News

Family of Fairfax CEO Killed in His Sleep Speaks Out Against Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney

The family of a Fairfax City CEO brutally shot and killed in his sleep nearly four years ago is voicing vehement opposition to discussions that the man accused of his murder could evade a traditional prison sentence through a plea agreement based on mental health grounds. The plea agreement is set to take place on January 23, 2026, at Fairfax Courthouse.

City Council Cancels George Snyder Trail in 4–2 Vote

The Fairfax City Council voted 4–2 to cancel the proposed George Snyder Trail, ending plans for the long-debated shared-use path. Supporters of the project said the trail would have improved pedestrian and bicycle access and strengthened connections between neighborhoods. Opponents raised concerns about cost, environmental impact, and tree loss along the proposed route.

Gretchen Bulova Wins 11th Goes To Richmond

Gretchen Bulova was elected on January 13, 2026 to represent the 11th House District in the Virginia General Assembly. She secured 68.79% of the vote against Republican Adam Wise.  Wise previously ran against Delegate David Bulova in the November 4, 2025 General Election but did not win by over 15,000 votes.

Virginia Prepares for the 75th Governor’s Inauguration on January 17, 2026

Virginians are gearing up to witness a historic moment as the Commonwealth prepares to inaugurate its next governor. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.

Fairfax County’s New Meals Tax

If grabbing dinner out is one of your small joys in life, Fairfax County has a gentle reminder for you: starting January 1, 2026, eating out will cost just a little bit more - a new 4% Food and Beverage Tax - better known as the meals tax goes into effect.

Latest

GMU Gears Up for Homecoming: Be Brave! Be Bold!

From January 30 to February 7, 2026, George Mason University will host one of the most spirited traditions of the academic year — Homecoming Week. Packed with events that bring together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the Fairfax community, this year’s festivities promise to be bigger and bolder than ever before.

Better Arguments Workshop Series

At a time when conversations too often turn into standoffs, many of us want to do better - but aren’t sure how. In response, I am hosting a free five-part Better Arguments workshop series.

How a cow burned down the Fairfax County Jail

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 12, 1883, Richard “Dick” Lane and John Wheeler, entered "Strawberry Vale", the 144-acre farm of James N. Walton near Peach Grove (now Tyson’s Corner) Fairfax County, Virginia. Strawberry Vale was located on the south side of Chain Bridge Road (Rt. 123) at the interchange of present-day Interstate 495.

NASA Rolls Artemis II Moon Rocket to Launch Pad Ahead of Historic Crewed Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has taken a major step toward its first crewed mission to the Moon in more than half a century, rolling the towering Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.

The Path Forward is Clearer for the City (Op-Ed by Judy Fraser)

As the dust settles after the January 13 City Council vote that brought the long running  George Snyder Trail controversy to a swift conclusion, it is hitting me what a long journey this has been. For those who are interested I thought I’d share a brief summary of its history.
spot_img
spot_img
spot_img
spot_img

Business

I’m only a gig worker. Can I retire on my gig income?

You Übered me to Sterling last Monday. You were the DoorDash guy who delivered my dinner order the other night. That package from eBay (or maybe Amazon), you left it at my door earlier today.  Our HOA is sending you to rake leaves here in our Fairfax City subdivision. If you are one of these, you are a gig worker.

National Rugby Day In Fairfax City

Tonight, Mayor Catherine Read declared Nov. 25, 2025, as National Rugby Day in #FairfaxCity, encouraging the #FairfaxCity community to welcome Old Glory DC and to embrace the values of teamwork, respect, and community that rugby represents. Representatives from Old Glory DC , Fairfax City Economic Development and Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce received the proclamation.

Form 1099-MISC threshold rises from $600 to $2,000

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law, significantly changing taxes, especially for Northern Virginia's gig workers, contractors, and small business owners. The OBBBA makes permanent several 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) tax cuts and overhauls income reporting for contract work and digital payment platforms (e.g., PayPal, Venmo).

Mackenzie’s Tunes & Tonics: Fairfax City’s Spot for Food, Drinks, and Live Music

Mackenzie’s Tunes & Tonics is located at 3950 University Drive was up for approval on November 18, 2025!  So we went over to chat with Josh Alexander, the illustrious owner who expressed great joy about moving on as a speakeasy dive to a place where people can create their own experiential events while enjoying fine dining. “There was no real signage outside, just if people knew that it was here. It was here, you know, a true speakeasy back from, you know, the 20s or whatever you had to, you know, whisper, you know, secret password,” shared Josh.

Community

GMU Gears Up for Homecoming: Be Brave! Be Bold!

From January 30 to February 7, 2026, George Mason University will host one of the most spirited traditions of the academic year — Homecoming Week. Packed with events that bring together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the Fairfax community, this year’s festivities promise to be bigger and bolder than ever before.

Record Number of Americans Identify as Independents, Gallup Poll Finds Independent Voters Break Another Record: Fairfax City Voters Smashed that Record in 2024!

The September 2024 edition of The Fairfax Independent published its inaugural cover story - Fairfax City Voters Support Non-Partisan Elections.   A 2024 Mason-Dixon® poll found that 67% of Fairfax City...

Better Arguments Workshop Series

At a time when conversations too often turn into standoffs, many of us want to do better - but aren’t sure how. In response, I am hosting a free five-part Better Arguments workshop series.

How a cow burned down the Fairfax County Jail

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 12, 1883, Richard “Dick” Lane and John Wheeler, entered "Strawberry Vale", the 144-acre farm of James N. Walton near Peach Grove (now Tyson’s Corner) Fairfax County, Virginia. Strawberry Vale was located on the south side of Chain Bridge Road (Rt. 123) at the interchange of present-day Interstate 495.

Government

The Path Forward is Clearer for the City (Op-Ed by Judy Fraser)

As the dust settles after the January 13 City Council vote that brought the long running  George Snyder Trail controversy to a swift conclusion, it is hitting me what a long journey this has been. For those who are interested I thought I’d share a brief summary of its history.

What the Customer Wanted: George Snyder Trail – Perspective from City of Fairfax Council Member Thomas D. “Tom” Peterson

As many of you know, the Fairfax City Council held two important votes Tuesday evening of this week on the disposition of the proposed George Snyder Trail. 1️⃣ The first was to proceed with a supplemental appropriation to fund the construction contract (3-3 vote with nays by Hall, McQuillen, and Peterson; motion by Hardy Chandler, FAILED). 2️⃣ The second, with City Attorney guidance, was to cancel the project (4-2 vote in favor of cancellation by Bates, Hall, McQuillen, and Peterson; motion by Peterson, PASSED).

I want to clarify my position regarding trails, the community survey, and the George Snyder Trail – Perspective from City of Fairfax Council Member...

Our community survey clearly showed that residents continue to want trails. I agree with that. I took the survey myself and indicated that trails are a high priority for me as well. I strongly support trails, walkability, and safe options for biking and transportation.

Listening, Reflecting, and Serving Fairfax City: My Vote on the George Snyder Trail Project – Perspective from City of Fairfax Council Member Rachel McQuillen 

I know the decision to cancel the George Snyder Trail project has stirred strong feelings, and I want to share why I voted as I did. My decision was guided by a careful review of the project’s full history, extensive public outreach, and consideration of long-term impacts. Throughout the process, concerns from residents, particularly those living closest to the site, remained unresolved. Public feedback was overwhelmingly opposed to the project.

Entertainment

GMU Gears Up for Homecoming: Be Brave! Be Bold!

From January 30 to February 7, 2026, George Mason University will host one of the most spirited traditions of the academic year — Homecoming Week. Packed with events that bring together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the Fairfax community, this year’s festivities promise to be bigger and bolder than ever before.

Washington Monument Lighting Show

As America turns 250, the Washington Monument becomes the world’s tallest birthday candle. From December 31-January 5, each night the story of the discovery, expansion, independence, and future of our nation will be projected onto the Washington Monument. This will serve as a dazzling kickoff to the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence.

The Great Christmas Light Fight: Ashburn Family Shines

An Ashburn family has just taken the holiday spotlight by winning ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight, bringing home the $50,000 grand prize and the coveted Light Fight trophy for their dazzling Christmas display. The Horn family, residents of 21260 Rosetta Place in Ashburn, out-lit competitors from across the country with a show that featured nearly 90,000 pixel lights synchronized to an original musical score created by the family — a first in the show’s history and a key element that impressed the judges.

 “A Few of My Least Favorite Things”

It’s nearly the end of the year. Christmas will soon be here. In the spirit of the season, we need to celebrate all the great things that happened and...

Sports

GMU Gears Up for Homecoming: Be Brave! Be Bold!

From January 30 to February 7, 2026, George Mason University will host one of the most spirited traditions of the academic year — Homecoming Week. Packed with events that bring together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the Fairfax community, this year’s festivities promise to be bigger and bolder than ever before.

Old Glory DC Brings Big-Time Rugby to Fairfax

Rugby fans across the DMV have something huge to cheer about: Old Glory DC is officially bringing all 2026 home games to George Mason University in Fairfax—and the move promises to energize not just the team, but the entire region. “This is a milestone in our community. The first pro sports team in Fairfax since 1976. When the NASL’s Washington Diplomat played at Woodson High School,” city resident, Chap Petersen continued “as a long-time rugby player, I am very excited to see OG drop anchor here.”

National Rugby Day In Fairfax City

Tonight, Mayor Catherine Read declared Nov. 25, 2025, as National Rugby Day in #FairfaxCity, encouraging the #FairfaxCity community to welcome Old Glory DC and to embrace the values of teamwork, respect, and community that rugby represents. Representatives from Old Glory DC , Fairfax City Economic Development and Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce received the proclamation.

Fairfax High Field Hockey Lions Roar With Domination 

The Fairfax High School field hockey team has been nothing short of spectacular this season, asserting themselves as one of the most dominant forces in the Patriot Region. Through a combination of skill, cohesion, and unshakeable focus, the Lions have built an 18‑5 overall record, and an unblemished 9‑0 mark in the Patriot Region, putting them firmly in the conversation as serious state‑playoff contenders.

Technology

NASA Rolls Artemis II Moon Rocket to Launch Pad Ahead of Historic Crewed Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has taken a major step toward its first crewed mission to the Moon in more than half a century, rolling the towering Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.

Goodbye Passwords: The Future of Safer, Simpler Logins

Passwords have long been the standard for digital security, but their flaws—weak choices, reuse, and frequent data breaches—have made them a growing liability. Now, tech giants are leading a shift toward a passwordless future, promising both better security and a smoother user experience.

Running Out of Space on Your iPhone or iPad? Here’s How to Free Up Storage

Low storage space on your iPhone/iPad can be annoying. From sluggish performance to failed app downloads, storage issues can disrupt your daily activities. This guide will help you understand how to manage and fix storage problems on your Apple devices while introducing Mr. Fix as your go-to solution for professional repair and optimization services.

Congratulations! 2025 National STEM Finalists

Congratulations to this year’s National STEM Finalists from all across the United States. The National STEM Festival celebrates the exceptional talents of our nation’s youth and the innovative businesses driving progress, all year round. The Festival’s mission is to guide bright minds toward careers in STEM and to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. This year’s Festival was hosted by EXPLR and was held from March 19 - 21 in DC. 

Wellness

Better Arguments Workshop Series

At a time when conversations too often turn into standoffs, many of us want to do better - but aren’t sure how. In response, I am hosting a free five-part Better Arguments workshop series.

Our Libraries Need Our Voices and Support

One-time infusions of money are no longer sufficient. To bring FCPL’s collection budget in line with comparable library systems, FCPL is requesting an increase of $8–$11 million over the next five years to permanently raise the base budget. This investment would benefit students, job seekers, families, seniors, and lifelong learners throughout Fairfax County.

Where Virginians Should Begin Their Health Insurance Search

As open enrollment approaches, many Virginians once again have the annual opportunity of choosing a health insurance plan. With multiple providers, complex terminology, and a limited window to sign up, it can be difficult to know where to begin.  Fortunately, the Commonwealth now offers a streamlined starting point for all Virginians seeking affordable, comprehensive coverage by visiting Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace online at https://www.marketplace.virginia.gov/. Unlike the federal exchange that previously served the state, Virginia now operates its own system dedicated to connecting residents with Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans.

Mackenzie’s Tunes & Tonics: Fairfax City’s Spot for Food, Drinks, and Live Music

Mackenzie’s Tunes & Tonics is located at 3950 University Drive was up for approval on November 18, 2025!  So we went over to chat with Josh Alexander, the illustrious owner who expressed great joy about moving on as a speakeasy dive to a place where people can create their own experiential events while enjoying fine dining. “There was no real signage outside, just if people knew that it was here. It was here, you know, a true speakeasy back from, you know, the 20s or whatever you had to, you know, whisper, you know, secret password,” shared Josh.