A bicyclist approaches Church Street on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
NOVA Parks and the Town of Vienna are partnering for an initiative that could transform a pair of offices into a visitor center for the Washington and Old Dominion Trail.
Fresh off its 50th anniversary last year, the 45-mile trail runs from Shirlington out to Purcellville, with Vienna as its “geographic center,” NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert said when announcing the project during an Arbor Day event at the Vienna Town Green last Friday (April 25).
DC News Now meterologist Jackie Layer with the weekend forecast for Fairfax County on May 1, 2025 (courtesy DC News Now)
The warmth that has greeted May in Fairfax County could be offset by a few days of much-needed rain, starting tonight (Thursday).
DC News Now meterologist Jackie Layer has the forecast for Fairfax County, provided exclusively to FFXnow, including details on when to expect rain and how much might fall through this weekend.
A map showing the location of Fairfax County's planned Crestview Drive Walkway project in Herndon (via FCDOT)
Fairfax County transportation staff are developing plans to fill in sidewalk gaps along a neighborhood road just outside the Town of Herndon.
Details of the Crestview Drive Walkway project will be shared with the public for the first time at a community meeting next Wednesday (May 7) at 6 p.m. in the Clearview Elementary School cafeteria (12635 Builders Road).
Participants in a rally at Great Falls Park to support National Park Service workers amid federal government cuts hold up signs (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The ranks of unemployed Fairfax County residents ticked up nearly 8% month-over-month and 37% year-over-year in March, according to new state data, as Northern Virginia’s economy takes a hit from the federal government’s downsizing and collateral economic impacts.
A total of 20,836 Fairfax residents were counted as unemployed for March, according to figures reported this week by the Virginia Employment Commission. That compares to 19,315 in February and 15,171 in March 2024.
A voting ballot drop box at the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Early voting in Virginia’s 2025 Democratic primary begins tomorrow (Friday), officially kicking off the party’s bid to retake statewide seats that were swept by Republicans in 2021.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger has already secured the gubernatorial nomination, setting up a historic race with Republican nominee and current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears that will give Virginia its first-ever female governor.
At-large Fairfax Board of Supervisors representative Kyle McDaniel (staff photo by James Jarvis)
A Fairfax County School Board member accused of defrauding a company he is a part owner of out of more than $1.5 million has stepped away as chairman of the board’s budget committee.
Kyle McDaniel, an at-large representative, no longer oversees the committee, having willingly ceded the position to vice chair Rachna Sizemore Heizer in recent weeks, he confirmed to FFXnow.
Dennis Heimbach’s “Fidelity of Form” sculpture at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Trump Administration Restores StudentVisas — “President Donald Trump’s administration is reinstating international student visa records that it previously revoked. The announcement was made Friday, amid a slew of court cases filed by impacted students in recent weeks.” Records for 14 of 15 affected George Mason University students have been restored, a university spokesperson says, but eight students already left the country. [Virginia Public Media]
Deadline to Apply for Tax Relief Today — Seniors and people with disabilities who qualify for relief from Fairfax County’s real estate and vehicle taxes “must file their application no later than May 1, 2025.” Today is also the deadline to declare business furniture and fixtures, machinery and tools, and computer equipment on county tax forms. [Fairfax County Government]
Another Local CVS Store Set to Close — “The CVS store in the Heritage shopping center at 7859 Heritage Drive, Annandale, is closing. The store manager, known as JD, said the store’s last day will be June 5.” The company also shuttered its longtime location at the Cedar Park Shopping Center in Vienna in April. [Annandale Today]
Job Fair for Cut Federal Workers Planned — “Alexandria is joining forces with Congressman Don Beyer and nearby communities to hold a job fair this Saturday (May 3) for federal workers and contractors affected by recent government workforce cuts … Alexandria is working alongside Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Falls Church to organize the fair.” [ALXnow]
Metrobus Changes Will Eliminate Dozens of N. Va. Stops — “Fifty-seven bus stops are set to be cut from Metrobus’ routes in Northern Virginia, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The changes have been scheduled to take effect June 29” as part of the system’s first major redesign of its bus network since the 1970s. [WUSA9]
Tysons Spring Bicycle Ride to Return — “Kick off Tysons Bike Month with a scenic spring ride during Pedal with Petals … Join us at Westbriar Elementary School for a FREE fun-filled day of biking with family and friends.” This year’s bicycle ride, organized by the Tysons Community Alliance, will take place on Saturday, May 10, with registration starting at 10 a.m. [Eventbrite]
Fairfax Students Plant Trees for Arbor Day — “On April 23, [Katherine Johnson Middle School] students planted three Eastern redbud trees to green the school grounds, and they learned about the benefits trees provide … The trees were provided by SPROUT, a new city initiative to encourage the community to plant, care for, and learn about the trees that make up our urban forest.” [City of Fairfax]
It’s Thursday — Expect a 20% chance of showers from 2-5pm, followed by possible thunderstorms after 5pm. The day will be partly sunny with a high around 80. On Thursday night, storms could occur before 11pm, possibly continuing until 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 66 and a 40% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Fairfax County Public Schools is one of two Virginia school divisions that reportedly declined to sign a form committing it to complying with federal anti-discrimination laws and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred race from being considered in college admissions.
Superintendent Michelle Reid instead sent a “modified certification and assurance document” to Virginia education leaders last week affirming FCPS’ compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Virginia Mercury reported yesterday morning (Tuesday).
Congressional candidate Mike Van Meter speaks with voters in 2024 (photo via @VanMeterForVirginia/X)
Six months after being defeated by Rep. Gerry Connolly in what turned out to be his final election, the most recent Republican nominee for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District will return to the campaign trail.
Mike Van Meter, who garnered almost 33% of the vote in the 2024 general election against the longtime Democratic incumbent, confirmed to FFXnow that he plans to run for the seat in the 2026 midterm elections.
1st Stage, the award-winning professional theatre nestled in the heart of Tysons, has pulled back the curtain on its dynamic and deeply resonant 2025–2026 season, promising a lineup of powerful, provocative, and poignant productions that speak to the soul of the human experience.
Launching the season with flair, the beloved Logan Festival of Solo Performance returns from September 18–28, 2025, showcasing nationally renowned solo artists in a two-week celebration of individuality and storytelling brilliance. This unique festival continues to be a regional gem, spotlighting voices that captivate, challenge, and inspire.
Following this vibrant opening, the mainstage season begins with Fair Play by Ella Road, directed by Associate Artistic Director Deidra LaWan Starnes (October 16–November 2, 2025). This razor-sharp look at women’s athletics and the societal forces that shape them is as timely as it is compelling. It asks: what is the cost of greatness, and who gets to define it?
Just in time for the holiday season, Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle (December 4–21, 2025) will offer a heartfelt meditation on time, memory, and the meaning of a life well lived. Under the direction of Artistic Director Alex Levy, audiences will follow one woman’s journey through decades of birthdays in a single theatrical sitting—a touching and funny reminder of the beauty in our everyday rituals.
Kicking off the new year, the stage heats up with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Between Riverside and Crazy by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by José Carrasquillo (February 19–March 8, 2026). This richly textured drama explores race, redemption, and resilience through the story of a retired NYPD officer fighting to hold onto his rent-stabilized home—and his fractured family.
Spring blooms with the laughter and empowerment of Real Women Have Curves by Josefina López (April 9–26, 2026), directed by Nadia Guevara. This high-energy, heart-filled tale of five Mexican-American women in a cramped sewing factory stitches together themes of identity, body positivity, and self-determination with irresistible humor.
The season culminates with a theatrical tour de force: Indecent by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, also directed by Alex Levy (June 4–21, 2026). Inspired by the true story of the controversial 1923 Broadway debut of God of Vengeance, Indecent is a stirring testament to the power of art, the complexity of love, and the courage of those who dare to tell the truth.
Subscriptions and Flex Passes are already on sale, offering up to 50% in savings and the chance to be part of a transformative season. More information is available at www.1ststage.org or by calling the box office at 703-854-1856.