by Ida Domingo The Fairfax County Police Department said Preston Robinson on Commerce Street in Springfield on April 30 are asking for the public's help in locating a missing child last seen on Wednesday The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) said Preston Robinson SEE ALSO | Search for missing family of 5 underway, last seen in Laurel, Maryland: Officials Anyone with information can contact FCPD at 703-691-2131 Ice cream shops and other dessert destinations across Fairfax offer a sweet treat and some relief from the heat Here are the nominees for “Best Ice Cream and Dessert Shop in Fairfax” as part of our new FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards var pd_tags = new Array;pd_tags["15406656-src"]="poll-oembed-simple"; Voting for the Best Garden Center in Fairfax is still taking place Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m Two weeks ago, we voted on The Best Outdoor Recreation in Fairfax Nighttime lane closures start April 27; “pardon our dust” meeting will be held May 14 FAIRFAX STATION – Construction is underway on the widening of about two miles of Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) between Route 123 (Ox Road) and Nomes Court/Ladues End Lane according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) The Fairfax County Parkway widening south project also includes: The project aims to reduce congestion and improve safety operations and bicyclist/pedestrian accessibility and mobility VDOT will hold a “pardon our dust” meeting Wednesday night, May 14, in the VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 A presentation regarding the project’s construction phase will begin at 7 p.m and the project team will answer questions after the presentation The $126 million project, scheduled for completion in mid-2027, is financed with federal, state, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and local funding The project area is adjacent to the Fairfax County Parkway widening north project, which began construction in June 2024 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2027, and is also near the Fairfax County Parkway and Popes Head Road interchange project which began construction in December 2023 and is expected to be complete in late 2026 Fairfax County Parkway will have six continuous through lanes on the approximately eight-mile stretch from Route 123 to Rugby Road (Route 750) and the current choke point at the Popes Head Road (Route 654) traffic signal will be relieved bicyclists and pedestrians are reminded to use caution when traveling in active work zones Be alert to new traffic patterns and limit distractions You can get traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511.vdot.virginia.gov, via the free mobile 511Virginia app or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova Please note that this file is not ADA compliant Remove all graphics and images from the website so that only the text and links are visible Reverts to original layout including graphics and images and parents have been sighing in exasperation It feels like an especially cold and snowy winter in Fairfax County For those of us born before the turn of the century It brings back childhood memories of the days when gleeful kids played all day in snow-blanketed neighborhoods you may be wondering how this winter fits into broader trends we need to zoom out in two ways: 1) the long term Come with us to explore a winter wonderland of climate data in Fairfax County winters in Fairfax County are getting warmer It is hard for us to feel these longer-term warming trends when we’re in a cold spell. That’s why it is important to keep in mind the difference between weather (short-term trends), and climate (long-term trends of 20 years or longer). For a refresher on the difference between weather and climate, check out this blog post from my colleagues we are a cold spot within a larger pot of warming soup there is a random cold spot in an otherwise hot bowl That is a good way to picture what the temperature maps looked like this winter That’s because the United States was in the cold blue patch shown on the map below experiencing the coldest January since 1988 while almost everyone else was experiencing warmer-than-normal temperatures The key takeaway here is: a cold spot in the soup doesn’t mean that the microwave isn’t on Our tagline for Resilient Fairfax is “warmer weirder.”  Storms definitely fit into the “weirder” category we are seeing more storm events per year that are intense enough to cause loss of life We have especially seen an increase in thunderstorms (shown in purple) and floods (shown in blue) this is because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture  This increase in storms is clearer with summer storms (Note: this graph starts in 1996 because that’s when NOAA updated their methodology for storms.) and ice storms are shown in the small green band across the bottom Let’s zoom in on that winter data in the graph below we can see that the trend is messier and harder to predict than other types of storms warming temperatures generally mean less chance for snow Another way to track winter weather over time is by looking at total snowfall per year our total snowfall has decreased over time but it has also gotten more erratic (meaning it swings more wildly between all or nothing) The decrease overall can be seen in the black dotted trendline in the graph below Our snowfall so far this year (15.5 inches) can be seen in the red bar on the far right (This graph includes data through February 18 The climate in Fairfax County is getting warmer enjoy being bundled up with some hot cocoa Summer heat will be here before you know it To learn more about climate trends in Fairfax County and the Resilient Fairfax program, please see the Resilient Fairfax webpage Allison Homer is the Resilient Fairfax Program Manager and a climate planner for the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination she coordinates with staff from 25+ county agencies to help the county create climate-ready communities  She holds an environmental Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree a Global Master of Natural Resources (GMNR) degree and a Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability from Virginia Tech in addition to a Bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University  She is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and a LEED Accredited Professional for Neighborhood Development (LEED AP ND) Climate Matters is the blog of Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, where we share stories, insights and information related to climate change and environmental sustainability. Posts are written by knowledgeable and passionate OEEC staff members and guest authors. To read all blog posts, visit Climate Matters 703-324-7329 Website Accessibility Translate Download Mobile App ADA Accessibility FOIA Requests Website Administrator Fairfax County Public Schools Economic Development Authority Visit Fairfax Council of Governments Commonwealth of Virginia USA.gov A 16-year-old boy was injured in what Virginia State Police are calling an “officer-involved shooting” in Fairfax County early Tuesday morning State police said a Virginia state trooper learned Fairfax City Police had attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of Burke Station Road and Main Street when a suspect’s vehicle sped away around 12:43 a.m along with a pair of Fairfax County K-9 units later responded to 9500 block of Maury Road which is tied to the registration of the suspect’s vehicle That’s where state police said a 16-year-old boy ran off The state trooper managed to tackle the teenager one shot was fired,” state police said The boy was transported to a hospital suffering from injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening who state police said is a “known gang associate,” is being investigated for unauthorized use of a vehicle He is in police custody for outstanding warrants including a probation violation and auto larceny Below is a map of where the incident began Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Carrie is a writer and reporter for WTOP. She’s been in the news business for more than 20 years, starting out her career in small market TV as a reporter and anchor. Copyright © 2025 by WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until midnight on Tuesday. Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. another injured after altercationby Ida Domingo (7News) — A shooting in the Groveton area of Fairfax County resulted in the death of one man and left another injured Monday night according to officials with the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) Captain Jesse Katzman said officers responded to reports of an unconscious man in the 7200 block of John Paul Drive at 8:30 p.m they found the man suffering from gunshot wounds Police said he was taken to a local hospital The victim was later identified as Darryl Roberts Through collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Virginia State Police (VSP) Katzman said authorities identified and located another man involved in the altercation Police said the man was found with stab wounds and was also taken to a local hospital His injuries are considered non-life-threatening Officials said they've arrested Paul Brown after he called Alexandria Police and told them he shot someone after he was assaulted Brown was also treated for his injuries and taken to the D.C awaiting extradition back to Fairfax County Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact FCPD Crime Solvers at 1-888-411-TIPS The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced today that it’s kicking off widening work on two miles of Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) near Fairfax Station starting this weekend The widening will run from Route 123 (Ox Road) to Nomes Court/Ladues End Lane The goal is reduced congestion along with the installation of a shared-use path and a grade-separated cyclist/pedestrian crossing VDOT said the road work is expected to start on Sunday and continue all next month through Friday The road work will involve overnight single-lane closures on Fairfax County Parkway and along northbound and southbound Route 123 for work on the shoulders of the road The Fairfax County Parkway Trail will remain open throughout the construction There are many ways to support your neighbors and community this holiday season We’ve rounded up a list of giving opportunities right here in Fairfax County Our Fire and Rescue Department is participating in the Toys for Tots Campaign. Toys for Tots collects new unwrapped toys and distributes them to children. Collection boxes are located at every fire station in Fairfax County. You can swing by your local fire station anytime now through Sunday in partnership with Art in Motion Dance Company will hold a Toys for Tots collection Monday Donations may be dropped into the collection box in the lobby during MCC operating hours Email Providence@fairfaxcounty.gov to coordinate The Department of Family Services' Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Advocacy team seeks gift card donations (in $25 increments) for big-box and grocery stores to support families impacted by interpersonal violence throughout the holidays To ensure families have enough time to do their holiday shopping Gift cards should be dropped off (or mailed) to Domestic Violence Action Center The Police Department’s Victim Services Division is also hosting an annual gift card drive to help child victims Many of these children are unable to enjoy the holiday celebrations due to the financial strain on their family resulting from being victims of crime you can donate gift cards to help bring a little joy Gift cards should be dropped off (or mailed) to Victim Services Division Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and School Board Member Mateo Dunne are collecting healthy food donations for Gunston Elementary School Donations are being accepted until Wednesday and go to students and their families in need rice and healthy snacks in quantities to feed a family of four Keep in mind that donating items that are high fiber low sugar and low sodium not only feed people experiencing food insecurity but also contribute to their overall health and wellness Donations can be dropped off in the food collection box at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center Tweets by fairfaxcounty FAIRFAX STATION – Weather permitting Henderson Road (Route 643) between Route 123 (Ox Road) and Hampton Road (Route 647) will be closed to through traffic Monday night according to the Virginia Department of Transportation Those needing to reach properties along Henderson Road will have access but traffic will not be able to go beyond the point of pipe replacement (located just west of Thistledown Trail adjacent to the property at 10510 Henderson Road) in either direction Through traffic will be detoured via Route 123 Clifton Road (Route 645) and Wolf Run Shoals Road (Route 610) back to Henderson Road Snowfall estimates from yesterday’s storm are in suggesting experiences varied drastically across Fairfax County On the low end, residents in the northwestern area of the county, including Herndon, saw approximately 5.9 to 6.1 inches of snow, based on unofficial observations reported at 4:39 a.m The central part of the county appears to have seen the most snow ranging from 7.5 inches around the I-495 and I-395 interchange in Springfield to 8 inches near Fairfax City and a whopping 10 inches in Newington The storm lasted more than 12 hours, arriving in the Fairfax County area — or at least in the Town of Herndon — before 1 a.m Here are the observed snowfall totals for various parts of the county from the NWS: While no more snow is in the forecast until Friday night (Jan Fairfax County is still recovering from the impact of yesterday’s storm Fairfax County Public Schools canceled classes for a second day, and the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services once again isn’t collecting trash and recycling While the county government opened its offices at 10 a.m., later than usual, several services remain unavailable, including all Fairfax County Public Library branches and most Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) community, teen and senior centers. Circuit, general district and juvenile courts are closed Exceptions to the NCS facility closures include the Jim Scott (formerly Providence) Community Center Lewinsville senior and adult day health care centers The Fairfax County Park Authority has opened its rec centers and other facilities “We appreciate your understanding as we work to clear parking lots and walkways to ensure the safety of staff and visitors,” the county said in an update around 11 a.m After initially expecting to resume regular service today, Fairfax Connector announced this morning that it will instead follow a Sunday schedule with some detours based on road conditions “Passengers are encouraged to allow extra travel time and monitor updates on service conditions,” the Connector said noting that the bus stop 6253 in Chantilly won’t be served since the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Museum is closed for the day Metro is also operating under a severe snow plan serving just 42 of its 193 routes with more getting added throughout the day as roads are cleared We’re social! For updates on DPWES projects, services, and events, visit us on Facebook @ffxpublicworks and on X (formerly Twitter) @ffxpublicworks Are you wondering what to do with your pumpkin after the fall holidays the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program will turn your post-Halloween pumpkins into compost gold Just bring them to the pumpkin collection cans at the I-95 Landfill Complex or I-66 Transfer Station on the following dates and times have been removed to prevent the pumpkins from being rejected for composting simply place your carved or uncarved pumpkin in a garden area over the winter and let bacteria and fungi naturally break it down the rotting fruit will provide nutrients for the soil Who knows…you might see a surprise pumpkin vine sprouting in the spring consider baking your pumpkin to create a sweet or savory treat Not only will you enjoy the seasonal flavors but some recipes use the entire pumpkin to further reduce food waste For more information on food composting, visit Composting Organic Waste | Public Works and Environmental Services The January 2025 project newsletter is now available Get project updates and stay involved in the project via our online newsletter. Explore the project's interactive map. along three miles of Richmond Highway (Route 1) is being done in two phases: Jeff Todd Way to just north of Frye Road (Phase 1) and then just north of Frye Road to Sherwood Hall Lane (Phase 2).  All pedestrian and bicycle accommodations will be ADA-compliant turn lanes will be extended wherever possible to improve safety and capacity and signals throughout the three-mile Route 1 corridor will also be optimized Estimated costs continue to be developed. The project is financed with federal, state, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and county funding Richmond Highway averages about 48,000 vehicles a day within the project limits and help increase the community’s multimodal options Click here to get project updates and stay involved in the project via our online newsletter. Project Newsletter - January 2025 Project Newsletter - June 2024 Fairfax County Trails, Sidewalks and Bikeways Committee Presentation - May 2024 Mount Vernon-Springfield Chamber of Commerce Presentation - March 2024 Talbott Farm Homeowners Association Presentation - September 2023 Mount Vernon Neighborhood College Presentation - June 2023 Project Newsletter - April 2023 Delegate Kathy Tran Virtual Town Hall Presentation - February 2023 Mount Vee Manor Homeowners' Association Presentation - February 2023 Mount Vernon Council of Civic Associations Turn Lane Analysis Presentation - February 2023 Transportation Advisory Commission Presentation - November 2022 Engleside and Ray's Mobile Colony English and Spanish Presentation - May 2022 Final Design Highway Traffic Noise Report - February 2022 Delegate Kathy Tran Town Hall Presentation - February 2022 Mount Vernon Council of Civic Associations Presentation - July 2021 Delegate Kathy Tran Virtual Town Hall Presentation - January 2021 Federal Highway Administration Finding of No Significant Impact - October 2020 Revised Environmental Assessment - July 2020 Revised Socioeconomics and Land Use Technical Report - July 2020 Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney Lusk Virtual Town Hall Presentation - July 2020 Updated Design Plan Aerials - May 2020Jeff Todd Way to Brevard Court and Brevard Court to Sherwood Hall Lane Harmony Place Presentation - February 2020 Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Endorsement Letter to VDOT (Available by request) - July 2019 Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce Presentation - February 2019 Noise Analysis - March 2018 (Available by Request) Air Quality Analysis - December 2017 Hazardous Materials Assessment - December 2017 Indirect and Cumulative Effects Technical Report - December 2017 Socioeconomics and Land Use Technical Report - December 2017 Natural Resources Technical Report - April 2017 Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species Technical Report - March 2017 Right of Way and Utilities Webpage VDOT Right of Way Guide: English and Spanish Lat/long: ' + markerLat.trim().substring(0,9) + ' Estimated start date: Phase 1A: Mid-2027; Phase 1B: Mid-2028; Phase 2: Early 2029 Estimated completion date: To be determined Estimated cost of the project: Estimated costs continue to be developed January 2025 project newsletter June 2024 project newsletter View the March 2024 presentation to the Mount Vernon-Springfield Chamber of Commerce View the September 2023 presentation to the Talbott Farm Homeowners Association View the June 2023 presentation to Mount Vernon Neighborhood College View the April 2023 project newsletter View the February 2023 turn lane analysis presentation to the Mount Vernon Council of Civic Associations.  View the November 2022 Transportation Advisory Commission presentation here  View the May 2022 English and Spanish presentations to Engleside and Ray's Mobile Colony.  View the Federal Highway Administration Finding of No Significant Impact document here.  View updated design plan aerials for Jeff Todd Way to Brevard Court here, and for Brevard Court to Sherwood Hall Lane here.  The presentation from Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney Lusk's July 2020 virtual town hall can be viewed here.  The project team met with Harmony Place homeowners in February 2020. View the presentation in English and Spanish.  VDOT Right of Way Guide: English and Spanish  Jeff Todd Way to Brevard Court and Brevard Court to Sherwood Hall Lane Design Public Hearing - March 2019 (Ad) Meeting Materials Noise Analysis - March 2018 Based on initial measurements, yesterday’s snowstorm didn’t quite measure up to the one that passed through in January In Fairfax County, snowfall amounts ranged from 5.2 inches in the Town of Herndon, as of 7 a.m., to 8.5 inches spotted in Hybla Valley at 2:30 a.m., according to preliminary estimates reported by the National Weather Service at 10:28 a.m The Jan. 6 snowstorm also dropped more snow on the central and southeastern parts of the county compared to the west, with Herndon getting around 6 inches to the 9.5 inches reported in Hybla Valley and 10 inches in Newington, per NWS estimates Here are the snowfall estimates reported for different parts of Fairfax County from this week’s storm which began yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon and continued overnight: Given the differences in accumulation across the county the notability of the storm varies depending on which point of comparison is being used For those to the east and south, this is now the snowiest February since 2015, when 9.8 inches of snow were recorded at Reagan National Airport The 8.5 inches seen in Hybla Valley exceeds the area’s 5-inch average for February and with the 9.5 inches from January added on top the total snowfall is the most in a season since 22.2 inches fell in 2015-2016 Historically, Dulles tends to get more snow than National Airport, with a seasonal average of 19.3 inches versus 13.7 inches. According to the Capital Weather Gang, the track of yesterday’s storm contributed to a noticeable difference in snowfall amounts to the north and south of the D.C Though the snow stopped early this morning there have been 92 crashes on Northern Virginia highways A total of 910 crashes were reported statewide 91 of them with injuries but none resulting in fatalities “Virginia State Police continue to encourage drivers to stay off the roads during the storm and allow the Virginia Department of Transportation and other emergency crews more space to work,” the state police said Metrobus is operating on a “severe snow plan” today limiting service to major roads for the 42 of 193 routes that are in effect Rail service is being provided without changes Sixteen in-person early voting locations are open across the county providing a convenient option for most Fairfax County voters voters must show identification when they vote It may be a government-issued photo ID or one from a university in Virginia but may also be a copy of one of the following:  A Virginia driver’s license or DMV-issued ID are acceptable If you have a ballot to vote absentee by mail then ballots must be completed and returned by 7 p.m including at their assigned polling place on Election Day The Fairfax County Electoral Board will review and determine the eligibility of provisional ballots If you've recently moved or changed your name it's important to ensure your voter registration information is accurate to prevent any issues when voting through the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal You can also find your polling place and check the status of your returned absentee ballot 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 Adoption of the proclamation came a week before the 50th anniversary of the South Vietnamese government’s capitulation and the occupation of its capital Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City) by North Vietnamese forces on April 29-30 Saigon’s fall represented the final stage of a civil war that had raged for more than 20 years After French colonial forces departed Vietnam in 1954 and a Communist government took power in the north government began bombing the country and sent hundreds of thousands of troops to support South Vietnam By the end of the war, over 3 million American military service members had served in Vietnam, and 58,220 were killed. Casualty estimates vary widely ranging from more than 1 million to over 3 million Vietnamese fighters and civilians “Millions of Vietnamese lost their lives, and more than 58,000 Americans sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom,” said Uyen Dinh an attorney and civic leader who represented Vietnamese American families at the board meeting Dinh fled Vietnam with her family half a century ago In the displacement that followed the North Vietnamese victory France and Australia in taking in refugees “All of our families bear the scars of the Vietnamese War,” Dinh said Many settled in Northern Virginia, first in Arlington — establishing a thriving commercial hub in Clarendon — and then in the outer suburbs an estimated 70,000 Vietnamese-Americans call Northern Virginia home in so many ways because we welcomed so many thousands of refugees from Vietnam,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said praised the Vietnamese American community as “such a great example of the American Dream: If you work hard Dinh — a product of Fairfax County Public Schools as a graduate of Herndon High School — said immigrants and refugees from Vietnam benefited from high-quality educations in Northern Virginia and the economic opportunities provided in the region the Vietnamese American community has taken its place contributing to American success McKay noted that the audience also included American-born veterans of the Vietnam War and their families “We really appreciate you making the time to come out Fairfax County is one of a number of Northern Virginia governments, including neighboring Falls Church marking the 50th anniversary of Saigon’s fall and resulting arrival of refugees in the local area Earlier this year, the Falls Church City Council held a ceremony marking the honorary renaming of the 6600 and 6700 blocks of Wilson Blvd fronting the Eden Center retail-restaurant complex as “Saigon Blvd.” McKay and Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez attended that ceremony as the street near Seven Corners represents the dividing line between Falls Church on one side fun-filled Halloween season in Fairfax County parks The Park Authority is presenting a fantastic lineup of Halloween programs and events are designed to delight all ages Whether you’re looking for ghostly mini golf tricks and treats or family-friendly ways to show off your favorite costume we have events planned for all ghosts and goblins Goblin Golf Grab your Halloween costume (not required) and join us at Burke Lake Park for Halloween-themed mini golf Farm Harvest Festival -- Big Trucks, Carnival Rides and Fall Fun! Join us at Frying Pan Farm Park for the Farm Harvest Festival Enjoy unlimited ride specials on Friday night or Sunday for $25 or grab individual tickets on Saturday for even more fall fun so bring the family and celebrate the season with us Halloween on the Farm play Halloween game and take a tour of the decorated farmhouse Haunted Mini Golf vampires and goblins (and their families) are invited for a fun night of mini golf Trick-or-treat and win various goodies at Oakmont Mini Golf Cost is $12 in advance and $15 at the door Ghost Town Get ready for a full day of fun at Burke Lake Park’s Ghost Town mini golf and a bounce house—all with no scares Join the fun and make it a Halloween to remember Family Skate Night - Halloween Costume Skate and Dance Night Party to the sounds of our DJ while showing your costume Halloween Bash Hustle down to the South Run Rec Center to join in some Halloween fitness fun featuring the Monter Mash 5K Dash and Spooktacular Tiny Tot Trot with moon bounce and obstacle course for ages 2-4 Scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday afternoon and evening. Some may become severe with large hail and high winds. TRACK RADAREXCLUSIVE: Pat Herrity drops out of the race for Virginia Lieutenant Governorby Nick Minock Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity told 7News Reporter Nick Minock that he’s withdrawing from the race for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia “It's kind of with a very heavy heart that I'm going to withdraw from the race for health reasons,” Herrity told 7News “I've kind of come to the conclusion you really have to be on all the time You've got to be on the road all the time But with the complications that I've had I don't see myself being able to be at that 150% that it's going to take to win in November And I think it's in the best interest of the party and the ticket to make that determination now “Let me make it clear I didn't have a heart attack I had some pretty severe complications from a heart surgery to fix a genetic condition and those complications are stretching my recovery out much longer than I had thought I've come to the conclusion that the stress of trying to get back in [the race] it's going to impact my health negatively and I'm not going to be able to give it all it takes to do a statewide race.” “What does this mean for your current job as county supervisor?” Minock asked “I'm gonna remain committed to serving the residents of Fairfax County as the voice of balance and common sense on the board and you certainly will see that with the upcoming budget,” said Herrity but more about doing better in Northern Virginia so we could elect Winsome [Sears] as our governor and Jason Miyares as our attorney general we're going to have forced unionization we're going to have California deciding what kind of cars we're going to drive we're going to have electrical issues We need to elect Winsome so we can stay on the path Governor Youngkin’s put us on and that's one of economic success and recovery Herrity is the last remaining Republican elected official in Fairfax County He has served as county supervisor for several years and his father served as Fairfax County Chairman One reason why Herrity jumped in the race for Lieutenant Governor was to help the Republican ticket improve its margins in Northern Virginia The now presumptive Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor “I am sure all Virginians join me in praying for Supervisor Pat Herrity and his continued recovery Pat has been a gentleman during this campaign and he has devoted many years of his life to serving the people of Fairfax and of Virginia We all owe a debt of gratitude to responsible men and women who step forward into the arena sacrificing their time and often personal lives to offer leadership our party now has an early opportunity to unify behind a historic and responsible GOP ticket led by Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares that will continue to build on Governor Youngkin’s success “As I hope my travels across the state and work ethic have demonstrated I take my new responsibility as the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor seriously I will continue to work hard to be worthy of this opportunity and to earn every vote of Republicans and all those looking for a voice across Virginia.” VA – The Fairfax County Police Department actively engages with the community by participating in and hosting a variety of events These include police district station events Getting involved in your community provides numerous benefits and fostering stronger relationships with your local first responders For more information about these and other events, please contact your local police district station and sign up on Nextdoor – link here — to see events and other posts shared by our department Did you know each of our district stations has its own newsletter? Subscribe to receive updates on local issues, safety tips, community events, and more—all delivered right to your inbox. Stay connected and informed by signing up here under Public Safety for your preferred district station Interested in joining our team? Visit our website to learn more about joining FCPD Register your camera with Connect Fairfax County to help FCPD solve crimes call (preferred) or text 9-1-1 (voice and TTY) Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email Simple lifestyle changes by county residents can add up to big changes that help build a more sustainable environment A new county-sponsored public awareness campaign draws attention to actions that residents can take to foster environmental stewardship and promote sustainable practices that will ensure a greener The county’s “Sustain Fairfax” campaign makes it easy for residents to get involved. The campaign’s webpage (“Fairfax Sostenible” in Spanish) lists actionable steps information and opportunities to participate in various climate action programs and initiatives Sustain Fairfax is a response to growing concerns about climate change environmental degradation and the need for collective action the county seeks to create a more sustainable future by encouraging actions that conserve energy reduce the reliance on gas-powered vehicles safeguard homes from flooding and severe storms and preserve natural resources that enhance the overall quality of life for its residents help cut greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change protect our air quality and make Fairfax sustainable for everyone Sustain Fairfax is spearheaded by Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, with strong support from the Board of Supervisors. The campaign supports one of the county’s strategic priorities to protect and preserve the environment The campaign includes several key components designed to engage the community and facilitate meaningful change: Fairfax County also invites community organizations to become champions of sustainability by using the resources available in the partner toolkit to help spread the message of sustainability and encourage proactive engagement "Our partner toolkit is designed to empower everyone to be a part of the solution," OEEC Public Information Officer John Silcox said organizations can become a Sustain Fairfax champion and make a significant impact." Va – With the approval of the construction contract for the rehabilitation of the Accotink Wastewater Pump Station Fairfax County is administering the first local government Project Labor Agreement (PLA) in the Commonwealth of Virginia located at 9201 Richmond Highway in the Mount Vernon District is the largest wastewater pump station in the County and conveys sewage from more than 63 square miles of Fairfax County and Fort Belvoir Although upgrades and repairs have been made over the years the pump station and associated sanitary sewer force main require major rehabilitation after 40 years of continuous operations The project will increase the capacity of the sewer infrastructure from 37 to 45 million gallons per day replace approximately 6,600 feet of 42-inch diameter existing force main The new force main will be in an easement on the Fort Belvoir property which has been closely coordinated for review and approval with Fort Belvoir personnel The construction is anticipated to take 48 months to complete we are investing in our community infrastructure today to improve service and prevent emergencies tomorrow you may have noticed a sewer-like smell when you drive by Tully Gate particularly those who frequent the Kennedy Shelter,” said Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck The construction contract for the Accotink Pump Station Rehabilitation Project was executed by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services on July 3 The contract is with Northeast Remsco and includes a PLA executed by the contractor and the Baltimore/DC Metro Building Trades Union and their organized labor affiliates The PLA included in the contract is a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement that establishes the terms and conditions of employment for all workers on the project Fairfax County developed the PLA terms in coordination with organized labor the general contractors prequalified to bid on the project Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay commended the implementation of the PLA agreement “I want to thank County staff and the Baltimore/DC-Metro Building Trades Council for working together to achieve this historic milestone Our Board of Supervisors has made major advancements in improving the lives of County employees through collective bargaining and I’m thrilled to be able to extend this practice to workers who are building our critical infrastructure through the first local Project Labor Agreement in Virginia.” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw also applauded the PLA and how its enactment will contribute to the successful completion of the project “Virginia’s first-ever local government Project Labor Agreement will help ensure that this critical infrastructure project is delivered and meets the needs of Fairfax residents for years to come Treating workers fairly is the Fairfax way and I’m proud of the Board of Supervisors and leadership of DPWES for their commitment to this new approach,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said The PLA aims to ensure workers on the project are highly skilled have standardized working conditions and benefits prohibits organized labor strikes during the project and promotes the national “Helmets to Hardhats” program offering military service members and their families career opportunities in the construction industry The PLA terms and conditions are part of the construction contract The lessons learned from this pilot PLA project will be utilized by DPWES and other County agencies for future major capital projects the Board of Supervisors approved a data center zoning ordinance amendment to strengthen regulations and address concerns about noise The goal was to better manage the location and operation of these facilities as demand for data centers increases The previous zoning ordinance permitted data centers in various commercial and industrial districts with specific standards for equipment enclosure and building size the newly approved amendment introduces stricter guidelines The changes follow extensive community engagement efforts the Board of Supervisors authorized the preparation of the zoning ordinance amendment then the county held virtual community meetings in May at which residents provided feedback on the draft amendment Their input helped shape the final recommendations presented to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors Seven people were taken to a hospital as a result of a house fire that occurred Friday afternoon (March 7) in the Crosspointe area near Lorton The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) dispatched units around 2 p.m. to a single-family home in the 8300 block of Ivy Green Road after getting calls for a fire in the attached garage units encountered heavy fire conditions with fire rapidly spreading,” the fire department said in a news release on Saturday (March 8) “Firefighters immediately began an attack to bring the fire under control while ensuring all occupants were safely out.” four people were in the home at the time of the fire They discovered the fire “when one occupant heard a loud explosion-like noise coming from the attached garage,” prompting them to evacuate and call 911 one of the engines reported that they had run out of water and needed to wait for more supplies the fire burned through the floor of a second-story bedroom making it challenging for firefighters to search the room Five “civilians” and two firefighters were ultimately transported to a hospital all with injuries described as non-life-threatening the department believes the incident started with a vehicle catching fire in the garage due to their location they did not activate until after the fire was discovered,” the FCFRD said The fire caused an estimated $206,199 in property damages carries sewage from more than 63-square miles of Fairfax County and Fort Belvoir It is the largest wastewater station in the county four-year-long contract to rehabilitate the pump station was recently executed by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services This contract will increase the capacity of our sewer infrastructure from 37 to 45 million gallons per day replace approximately 6,600 feet of 42-inch diameter existing force main and upgrade the odor control system The contract for this project is a historic milestone for Fairfax County as it is the first local government Project Labor Agreement (PLA) to be administered in Virginia “I want to thank county staff and the Baltimore/DC-Metro Building Trades Council for working together to achieve this historic milestone.” – Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay Treating workers fairly is the Fairfax way and I’m proud of the Board of Supervisors and leadership of DPWES for their commitment to this new approach.” – Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw  County leaders and invited guests were part of a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept 26 to mark the occasion for Fairfax County and project employees by Nick Minock (7News) — 7News was the first to report that Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office dropped a felony charge against Wilmer Osmany Ramos Giron for allegedly strangling a woman in exchange for a guilty plea for brandishing a machete/blade in January according to court documents 7News obtained the charges Ramos Giron faced in January 2025 were felony abduction by force and misdemeanor assault on a family member he would have faced up to 15-16 years in prison But since Descano’s office agreed to a plea deal he only served around two months at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center according to court documents and the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office 7News emailed Descano’s office asking why they dropped charges against Ramos Giron “The resolution in this case was based primarily on the victim's wishes,” said Laura Birnbaum the Deputy Chief of Staff and Public Information Officer for Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano “She expressed that she wanted the defendant to face accountability and not contact her again (outside of communication regarding their child in common); but that she wanted to minimize the impact on his record and avoid a felony conviction.” an agreement was reached where he was convicted of two charges (A&B and brandishing) and must complete mental health and substance abuse evaluation and participate in a Batterers' Intervention Program,” Birnbaum added “This agreement achieved the outcomes that the victim wanted." After Descano’s office claimed the agreement was what the victim wanted 7News Reporter Nick Minock called the victim to find out if that was true Minock spoke to the victim on Friday evening and Monday morning The victim told 7News that she was told by attorneys that Ramos Giron would serve 15-16 years in prison and she agreed with that because she feared for her safety She said she told the prosecutor he was harassing her She said she told the prosecutor she feared something would happen again And she told 7News she fears something will happen now that he is out The victim said Ramos Giron’s attorney asked her to agree to drop charges against him the prosecutor wanted Ramos Giron to serve a month The victim said she wanted him to serve a year at the very least she was surprised at the prosecutor because Ramos Giron “got off easy.” The victim said some people who drink and drive have longer sentences The victim told 7News she has two young children who is going to take care of them?” she asked The victim said the man pulled a knife on her and strangled her Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares told 7News that Descano’s office gave Ramo Giron a lenient plea deal “And you know somebody like Descano clearly views himself as a social worker instead of a prosecutor,” said Miyares who has criticized Descano for being soft on crime Your job as a prosecutor is to vigorously protect your citizens That's not protecting your citizens.” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told 7News that Ramos Giron is illegally present in the United States and that he was previously deported twice Descano takes immigration consequences into account when making charging and plea decisions Steve will make charging and plea decisions that limit or avoid immigration consequences,” Descano’s website states Federal immigration officials told 7News Reporter Nick Minock more information about Ramos Giron the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Chantilly arrested Ramos Giron for brandishing a firearm issued Ramos-Giron a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge the DOJ immigration judge ordered Ramos-Giron removed from the United States to Guatemala ICE removed Ramos-Giron from the United States on April 19 at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in Fairfax pursuant to a federal warrant for alien in possession of a firearm Officers issued Ramos-Giron an order to reinstate a previous removal order District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia court convicted Ramos-Giron on July 12 of alien in possession of a firearm and sentenced him to 9 months in prison from the United States to Guatemala following his release from federal prison ICE learned of Ramos-Giron’s arrest by authorities in Fairfax County ICE lodged an immigration detainer/notification of release against Ramos-Giron with the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center The victim 7News spoke to also filed an emergency protective order against Ramos Giron in 2019 which was granted around the time he was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and pointing a firearm at her “Cases that involve domestic violence (especially inter-partner violence) depend in large part of the participation and cooperation of the victims - prosecutors strive to seek outcomes that prioritize their safety while respecting their wishes,” Descano’s office told 7News about this case and the 14-year-old victim and the family’s attorney never agreed with the plea deal The holiday season is a time for celebration and spending time with family and friends If helping others is part of your holiday tradition consider donating to one of the drives listed here Your donation will directly impact those living in your community The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is participating in the 2024 TOYS FOR TOTS Campaign The campaign aims to bring holiday joy and deliver a message of hope to children TOYS FOR TOTS collects new unwrapped toys and distributes them to less fortunate children All Fairfax County fire stations will be accepting donations from November 25 through Sunday Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez is hosting two ongoing drives Donate nonperishable food items to help restock the pantry at Annandale Christian Community for Action You can also donate laundry detergent pods for Shelter House’s Patrick Henry Emergency Shelter for families with children Food items can be dropped off Monday-Friday Detergent pods can be dropped off 24/7 in the lobby dropbox Drop off all items at the Mason District Governmental Center and dinner bill may go up in Fairfax County if the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors moves forward with implementing a food tax which many people in the restaurant industry oppose “This would be a permanent tax on food which I think is the last thing you want to tax,” Gary Cohen This would apply to all sit-down restaurants and fast-food restaurants co-owner of Mezeh Mediterranean Grill said about the food tax proposal “It’s not a very reasonable idea at this time especially when every cost went up And now we are going to get hit with this up to 6% additional they’re already paying a 6% tax to the state Fairfax is thinking of adding 6%; that will make it 12% on the bill and that will make it very unaffordable for our residents.” the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors again discussed implementing a food and beverage tax "I know that those meals taxes are all over the Commonwealth of Virginia very different places from Arlington County on down," said Supervisor James Bierman Fairfax County voters rejected a food a beverage tax twice at the ballot box so why are you open to this food tax?” 7News Reporter Nick Minock asked Supervisor Kathy Smith and I tend to have when I'm through these processes Fairfax County Chair Jeff McKay and the board started talking about implementing a food tax when Fairfax County had a $240 million surplus in 2024 Fairfax County is facing a nearly $300 million budget shortfall Cohen said if the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passes a food tax restaurants will have to raise their prices which will impact servers "I understand the government has a budget problem I also think they have a spending problem.” said a food tax will hurt senior citizens and single parents living on fixed incomes "I was in Arlington County when they did implement the meals tax and I had to explain to senior citizens that lived on fixed incomes "The single parents that are picking up roast chickens from the grocery store to feed their kids they're picking up meals and trying to get fast food for their family They need to learn to balance the budget and stop taxing people Fairfax County set up several new signs in an attempt to prevent the public from going near Fairfax County Chair Jeff McKay and county supervisors “no unauthorized public access beyond this point.” On Tuesday, 7News asked the county about the new signs. A county spokesperson said Fairfax County continually reviews facility access and building security plans to ensure the safety of the public and staff. The county spokesperson told 7News that this is the first time they have used the signs and the county will be using the signs at meetings going forward. TRACK RADARFairfax County firefighters voice budget concerns as potential station closures loomby Joshua Chapin (7News) — Some firefighters in Fairfax County met Tuesday night to discuss their anxiety when it comes to the budget that comes out next month "Our members every single day they come to work because they want to do that," said Robert Young "They want to protect and serve." READ MORE | Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans Last week 7News first reported that several stations could be in danger of closing as the county is working to figure out how to deal with a $300 million budget shortfall The County Executive told every department from fire to police to parks to find places to trim costs What cuts make it to the reveal of the budget next month is unknown "They want to have the funding to have the tools to do that job effectively," Young said Fairfax County tells 7News that the executive will present the 2026 budget to the Board of Supervisors on Feb Firefighters said now is the time for an education campaign suggesting the public look at the information available join us and make sure these cuts aren't made because it will impact our ability to provide service," Young said veggie lovers and more — whatever your pizza order there’s no shortage of shops in Fairfax County to get your fix Here are the nominees for “Best Pizza Place in Fairfax” as part of our inaugural FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards var pd_tags = new Array;pd_tags["15286636-src"]="poll-oembed-simple"; (7News) — Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office according to court documents obtained by 7News The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office told 7News he was released in March the charges Ramos Giron faced in January 2025 were abduction by force the victim filed an emergency protective order against Ramos Giron and it was granted by the court According to the 2025 emergency protective order preventing her from leaving and asked her to get into his car The emergency protective order said while inside Ramos Giron placed two hands on her throat and Ramos Giron was accused of assaulting his ex-wife while arguing Court documents said Ramos Giron also allegedly placed his hand around her neck to strangle her causing her “to be fearful of leaving as a knife was present” and “waived it over her legs.” The victim also filed an emergency protective order against Ramos Giron in 2019 which was granted around the time he was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and pointing and brandishing a firearm Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told 7News that Ramos Giron is illegally present in the United States “Descano has dropped felonies to misdemeanors on people who are illegally present in the country Do you think this is like a two-tier justice system where illegal immigrants are being treated differently because of Descano’s approach?” 7News Reporter Nick Minock asked Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares “Think about this: He is willing to treat those that have broken our laws and come here illegally and give them a lenient sentence or plea deal than somebody that's actually a legal citizen of the United States That's unconscionable to me that someone would think that is in some way protecting our community,” answered Miyares “And you know somebody like Descano clearly views himself as a social worker instead of a prosecutor I saw firsthand in Fairfax County a known MS-13 gang member that was indicted on a rape charge and rather than notify ICE this person was about to walk out the front door it's time and time again we have local law enforcement individuals that should know better And I guess that would be my message is do your job If someone's here illegally and they have committed a violent crime or they're a drug dealer and you can pick them up on an illegal weapons charge you shouldn't treat them more leniently than you would an actual U.S MORE | Gov. Youngkin aims to end sanctuary cities in Virginia with new budget amendment crackdown Sean Kennedy is a Fairfax County Criminal Justice Advisory Board member “It’s appalling that Fairfax’s prosecutor would protect and abet this dangerous violent offender precisely because he is illegally present,” said Sean Kennedy President of Virginians for Safe Communities a nonprofit dedicated to promoting public safety in the Commonwealth “How does breaking one set of laws provide you immunity to break more It shouldn’t but it does in Fairfax two-tier justice system A new poll shows that 97% of Americans want violent criminal aliens to be deported — unfortunately Fairfax County is run by the dangerously deluded 3%” According to the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office Ramos Giron was released in March 2025 because the man received a misdemeanor conviction “Wilmer Ramos Giron is an illegally present He illegally re-entered the United States twice after ICE deported him He has a prior federal conviction for a firearms crime ICE learned of Ramos-Giron’s arrest for abduction by force ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Ramos-Giron with the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.” has a general policy to not honor ICE detainers and only release an inmate to ICE if ICE secures a judicial warrant even for violent offenders who are in the U.S 7News has also reported that the Fairfax County Police Department is banned from sharing immigration information with federal immigration officials on people they encounter because of the Trust Policy the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors implemented years ago 7News reached out to Descano’s office for comment on Ramos Giron’s case Descano’s office told 7News in part that Ramos Giron faced jailtime and must complete a mental health and substance abuse evaluation and participate in a Batterers' Intervention Program (7News) — The Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County shared their first look at its budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 County officials are trying to account for a $300 million budget shortfall READ MORE | $6M down the drain after District funds unlivable condos for first time homebuyers 7News got a look at the impact on the firefighting services in Fairfax County One of the stations affected is across from Tysons Corner at Scotts Run Fire Station A rescue unit and engine would go from serving this community 24/7 to only being staffed at peak times Documents show show staffing would be eliminated from Rescue Squad 421 was tasked with submitting cuts to the county executive before the budget process started "Obviously that’s uncomfortable," said Jeffrey McKay "They don’t want to submit any reductions but the idea that they came forward with some suggestions Certainly helped jump start out ability to come up with a balanced budget." The proposal out Tuesday also includes a one and half percent increase on property taxes SEE ALSO | DC man sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for robbing four MD cell phone stores Supervisors said the tax bump on top of increasing home values will add about $638 on average to tax bills Home values in Fairfax County jumped about $50,000 between 2024 and 2025 Property taxes have fluctuated over the years and this proposal would match the rates seen in 2021 The increased tax revenue would go toward cost of living adjustments for county workers Chairman McKay said he would not support a property tax increase Chairman McKay said the budget process is just starting: Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity also commented on the budget proposal: For more information about Route 798, visit FairfaxConnector.com. Customers can also sign up for BusTracker text to customer service and to receive estimated arrival times for their bus property owners and other community members to nominate sites in Fairfax County for future redevelopment The county received about 50 nominations during its Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process which lets members of the public propose changes to the comprehensive plan that guides future land use and development After the 2022-2023 SSPA cycle focused on commercial-to-residential changes, with about half of the 75 nominations getting approved for staff consideration in April 2023 the latest proposals range from minor zoning changes to allow vehicle sales or increased density for planned housing subdivisions to significant overhauls of vacant or languishing properties Several sites have been targeted for redevelopment before including the Food Star building in Bailey’s Crossroads Kingstowne’s Hilltop Village Center and Reston National Golf Course potentially reigniting old battles between developers and residents such as the Tysons Plaza office park and Office Depot in Penn Daw are set to be presented to the Board of Supervisors on March 4 when they will decide which ones to advance to a screening phase Legislation that would give Fairfax County the authority to ask voters to allow a casino is heading to the Virginia House of Delegates After a passionate debate that split Fairfax County’s typically unified delegation, the contentious bill from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) to add the county to the short list of localities eligible to host a casino passed the state Senate today (Tuesday) by a 24-16 vote If it passes the House and gets signed into law by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Senate Bill 982 would give Fairfax County Board of Supervisors the option to hold a referendum asking voters to approve a casino gaming facility “I think this bill is one of the most significant economic development bills you’re going to see this session,” Surovell said “There’s something in it for everybody.” A 2019 gaming study conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) projected that a Northern Virginia casino could generate an additional $155 million in statewide gaming tax revenue though it didn’t specifically analyze Fairfax County Surovell’s bill limits the potential Fairfax County casino to Tysons by requiring the site to be outside I-495 within a quarter mile of Metro’s Silver Line and within two miles of an indoor mall that’s at least 1.5 million square feet in size A number of labor unions have spoken in support of the project after reportedly securing a commitment from Comstock for a labor-peace agreement that would guarantee employment of union workers Surovell questioned why the national security concerns didn’t crop up when Virginia legalized sports gambling on phones or when MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino opened in Oxon Hill just on the other side of the Potomac River “If our national security community is so vulnerable to this we’re already screwed,” Surovell said “…It’s NIMBYism dressed up in a different set of clothes.” When Surovelll suggested that the opposition to a casino is being fueled by MGM Jennifer Boysko (D-38) called the assertion “ludicrous.” Highlighting the “years” that local officials spent planning for the Silver Line “to be the most productive and economically viable usage that creates a space that people want,” Boysko was joined in voting against the bill by Sens The senators all stressed that the authority for a casino referendum wasn’t requested by Fairfax County residents or the Board of Supervisors “I would not be standing up and opposing this if there were an open process if they had buy-in from the local community if this were not micro-targeted for one or two locations,” said Boysko “… Every other time that we have voted to allow a casino it has been with the support of people that represent that area it has been with the support of the people who live in that community.” said her office had stopped counting the number of emails they received opposing a casino after they hit 5,000 while Boysko pointed to 106 community and homeowners’ associations that have objected including ones organized under the No Fairfax Casino Coalition and the Tysons Stakeholder Alliance who represents the 37th Senate District that includes Tysons said his office has gotten approximately 1,300 emails and calls about the casino issue in the past two weeks “This is not a vocal minority; it is a clear majority expressing concern,” he said “I urge the House to reject this bill so we can focus on legislative priorities that truly serve our constituents.” Salim noted that Tysons isn’t experiencing the same economic conditions that led cities like Portsmouth Richmond was dropped from the eligibility list last year after voters rejected a referendum twice The Board of Supervisors has expressed skepticism of a casino, arguing in a recent letter that the county’s funding challenges stem more from insufficient funding for schools from the state and that Tysons isn’t in need of revitalization But only two members — Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn and Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman — have explicitly opposed Surovell’s bill Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik whose district includes the site where Comstock hopes to build has said she’s monitoring the legislation but hasn’t taken a firm position on it Pekarsky said many of her constituents say high property taxes and other costs are driving them out of the county In addition to getting voter approval via a referendum any development would still need to go through the county’s usual land use process just “allows us to continue the conversation” at the local level “This has the potential to bring major economic development and much-needed diversification of revenue in Fairfax County as well as 5,000 well-paying jobs,” Pekarsky said “My constituents deserve the ability to have a robust discussion at the local level where many of the issues brought up on this floor can be fleshed out.” Bierman, however, argued in a statement shared this afternoon that there has already been “robust discussion at the local level” that’s being ignored by the legislators pushing the bill A poll conducted in January by the Tysons Stakeholder Alliance a group formed by the Rotonda Condominiums and other Tysons residents found that 64% of “likely voters” surveyed in Fairfax County and 79% of 336 Tysons respondents oppose a casino “Fairfax County residents don’t want this casino in the first place divisive referendum to figure that out,” Bierman said calling the Senate’s passage of the bill “a low moment for Richmond” and urging the House of Delegates to reject it Fairfax County is making it easier for residents living in homeowner associations and condominiums to access electric vehicle (EV) charging stations through its innovative Charge Up Fairfax program “Charge Up Fairfax is a program to help residents of community associations gain access to electric vehicle charging,” explains Julie Gurnee program manager at Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination “We found that these residents face unique challenges to at-home EV charging so Charge Up Fairfax aims to help these communities overcome some of these challenges.” The program specifically targets residents who don’t have easy access to at-home charging because they lack private garages or driveways Community associations accepted into the program receive several benefits: Here are the key steps for a community association to get involved in the Charge Up Fairfax Program: Community associations interested in participating can apply through Nov The program will accept up to eight communities in this round To apply, complete our online application Community associations are encouraged to survey community residents about their interest in EV charging and assess potential charging station costs and locations near power sources “Most communities are seeing estimates right around $20,000,” Gurnee notes regarding installation costs The county evaluates applications based on several factors The Charge Up Fairfax program supports Fairfax County’s Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan which aims to have electric vehicles make up 15% of county vehicle registrations by 2030 EVs represent about 2% of registered vehicles in the county Charge Up Fairfax focuses on Level 2 charging stations which can typically charge an EV from 0% to 80% in 4-10 hours though most drivers don’t need a full charge daily This is faster than Level 1 charging (standard household outlet) but slower than Level 3 (super-fast) charging stations For more information about the Charge Up Fairfax program, email OEECElectricVehicles@fairfaxcounty.gov or visit the program webpage The “County Conversation” is a podcast featuring employees and subject matter experts from the Fairfax County Government discussing programs, services and items of interest to residents of Fairfax County. Listen to past episodes of “County Conversation.” To find other county podcasts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts the Virginia Senate General Laws and Technology Committee voted 11-3 with Sen abstaining to advance the bill to authorize a casino in Fairfax County to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Earlier: A bill that would make Fairfax County eligible for a casino is again making headway through the Virginia Senate A gaming subcommittee voted 5-2 this afternoon (Monday) with Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) abstaining to report Senate Bill 982 to the full Senate General Laws and Technology Committee, which is scheduled to meet next at 11 a.m Championed by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) the bill currently under consideration would allow the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to call for a voter referendum to allow a casino While the bill doesn’t designate a specific developer or location it includes requirements that would limit the facility to a site along Metro’s Silver Line in Tysons “How many times have you seen labor and the chamber of commerce stand in unity?” said a labor representative who spoke after Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Julie Coons Joining unions representing electricians, plumbers, food workers, construction workers and more, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers member Emily VanDerHoff noted that her union has just gotten its first collective bargaining contract approved but it’s unclear whether money will be available to fund the included salary increases “This is one of the ways we can bring more revenue into Fairfax County without raising taxes,” she said Casino opponents many of them wearing bright red “No Tysons Casino” T-shirts and identifying as residents of Reston or the Tysons area given the targeted area’s proximity to the CIA headquarters and abundance of federal government workers unlike the localities approved for a casino no community members or Fairfax County elected officials had requested the authority to allow one from the Virginia General Assembly Others argued that Tysons doesn’t need a casino to facilitate development and boost jobs “Fairfax County doesn’t need a casino for economic growth We are the Silicon Valley of the East,” a resident of the Rotonda Condominiums said Another resident questioned why unions have rallied behind the casino as opposed to other construction projects going up in Tysons “We have hundreds of people working now and buildings being built They should all be union jobs,” Tom Lewis said Some casino opponents expressed support for an entertainment district in Tysons but contended that it wouldn’t need a casino to be viable. A flyer shared with lawmakers indicates that Comstock’s envisioned mixed-use development would also include a hotel Connie Hartke, a member of the No Casino Coalition and the Reston Citizens Association, urged the senators to put Surovell’s bill and any other legislation to expand gambling in Virginia on hold until a Virginia Gaming Commission is established. A bill to create the regulatory body is under consideration in the House of Delegates A casino gaming study conducted in 2019 by the state’s Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC) looked at revenue projections for a potential Northern Virginia casino but didn’t analyze the suitability of Fairfax County specifically Ultimately, she said the casino bill simply isn’t a priority for the Board of Supervisors, which is more concerned about getting the state to pay more for education after a 2023 JLARC study found that Fairfax County Public Schools and other districts have been underfunded “That’s something we would really like to move forward rather than something like this,” Arko said After the assembled speakers wrapped up their comments Christopher Head (R-3) observed that SB 982 had gotten “overwhelming support from labor … and really no one else,” even though the actual text of the bill doesn’t mention labor protections “You don’t have anybody from community groups supporting this and the community lined up almost out the door in opposition,” Head said Surovell expressed confidence that he could find community members in support of his bill if needed, noting that none of the speakers were from his district which encompasses southeast Fairfax County “Most of them are screaming about their taxes right now,” he said of his constituents adding that a Fairfax County casino would have implications for the entire county and state he stated that crime hasn’t emerged as an issue at the Virginia localities that now have casinos and no national security concerns have been brought up in connection to MGM National Harbor on the other side of the Potomac River or the proliferation of online gambling this is a lot of NIMBY [Not in My Backyard] stuff dressed up in different clothing,” Surovell said It’s a lot of office buildings and parking lots This project is exactly the kind of project that was intended to be on that [Silver] line when it was built Mount Vernon Police District – Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau have arrested a man responsible for a non-fatal shooting in Woodland Park officers responded to the 3100 block of Woodland Lane in Woodland Park for a shooting suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper body He was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries detectives determined that the victim and suspect were involved in a verbal dispute over the delivery of a portable storage container unit prior to the shooting was quickly taken into custody by responding officers Swithenbank was arrested and charged with Malicious Wounding and Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony He was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and was held on no bond Detectives executed a search warrant on his home and recovered several firearms We are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800 Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477) Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers” Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.   Victim specialists from our Major Crimes Bureau’s Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure the victim is receiving appropriate resources and assistance.  voters in Fairfax County can be confident that their vote is protected Comprehensive measures ensure every vote is accurately recorded From safeguarding ballots and voting machines to conducting post-election canvassing the county’s Office of Elections prioritizes security at every step Fairfax County has strict protocols to protect mail-in absentee ballots Election officers closely monitor official drop box ballot returns The 24/7 drop box at the Fairfax County Government Center is under video surveillance and boxes are physically secured with padlocks Each ballot follows a strict chain of custody Ballots are retrieved from the drop box multiple times daily Two election officials transport ballots collected from drop boxes in sealed containers to the Office of Elections ensuring that every absentee ballot is accounted for and properly stored Fairfax County uses DS200 and DS850 ballot scanners that are certified at both state and federal levels to meet required standards for accuracy and security these machines undergo rigorous logic and accuracy testing to verify their ability to read and tabulate ballots correctly Election officials check hardware and software to ensure proper functioning and security measures are confirmed to prevent unauthorized access Representatives from political parties are invited to observe these tests to ensure transparency A key security feature of these voting machines is that they do not have modems or wireless capabilities This “air gapping” ensures the machines cannot be hacked or tampered with remotely The machine’s digital scanner captures an image of the front and back of each ballot while also tallying the votes results and ballot images are encrypted and securely stored on proprietary USB drives transported to election headquarters by two election officers using chain of custody protocols labeled for tracking and transported to secure storage at the courthouse Virginia’s statewide voter database tracks every vote cast Once a ballot is submitted—whether in person by mail or through early voting—it is recorded in the database and pollbook preventing counting of additional ballots under the same voter’s name On Election Night, Fairfax County reports votes cast on Election Day, during early voting and by absentee ballot. Results are not final until all absentee and provisional ballots are reviewed Virginia law allows absentee ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received by noon on the Friday after to be counted Provisional ballots are reviewed in the days following the election and accepted ballots are tallied by machine and added to the vote totals With more than 745,000 registered voters in Fairfax County Election Night results are preliminary until all absentee and provisional ballots are counted the Electoral Board can certify the final counts which must be submitted to the Virginia Board of Elections by the second Friday after the election The post-election canvass is a critical step in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of election results a canvass reconciles the total ballots cast with the number of voters confirming that the data from voting machines matches printed reports All valid ballots are included in the final count and any discrepancies are addressed before certification Fairfax County also conducts risk-limiting audits comparing a random sample of paper ballots with electronic results for accuracy Post-election audits are conducted with officials secure ballot handling and transparent auditing Fairfax County ensures that every eligible vote is counted A forest in Fairfax Station is set to receive some laurels The five-acre St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church Sanctuary Forest (5911 Fairview Woods Drive) will be designated as a community forest by the Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN) on Sept “We are grateful for the example set by St Peter’s to recognize and protect a maturing stand of trees that is highly valued by the community,” Brian Kane the mid-Atlantic regional manager for the OGFN Peter’s is an inspiring example to protect mature forests and filter stormwater to protect the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.” The OGFN is a nonprofit that works to preserve forests across the country In addition to identifying and protecting “Network Forests” recognized for their age and ecological and cultural importance Community forests are “cherished greenspaces that connect people to nature right in their own neighborhoods,” and may be old or young The organization maintains a map of community forests The Fairfax Station site — which sits on the Manahoac tribe’s ancestral lands and features oak American beech and tulip poplar trees — will be the first community forest in Fairfax County “This designation affirms the work of our Creation Care Ministry and the gift that our mature forest offers to countless birds and woodland creatures not to mention humans seeking a tranquil place for walking Peter’s in the Woods Rector Reverend Susan Hartzell said in the press release “We look forward to sharing our woods and opportunities for education with the larger community in the months to come.” The Sanctuary Forest’s induction of the comes a little over a year after the OGFN added a 20-acre stand of trees in Clifton’s Hemlock Overlook Regional Park to its Network Forest list Those trees are estimated to be around 250 years old making them likely the oldest trees in Fairfax County For their part, the hardwood trees in St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church’s Sanctuary Forest are mostly between 70 and 100 years old, according to the release. Arlington County also features a Network Forest in Glencarlyn Park Image via Google Maps The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is seeking answers to what it feels was an inadequate response to last week’s Jan. 6 snowstorm by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) execution and communication fell far short of the service level that our residents demand and deserve,” supervisors said in a joint board matter adopted at the governing body’s meeting today (Tuesday) “The inconsistency is the biggest challenge,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay said While snow-clearing efforts “worked and worked very well” in some areas of the county “There was just a huge level of variability,” agreed Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman who brought the motion forward for consideration Hampering recovery efforts was several days of very low temperatures following the storm. Any snow that remained atop pavement quickly turned to ice and proved more difficult to dislodge resident who works in Tysons told FFXnow this morning that the walk to and from the Tysons Metro station remains “treacherous as the snow has turned to slick ice.” “This seems to be VDOT’s property with nobody in charge of clearing them,” Kyle Brewer said by email “Even the ADA curb cuts are blocked by plowed ridges of now hard ice.” McKay noted that nearly all public roadways in Fairfax County are under the authority of the state government which uses both its own personnel and contractors to remove snow not a Fairfax County responsibility,” McKay said “It’s confusing for a lot of folks This is an important opportunity to remind folks.” Supervisors acknowledged that VDOT’s reporting of plowing progress through its VDOT Plows online portal and other avenues itself is largely reliant on information it gets from contractors Most supervisors seemed eager to improve channels of communication with their VDOT counterparts “I am looking forward to working with VDOT to ensure [response to] our next storm goes better,” Bierman said The resolution directs County Executive Bryan Hill to: Before moving on to other matters, several supervisors voiced concern about Fairfax County Public Schools being closed for four days during and after the storm That gave students nearly a week off immediately following a two-week winter break McKay said he was “shocked” the school system didn’t move to online learning to get the educational process jump-started if returning to classrooms was deemed impractical Following experiments with remote learning while schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, FCPS revised its snow-day policy in 2021 to shift to virtual learning after five snow days. However, the school system restored a full 11 snow days in 2023 citing a need to “ensure equitable access to instruction and student services for all students.” “It’s a struggle for our teachers and kids to get back on track” after what ended up being nearly three weeks away adding in jest but no doubt speaking for many local parents that his “kids [were] driving us crazy” during that extended layoff Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity agreed there were better options than just cancelling classes He said one or two snow days for students and staff was understandable The ability to reopen schools after inclement weather depends on VDOT getting roadways into a condition that makes them safe to travel “We lost four days of school … on what was a sizable but not huge storm,” he said Schools eventually reopened last Friday, Jan. 10 It was the first day students had classes since Dec Fairfax County is launching a public outreach campaign ahead of a June Board of Supervisors hearing on its plan to take over management of residential trash collection The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services introduced its plan for Unified Sanitation Districts (USD) in December The proposal would shift the county from a waste collection system where most single-family homeowners hire private haulers to a county-managed model that would assign private companies to specific collection zones Virginia law requires a five-year transition period before the system can take effect giving officials time to finalize logistics and gather public input DPWES announced yesterday (Monday) it will begin educating residents about the proposal ahead of the June hearing where supervisors will vote on whether to start the transition “The focus of the hearing is on the inadequacies of our current waste management system not the future replacement system which is not yet fully designed,” the department said in a press release “During the required five-year period the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will develop detailed plans for service implementation and provide multiple opportunities for public review and input.” Fairfax County would divide the county into designated service areas and assign each to a private waste hauler through a county-managed contract The change would eliminate the current system where multiple haulers compete for business in the same neighborhoods Officials say this will streamline operations reducing the number of trash trucks on local roads cutting carbon emissions and improving service efficiency Some neighborhoods currently see multiple haulers making separate trips on the same day leading to congestion and higher environmental impact At a Board of Supervisors environmental committee meeting in December, county staff highlighted service inconsistency as a key issue with the current system Private haulers set their own prices and schedules and residents frequently report missed pickups By consolidating collection under county-negotiated contracts officials argue USDs would create a more predictable system with standardized pricing and service expectations The county also says unified districts would allow for better enforcement and residents experiencing poor service have little recourse beyond switching haulers waste collection companies would be held to stricter contract terms with penalties for failing to meet service standards If the Board of Supervisors approves the transition in June the county will spend the next five years finalizing district boundaries developing a bid process for haulers and working with existing companies to minimize disruption Officials say residents will have multiple opportunities to provide input before the system is fully implemented in 2030 Discussion of legislation permitting a referendum on a Tysons casino has moved to the powerful House Committee on Appropriations Members of the House Committee on Local Government were directed by Speaker Don Scott (D-88) yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) to send the bill to the chamber’s appropriations committee without acting on it There was no public testimony taken on the casino bill at that meeting “The constituents in my district … didn’t ask for this casino The committee then voted unanimously to cede control of the bill to the appropriations committee The bill, patroned by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34), passed the Senate on Feb it would add Fairfax County and specifically Tysons to the areas in Virginia where casino gaming could be allowed the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to hold a referendum on the issue Only if voters passed the measure would the proposal move forward Comstock Companies aims to place the casino on a parcel along Leesburg Pike (Route 7) that it controls as part of a larger entertainment-focused development envisioned for the site Surovell’s bill doesn’t specify the individual parcel where a casino would go It gives general geographic and population guidelines that largely limit the location to Tysons along Metro’s Silver Line corridor Tysons would be a replacement in state law for Richmond where voters twice rejected casino referendums Virginia’s capital city was removed from the list of eligible localities last year after the second rejection in the 2023 general election Similar legislation last year, patroned by Sen. Dave Marsden (D-35), was deferred during the General Assembly’s 2024 session and then killed off later in the year