Animal service officers rescue a hawk
Officers with Fairfax County Animal Services rescued a hawk caught in a batting cage at Pine Ridge Park in Annandale last week. The hawk was distressed and unable to fly away. “Hawks play a crucial role in maintaining balance in an ecosystem,” the Animal Shelter reported. “Without predation, prey populations would quickly grow out of … Continued
School news roundup – January 2026
Security upgrade – FCPS is implementing a new emergency management system, created by Raptor, in all school buildings. The new system is designed to support faster, more coordinated responses during emergencies by improving communication among schools, security staff, local first responders, and law enforcement. The system includes sensors installed throughout schools and a wearable emergency … Continued
Snow day called for tomorrow
Updated: All FCPS schools and central offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 26. All extracurricular, after-school, and athletic programs are also canceled, as well as non-FCPS activities on school grounds. School Age Child Care and Beyond the Bell centers will also be closed on Monday. Fairfax County government offices, libraries, courts, rec centers, park … Continued
Snow closures announced
Local officials have announced the following closures in response to a major winter storm expected to start tonight and bring up to 10 inches of snow. Schools – All activities scheduled for Fairfax County public school buildings and grounds are canceled beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening, Jan. 24, and all day on Sunday, … Continued
School board approves boundary changes
The Fairfax County School Board on Jan. 22 approved a comprehensive revision of school boundaries. The final boundary adjustments incorporate the revisions submitted by Superintendent Michelle Reid on Jan. 15 that pause an earlier recommendation that would have created split feeders at Beech and Belvedere elementary schools. As a result, all students at those schools … Continued
Waitlist opens for affordable housing
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) is opening the application waitlist for the Project-Based Voucher units from Feb. 2 through Feb. 8. Properties accepting waitlist applications are part of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) – Project-Based Voucher program. The type of available housing ranges from studio apartments to four-bedroom units and townhouses. Households … Continued
Man convicted of 2021 ATM murder
Winston Nathaniel Lark IV, 20, was convicted by a jury of first-degree felony murder for killing Nelson Alexander, 73, during an ATM robbery, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced Jan. 22. Lark was also convicted of using a firearm in committing a murder. In the early morning of Oct. 20, 2021, Alexander, of Falls Church, went … Continued
Major snowstorm to hit the region on Saturday
The region is expected to be hit by a major winter storm this weekend with up to eight inches of snow and frigid temperatures. According to the National Weather Service, it could begin snowing on Saturday afternoon or evening. The snow could be mixed with sleet and freezing rain on Sunday. The storm could cause … Continued
Improvements underway at the Bailey’s Shelter
Since FACETS took over management of the troubled Bailey’s Shelter in late 2025, the nonprofit has taken steps to resolve the problems stemming from New Hope Housing’s mismanagement. The Bailey’s Shelter & Supportive Housing, located on Seminary Road in Bailey’s Crossroads, provides overnight stays for adult men and women. The two top floors have 18 … Continued
Trash haulers oppose the county’s takeover of waste collections
At a Jan. 21 meeting convened by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, representatives of trash companies said Fairfax County’s proposal for a Unified Sanitation District would lead to fewer choices and higher costs while driving smaller companies out of business. The USD proposal calls for the county to take over … Continued
McGuire wins special election for the House of Delegates
Garrett McGuire, a Democrat, easily won a special election Jan. 20 to represent the 17th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. McGuire beat Republican candidate Christopher Cardiff, getting just over 78 percent of the vote, the Virginia Department of Elections reports. The reliably Blue 17th District includes parts of Franconia, Rose Hill, and Springfield. … Continued
Third measles case reported in Northern Virginia in 2026
There has been a third measles case in Northern Virginia so far in 2026. The patient is a preschool-age child (0-4 years old) who recently traveled internationally, the Virginia Department of Health reported on Jan. 21. People who have been at these locations might have been exposed to the child with measles: This case is … Continued
Rule changes would make it easier to establish an ALU
Too few homeowners have gotten their permits approved for accessory living units (ALUs) or found the regulations too difficult, so the Department of Planning and Zoning is proposing rule changes to eliminate some of the barriers and streamline the review process. Carmen Bishop and Casey Judge of the Zoning Administration Division explained some of the … Continued
Ethiopian market coming to Bailey’s Crossroads
An Ethiopian food shop called Nazret Market #4 is expected to open in Bailey’s Crossroads next month, says owner Aftataw (Mamush) Muluneh. The shop, at 5810 Seminary Road, will offer spices, meat, grains, and other items imported from Ethiopia. Nazret Market #4 is located in an 8,320-square-foot building that was formerly occupied by Embassy … Continued
Mural planned for Seven Corners
An upcoming façade upgrade at the Willston I Centre in Seven Corners will include a mural on the former CVS building. The building has been vacant since the CVS closed in 2022. The shopping center is located on the busy intersection of Arlington Boulevard and Patrick Henry Drive, between the Willston Multicultural Center and the … Continued