Around Town

Good Thursday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 6, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

Showers and thunderstorms are possible, mainly in the afternoon, with a high near 90°F and a southwest wind at 3 to 8 mph. There’s a 30% chance of rain. Friday night, expect showers likely before 8 p.m., followed by a chance until 10 p.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 72°F. Southwest winds will blow at 3 to 5 mph, with a 60% chance of rain and potential for heavier rainfall in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


News

A small portion of Popes Head Road could undergo $8.7 million worth of construction in an effort to improve safety on the busy secondary road near the Fairfax County Parkway, in the Fairfax Station area.

The Virginia Department of Transportation project, presented during a public information meeting July 28, proposes straightening an “S” curve on Popes Head Road (Route 654), between Quiet Brook Road (Route 7447) and Revercomb Court. VDOT officials also propose upgrading drainage and adding stormwater management systems within the project parameters, which extend for a fifth of a mile.


News

Fairfax County  government is seeking ideas from the public and business community on modernizing its trash and recycling facilities and processes.

The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) on Aug. 4 put out a formal request for expressions of interest — known as an RFEI — to gather input that could be used in future planning. The request is not an official bid, according to the county.


Around Town

After an inaugural Rocktoberfest at Reston Town Center last year, the event will return in October with a new headliner.

Alternative rock band Vertical Horizon will take the stage at the free Rocktoberfest at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Pavilion at Reston Town Center (11900 Market Street). The headliner will follow regional opening acts Virginia Coalition at 6 p.m. and Everything at 7:30 p.m.


News

A full-floor penthouse at the top of the JW Marriott Residences Reston Station has set a new record for the highest-priced condominium sale in Virginia, the building’s developer announced Wednesday (Aug. 5).

The $10.9 million sale surpassed the previous record set in April at the same building, for $10.25 million. Previously, the record was set in 2024, at $5.95 million for a 27th floor condo in Rosslyn.


Countywide

Back-to-school shoppers will have an extra incentive to grab their school supplies, clothes and other items this weekend in Fairfax County and across the state.

Virginia will hold its annual three-day sales tax holiday, from Friday, Aug. 7 to Sunday, Aug. 9. Over the three days, the state and local option sales taxes are temporarily waived on qualifying clothing, footwear and school supplies, as well as emergency preparedness products and some appliances. The tax exemption applies to in-store and online shopping, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation.


News

The median apartment rent across Fairfax County was down 1.3% year over year in July, with most major residential areas posting declines.

The county’s median apartment rent for all sized units was $2,430, down from $2,463 in July 2025, according to figures reported July 29 by Apartment List.


News
City highway with multiple cars and a long silver commuter train stopped at an elevated platform under a glass canopy
Traffic on I-66 passing a train stopped at the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County School Bus Crashes in Western Loudoun County — “Loudoun County Fire and Rescue units arrived at the scene to find a Fairfax County bus off the road with its two back wheels lifted off the pavement over a ditch. Another bus had reportedly already arrived to collect the students.” [Loudoun Now]

Firefighters Respond to Lorton House Fire — “#FairfaxBravest responded to a townhouse fire in the 9600 block of Eaton Woods Pl in Lorton [Wednesday] morning. Crews arrived with smoke and fire showing from the rear and first-floor balcony. All occupants were out prior to #FCFRD arrival. No injuries. Cause under investigation.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department/X]

Hundreds of Families Attend Skyview High School School Year Preview — “Throughout the evening, families explored topics ranging from transportation and athletics to advisory periods, project-based learning, and student life. Just as importantly, they met administrators, Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) leaders, transportation supervisors, and other founding families who will help shape the experience for Skyview’s first classes.” [FCPS]

Jet Takes Off at DCA While President’s Helicopter Approaches — “The incident appears to be a violation of safety procedures put in place after last year’s midair collision over the Potomac River. It occurred Tuesday afternoon as Marine One left the White House for Andrews Air Force Base with the president aboard for the first leg of a West Coast trip. A commercial jet took off at the same time.” [ARLnow/AP]

No Surprises, Drama With N. Va.’s Primary Elections — “Most of the region’s Democratic incumbents did not face a challenger from their own party, so the Republican primaries took center stage in Northern Virginia on Tuesday. Every House seat, plus one in the Senate, is on the ballot this year. The primary races across the Commonwealth played out as expected, says Larry Sabato, political prognosticator with the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.” [VPM]

Alexandria Officials Press Fairfax County Planning Commission to Deny Substation — “Alexandria City Council has joined a growing number of local residents asking Fairfax County to deny a substation associated with data center development just outside city limits. In a letter to the Fairfax County Planning Commission, City Council cited ‘the incompatibility of heavy industrial use’ near densely populated Alexandria.” [ALXnow]

SCC Demands Data Centers Pay More Toward New Transmission Lines — “The State Corporation Commission has ordered Dominion Energy to develop a policy to directly assign the cost of transmission infrastructure to data centers and other large-load users that connect to the facilities, ‘with the goal of finding an acceptable and symmetrical approach towards assigning costs in these circumstances.'” [Virginia Mercury]

Feedback Sought on Proposed Accessory Living Unit Updates — “Proposed changes to the county’s zoning regulations for accessory living units have been prepared, and the community is invited to host neighborhood discussions and share feedback through an online toolkit.” [Fairfax County/X]

Over 140 Neighborhoods Participate in National Night Out — “From block parties and cookouts to games, music, and family-friendly activities, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) joined thousands of residents for an evening focused on building connections, promoting public safety, and bringing neighbors together.” [Fairfax County Police Department]

Weekend Road Closure Coming Up in Annandale — “Weather permitting, Ravensworth Road (Route 2864) between Braddock Road (Route 620) and John Marr Drive (Route 757) will be continuously closed to through traffic from 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, until 4 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, for drainage pipe replacement, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.” [VDOT]

Single Tracking on Metro’s Orange Line This Weekend — “THIS WEEKEND: In addition to Red Line summer construction through September 6, trains will single track on the Orange Line between Vienna and West Falls Church. 🟠 To complete your trip inbound toward DC or outbound toward Vienna, you must transfer trains at West Falls Church.” [WMATA/Bluesky]

It’s Thursday — Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 5 p.m., with mostly sunny skies and a high of 91°F, though it may feel like 100°F. Winds from the south at 8-10 mph may gust up to 18 mph, with a 30% chance of rain. Thursday night, expect a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., with partly cloudy skies and a low of 74°F. Southwest winds will be around 6 mph. [NWS]

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Around Town

Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 5, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop after 2 PM, with increasing cloudiness and a high temperature near 91°F. Winds from the southwest will blow at 7 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph, and there’s a 50% chance of precipitation. By Thursday night, the showers and thunderstorms may continue until around 11 PM, followed by partly cloudy skies and a low around 73°F. The southwest wind will decrease to 3 to 6 mph, with a 30% chance of rain. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.