The new “Circles of Memory” memorial near the Herrity Building. (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)
Fairfax County marked the installation of its newest public artwork, conceived several years ago as a way to honor local residents lost to COVID-19, with a ceremony attended by a small crowd of people yesterday (Sept. 23).
“Circles of Memory,” located near the county’s Herrity Building and Public Safety Headquarters in Fairfax, was envisioned as a way to memorialize local people lost in the pandemic; in 2024, according to county zoning records, its purpose was expanded to also provide an area of “respite, reflection and remembrance in support of the mental health well-being” of the public and first responders.
The medical office building at 8260 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive (courtesy Newmark)
Inova Health System is making the jump from tenant to property owner at a pair of medical office buildings near its main Fairfax hospital campus.
The nonprofit health care provider has acquired the Willow Oaks Medical Campus at 8260 and 8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive in Merrifield for $97.5 million, the commercial real estate advisor Newmark announced yesterday (Wednesday).
I-495 heading west near Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
State transportation leaders are back with a new plan for extending the I-495 Express Lanes on the highway’s south side that they hope will win buy-in from leaders on both sides of the Potomac River.
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) officials briefed the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Transportation Committee on Tuesday (Sept. 22) on a revamped design that would allow both for Express Lanes and future Metrorail service on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
Pouncestep, a male tabby cat, is among the pets available for adoption at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. (Courtesy Fairfax County Animal Shelter)
With the Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s Michael Frey campus closed for renovations for the next several months, conditions are getting a little cramped at its Lorton location.
To help more than 60 pets find their forever homes a little more quickly, Fairfax County Animal Services is partnering with the BISSELL Pet Foundation to waive all adoption fees during an “Empty the Shelters” event this weekend, from Friday (Sept. 25) through Sunday (Sept. 27).
An empty bench on The Perch at Capital One Center in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Gov. Calls for Federal AI Guardrails — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday called on Congress to set national rules for artificial intelligence, warning that its rapid development could threaten jobs, privacy and public resources if oversight remains largely in the hands of the companies building it.” [Virginia Mercury]
Fairfax City Townhomes Approved — “The Fairfax City Council voted 4-2 Tuesday night to approve the Highlands at Mantua townhome proposal after neighboring residents urged changes to address building height, tree preservation, buffers and traffic safety. RJL Associates Inc. plans to replace five office buildings … with 14 townhomes on 2.12 acres at 9495 Silver King Court.” [Patch]
District 10 Congressional Candidates Face Off — “With early voting underway in Virginia, incumbent Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam faced off Tuesday morning against Republican challenger Dave Beckwith in a Loudoun Chamber of Commerce-hosted 10th Congressional District debate.” Topics of discussion ranged from data centers and the electrical grid to federal workforce protections and immigration. [Inside NoVA]
Dessert Shop Open in Falls Church — “Lil’ Cakes & Creamery opened at 120 Founders Avenue, on Founders Row, earlier this month. So far, a store employee told ARLnow, the business’s deluxe cupcakes have been particularly popular — with flavors like pumpkin salted caramel cheesecake, caramel apple pie crisp and maple pecan praline.” [ARLnow]
GMU Launches Va. Quantum Hub — “George Mason University on Tuesday announced plans to establish the Virginia Quantum Hub … The hub aims to generate intellectual property across research and technology, attract capital investments, train the current and future workforce and address global needs in health, logistics, national security and energy, according to a George Mason news release.” [Inside NoVA]
Dulles Adding New Flight to Mexico — “Low-cost carrier Volaris plans to launch regular service between IAD and Guadalajara International Airport … starting in October.” Flights will depart Guadalajara for Dulles at 6:40 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting Oct. 1, while leaving in the other direction at 1047 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting Oct. 2. [Washington Business Journal]
RA Holds Community Yard Sale — “Treasure hunters, bargain seekers and community members alike are invited to the Reston Association Community Yard Sale on Saturday, September 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Reston Association Headquarters … This fall’s event is shaping up to be the largest in the sale’s history, with 110 vendor families registered to participate.” [Reston Association]
New Legal Notice — Restaurant applying for beer-wine on/off license; objections due 30 days. [Public Notices]
It’s Thursday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 65°F, and a northeast wind blowing at 11 to 13 mph, with gusts reaching up to 22 mph. During the night, it’ll be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 52°F and a north wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
Support local journalism.Join the FFXnow Press Club to boost our reporting and to get upgraded newsletters.
Fairfax County Circuit Court (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)
A McLean man will be sentenced in Fairfax County Circuit Court this week after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the 2025 shooting death of a man in Herndon.
Kianmehr Shirinipaziziba, now 20 years old, was initially charged with second-degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Jason Hann.
Brittany Dunn-Pirio (courtesy Friends of Brittany Dunn-Pirio)
Former state and federal prosecutor Brittany Dunn-Pirio announced today that she will challenge Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano for the Democratic nomination in the June 2027 primary election.
Dunn-Pirio, a resident of the Vienna area, says she’s a “lifelong Democrat” who wants to reform the office. According to her website, her platform “centers on standing up for seniors and survivors, expanding access to treatment, protecting the right to a fair trial, and above all, restoring competence Fairfax can trust.”
Emergency vehicles respond to a reported shooting into a vehicle on I-66 near Nutley Street on Sept. 22, 2026 (via VDOT traffic cameras)
The Virginia State Police is investigating an apparent shooting that took place on I-66 last night (Tuesday) near the Nutley Street interchange outside Vienna.
First responders with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were sent at around 8:15 p.m. to a reported shooting in the highway’s eastbound lanes near the Nutley Street ramp, according to scanner traffic.
The Indigo at McLean Station apartments under construction in Tysons in June 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Tysons still has a steep hill to climb to reach its goal of 100,000 residents by 2050, but it continues to make progress in its evolution from a commuter hub to a home.
Since the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a comprehensive plan in 2010 setting that target, Tysons has come close to doubling its population from approximately 17,000 residents to 32,000 residents, the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) reported earlier this month.
Exhaust pipes for a BMW car parked in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County officials plan to launch a 90-day pilot program in January to test automated technology that will target drivers of excessively loud vehicles.
Fairfax County Police Department officials outlined plans for the program yesterday (Tuesday) to members of the Board of Supervisors, which responded generally favorably.
