The night before freshman orientation at George Mason University, 17-year-old Saniya Dilip Darediya sat in her room and cried.
Having just arrived in the U.S. from India, she recalled, “I was scared and afraid I might not belong here.”
The Hyatt Regency hotel at Tysons Corner Center has put the finishing touches on a new look for its guest rooms.
The $13 million redesign, led by the Texas-based interior design firm FlickMars, transformed the hotel’s 300 rooms with furniture and decor inspired by the kinds of fashion brands that shoppers will find at the neighboring mall, according to a press release.
Many people who look into estate planning ask, “What is the difference between wills and trusts?” While both wills and trusts deal with estate planning, they serve different purposes. In this post, the legal team of PJI Law, PLC, estate planning lawyers from Fairfax, VA, outlines the key principles of wills, trusts, and their role in asset protection.
Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell
Here are the basic features of wills and trusts:
A Will
- Only comes into effect once the will-maker is deceased
- States who will receive the decedent’s assets
- Appoints an executor to carry out the decedent’s wishes
- Is potentially contestable and must go through probate, a legal examination by the court
A Trust
- Can take effect immediately after its creation
- Allows a person or an institution (a “trustee”) to hold assets for beneficiaries
- Can distribute property before or after the trustor’s passing
- Can be irrevocable or revocable/changeable
- Assets in trust generally avoid probate
While we recommend that everyone have at least a will (whether or not you also have a trust), trusts aren’t strictly necessary for all individuals. Trusts are particularly helpful for individuals who have assets that are potentially going through probate, own property across several states, or have minor children.
Wills: the Basics of Estate Planning
A will, also known as a last will and testament, is a legal document specifying how the will-maker wishes to handle asset distribution and other affairs after their death. A will typically includes all of the principal’s assets, such as real estate, vehicles, and other property, and usually a list of debts. A will may also provide directions for a funeral or memorial service.
Usually, every will must go through a probate court before execution. In some states, it may be possible to avoid probate under specific conditions. Certain assets, such as insurance policies and retirement accounts, may, if planned properly, pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate. (more…)
The Town of Herndon is considering a number of changes to Bennett Street intended to make walking and cycling around the local high school safer.
Mike Shindledecker, the town’s transportation engineer, unveiled a preferred concept at a community meeting in the Herndon High School cafeteria on Wednesday (May 13) that would narrow the four-lane road to one travel lane in each direction.
Whether you’re seeking general academic support for your child or more intensive test preparation services, options abound in Fairfax County for programs that will keep kids’ minds sharp outside of class.
Here are the nominees for “Best Tutoring Service in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite center below? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 29.
A few weeks ago, we voted on the Best Real Estate Agent for Sellers in Fairfax County. The results are now official:
- Nikki Lagouros (Berkshire Hathaway)
- Debbie Doğrul (Debbie Doğgrul Associates)
- Casey Samson (The Casey Samson Team)
The Race to Rebuild is a virtual self-paced Run, Walk, Cycle, Roll, to raise awareness of the Trauma Survivors Network (TSN) and recognize the recovery journey taken by trauma survivors. You can race on your own during the month of May or join Reston Hospital’s in-person team walk/run/roll at 10:30am on May 20th for National Trauma Survivor’s Day!
Please register by May 1st using the link below to ensure that you receive your T-shirt and other swag in time for our May 20th event! All proceeds are received by and benefit the TSN. Be sure to join Reston Hospital’s team when you do!
Fairfax County supervisors have reacted tepidly to a staff proposal for imposing what might be termed a “trash tax” on Fairfax’s property owners to support solid waste disposal.
“I don’t think we’re ready. It’s kind of a hard sell,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said in response to the proposal, floated at the May 12 meeting of the board’s Environment Committee.
Go to Staff proposal for new ‘trash tax’ wins few backers among Fairfax County supervisors
Read more
Republican lawmakers accused Fairfax County’s top prosecutor and sheriff of being soft on crime and endangering lives due to policies limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement — a charge both denied during a tense congressional hearing yesterday (Thursday).
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano and Sheriff Stacey Kincaid testified that they do not provide preferential treatment to immigrants, as congressional Republicans repeatedly alleged throughout the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement hearing.
|
A man from the Groveton area will face a slew of criminal charges once he leaves the hospital after allegedly stealing a delivery van and crashing it multiple times on Richmond Highway, injuring himself and another driver.
Officers responded around 3:31 p.m. on Wednesday (May 13) to Richmond Highway and Lorton Road in Lorton after receiving reports of “a multi-vehicle crash involving a stolen package delivery van that had been taken earlier in the day” in Fort Belvoir, the Fairfax County Police Department said.
Murder Charge for Huntington Stabbing — Fairfax County police arrested a 16-year-old boy on Wednesday (May 13) and charged him with first-degree murder for a fatal stabbing that occurred at the Farrington Place condominiums last Saturday (May 9). “The suspect and victim are known to each other and there is no threat to the community.” [FCPD]
Geese Cause I-66 Backup — “A family of geese — walking, instead of flying — backed up traffic on westbound I-66 in Arlington for more than an hour [yesterday] afternoon. A Metro Transit Police K-9 officer was the first to respond, protecting the birds alone for about 45 minutes” before state and county police arrived to assist, D.C.-area public safety watcher Dave Statter reported. [ARLnow]
NAACP Backs Redistricting Appeal — The civil rights organization “asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Virginia’s high court ruling striking down the state’s redistricting referendum, arguing the decision nullified the votes of millions of Virginians who approved the measure last month.” [Virginia Mercury]
Spanberger Focused on Midterm Elections — “Days after Virginia Democrats filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court as part of their ongoing redistricting battle, Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she’s focused on the fall midterm elections and ensuring voters are motivated to turn out.” This year’s elections “will proceed under the current map,” regardless of the appeal’s outcome, she said. [WTOP]
FCPS Expanding Montessori Program — “Fairfax County Public Schools is embracing the Montessori learning model in some schools. After launching a Montessori program this academic year, the district will expand its offerings to new schools in the 2026–2027 school year.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Smithsonian Castle to Reopen — “The Smithsonian Castle is temporarily reopening on the National Mall next week after a years-long closure, complete with historic treasures and New England eats … The Smithsonian is going big for America’s 250th anniversary, reopening some of its most beloved landmarks on the south side of the Mall amid major renovations.” [Axios DC]
Tenant Coming to Vacant Commercial Building — “Something new and different is coming to a long-vacant building in Seven Corners. The building, at 6320 Castle Place, will be the second location of Redwood K-Wellness, a spa focusing on scalp treatments aimed at producing thick, full, and healthy hair.” [Annandale Today]
Park Authority Wins Federal Energy Award — “The Fairfax County Park Authority has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as a winner of the Better Project Award, which honors partners for outstanding accomplishments in implementing energy, water, and/or waste reduction projects at individual facilities.” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — The weather will be sunny with a high of around 71°F and northwest winds blowing at 10 to 13 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. Friday night will be mostly clear with a low near 53°F and calm winds. [NWS]
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 — May 14, 2026.
- 7:30 am: Morning Notes for May 14, 2026 | 🗣️ Comments
- 8:30 am: Fairfax County sees 22% jump in people considered chronically homeless | 🗣️ Comments
- 9:15 am: Inclusion in WaPo new restaurant ranking caps strong start for Vienna’s Chef Tan | 🗣️ Comments
- 10:00 am: Fairfax County leaders weigh multiple options to increase housing stock | 🗣️ Comments
- 12:45 pm: Chairman McKay lashes out at school board member over budget criticism | 🗣️ Comments
- 1:45 pm: Fairfax City Council signals support for raising members’ pay | 🗣️ Comments
- 2:45 pm: UPDATED: Spanberger vetoes collective bargaining bills from Fairfax County lawmakers | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:45 pm: Residential development minus retail approved for Kingstowne Towne Center | 🗣️ Comments
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Friday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
- 11:00 am: The Heart Leaf Center’s 5th Anniversary Open House
- 11:00 am: National Pizza Party Day with Paisano’s!
- 12:00 pm: Empty the shelters
- 4:00 pm: Creative Space for Women
☀️ Friday’s forecast
Expect mostly sunny weather today with temperatures reaching a high of around 71°F. Winds from the northwest will be between 10 to 13 mph, with gusts up to 21 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to about 53°F and calm winds. 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.