Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. The ARLnow staff byline is used for the Morning Notes and reporting done by an editor or other member of our full-time staff.
Arlington’s” budget season” is now underway and county leaders are focused on how to allocate funds and balance the budget. But with more than half of county spending considered non-discretionary, options for cuts are somewhat limited.
On the other hand, another way to close the budget gap — higher property tax rates — looks to be politically challenging given that a continuous rise in home assessments paired with a tax rate increase last year has Arlington homeowners more sensitive to higher taxes.
Given our recent reporting on some of the potential options and tradeoffs, which option for balancing the budget are you leaning towards?
If you vote for cuts, let us know where in the budget should they be made.
An expanse of snow and sledders at Nottingham Elementary just before sunset (staff photo)
New Speed Camera Turned On — “Due to the recent inclement weather and school closings, the 30-day warning period for the new PhotoSPEED program speed safety cameras will begin on Monday, January 13. Speed camera installation at NB 1600 block of N. Glebe Road is postponed pending VDOT permitting, and a speed camera has been installed at WB 5800 block of Little Falls Road.” [ACPD]
Beyer Again to Take on Robert E. Lee — Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) will again in 2024 introduce legislation removing Robert E. Lee’s name from Arlington House, despite an admitted very little chance of success. “While he recognizes that the current Congressional climate might not favor passage, he’s committed to building support and preparing for a time when the environment might be more receptive,” a spokesman tells ARLnow. –Scott McCaffrey
Unusual Traffic Stop — From Dave Statter: “Here’s the video as the driver first refused to stop for @ArlingtonVaPD and made a U-Turn on 50 at Irving. Two minutes later they returned to the intersection and stopped. Police soon arrived and blocked in the car. Traffic now gets by using one lane to the left.” [Twitter]
Arlington Jobless Rate Up Slightly — Arlington’s unemployment rate of 2.3% in November was up from 2.2% a year before, according to new data. In Falls Church, the unemployment rate of 2.5% was up from 2.3%. [Virginia Employment Commission]
Sens. Want Deficit Reduction — “U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Mike Crapo (R-ID) urging Senate Republicans to work in a bipartisan way to reduce the deficit and protect the middle class from tax hikes.” [Press Release]
Demolition of Former F.C. Hotel — “The one remaining eyesore along W. Broad Street between the N. Washington intersection and Founders Row in the otherwise lovely downtown Falls Church will be disappearing not a minute too soon. One of the two buildings of the vacated and fenced in old Stratford Motor Lodge site in the 300 block of West Broad is slated to be demolished and removed within two weeks.” [FCNP]
It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day with a high around 40°F and calm winds shifting to the west at about 5 mph in the afternoon. The night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 20°F and a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
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Some fresh snow but a cleared Wilson Blvd near Whole Foods in Clarendon (via traffic cam)
About an inch of snow fell in Arlington between Friday night and the early morning hours of Saturday.
Most main roads around the county have now been cleared as of 9:30 a.m., but many side streets remain snowcovered. Crews are now working on those local streets, while residents and businesses are expected to shovel their sidewalks within 24 hours.
Snow is possible before 7am, followed by cloudy conditions that will gradually clear up, reaching a high near 34. The light west wind will shift to northwest, ranging from 8 to 13 mph in the morning and possibly gusting up to 22 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. Saturday night will be mostly clear with a low around 23 and a northwest wind of 8 to 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The more one judges, the less one loves.” – Honoré de Balzac
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Booking photograph of Timothy McGhee, via ACPD, over a file image of Washington-Liberty HS
A substitute teacher has been charged with taking indecent liberties with a high school student.
Timothy McGhee, a 47-year-old Alexandria resident, had been working as a substitute at Washington-Liberty High School. He also previously worked at some local churches and unsuccessfully ran for state Senate in Arlington and Alexandria in 2011.
A person can be seen walking away from a newly-set fire outside of Freddie's Beach Bar in Crystal City (screenshot via ACFD)
Long-time local gay bar Freddie’s Beach Bar suffered damage to its front doors after an intentionally-set fire early Thursday morning.
Freddie’s was among three neighboring businesses on Crystal City’s 23rd Street S. restaurant row that were damaged. The others were another long-time watering hole, Crystal City Sports Pub, as previously reported, and Irish pub McNamara’s.
Power outage at Pentagon City mall (courtesy Steve Brusk)
More than 6,000 homes and businesses were without power Friday afternoon in the Pentagon City and Crystal City area after a major outage.
The outage started around 1 p.m. There were frequent police and fire dispatches to the area for traffic complaints, numerous elevators stuck with people inside, and a report of smoke and alarms in the Pentagon City mall food court.
Arlington’s real estate market reflects the broader community — it’s diverse, dynamic, and never boring.
This weekend’s local open houses offer a snapshot of Arlington’s wide variety real estate offerings, from affordable condos to multi-million dollar homes. One highlight: just over $2 million, this home includes custom woodworking, screened in porch and fenced backyard.
Though Valentine’s Day is next month, it’s not too early to make reservations to celebrate with your special someone.
We’ve compiled the top spots for “Best Restaurant for a Fancy Dinner in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards. Before choosing your favorite, consider menu options, taste, service and overall atmosphere.
Did we miss your favorite restaurant? Write it in!
Don’t wait to vote as polls will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Gym/Fitness Studio in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on ARLnow’s pet of the year 2024. The results are now official:
Snow remnants in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington Schools Open Again — Arlington Public Schools students are back in class again today, with schools set to open on time (as of Thursday night). [Twitter]
Annual MLK Tribute Approaching — “Join Arlington County as our community honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 2025 MLK Tribute event on Sun., Jan. 19, 5-6:30 p.m. in the Wakefield High School auditorium.” [Arlington County]
Local GOP Questions Fire — After word that a small fire at the Crystal City Sports Pub was likely set intentionally, the Arlington GOP posted on X: “Suspicious, huh. The restaurant is owned by Republicans.” On Friday afternoon, Freddie’s Beach Bar and McNamara’s Pub were also identified as having been damaged by the arsonist. [Twitter]
Report Potholes Online — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “January flakes bring street surface breaks. Report a pothole and other stuff to the County in a few clicks.” [Bluesky, Arlington County]
Saturday Snow Update — From Fox 5’s Mike Thomas: “Here’s our thoughts for the snow event late tomorrow night through Saturday morning. Center of the wave passes well south of DC, so southern zones have the best shot at more than a coating.” [Twitter, Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Friday — Clouds will increase throughout the day, with a high near 30 and northwest winds at 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Snow is expected Friday night, primarily after 1am, with a low temperature around 25 and light south winds. There is a 90% chance of precipitation, and new snow accumulation may be less than an inch. [NWS]
