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One Journey to Make Pride Celebrations Across Northern Virginia Within Reach
Pride Month is a celebration of courage, community, and the freedom to live authentically. It’s a time to recognize the progress that has been made toward equality, while also honoring the resilience of LGBTQ+ people whose voices, stories, and advocacy continue to make our communities stronger.
Bringing the World Home: Au Pair Program Charms Families in Northern Virginia
The au pair program, specifically through organizations like Cultural Care Au Pair, is a cultural exchange program designed to promote mutual understanding between Americans and international participants that is facilitated by the US Department of State. Unlike traditional childcare, an au pair is a vetted young adult from another country who lives with a host family, providing personalized care while engaging in a deep cultural exchange, according to Cultural Care.
City FY2027 Budget: Taxes, BPOL, Meals Tax, and the Cost of Funding Growth
City of Fairfax, VA - The Fiscal Year 2027 (FY2027) budget for City of Fairfax outlines a broad financial plan that increases funding for schools, infrastructure, and public services while relying on a diversified set of revenue sources. Rather than a single large tax hike, the city spreads revenue adjustments across property taxes, business taxes, meals tax, hotel tax, and utility fees, creating a gradual but noticeable increase in overall costs for residents and businesses.
Fairfax County Adopts $5.7 Billion FY2027 Budget, Slightly Lowers Tax Rate
Fairfax County, VA - Fairfax County officials adopted a roughly $5.7 billion FY 2027 General Fund budget, maintaining spending across schools, public safety, transportation, health services, and infrastructure while navigating rising costs in staffing, healthcare, and long-term capital needs. The Board of Supervisors approved the plan in May, along with a quarter-cent reduction in the real estate tax rate to about $1.12 per $100 of assessed value.
Region
WorldPride DC Hosts Music Festivals, Sports Championships, and Art Exhibits
WorldPride 2025 comes to Washington, D.C., in celebration of its 50th anniversary between May 17 and June 8. Locals seeking exciting weekend activities can attend vibrant marquee events including electrifying music festivals, empowering marches, lively street parties, and cultural showcases.
Region
GMU Record-Breaking Spring Commencement: Over 11,000 Graduates
11,415 students graduated from George Mason University at the end of the Spring 2025 semester, a record for the school. An additional 531 certificates were awarded, bringing the number of students honored by Mason during its university-wide commencement ceremony on May 15 to 12,106.
School
School Bus Camera: $250 fines for passing
The County and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are partnering to introduce a school bus arm camera program designed to deter drivers from passing stopped school buses, thereby protecting the vulnerable children getting on and off these vehicles.
Homeowners
Northern VA Real Estate Update: Steady and Promising Despite Uncertainty
There’s been a lot of chatter about the Northern Virginia real estate market, but much of it is noise rather than reality. The truth is, our market remains strong, with opportunities for both buyers and sellers.