United Airlines is testing a digital tracker for airport security wait times after the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown snarled lines at major airports across the country.
Touting the tool as the “first of its kind” from a major U.S. airline, United added the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wait times tracker to its mobile app on Wednesday (April 1). It’s currently available for seven pilot locations, including Dulles International Airport.
Potomac Interceptor Upgrades Backlogged — “The D.C.-area utility responsible for a massive sewer line that failed catastrophically in January had planned to reinforce the aging section years ago but repeatedly delayed construction as federal officials studied potential environmental impacts.” [Washington Post]
School Safety Legislation Signed — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed a new batch of legislation centered on school safety, student well-being and expanded support systems in Virginia’s public schools, alongside measures addressing public health protections and food insecurity among children.” [Virginia Mercury]
Data Vague on Police Use of License Plate Readers — More than six months after Virginia adopted a law requiring law enforcement agencies to report “specific purposes” for their use of automated license plate readers, a “VCIJ at WHRO analysis of 200,000 search logs from Flock Safety data … shows that officers across the Commonwealth frequently relied on broad or vague justifications when searching the systems.” [VCIJ at WHRO]
McKay Outlines County’s Top Priorities — In a March 31 episode of the Connect With County Leaders podcast, “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said affordable housing, economic development, public safety and school funding remain among the county’s top priorities, while county leaders continue to focus on transportation investment and a broader tax base.” [Patch]
Free Film Festival in Tysons — “The 12th annual Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival will take place April 9 and 10 in Tysons. Screenings are free to the public, but registration is required. LOOK Dine-in Cinemas at the Boro in Tysons will host the event.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Szechuan Restaurant Coming to Bailey’s Crossroads — “Yeshi Kitfo, the Ethiopian restaurant at 3400 Washington Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads, has permanently closed. The restaurant is undergoing a complete renovation.” Comments from a construction worker and a building permit indicate that the space will be filled by Chili Wok, which has a location in Vienna. [Annandale Today]
Park Authority Intern Program Lauded — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is proud to announce that we have been recognized for the second year in a row as a 2026 Top Employer for Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. This recognition highlights FCPA’s dedication to providing meaningful work-based learning experiences that empower the next generation of leaders.” [FCPA]
Nominations Open for Park Volunteers Award — “The Park Authority is now accepting nominations for the annual Elly Doyle Park Service Awards Program, recognizing the outstanding contributions of volunteers … Nominations are due by Friday, May 22, 2026.” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — Expect fog in the morning before 10 a.m., then mostly sunny skies with a high near 82°F. Winds from the south will range from 7 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. Overnight, there is a 20% chance of showers before 2 a.m., with partly cloudy skies and a low around 65°F. [NWS]
Cherry blossoms are so last week. In Fairfax County, April is the delicate bluebell’s time to shine.
The wildflower will take center stage at the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Bluebells at the Bend celebration, which is set to return to Riverbend Park (8700 Potomac Hills Street) in Great Falls on Saturday, April 11.
Hilton is still among the best companies to work for in the U.S., but it’s no longer number one, according to Fortune.
After holding the top spot in 2024 and 2025, the hospitality giant, which has been headquartered in Tysons since 2009, slipped to no. 2 behind Synchrony — a financial services company located in Stamford, Connecticut — in Fortune’s annual ranking of the country’s 100 Best Companies to Work for.
A local lawmaker believes legislation providing a tool to regulate excessive vehicle noise will become law this year after falling short in 2025.
The measure currently sits on the desk of Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), having passed both houses of the General Assembly earlier this year.
A grocery chain appears to be working on a new store in Tysons, but unfortunately for residents of the Park Crest neighborhood, it won’t be filling the void left by Harris Teeter last year.
For the past couple of months, Fairfax County staffers have been reviewing renovation plans that would transform a portion of the former Bed Bath and Beyond building at 2051 Chain Bridge Road into an Aldi.
A new Fairfax County government pilot program aims to make life easier for small business owners seeking to make minor alterations before they open their stores.
The Tenant Support Services (TSS) initiative is designed to move applicants through the permit approval process more efficiently by providing “early guidance, clear expectations and coordinated review support,” county officials said in announcing the effort.
Gov. Signs Affordability Legislation — “After more than 1,200 bills passed in the Virginia General Assembly, Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed the first set of bills tackling several areas of affordability … The signed bills address housing, health care and energy.” [ALXnow]
Vienna Power Outage Caused by Fire — More than 1,000 homes and business in the Town of Vienna lost power yesterday (Wednesday) morning due to a fire at an electrical substation near Town Hall. Dominion Energy restored power to most customers before 11 a.m., addressing the remaining locations by mid-afternoon. [Town of Vienna/Facebook]
Virginia Delays SNAP Restriction — “Initially, recipients were expected to lose the ability to purchase ‘sweetened beverages’ with SNAP funds starting in April 2026, per a Dec. 10, 2025 announcement. The change had been scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, April 1.” The Virginia Department of Social Services, however, says the ban has now been delayed until October. [WAVY]
Video of Alleged Nude Burglar Released — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division have released new surveillance video of the suspect connected to the London Towne burglary investigation following an attempted burglary early [yesterday] morning.” Filmed by security cameras, the man appears to have tried to break into a home in the 14800 block of Palmerston Square in Centreville shortly after 5 a.m. [FCPD]
Police Officer Charged With Public Drinking — “An off-duty Fairfax County Police Department officer was arrested on a charge of Drunk in Public in Fair Oaks. On March 31 at approximately 6:23 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 11000 block of Route 50 in Fair Oaks for the report of an intoxicated man refusing to leave the area and acting disorderly.” The 31-year-old officer is now on administrative leave. [FCPD]
Gas Prices Strain Food Nonprofits — “Gas prices have jumped about a dollar per gallon in the past month across the D.C. region, and it’s unclear how much more prices could still climb. That makes it harder to plan, harder to attract volunteers and get donations and, ultimately, harder to get food to the people who need it most.” [NBC4]
Data Centers Risk Potomac Water Supply — “The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, abbreviated ICPRB, describes some of the ways in which data center growth, which is primarily located in Virginia’s Loudoun and Prince William counties, can affect whether there is enough drinking water to serve Fairfax Water, WSSC Water and the Washington Aqueduct.” [WTOP]
Historic Villa Added to Underground Railroad Network — Historic Huntley in Groveton is now part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, which was created by Congress in 1998 to recognize the network of sites, individuals and organizations that helped enslaved people escape. “Sully Historic Site and Riverbend Park preceded Historic Huntley as Fairfax County Park Authority sites to attain the designation.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Thursday — There’s a 30% a chance of showers and thunderstorms primarily after 3 PM, with patchy fog clearing before 11 AM. The day will be partly sunny, reaching a high of about 76°F. Night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 54°F. [NWS]
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As the calendar flips to April, organizers around Fairfax County are prepared to celebrate National Poetry Month.
With the support of ArtsFairfax, Fairfax County Poet Laureate Angelique Palmer is launching a “Poetry &” initiative that will bring a handful of events to the county throughout the month, with some starting as soon as next week.
Time is running out for McLean residents to make their voices heard about the controversial Tysons casino proposal, state legislators said Tuesday night.
“This is my call to action: Now is the time, do not wait,” Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6) said yesterday (Tuesday) at a General Assembly roundup session sponsored by the McLean Citizens Association (MCA).
