Six months after being defeated by Rep. Gerry Connolly in what turned out to be his final election, the most recent Republican nominee for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District will return to the campaign trail.
Mike Van Meter, who garnered almost 33% of the vote in the 2024 general election against the longtime Democratic incumbent, confirmed to FFXnow that he plans to run for the seat in the 2026 midterm elections.
1st Stage, the award-winning professional theatre nestled in the heart of Tysons, has pulled back the curtain on its dynamic and deeply resonant 2025–2026 season, promising a lineup of powerful, provocative, and poignant productions that speak to the soul of the human experience.
Launching the season with flair, the beloved Logan Festival of Solo Performance returns from September 18–28, 2025, showcasing nationally renowned solo artists in a two-week celebration of individuality and storytelling brilliance. This unique festival continues to be a regional gem, spotlighting voices that captivate, challenge, and inspire.
Following this vibrant opening, the mainstage season begins with Fair Play by Ella Road, directed by Associate Artistic Director Deidra LaWan Starnes (October 16–November 2, 2025). This razor-sharp look at women’s athletics and the societal forces that shape them is as timely as it is compelling. It asks: what is the cost of greatness, and who gets to define it?
Just in time for the holiday season, Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle (December 4–21, 2025) will offer a heartfelt meditation on time, memory, and the meaning of a life well lived. Under the direction of Artistic Director Alex Levy, audiences will follow one woman’s journey through decades of birthdays in a single theatrical sitting—a touching and funny reminder of the beauty in our everyday rituals.
Kicking off the new year, the stage heats up with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Between Riverside and Crazy by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by José Carrasquillo (February 19–March 8, 2026). This richly textured drama explores race, redemption, and resilience through the story of a retired NYPD officer fighting to hold onto his rent-stabilized home—and his fractured family.
Spring blooms with the laughter and empowerment of Real Women Have Curves by Josefina López (April 9–26, 2026), directed by Nadia Guevara. This high-energy, heart-filled tale of five Mexican-American women in a cramped sewing factory stitches together themes of identity, body positivity, and self-determination with irresistible humor.
The season culminates with a theatrical tour de force: Indecent by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, also directed by Alex Levy (June 4–21, 2026). Inspired by the true story of the controversial 1923 Broadway debut of God of Vengeance, Indecent is a stirring testament to the power of art, the complexity of love, and the courage of those who dare to tell the truth.
Subscriptions and Flex Passes are already on sale, offering up to 50% in savings and the chance to be part of a transformative season. More information is available at www.1ststage.org or by calling the box office at 703-854-1856.
A survey of Northern Virginia business leaders found high levels of uncertainty after months of turmoil from tariff policies and federal job cuts.
The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (NVC) and communications agency Pinkston released a Q2 Business Leader Survey yesterday (Tuesday) that collected feedback from business organizations in Fairfax, Falls Church, Reston and other locations around Northern Virginia.
D.C. Sues Virginia Drivers Over Unpaid Traffic Fines — “D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced Monday that the District of Columbia filed five lawsuits against drivers from Maryland and Virginia.” The prosecutor alleges that the drivers, including residents of Lorton and Herndon, collectively owe more than $400,000. [Washingtonian]
Fairfax County Spa Relocates to Alexandria — “Last month, King’s Beauty Center and Nail Bar/King’s Men Spa fully opened at 1102 King Street. Until the end of May, they’re offering 20% off all their services.” The owner previously “ran a smaller salon in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County for 13 years.” [ALXnow]
Reston School Celebrates 30th Anniversary — Aldrin Elementary School will celebrate 30 years today (Wednesday) with a school assembly at 3 p.m. followed by a community reception at 4:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to wear red, white and blue or spiritwear to show their pride, and firecracker ice pops will be handed out. [Aldrin Elementary School]
New Signage Planned for Bailey’s Crossroads Area — “Fairfax County is developing a gateway signage project for the Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners commercial revitalization districts.” A survey to solicit community input on the characteristics of both neighborhoods and they could be incorporated into the sign designs will launch next Monday (May 5). [Annandale Today]
Roofing Company to Leave Herndon After Merger — “Connecticut-based QXO Inc. closed its acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply Inc. on Tuesday, just a month after inking a deal with the Herndon construction company.” The company, which employs 8,000 people, will be rebranded as QXO and consolidate “headquarter functions in Greenwich.” [Washington Business Journal]
County to Increase Zoning Fees — “Starting July 1, Fairfax County will implement the second phase of updated fee schedules for Land Development Services (LDS) and zoning applications. The adjustments are intended to reflect the increase in costs related to inflation and personnel over recent years while ensuring the continuation of high-quality county services.” [Fairfax County Government]
Shuttered Climate Program Funded Chesapeake Bay Conservation — “The U.S. Department of Agriculture in April announced the termination of its $3 billion ‘climate smart’ program, a grantmaking initiative that was supporting hundreds of millions of dollars in conservation work in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.” [Bay Journal Media]
It’s Wednesday — There’s a 20% chance of showers after 2 pm, though mostly cloudy skies will eventually turn sunny, with temperatures reaching around 80. The night will be partly cloudy with lows near 60. [NWS]
Former Fairfax County School Board member Janie Strauss, who has died at age 78, is being remembered as a community champion with a focus on improving the lives of youth.
Strauss, who served as the school board’s Dranesville District member for nearly 30 years, representing the McLean, Great Falls and Herndon areas, died at home on April 11 after a year-long battle with glioblastoma brain cancer, her family said.
Fairfax County planning staff appear to agree with many neighboring residents that Reston National Golf Course should remain a golf course.
Property owner War Horse Cities and developer NVR’s proposal to replace the 168-acre golf course at 11875 Sunrise Valley Drive with housing and parkland or other public uses is among eight potential Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan amendments not recommended for advancement in a staff report.
Vienna’s Planning Commission offered little enthusiasm last week about the prospect of replacing a single-family home with a group of townhouses.
At a meeting on Wednesday (April 23), the commission voted to defer a vote on a plan to replace a home at 128 Nutley Street with nine townhouses.
Displaced Businesses Win Concessions — VHC Health “has agreed to assist the small businesses it’s displacing from” West Falls Church’s Graham Center to make way for an ER and urgent care facility. After a campaign led by the Viet Place Collective, “VHC extended the deadline to vacate the property from March 30 to May 15. VHC also promised to return tenants’ security deposits and fully cover the cost of junk removal.” [Annandale Today]
Retired Cop Intervened in Robbery Attempt in Huntington — “A retired D.C. police officer on his way to work Thursday says he stopped by his neighborhood store and walked right into a robbery in progress. He says he pulled his weapon, told the suspect to freeze and shared with police what he saw after the man ran.” [NBC4]
Reston Community Advocate Dies — “Community activist and attorney Barbara Cheryl Terio-Simon, the widow of Reston founder Robert E. Simon Jr., died peacefully on Friday, according to her daughter, Karen Terio.” In addition to serving Reston Association and other organizations, she “was instrumental” in getting Lake Anne Village Center designated as a national historic place. [Patch]
Multiple Failures Contributed to Fatal DCA Crash, Review Finds — “One error did not cause the worst domestic crash in the United States in nearly a quarter-century. Modern aviation is designed to have redundancies and safeguards that prevent a misstep, or even several missteps, from being catastrophic. On Jan. 29, that system collapsed.” [New York Times]
Federal Funding Cuts Could Affect Virginia Parks — “Virginia boasts several trails, parks and historic landmarks that fall under park service management which could be impacted. State officials hope park tourism stays strong because of the millions it generates, and park officials are trying to manage expectations with less resources.” [VCU Capital News Service/Inside NoVA]
FCPD Shares Drug Take Back Day Results — “On Saturday, our district stations partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other Fairfax County agencies to collect nearly 1,000 pounds of expired medications and prescription drugs from our community.” The haul was led by the Reston Police District Station, which collected 257 pounds of drugs. [FCPD]
GMU Receives $20 Million Donation — “A Fairfax County business woman has made a $20 million donation to George Mason University, the university announced Friday. The Kimmy Duong Foundation made the donation to support a department in the university’s College of Engineering and Computing; it will be renamed the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing.” [Virginia Business]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny weather and a high near 85 with a south wind at 9-14 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. At night, there’s a 20% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms. Night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 67, and south winds similar to the daytime. [NWS]
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently marked the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and saluted the Vietnamese American community’s vital role in the local area and nation.
“We honor all the contributions that the Vietnamese American community makes to Fairfax County on an everyday basis,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay said when presenting a resolution at an April 22 meeting. “Anywhere you go in Fairfax County, you can see this.”
Rep. Gerry Connolly, who has represented Virginia’s 11th district for nearly 20 years, will not seek another term in Congress, he announced today (Monday).
The 75-year-old congressman, who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer late last year, has seen a re-emergence of the illness, according to a statement.
