• Herndon residents are about to pay more for just about everything. The town is holding its property tax rate steady, but rising assessments mean higher bills. Water and sewage costs go up too. FFXnow has the breakdown

• A grocery store is eyeing the old Bed Bath & Beyond space in Tysons. The 2051 Chain Bridge Road building has sat vacant long enough. A grocery chain is working on plans for the site, though it won't be the neighborhood store Park Crest residents have been asking for. FFXnow has the details

• Fairfax County launched a pilot program to cut red tape for small business owners. The new Tenant Support Services initiative moves applicants faster through the permit process for minor store renovations. It targets the exact bottleneck that kills small business timelines. Read more at FFXnow

• Foundation Coffee Roasters is coming to Sterling's Potomac Run Plaza. The shop takes 4,300 square feet in the center. Details are still thin, but the name and location are confirmed. The Burn has the scoop

• Gov. Spanberger signed a pair of bipartisan school-safety bills into law. The measures address school safety infrastructure and student mental health support. Both passed with broad support across party lines. WTOP has the story

• A vehicle noise-monitoring bill sits on Spanberger's desk, and the local delegate who pushed it is confident she'll sign. Del. Sullivan's measure would give localities a tool to crack down on excessively loud vehicles. It failed in 2025; this year it cleared both chambers. FFXnow reports

• Virginia's redistricting fight is pulling in an unlikely critic: Barack Obama. Past comments from Obama on gerrymandering are now complicating Democrats' push to draw new districts in their favor. Virginia voters narrowly support the effort, per a new Washington Post poll. WTOP covers the Obama angle; the Post has the poll

• A naked burglar is back in Fairfax County, and this time there's camera footage. The suspect has struck before. Authorities now have images to work with. WTOP has the story

• Pickpockets are working Northern Virginia, and they're good at it. Multiple women have been targeted by thieves described as nimble-fingered and organized. Stay aware in crowded spaces. WTOP reports

• The new Kingstowne Library opens next week, along with other Franconia District facilities at the new governmental center on Silver Lake Blvd. FFXnow
• Hilton dropped from No. 1 on Fortune's best-companies list, but the Tysons-headquartered hospitality giant still ranks among the top employers in the country. FFXnow
• Riverbend Park in Great Falls hosts its annual Bluebells at the Bend celebration next weekend. Cherry blossoms are done. Bluebells are the move now. FFXnow
• A new Panda Express is under construction in Herndon. The Burn
• Loudoun's Building & Development office closes for in-person and phone services on April 21. Plan accordingly if you have permits in the pipeline. Loudoun County
• Highs near or above 80 today and Saturday. Enjoy it. Capital Weather Gang

Spring finally showed up and brought warm weather, a new library, and a grocery store rumor to argue about. NoVA heads into the weekend in decent shape.

That's your Friday briefing. Have a good weekend out there.

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