Laasya Mohan, a fourth-grader at Floris Elementary School in Herndon, won the 2026 Fairfax County Spelling Bee on Sunday (March 22).
Mohan, who is 9, and first runner-up Aadhya Vijayakumar, 13, an eighth-grader at Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, will both advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington in late May.
Fairfax County police are charging a man from Arlington County with burglarizing two different restaurants in the Tysons area more than half a year apart.
Back on Aug. 23, 2025, officers responded around 1:17 p.m. to a reported burglary at Pupatella Pizza (2980 District Avenue) in Merrifield’s Mosaic District, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Spring break is around the corner, and so is the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck.
The beloved mobile pop-up will pull into Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Road) this Saturday (March 28), selling exclusive Hello Kitty-themed treats and memorabilia at PenFed Plaza near Shake Shack from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Members of labor groups rallied Wednesday (March 25) in support of plans by Comstock Companies to develop an entertainment complex anchored by a casino in Tysons.
“Fairfax residents deserve to have good jobs,” said Emebet Samuel Kassa of UNITE HERE Local 25, which represents unionized hotel, restaurant and casino workers across the area.
More than $2 million in narcotics were seized by law enforcement earlier this month after a “regional drug trafficking organization” was found to be operating 13 vape stores in Fairfax County.
Hundreds of pounds of marijuana, as well as approximately 40 pounds of suspected mushroom-infused gummies, unknown pills and more were among the items recovered, the Fairfax County Police Department announced yesterday (Wednesday).
ICE Officers Spotted at Dulles Airport — “About a dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were gathered late Tuesday morning in the main terminal at Dulles. Nearby were about two dozen Department of Homeland Security police officers, several armed with long guns.” While some airports are seeing hours-long security lines as TSA staffers work without pay, operations have been mostly normal at Dulles and Reagan National. [WTOP]
More Charges in Fairfax HS Assault Case — Fairfax City police obtained four additional charges of assault yesterday (Wednesday) against an 18-year-old Fairfax High School student after more victims came forward with allegations following his arrest on March 7. The student is now facing 13 charges total related to accusations that he “assaulted numerous female juvenile victims” at the school. [City of Fairfax Police]
FCPS Nixes Upcoming Early Releases — With Fairfax County Public Schools canceling classes on April 21 to accommodate the redistricting referendum special election, that day will now serve as a teacher and staff development day, while April 22 and April 29 — previously designated as early-release days for elementary students — will be full days, Superintendent Michelle Reid says. [FCPS]
Bill Would Require Statewide AI Rules for Schools — As FCPS works on its own policy, “the Virginia General Assembly overwhelmingly approved legislation to require the state Department of Education to provide local school districts with guidelines for ‘the safe, ethical, and equitable use’ of AI systems.” The bills now await Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s signature or veto. [VPM News]
McKay on Proposed Casino Revenue Split — “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay says one big change might make him reconsider the Tysons casino measure: a different revenue-sharing agreement with the state.” At least 70% of the gaming tax revenue would need to go to the local government to make the community impacts worthwhile, McKay said, but he suspects “there’s not really any appetite” in the General Assembly for changing a split that currently favors the state. [Washington Business Journal]
Aging Facilities Among County Budget Challenges — “Fairfax County officials met with residents Monday evening to outline a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget marked by significant capital needs, multi-million dollar shortfalls for public schools, and a concerted effort to maintain aging infrastructure.” [Patch]
Fairfax County Surveys Business Owners — “The Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives has just launched our Spring 2026 Business Survey to get a real-time look at the trends, challenges, and opportunities affecting your company right now.” The confidential survey will remain open until April 17. [Fairfax County DEI]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny weather with temperatures reaching a high of around 75°F. Winds will be from the southwest at 10 to 13 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. Night will bring increasing clouds and a low of about 57°F, with a 50% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
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McLean’s housing supply will expand in the coming years as a result of two very different development proposals approved last week by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
The board voted unanimously on March 17 to rezone the McLean Office Center at 1368 Beverly Road from a commercial district to a planned residential mixed-use district, paving the way for a 56-unit apartment building to replace the existing pair of two-story office buildings.
Two school board members have proposed a new way for Fairfax County Public Schools to add revenue: selling the naming rights to school athletic facilities.
Introduced as “new business” last week, a motion directing Superintendent Michelle Reid to develop a plan to accommodate such negotiations is set to be voted on by the full Fairfax County School Board at its meeting tomorrow (Thursday).
Fairfax County officials finalized the purchase of a Chantilly property earlier this month to support an expansion of care for adults seeking mental health treatment.
The property, located at 14554 Lee Road, currently operates as Connections Chantilly, a 16-bed, short-term residential treatment center. It will soon be reclassified as a Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Center, meaning it will “provide an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization … and will offer treatment for those who also need safe withdrawal from substances.”
After reviewing its third-quarter financial picture, the Fairfax County government has identified about $52 million in additional funding that local leaders could spend or save, as they desire.
“There’s a number of good news stories in here,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said after a March 24 staff presentation to the Board’s Budget Policy Committee.
