Look Back, Look Ahead: Fairfax County News to Know

Hurricane Sandy: Thousands Lose Power in NoVA, DC

When Hurricane Sandy swept into town, winds and rain knocked out power to more than 100,000 people in Northern Virginia. 

Hurricane Sandy officially made landfall in southern New Jersey around 8 p.m. Tuesday and morphed into Post-Tropical Storm Sandy, but the change in name meant little about the strength of the storm.

Gov. McDonnell: Virginia 'Spared' in Hurricane Sandy Damage

Gov. Bob McDonnell said in his final press briefing for Hurricane Sandy that Virginia was "spared a significant event." 

“First responders and private partners, they have really done an amazing job preparing for the storm and applying lessons learned from previous storms and putting in an incredible amount of hours,” McDonnell said. 

McDonnell cited concerns about rivers cresting as flood waters go into the major arteries.

Huntington Residents Relieved After Hurricane Sandy

After making it through Hurricane Sandy with no flooding, the Huntington community was abuzz with relief.

Water from Cameron Run didn't even reach the streets during the hurricane Monday night, and Fairfax County lifted the flood warning in the Huntington area early Tuesday.

Murder Victim's Family Left With Unanswered Questions

After a horrific act that brought the Bailey family's world to a standstill, they were left with that unanswerable question: Why?

Why was Antonio Ricardo Bailey, who grew up in Centreville —"the joy of my life," his mother called him—dead at age 44?

Second Parking Lot Attendant Pleads Guilty to Stealing $400,00 in Parking Fees at Smithsonian

Freweyni Mebrahtu, 45, of Sterling, pled guilty Thursday to belonging to the Smithsonian Institution’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.

Mebrahtu was one of three parking attendants employed by Parking Management, Inc. who were arrested and charged with embezzlement and theft.

I-495 Beltway Express Lanes to Open as Early as Nov. 17

Local commuters could be getting to work faster even sooner than originally thought.

the Virginia Department of Transportation announced Wednesday. The high occupancy toll lanes were originally scheduled to open in December.

The 14-mile stretch of highway-within-a-highway allows commuters to pay a toll (or carpool and avoid the toll) to use express lanes between the Springfield interchange and just north of the Dulles Toll Road.

Dentists Buying Back Halloween Candy for Troops

This Halloween, parents and children can get rid of some of the excess sugar coming in around the holiday and earn some money in the process, all while giving back to U.S. military servicemen and women deployed overseas. Read about local dentists who participated in a buy-back program.

Business Owners Gearing Up for Main Street U Summit

Looking for pointers on navigating the digital landscape? Feel like your business could do more with social media and online marketing? Or maybe you’d just like to network with fellow DC Metro area business owners and rub elbows with a few highly successful entrepreneurs?

Join Patch as we bring local business owners and digital experts together to discuss big things for small businesses. You’ll walk away with powerful tips and practical tools to help grow your business through  email, social media and online marketing.

Tuesday is Election Day

As you prepare to vote this Tuesday, check out Patch's election guide — all of our 2012 elections coverage — by clicking on the Elections tab at the top of this site.

You can find out the location of your polling place here.

See what's on your local ballot here.