Men working in an office (via Austin Distel/Unsplash)
Those employed in Fairfax County saw the 10th highest average weekly paycheck among the nation’s 370 most populous localities, according to new federal figures.
The average weekly wage for those who work in the county, no matter where they might live, was $2,143 in the second quarter of 2024, according to data reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in November.
Kohl's at 2100 Centreville Road in Herndon (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The 2024 Christmas shopping season is the last one that Kohl’s will spend in Herndon.
The department store will permanently close on Jan. 18 after over two decades at 2100 Centreville Road, a Kohl’s spokesperson says, confirming a report by The Burn.
The Town of Vienna illuminated its Christmas tree on Monday, Dec. 2 as part of its annual Church Street Holiday Stroll (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
County Opens Hypothermia Prevention Shelters — Fairfax County has launched its annual Hypothermia Prevention Program, which offers overnight shelter, food and other resources to those in need during the cold winter months. Continuing until March 31, 2025, the program involves permanent shelters and temporary sites hosted by local nonprofits and faith communities. [Fairfax County Government]
Man Last Seen in McLean Still Missing — Virginia and Fairfax County police are looking for 80-year-old Robert Williams, who has now been missing for over a week. He was last seen around noon on Nov. 25 in the 2100 block of Westmoreland Street in McLean, driving a pickup truck that was found parked and empty on Fairfax Drive in Arlington on Sunday (Dec. 1). [WUSA9]
Dominion Energy Station to Power Data Center — “Bren Mar Park community representatives are urging residents to come out in force to a Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) hearing this Thursday on Dominion Energy’s application for the Edsall substation and transmission lines. The substation would power Starwood Capital’s planned data center at the Plaza 500 site.” [Annandale Today]
Stolen Vehicle Crashed on GMU Campus — “Around 7:38 p.m., a vehicle that had been stolen from Prince William County earlier in the day [on Saturday, Nov. 30] careened onto the school’s Fairfax campus and slammed into the pole.” GMU Assistant Chief of Police Emily Ross says police took two juveniles in the vehicle into custody, but two others are still at large. [Patch]
Woman Arrested at Dulles Airport for Marijuana — “A Texas woman is facing felony drug charges after authorities said she tried to bring 71 pounds of marijuana onto a flight at Dulles Airport that was destined for London.” Customs officers discovered 60 vacuum-sealed bags filled with the drug in the woman’s two suitcases on Nov. 23. [WTOP]
Local TV News Anchor on Hiatus — “NBC Washington announced Monday that anchor Leon Harris is ‘stepping away from the anchor desk to focus on health issues’ … The announcement comes after Harris appeared unwell during a 6 p.m. newscast Thanksgiving Day,” prompting viewers to raise “concerns that the anchor could be suffering a medical emergency after he stumbled over his words several times.” [WTOP]
Mount Vernon Farmers Market Adds Vendors — “Prep your palate for some mouth-watering treats as ‘pop-up’ vendors new to this year’s McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers Market will offer their wares starting Dec. 4.” The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Reston and Burke markets will also remain open until this Saturday, Dec. 7 and Dec. 21, respectively. [On the MoVe]
Falls Church May Discuss Allowing Deer Hunting — “On Monday, new City Council member Laura Downs asked City Manager Wyatt Shields if coming months would include a discussion of whether Falls Church should join the growing number of Northern Virginia localities that permit deer levels to be controlled on public property.” [ARLnow]
It’s Tuesday — The weather will be sunny, reaching a high of approximately 41 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 9 to 11 mph and gusts up to 21 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 24 degrees, and a west wind at a speed of 5 to 7 mph. [NWS]
Automotive exhaust (photo via Oscar Sutton/Unsplash)
If the Virginia General Assembly allows it, Fairfax County leaders are willing to be the guinea pigs in any effort to find more effective ways to tamp down on noisy vehicles.
The Board of Supervisors’ legislative committee took steps last Tuesday (Nov. 26) to request legislation allowing the county to host a pilot program that would use technology to catch drivers whose after-market mufflers pump out more noise than the 85 decibels allowed under state law.
Taco Bell's Reston location is closed and fenced off for demolition (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Taco Bell is working on a makeover in Reston, but when it will be delivered is not yet clear.
The fast-food chain closed its existing restaurant near the Wiehle Metro station at 11257 Roger Bacon Drive around mid-November, erecting a chain-link fence around the building to indicate that construction on a planned renovation is near.
Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Fairfax County leaders have a nearly $300 million budget gap to fill between now and the time the fiscal 2026 budget is adopted in springtime.
“We have a lot of work to do,” County Executive Bryan Hill said last Tuesday (Nov. 26) at an occasionally testy joint meeting between the county’s Board of Supervisors and School Board.
Families line up to meet Santa at Tysons Galleria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Tysons Corner Center Draws Crowds for Black Friday — “Shoppers flooded Tysons Corner Center Friday, causing typical traffic slowdowns and lines outside of several stores. In some cases, the lines began forming prior to 6 a.m.” For many local families, Black Friday at the mall has become a tradition. [DC News Now]
Burke Townhouse Fire Contained — Firefighters with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department managed to contain a townhouse fire in the 10200 block of Fern Pool Court on Saturday (Nov. 30) “to the end unit, preventing significant damage to neighboring properties. All occupants evacuated safely. No civilian or firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]
County Progresses Toward Affordable Housing Goal — “Fairfax County is making progress toward its goal of creating at least 10,000 affordable homes by 2034 … Tom Fleetwood, director of the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development, said the county’s approaching 35% of that goal with about 10 years to go.” [WTOP]
Police Search GMU Campus for Suspect — George Mason Police sent out an alert just before 9 p.m. on Saturday announcing that they were assisting in a search “for a wanted person” in the 4400 block of University Drive. A subsequent alert around 10:50 p.m. reported that the investigation had ended, but “no information was available about the nature of the investigation.” [Patch]
Virginia Could Elect First Female Governor — “Two women seem to have cleared the field for next year’s Republican and Democratic gubernatorial primaries. Rep. Abigail Spanberger has had the Democratic contest to herself since her lone competitor dropped out in April, while Winsome Earle-Sears’s long-anticipated rival for the GOP nod let it be known this month that he was taking a pass.” [Washington Post]
Church Street Stroll Returns to Vienna — Vienna’s annual Church Street Holiday Stroll will return tonight (Monday) with a tree lighting ceremony, visits with Santa, free marshmallow-roasting and, for the first time, a gingerbread decorating contest. “The merriment begins in front of the Freeman Store and Museum at the corner of Church and Mill streets on Monday, Dec. 2, from 6-8 p.m.” [Town of Vienna]
Ways to Help Kids in Annandale During Holiday Season — “For those of you who want to help the needy this holiday season, there are plenty of opportunities.” The Mason Police District Station is collecting toy and clothing donations, while the nonprofit New Hope Housing is seeking gift cards to Target, Walmart and grocery stores so residents can make needed purchases. [Annandale Today]
It’s Monday — Today will be sunny with a high near 38 and a northwest wind blowing 7 to 10 mph. Monday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 25 and a northwest wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
Lake Braddock's defense gets set against West Springfield (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)
It will be the defending champion Lake Braddock Bruins hosting the Fairfax Lions tomorrow (Saturday) in the championship game of the 6C North Region high school football tournament.
The contest will begin at 1 p.m. at No. 2 seed Lake Braddock (10-2) in Burke. Fairfax High School (8-3), which won the 2022 regional champion title, is the third seed.