An outdoor seating area for The PARC at Tysons is decorated for fall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

More Scrutiny for FCPS Over Abortion Allegations — “The U.S. Department of Education ordered Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to investigate claims that a school social worker helped a high school student get an abortion during the 2021-2022 school year … FCPS already launched its own internal investigation and hired an outside law firm to investigate. On Aug. 13, 2025, Gov. Glenn Youngkin asked Virginia State Police to investigate as well.” [NBC4]

What Happens if Federal Government Shuts Down — “Much of the federal government is on the verge of shutting down if Congress does not reach a deal to approve new funding by Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 … There have been 14 shutdowns since 1980, with the most recent coming in 2018. That shutdown lasted 34 days.” [CBS News]

Reston Native Marries Selena Gomez — “On Sunday, actress and singer Selena Gomez married record producer and Reston native Benny Blanco at a private ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, announcing the news in an Instagram post showing the couple kissing and embracing on a lawn.” [Patch]

McLean Old Firehouse Finishes Renovations — “Community leaders, teenage residents, parents, and F.H. Paschen representatives gathered on Sept. 20 to mark the completion of critical ADA-related renovations at the Old Firehouse Center (OFC), a facility operated by the McLean Community Center (MCC).” [Press release]

Replacement of Falls Church Motel Progresses — “Plans to open a new restaurant and beer garden at the site of a closed Falls Church motel are nearing completion. After months of demolition and construction, Stratford Garden is beginning to materialize at 300 W. Broad Street, where the Stratford Motor Lounge closed in 2021.” [ARLnow]

Local Greek Restauranteurs Eye Expansion — Eleni and Angelo Linardakis, who run Spartans in Burke and Olympians in Newington, are planning to open a new, fast-casual concept called Go GRK at Crosspointe Shopping Center in Fairfax Station. Aiming to launch the restaurant around November or December, the couple say it will have a “consolidated” menu focused on their Greek specialties. “So, no pizza, but plenty of chicken souvlaki, Greek salads, pita sandwiches and gyro fries.” [Washington Business Journal]

Mason District Restaurant Week Planned — “Fourteen restaurants in the Annandale/Mason area will participate in Mason District Restaurant Week Oct. 20-26. This year’s theme is ‘Eat Around the World.’ Some of the restaurants have already announced specials for Restaurant Week; the others will be doing so soon.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a cloudy day with highs near 77°F and a northeast wind at 5 to 8 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly cloudy as well, with lows around 59°F and a north wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]


News

The federal government could shut down this week, barring a last-minute compromise between Democratic and Republican Congressional leaders on a new budget.

While Democrats have singled out extending health care benefits as their top priority in the ongoing negotiations, Virginia’s senators are also looking to secure the Space Shuttle Discovery’s future at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools has managed to significantly reduce its bus driver vacancies, which in turn is bumping up on-time rates.

As part of her “Opening of Schools” report, Superintendent Michelle Reid reported last Thursday (Sept. 25) that 96% of bus routes were completed on time to start the current school year — a figure that astounded some School Board members.


News

A much-needed makeover is in the works for the playground behind Reston’s Home Depot.

Construction is scheduled to start in October on a renovation of the Reston North Park playground, requiring a temporary closure of the site at 11760 Stevenage Road, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced last Thursday (Sept. 25).


Countywide

Two local public safety agencies are sounding the alarm on an increase in scam calls targeting Fairfax County residents.

Both the Sheriff’s Office and the Fire and Rescue Department are warning about recent schemes that fraudulently seek payments from seemingly random targets.


A garden is still flowering at the Vienna Town Green (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fireworks Aimed at Police Breaking up Fight — Two Vienna police officers suffered minor injuries after someone set off fireworks at them while they were responding to a fight “involving a large crowd of high school students” at McDonald’s near James Madison High School on Friday (Sept. 26). Fairfax County and Virginia state police assisted with dispersing the crowd. This isn’t the first student fight to create issues at local McDonald’s, and fireworks were reportedly lit inside the Reston franchise on the Fourth of July. [DC News Now]

Driver Injured in Tysons Crash — Fairfax County firefighters responded yesterday (Sunday) afternoon to “a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Tyco Rd. Crews arrived with one patient still inside. The patient was evaluated on scene and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Swastika Found in Vienna School Bathroom — James Madison High School “Principal Liz Calvert informed families Thursday of the swastika etched into a wall in a boys bathroom on the school’s second floor. Staff quickly removed the symbol and started an investigation.” [Patch]

Woman Killed in Accidental Shooting — “Officers responded to the scene of the reported shooting in the row house community in the 4500 block of Derring Lane in Fair Oaks around 3:45 p.m. Friday. The gun ‘inadvertently discharged’ while another person in the house was cleaning it, police explained.” [WUSA9]

Full Impact of Federal Worker Cuts Looms — “When the fiscal year ends Tuesday night, government workers who have been on paid leave for months will be officially out of their jobs. A prolonged shutdown, which could also begin next week, could delay pay for remaining federal workers, too — and contractors, who don’t usually get back pay from shutdowns, would suffer as well.” [Washington Post]

Petition Objects to Potential Magnet School — “Some Fairfax County families are worried that the long-promised new high school in the western part of the district could become a magnet school instead of a traditional, community-based campus. Almost 300 people signed a petition urging Superintendent Michelle Reid and other county leaders to make it a regular public high school.” [WTOP]

Korean Cafe Coming to Annandale — “Dessert 39, a franchise company based in Korea, is coming to 7326A Little River Turnpike. The shop will open in the long-vacant storefront formerly occupied by the Manoa Bakery Café.” [Annandale Today]

Virginia Increases Proficiency Standards — “Virginia students will soon face tougher academic expectations. Nearly a month after school leaders demanded greater transparency, the State Board of Education voted Thursday to support raising the benchmarks — or cut scores — for math and English, setting off a debate over how the changes will affect classrooms.” [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Monday — Clouds will increase throughout the day, reaching a high near 79 degrees, accompanied by a 6 mph east wind. Tonight, there is a 20% chance of showers after 2am, with cloudy skies and a low of 66 degrees in a light northeast wind. [NWS]


Around Town

As of now, a Starbucks store in Fair Lakes is the brand’s lone Fairfax County location on the chopping block.

The last day of business for the cafe, located at 12599 Fair Lakes Circle in East Market, will be tomorrow (Saturday), an employee confirmed to FFXnow.


Countywide

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares accused Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano today (Friday) of engaging in one of the “most horrific patterns of both incompetency and ignoring victims” that the Commonwealth has ever seen.

An investigative report released by the attorney general alleges that an “alarming pattern of misconduct” by the prosecutorial office has led victims and their families to feel forgotten and lacking in justice.


There are dozens of happy hours to try around Fairfax County, perfect for an after-work drink or leisurely afternoon with friends.

Here are the nominees for “Best Happy Hour in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite place below? If not, write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10.

Voting for the Best Wing Spot in Fairfax is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Tailor in Fairfax. The results are now official:

  1. Merrifield Tailor & Organic Dry Clean
  2. The Tailor Shop
  3. Best Tailoring Inc

News

By ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — James Comey was charged Thursday with lying to Congress in a criminal case filed days after President Donald Trump appeared to urge his attorney general to prosecute the former FBI director and other perceived political enemies.


View More Stories