Tysons

Countywide

Youngkin calls for investigation of Thomas Jefferson HS over delayed student award notices

By Angela Woolsey
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) An outcry stoked by conservative activists over Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) allegedly failing to promptly announce a student academic honor has reached the Virginia governor’s office.

In a letter released this morning (Tuesday), Gov. Glenn Youngkin urged Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate the Fairfax County magnet school after it reportedly didn’t notify students commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program until after early college applications were due.

Go to Youngkin calls for investigation of Thomas Jefferson HS over delayed student award notices Read more
News

Effort to relocate cell tower by I-495 in McLean still ongoing

By Angela Woolsey
The cell tower by I-495 at the Old Dominion Drive bridge in McLean (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m. on 1/5/2023) The search is still on for a new site to host a cell tower in McLean that has to be removed to make room for the widening Capital Beltway.

The monopole, which is owned by American Cell Towers and supports AT&T and T-Mobile service, was officially decommissioned on Dec. 9, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Go to Effort to relocate cell tower by I-495 in McLean still ongoing Read more
News

Jewelry store robbery led to another gun scare at Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey
Tysons Corner Center (file photo)

Fairfax County police are investigating a “smash-and-grab” jewelry store robbery at Tysons Corner Center.

The suspect used a hammer to smash display cases at Elite Jewelers, which is on the mall’s first floor near Macy’s, the Fairfax County Police Department reported at 5:53 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 1).

Go to Jewelry store robbery led to another gun scare at Tysons Corner Center Read more
Countywide

FCPD officer accidentally broadcasts ‘audio porn’ over police radio

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County Police Department's in-car radio system (via FCPD/Facebook)

The new year got off to an awkward start for one Fairfax County police officer whose decidedly not-safe-for-work choice of late-night entertainment got some professional airtime.

The police radio channel picked up about eight minutes of pornographic sounds shortly after midnight on Sunday (Jan. 1), local public safety watcher Dave Statter reported. Statter observed that the noises suggested that someone was having sex or watching porn.

Go to FCPD officer accidentally broadcasts ‘audio porn’ over police radio Read more
Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com
Sun shines on water at Great Falls Park (photo by Terry Baranski)

EEOC Finds Support for Sexism Claims Against Fire Department — “The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) wrote a letter [last] month supporting [Kathleen] Stanley’s 2018 claim that the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department retaliated against the battalion chief by changing the terms and conditions of her employment after she stepped down as the interim women’s program officer.” [The Washington Post]

Man Fatally Shot on New Year’s Eve in Lorton — Fairfax County police are investigating a homicide that occurred Saturday night (Dec. 31) in the 9500 block of Unity Lane in Lorton. Police say they found Nahom Beyene, 42, of Lorton, in the threshold of a doorway with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. He died at the scene. [FCPD, WTOP]

Go to Morning Notes Read more
Countywide

Here are FFXnow’s top 10 most-read stories of 2022

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue crews respond to reports of gunfire at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by James Cullum)

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, closing out an exciting first year for FFXnow.

Since officially launching on Feb. 22, the new home of Tysons Reporter and Reston Now has pushed to bring the local news reporting from those sites to other corners of Fairfax County, from Chantilly to Huntington, while maintaining their focus on the Tysons and Reston areas.

Go to Here are FFXnow’s top 10 most-read stories of 2022 Read more
Around Town

STEM school launches in Vienna with camps teaching kids how to code

By Angela Woolsey
The STEM school iCode opened a Vienna campus earlier in December (courtesy iCode)

A Texas-based technology education company has branched out into Vienna.

The school iCode launched its first Virginia franchise in the town earlier this month and is now hosting camps on game building, robotics and other tech skills for students out on break for the winter.

Go to STEM school launches in Vienna with camps teaching kids how to code Read more
Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com
A woman walks a dog in Vienna's Wildwood Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9 a.m.) Metro Rides Free for New Year’s Eve — “Take the train, bus or paratransit service starting at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 31, and #YourMetro ride will be free of charge. As a bonus, service is being extended. Metrorail will run until 2 a.m. and late-night Metrobus service on selected routes will operate until 3 a.m. for customers connecting from train to bus.” [WMATA]

Pedestrian Hospitalized by Annandale Crash — “Officers are on scene of a crash involving a pedestrian at Little River Tpke & Medford Dr, Annandale. Pedestrian was taken to hospital w/injuries considered life-threatening. Driver remained on scene.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Go to Morning Notes Read more
Countywide

New transit dashboard shows Fairfax Connector’s big 2022 rider rebound

By Vernon Miles
A Fairfax Connector bus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A new dashboard looking at transit around the region illustrates Fairfax Connector’s slow climb back to pre-pandemic ridership levels.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission recently released an interactive website that lets users break down ridership at various local transit services and compare and contrast those figures.

Go to New transit dashboard shows Fairfax Connector’s big 2022 rider rebound Read more
View More Stories