Summer in Fairfax County means a break from school, an abundance of outdoor music options and, in recent years, the return of the spotted lanternflies.
The invasive insects started to reemerge earlier this month, but they are still in their young “nymph” stage, resembling small beetles with white spots on their black bodies instead of the larger, winged form they take as adults, according to the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES).
Reston Association remains opposed to any development on Reston National Golf Course, but the latest proposal to add housing has it questioning just how much effort should be devoted to that cause.
RA launched a survey yesterday (Monday) asking community members to share their thoughts on whether its staff should prioritize the issue when determining where to focus their limited time and financial resources.
How House and Senate Budget Plans Compare — “With a June 30 deadline looming before a state government shutdown, Virginia legislators have released new budget proposals, the latest actions in a long-simmering debate over the state spending plan that has deadlocked over whether data centers should keep being exempt from the state’s sales and use tax.” [Virginia Mercury]
Repeal of Campaign Finance Audits Proposed — “A budget provision released Friday by Democrats in the House of Delegates would send Virginia back to the days when the public had to accept on faith that candidates’ campaign finance disclosures were complete and accurate. A nine-word sentence … would strip the Virginia Department of Elections of its authority to audit campaign finance reports.” [Poole Report]
Fairfax EDA Names New President — George D. Thomas, currently head of the regional collaboration nonprofit Connected DMV, has been appointed as the next president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Starting in August, he will succeed Victor Hoskins, who is leaving after nearly seven years to become an advisor for organizations exploring “large-scale public-private investment,” the Washington Business Journal reported in February. [FCEDA]
Microsoft Pulling Back on Clean Energy Goals — “Microsoft is considering ending its round-the-clock or 24/7 clean energy goal, which aims to meet 100 percent of its energy consumption 100 percent of the time with zero-carbon electricity by 2030.” The company has a number of data centers in Virginia, including in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. [Inside Climate News]
Route 29 Ramp Closure Tomorrow — “Weather permitting, the southbound Route 29 ramp to westbound I-66 at Exit 52 in Centreville will be closed from 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, to 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, for asphalt patching … Drivers are asked to follow posted detour signs.” [VDOT]
Student Competes on American Ninja Warrior — Woodson High School student Grace Walk was featured last night (Monday) on the reality competition show, where contestants tackle elaborate obstacle courses. “Walk’s journey to appear on the show has been years in the making. She began with the ninja sport when she was just 9 years old.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Wakefield Softball Fields Updated — “The softball fields at Wakefield Park have been upgraded, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced on June 11. The improvements include renovated playing surfaces and amenities, upgraded LED lighting, new dugouts, new fencing, new batting cages, and new picnic tables and bleachers.” [Annandale Today]
Hearing Set on Fairfax City Council Pay — “Fairfax City Council members will hold public hearings Tuesday, June 23 on a proposed green building policy, subdivision ordinance changes and pay increases for the mayor and council members. The regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.” [Patch]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies with a high near 80 degrees and light, variable winds. Tuesday night will bring increasing cloud cover and a low of around 63 degrees, with south winds at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]
Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.
Changes to membership on the Fairfax County Athletic Council could give a seat at the table to representatives from a wider array of sports.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on June 9 approved the body’s first significant charter change since 2004, slightly adjusting slots on the 23-member council.
Local and state police will soon be allowed to enforce speed limits and other traffic laws on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, though drivers might not see an immediate increase in officers and troopers.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Senate Bill 81 in April authorizing state and local law enforcement officers to cite drivers for traffic infractions on federal highways in Northern Virginia, starting on July 1. Local agencies can also seek the federal government’s permission to install automated speed monitoring cameras.
First responders in swift water boats and a U.S. Park Police helicopter are scouring the Potomac River for a man who went missing while swimming in the Great Falls Park area yesterday (Sunday).
Montgomery County’s police and fire departments received a call around 6:15 p.m. for a swimmer in distress near the Billy Goat Trail in the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park in Potomac, Maryland.
After a contentious debate, the Fairfax County School Board will give parents the opportunity to opt out of take-home laptops and tablets in the upcoming school year and study stronger screen limits and restrictions.
At its meeting Thursday (June 11), the board discussed restrictions on screen time and school-provided devices for students amid local, regional and national pushback against technology in classrooms, particularly in elementary schools.
A combination of more sales and higher average prices pushed Fairfax County’s real estate sales volume up 17% year-over-year in May, according to new data.
A total of 1,427 residential properties went to closing last month, up 11.7% from 1,278 in May 2025, according to figures that MarketStats by ShowingTime reported June 10 based on data from Bright MLS.
Va. House Releases Budget Proposal — “Budget leaders in the Virginia House of Delegates announced a new roughly $74 billion spending plan during a Friday morning press conference in Richmond … Most of the new funding is dedicated to public education while preserving the sales tax exemption for data centers, which the Senate proposed nixing.” [VPM News]
Trump Admin Sues Va. Over ICE Laws — “The Trump administration is suing Virginia over new state laws surrounding immigration enforcement, including one that bans U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing masks … On Thursday, June 11, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit challenging these new laws, calling them unconstitutional.” [WRIC]
Fairfax Residents Moving to Richmond — “Migration data released by the Internal Revenue Service (which tracks where people file their tax returns) shows an uptick in the number of people moving out of Fairfax County and into the Richmond metro. The data also shows a smaller, but still significant trend: The Roanoke Valley now attracts more new residents from Fairfax County than it loses to the state’s most populous county.” [Cardinal News]
Amazon Eyes Distribution Site in Tysons — “Amazon.com Inc. is expected to bring its new 30-minute delivery option to Tysons and Arlington as the competition to provide the speediest distribution heats up among the world’s largest online retailers.” The company is seeking multiple permits to build out “an 8,450-square-foot industrial storefront sandwiched between Tyco Road and the Dulles Access Road,” possibly for its Amazon Now delivery service for groceries and “household essentials.” [Washington Business Journal]
Assistant Police Chief Leaving — “Assistant Chief Brooke Wright will retire from the Fairfax County Police Department after almost three decades of service, leadership, and commitment to public safety. She has been appointed Assistant Chief with the Wilmington Police Department in North Carolina, where she will continue her law enforcement career.” [FCPD]
Spanberger Defends Vetoes — “The pushback has exposed ideological and procedural tensions inside Virginia’s Democratic Party at a moment when lawmakers had hoped to capitalize on full control of Richmond after years of divided government. Spanberger, however, rejects the idea that her vetoes reflect dysfunction or political drift.” [Virginia Mercury]
First Varsity Girls’ Wrestlers Head to College — “Two years later, Fairfax County made girls’ varsity wrestling a new sports option. MacKay was eager to join and did, becoming part of a cohort of first-ever team members across the Northern Virginia suburb. Now, MacKay and two other students who were part of the inaugural teams have been recruited to compete in college.” [WTOP]
Madison Girls Win Lacrosse State Title — “The Madison High School girls lacrosse team can finally put last season’s state runner-up finish behind them. On Saturday, the Warhawks held off Battlefield 11-9 in the Class 6 state final at Briar Woods High School in Ashburn to claim a state title they almost captured a year ago.” [Inside NoVA]
New Legal Notice — On-premises beer and wine license application; objections within 30 days. [Public Notices]
It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies with a high near 80 degrees and a northwest wind blowing at 9 to 11 mph, with gusts reaching up to 20 mph. Monday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 60 degrees and a northwest wind at 5 to 8 mph. [NWS]
More than 21,200 Dominion Energy customers in Fairfax County have reported losing power as a result of thunderstorms currently passing through the region.
As of 8 p.m., the majority of outages are focused in the eastern part of the county, though some in the Fair Oaks area have also been affected, according to Dominion’s outage map. In most cases, the utility hasn’t determined an estimated time of restoration yet.
