• Virginia enacts paid family and medical leave. Governor Abigail Spanberger signed the South's first paid leave law, giving Virginia workers up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for family or health needs. The law takes effect in December of 2028 and covers both public and private sector workers. WTOP coverage

• Supreme Court battle looms over Virginia's congressional maps. Virginia Democrats asked the U.S. Supreme Court to restore new House districts after a lower court blocked them. The fight could shake up this fall's elections. Washington Post report

• Fairfax County police deploy new life-saving tech. Officers now carry portable defibrillators in 40 patrol cars, aiming to boost survival rates for cardiac arrest calls. The department plans to expand the rollout if results are strong. WTOP details

• Fatal stabbing at Huntington condo complex. Police are investigating after a man was found dead in Huntington. No arrests yet; detectives urge anyone with information to come forward. FFXnow story

• McLean Project for the Arts nears fundraising finish line. The Berlage Arts & Education Center opened last week, and the nonprofit says it's close to its $6.25 million goal. The new hub aims to anchor McLean's arts scene. FFXnow update

• 'Shark Tank' menswear brand lands in Reston. Collars & Co, known for its dressy polo shirts, will open its first permanent Northern Virginia store at Reston Town Center later this month. The company scored a deal with Mark Cuban and Peter Jones on TV. FFXnow coverage

• Fresh Market in Vienna to close for good. The specialty grocer will shutter its Maple Avenue location by the end of May. FFXnow report

• Loudoun County will host an electronics recycling event on May 16. County announcement
• Choolaah in Sterling will close permanently this weekend. The Burn report
• MidnighTreats, a plant-based cookie shop, opens soon at Reston Town Center. The Burn
• Soko Butcher & Deli sets its Leesburg opening date. The Burn
• Roy Rogers cancels plans for a new Loudoun location. The Burn

NoVA heads into mid-May with major policy wins, a high-stakes political fight, and a steady churn of new businesses and closures. The region feels restless but forward-looking, and everyone's watching Richmond and the courts.

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