A growing sport is getting a temporary home in Tysons, bringing new life to a parking lot that’s been slated for redevelopment for more than a decade.
Earlier this month (Dec. 3), the Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously approved a development plan amendment to allow six outdoor padel ball courts on surface parking for the Greensboro Park offices at 8200 Greensboro Drive.
Missing Herndon Man Found Dead — “The body of missing 79-year-old Leonard Thompson was found in Troutville, Va. on Saturday, ending a multi-day search for the Herndon man. Thompson had been missing since Monday, with Virginia State Police putting out a critically missing adult alert the following day.” [DC News Now]
Dozens Charged With Crimes in Fairfax City — “Fairfax City Police recently arrested an 18-year-old man and served nine juvenile suspects a combined total of 24 juvenile petitions in connection to a string of events that started at Fairfax High School’s homecoming football game on Oct. 17, according to authorities.” The incidents included disorderly conduct at the game, a McDonald’s robbery, a gun being discharged at a party and a theft at Wawa. [Patch]
South Run House Fire Under Investigation — “Firefighters in Fairfax County responded to a two-alarm house fire early Saturday morning in the South Run area. The blaze was reported around 4:48 a.m. in the 9300 block of Castle Hill Road, officials said … One resident was taken to the hospital for evaluation.” [WJLA]
New Advanced Academic Center Approved — “The Fairfax County School Board approved a motion on Dec. 18 to create a full-time Advanced Academic Program at Poe Middle School … A phasing option allows third through sixth-grade students currently attending the AAP Center at Canterbury Woods Elementary School to stay there through the sixth grade.” [Annandale Today]
Police Investigate Credit Card Skimmers — “Detectives from our Financial Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the United States Secret Service (USSS), conducted a countywide skimmer-detection operation at more than 100 locations across Fairfax County resulting in the recovery of 20 credit card skimming devices … Skimming devices were located at multiple convenience stores, discount stores, and grocery stores throughout Fairfax County and the Town of Herndon.” [FCPD]
Virginia Dems Highlight Affordability Agenda — “Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and top Virginia Democrats are aiming to lower costs through programs with little impact on the state budget, they said in a press conference Thursday … Youngkin’s $72 billion budget proposal, released Wednesday, forecast more revenue for the state than predictions released by state legislators.” [VPM News]
Police Investigate Vienna Mailbox — The U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office and Fairfax County police investigated a Postal Service mailbox outside Navy Federal Credit Union’s Vienna branch on Thursday (Dec. 18) after a security officer reported hearing a suspicious noise. “As a precaution, the bank’s branch and the immediate surrounding outdoor area were evacuated. Once it was determined that the noise was coming from a safe device and there was no threat to the public, the bank branch was reopened.” [Vienna Police]
Change in FFXnow’s Newsletter — “ARLnow and its sister sites are about to embark on a significant change: switching to a new email service provider. After 16 years of delivering our daily newsletters from the same email provider we are switching to Beehiiv.” [ARLnow]
It’s Monday — The skies will gradually become cloudy, reaching a high temperature of around 44 degrees, accompanied by a light southwestern wind of about 6 mph during the afternoon. On Monday night, there is a 40% chance of rain and snow occurring from 1 am to 4 am, followed by a possibility of rain after 4 am. With an expected low of 35 degrees, the light south wind will intensify to 5-10 mph later in the evening. [NWS]
The newest graduates of George Mason University came from 38 states and 87 countries, overcoming obstacles and charting their own paths en route to commencement day.
“You did it!” university president Gregory Washington exclaimed during the university-wide commencement ceremony, held Dec. 18 at EagleBank Arena.
By JOSHUA GOODMAN Associated Press
MIAMI (AP) — A U.S. Army Reserve lawyer detailed as a federal immigration judge has been fired barely a month into the job after granting asylum at a high rate out of step with the Trump administration’s mass deportation goals, The Associated Press has learned.
While the snow that recently fell in Fairfax County has mostly melted away, the first day of winter will arrive this Sunday (Dec. 21), bringing the promise of more snow — and more opportunities to haul out a sled out of storage.
Here are the nominees for “Best Place to Go Sledding in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite spot below? If not, write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2.
Voting for the Best Primary Care Doctor in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday, Dec. 26 at 8:30 a.m.
A few weeks ago, we voted on the Best Orthodontist in Fairfax. The results are now official:
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) is expanding its season with a pair of newly announced concerts.
In separate events next spring, the orchestra will host musical theater legend Patti LuPone and perform alongside the animated film “How to Train Your Dragon,” adding more star power to a season that has already featured cellist Yo-Yo Ma as a soloist.
U.S. Admits Fault in DCA Crash — “The U.S. government admitted Wednesday that the actions of an air traffic controller and Army helicopter pilot played a role in causing a collision last January between an airliner and a Black Hawk near the nation’s capital, killing 67 people.” [Associated Press/ARLnow]
Va. Schools Expected to Need Over $1B — “Virginia’s recently published enrollment data indicates that state schools will need about $1.2 billion over the next two years, more than was projected just weeks ago amid challenges in funding other key areas … While enrollment is projected to decline, presumably lowering overall funding needs, the education agency said the cost to fund Virginia’s schools is driven by several factors.” [Virginia Mercury]
How Fairfax Stacks Up for Livability — “For the second year in a row, AARP has ranked Arlington as the most livable large community in the country … AARP rated Fairfax County No. 5 for very large populations (more than 500,000). The index noted the county’s access to grocery stores, farmers markets, and parks and its diversity of destinations.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Tysons Santa Returns for 37th Year — “Accompanied by a security guard, Santa — real name Michael Graham — makes his way to Santa’s Chalet, which is tucked at the end of a hallway near an eyebrow salon. Dozens of children are lined up, waiting to take a photo with Graham and tell him what they want for Christmas.” Even after 40 years performing as Santa, 37 of them at Tysons Corner Center, Graham remains enthusiastic about the gig. [Washington Post]
Pop-Up Library Planned for Culmore — “Fairfax County Public Library is in the process of nailing down a location in Culmore for a pop-up library during the time the Culmore Community Library will be closed for an entire year. The Culmore Library will close on Jan. 17, 2026, for an HVAC replacement project and won’t reopen until January 2027.” [Annandale Today]
Winning Lottery Ticket Bought in Merrifield — A Powerball ticket purchased at the Safeway (3043 Nutley Street) in Merrifield’s Providence Place shopping center was one of five to win $50,000 in a drawing on Wednesday (Dec. 17). “Since no ticket in Virginia or anywhere else matched all six numbers, the jackpot for the Saturday, December 20, drawing grows to an estimated $1.5 billion.” [Virginia Lottery]
Record Holiday Travel Projected — With 3.4 million Virginians expected to travel over the coming week, “AAA predicts that this year’s holiday travel will break last year’s record and set a new 24-year high. VPM News’ Hannah Davis-Reid talked to AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean about what to expect ahead of the holidays.” [VPM News]
New Take on ‘Into the Woods’ Debuts in Lorton — “The Workhouse Arts Center will present a new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning musical ‘Into the Woods’ beginning Dec. 20, offering a reimagined take on the modern theatrical classic in the W-3 Theatre. The limited run includes 17 performances through Jan. 25, highlighted by a New Year’s Eve show at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31.” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Friday — Expect rain and potentially a thunderstorm before 1pm. Temperatures will drop to around 38 by 5pm with winds shifting west and gusting up to 47 mph. There is an 80% chance of precipitation, with amounts ranging from a quarter to half an inch. Friday night will be mostly clear and breezy, with lows around 27. [NWS]
Outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday rolled out his final two-year budget proposal before a joint meeting of the General Assembly’s money committees, pitching a plan built on what he called Virginia’s strong fiscal footing while using the moment to cement his administration’s legacy as he prepares to leave office next month.
The $72 billion general fund proposal — part of a $212 billion total spending plan — covers the biennium running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. It includes pay raises for teachers, state employees and local public workers, tax relief for individuals and businesses, major increases in Medicaid spending, and a $50 million investment to overhaul Virginia’s child welfare system, one of Youngkin’s final policy priorities.
A restaurant fusing cuisines from the Mediterranean and South Asia is planning to open soon in a vacant storefront near the Dunn Loring Metro station.
Signage for Mandi Mediterranean has appeared in Merrifield at 2670A Avenir Place — the former home of Burger7, which closed in 2024.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors welcomed multiple state lawmakers who represent the area this past Tuesday (Dec. 16) for an “open exchange of ideas” ahead of next month’s legislative session in Richmond.
As laid out in the 2026 legislative program adopted earlier this month, the local leaders pointed to funding for K-12 education, the need to increase the area’s housing supply, Metro funding and assistance with “responding to changing federal landscapes” as top priorities.
