A crowd forms for a concert at Reston Town Center's pavilion (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors tooks steps on Tuesday (Feb. 4) that it hopes will ease the administrative burden on those organizing small-scale outdoor special events throughout the county.
Supervisors voted unanimously to amend administrative-permit rules for special events that are open to the public. The vote came at the very tail end of the board meeting.
Legal notices in the final edition of the GazetteLeader (staff photo)
FFXnow can now publish legal notices for Fairfax County.
FFXnow’s publisher Local News Now LLC was notified this week that a circuit court judge had approved its petition in December. That followed the enactment of a new state law last July that made Virginia the first in the nation to allow legal notices on online-only local news sites.
George Mason University is planning a $70 million renovation of its Center for the Arts in Fairfax (rendering by Quinn Evans)
George Mason University has begun raising money in earnest to help fund a $70 million makeover of its performing arts center in Fairfax.
Publicly launched yesterday (Wednesday), the “Give Voice” initiative seeks to raise $35 million for a renovation of the Center for the Arts, the 1,935-seat concert hall at 4373 Mason Pond Drive. The university itself is expected to match the private donations with an additional $35 million.
Nearly two dozen crosses stand near Gravelly Point, honoring the 67 victims of the mid-air collision over the Potomac River (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Local superstar Ilia Malinin and other figure skaters will convene in D.C. next month to pay tribute to the victims of last week’s airplane and helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport.
Set for Sunday, March 2, at Capital One Arena, the “Legacy on Ice” benefit will raise funds to support the families and loved ones of the 67 people killed in the Jan. 29 crash, while serving as a showcase for the American figure skating community, which lost 28 members.
The Fairfax Health District is experiencing a high level of respiratory illness activity, as of Feb. 4, 2025 (via Fairfax County Health Department)
If it seems like you know or have encountered more sick people this winter, it might not be your imagination.
The Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County, Fairfax City and Falls Church, is experiencing high levels of respiratory illnesses, driven particularly by influenza, according to the Fairfax County Health Department.
Electronic display shows a system map at the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
More federal employees soon may be back working full-time from their offices — at least those who don’t get laid off.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed staff on Tuesday (Feb. 4) to develop a communication and outreach strategy to inform workers who will be returning to the office, as ordered by the Trump administration, of the full range of available transit options and ways to make commuting less costly.
Difficult Run opens to the Potomac River in Great Falls Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
ICE Arrests Annandale Residents — “ICE agents arrested six men outside Fairmont Gardens in Annandale [Wednesday] morning. The men were spotted walking down Little River Turnpike in handcuffs. The men were waiting for jobs. One was released because he had a work permit, says Nayely Lopez of FACETS.” [Annandale Today]
Driver Killed in I-95 Crash — “Virginia State Police are investigating a crash that happened just after 2:30 p.m. on [Tuesday, Feb. 4 in] the southbound 95 Express Lanes at the 151 mile marker in Prince William County,” creating traffic delays from Dumfries to Lorton. A Lexus driver died at the scene, and a passenger in the vehicle was taken to a hospital. [WTOP]
Health Centers Closing Due to Funding Freeze — “Half of Virginia’s community health centers have been cut off from federal grant money, forcing some to stop providing certain services and others to close branches.” Even though a judge stayed the Trump administration’s funding freeze last week, 16 of the state’s 31 Federally Qualified Health Centers have been unable to access funds used to pay their employees. [VPM]
Arrest Made in Chantilly School and Church Thefts — A Chantilly man has been charged with burglary, property destruction and petit larceny after he allegedly stole from a church donation box and burglarized a school. “The two separate incidents happened at the end of January 2024, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.” [DC News Now]
Police Investigate Vehicle Part Thefts — Fairfax County police are looking for an Ohio man who they say was involved in catalytic converter thefts in Woodlawn on Jan. 5. “The complainant reported seeing two men carrying tools and attempting to break into vehicles. Officers located several catalytic converters, the suspects’ vehicle, and tools nearby.” [FCPD]
Lincolnia Credit Union Robbed — The Navy Federal Credit Union in Barcroft Plaza was robbed yesterday (Wednesday) shortly before 11:30 a.m. “The suspect entered the bank, at 6343 Columbia Pike in Lincolnia, and demanded money, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The suspect did not display a weapon. No one was injured.” [Annandale Today]
Falls Church to Wait and See on Deer Management — “Deer culling efforts are unlikely to get off the ground in Falls Church any time soon, city leaders indicated this week.” At a Monday (Feb. 3) night work session, the city’s animal control officer said complaints about deer have been minimal, but city council members suggested keeping an eye on local populations. [ARLnow]
Murals Could Beautify Route 1 Construction — “As more and more buildings along Richmond Highway are demolished in preparation for construction of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) is hoping to improve the appearance of the corridor with more artwork.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain mainly before 1pm, with a high temperature near 49°F. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new amounts between a tenth to a quarter of an inch possible. For Thursday night, it’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 40°F. [NWS]
Oakton wrestlers qualified for the state (courtesy of Oakton wrestling)
Wrestlers from 20 different high schools in Fairfax County recently earned berths at the Zone 4 qualifying event to participate in the Virginia High School League girls state tournament.
The top five wrestlers in each weight class earned those berths at Hayfield Secondary School, with the fifth-place finishers designated as alternates. The state tournament is Wednesday-Thursday, Feb. 26-27, at the Henrico Sports and Events Center in Glen Allen.
The champion McLean team (courtesy of McLean athletics)
Aaron Jia’s high school swimming and diving career now includes bookend Liberty District boys championships for the McLean Highlanders.
The latest came last Saturday (Feb. 1), when the senior swimmer won two events and was on a winning relay to help McLean finish on top with 488 points.
The surface of Wolftrap Creek turned to ice after snowstorms in January 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County Public Schools will clear school grounds early tonight (Wednesday) and start classes late tomorrow (Thursday) in anticipation of some wintry weather.
FCPS announced that all activities on school grounds, including sports practices and extracurricular activities, must wrap up by 9 p.m. In addition, schools will start on a two-hour delay tomorrow with a mix of snow and sleet expected to freeze overnight.