Fairouz Ouikhlfen

The Virginia General Assembly has taken a major step toward establishing a regulated adult-use cannabis marketplace, passing companion bills that outline how legal retail sales would operate across the Commonwealth.

Retired Judge William “Bill” T. Newman Jr., widely recognized as the first Black person elected to the Arlington County Board member and founder of the Arlington Community Foundation, died on February 10, 2026. He leaves behind a legacy defined by integrity, courage, and steadfast commitment to justice. 

Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center Discussions

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is kicking off the 2026 season with a groundbreaking milestone — one that will echo far beyond the scoreboard. For the first time in Virginia history, a school has appointed female head coaches to lead both its varsity football and varsity baseball programs. TJHSST isn’t just competing — it’s changing the game.

Washington, D.C. — The Washington Post has begun sweeping layoffs that will eliminate roughly one-third of its workforce, a move that is reshaping one of the nation’s most influential newsrooms — and carrying direct consequences for Northern Virginia readers.

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.

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 voters support keeping city office elections non-partisan, with only 17% opposing and 16% undecided. This indicates City of...

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.

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.

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.

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.