 753-mile voyage to Bermuda.” [WTOP]
Head of Defunct Office Moving Business Pivots to Recycling — “John Kane has raised nearly $2 million from individuals and family offices to launch an office furniture recycling company called Smart Cyclers Inc., he told me. His goal is to raise $6 million … He’s currently deciding among three locations between Manassas and Lorton to serve as the company’s first base of operations.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies with a high of about 82°F and a gentle north wind at 8 mph. Overnight, conditions will be clear with temperatures dropping to around 60°F, accompanied by light and variable winds. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
As construction progresses on the first mixed-use development to emerge north of the Herndon Metro station, the town has finalized guidelines for signage to identify that project and those that follow.
The Herndon Town Council voted unanimously and without discussion on May 26 to adopt a zoning ordinance amendment with a sign plan for the Herndon Transit-Oriented Core (HTOC), an approximately 38-acre area on the north side of the Metro station, bounded by Van Buren Street, Herndon Parkway and the Dulles Toll Road.
The now-annual battle over whether Fairfax County should have a casino is over for 2026, but as some local elected officials and community leaders see it, a larger tug-of-war with the state for control over development decisions has begun.
Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, former state Del. Kathleen Murphy, and other Fairfax County advocates have launched a nonprofit called Communities First VA that’s dedicated to protecting the authority of local government and giving residents “a stronger voice in decisions that shape their communities,” according to a press release shared first with FFXnow.
About 30 people gathered at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Chantilly on Sunday (May 31) to protest the expansion of immigration detentions in the U.S. and to show support for those detained inside the building.
Holding American flags and homemade signs, the group outside ICE’s Washington Field Office at 14797 Murdock Street read aloud a list of people who had died in ICE custody, then sang “No están solos” (Spanish for “they are not alone”), followed by refrains of “none of us are free until all of us are free,” and “together we will abolish ICE.”
Fairfax High School’s response to reports that a student was groping female peers was fully consistent with Fairfax County Public Schools protocols for handling sexual misconduct, Superintendent Michelle Reid says.
FCPS hired an outside law firm in March to conduct a review of how staff and administrators handled the complaints against 18-year-old Israel Flores Ortiz after multiple parents of victims told WJLA that they felt the school had “diminished” their children’s experiences and “attempted to sweep it under the rug.”
Special Session Set on State Budget — “Virginia lawmakers are set to return to Richmond this month for another attempt to reach a budget deal, with just days until the start of the new fiscal year and no agreement yet on the state’s next two-year spending plan.” The lack of an approved budget has left school systems in limbo. [Virginia Mercury]
Driver in Deadly Bus Crash Had Prior Speeding Ticket — “The bus driver who faces charges after five people were killed in a chain-reaction crash on I-95 in Stafford County, Virginia, was scheduled to appear in court this week for a speeding ticket, court records say.” The driver had been ticketed by Maryland State Police on March 6 for allegedly driving 72 mph in a 50-mph zone. [NBC4]
Questions About Data Center Water Discharge — “Most data centers in Virginia are permitted to discharge water into municipal wastewater systems, the same place household water goes to be treated and recycled for consumption. But there’s limited data tracking of potential chemicals in data centers’ discharge water.” [Virginia Mercury]
Reston Contractor Subleases RTC Space — “Bechtel Corp. continues to grow its Reston headquarters footprint, subleasing nearly 55,000 square feet … at BXP Inc.’s Democracy Tower, 11955 Democracy Drive. That equals two full floors of the nine-story, 230,000-square-foot office.” The addition will expand Bechtel’s footprint at Reston Town Center to nearly 350,000 square feet. It’s unclear which tenant is leasing the space, but AOL indicated it would lay off 108 people based in the building. [Washington Business Journal]
Plug-in Solar Coming to Virginia — “Thanks to new state laws, Maryland and Virginia residents will be allowed to use plug-in ‘balcony’ collar systems with a maximum output of 1,200 watts. Marylanders can take advantage as soon as today, while Virginia’s law goes into effect on January 1, 2027.” [Washingtonian]
Volunteers Help Clean Up Culmore — “If the Culmore area of Bailey’s Crossroads is looking a lot nicer, it’s because nearly 70 volunteers – including adults, children, and youths – spent Saturday morning collecting trash around the neighborhood … The Culmore Cleanup was organized by Andres Curtin, strategy director for Crossroads Opportunity Neighborhoods at Second Story.” [Annandale Today]
Latvian Band Making U.S. Debut in Reston — “Big Al & The Jokers, a nine-piece band from Europe, will make its U.S. debut June 5 and 6 at Reston Town Center Pavilion. The concerts are part of the Reston Concerts on the Town series and are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. each night.” [Patch]
Annandale Dessert Shop Draws Lines — “Pasha Castle in Annandale just celebrated its grand opening. But lines are already forming in the cute two-story red house that holds it. Guests will find hot mini pancakes and Middle Eastern and Turkish treats such as baklava, knafeh and lokum (Turkish delight) on offer. The star of the show, however, is the booza,” described by an employee as “Lebanese gelato.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of around 75°F and northeast winds blowing at 7 to 9 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature near 57°F and a gentle north wind. [NWS]
Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.
Interior demolition work is underway in the former Matchbox suite at Reston Station, but the new occupant won’t be the community-serving retail local residents likely hoped to see.
The approximately 5,500-square-foot space on the ground floor of the office building at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza is being incorporated into the future headquarters of engineering and technology contractor Amentum, a spokesperson for property owner and developer Comstock Companies says.
An upscale omakase restaurant has its sights set on Reston for its next “sushi speakeasy.”
Sushi by Bou appears to be expanding with a new location inside the Hyatt Regency Reston (1800 Presidents Street), near Capital Grille. The restaurant — a high-end chain self-described as “an exclusive omakase hideaway where tradition meets innovation” — offers just three omakase spreads to choose from, along with various sides, spirits and cocktails.
Year-over-year apartment rents were down across Fairfax County in May, mirroring a national trend.
All seven areas of the county analyzed by Apartment List in its monthly report showed declines from May 2025, even as the rental market experienced its typical seasonal growth from winter to spring.
