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Arlington County Board Approves New Budget That Holds Property Tax Rate Steady

Published April 21, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated April 21, 2021 at 12:34PM

The majority of Arlington homeowners will face higher property taxes, after the County Board approved a budget that holds the property tax rate steady.

The Fiscal Year 2022 budget includes $1.4 billion in spending, a 3.5% increase from last year’s budget. Of that, $530 million will go to Arlington Public Schools, which will pass its final budget next month.

Around Town

New Japanese Restaurant Coming to Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published April 21, 2021 at 10:30AM

Restaurant space at 1850 Fort Myer Drive in December 2017

An long-vacant, off-the-beaten-path restaurant space in Rosslyn appears to be getting a new tenant.

Yuraku Japanese Restaurant is coming to the ground floor of the high-end Turnberry Tower condo building at 1850 Fort Myer Drive, according to permit filings and the restaurant’s website.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 21, 2021 at 7:30AM

County Board Approves Several Projects — “The Arlington County Board took action at its April meeting on a number of projects designed to invest in community development and improve infrastructure throughout the County. ‘The Board’s actions today invest in Arlington’s future through a flexible space for the arts, additional flexibility to allow for additional affordable housing, four neighborhood conservation projects, and infrastructure that improves our core utilities and provides essential services for our residents,’ County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said.” [Arlington County]

Local Group’s Statement on Chauvin Verdict — Black Parents of Arlington issued a statement last night about the verdict in George Floyd’s murder: “This ‘justice’ system, while today handed down a verdict that provides accountability, cannot, and will not, ever restore justice. Justice is when a Black photographer can visit a client without being harassed by both neighbors and law enforcement. Justice is when a pregnant Black woman can deliver her baby with dignity, and not in the captivity of an Arlington County jail.” [Press Release]

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JUST IN: Local Officials Release Statements About Verdict in Floyd Murder Case

By ARLnow.com

Published April 20, 2021 at 6:35PM

Scene from an NAACP and Black Lives Matter rally and march in Arlington in June 2020 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The Arlington County Board, along with other local officials, applauded a historic guilty verdict handed down by a Minnesota jury today.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd, a crime that was caught on camera and which led to a summer of protests and a racial reckoning — in Arlington, across the U.S. and around the world. The verdict was announced this afternoon.

Around Town

The Winners of the 2021 Spring Arlies Are Here

By ARLnow.com

Published April 20, 2021 at 12:30PM

The votes have been tallied and the results are in!

Below are the winners of the spring 2021 Arlies, as voted on by the readers. We’ve highlighted the top vote-getter, but have included up to two others that were close behind in the voting as additional winners.

Around Town

Arlington Restaurants Featured on Michelin Bib Gourmand List (Kind Of)

By ARLnow.com

Published April 20, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated April 20, 2021 at 12:10PM

Cuisine from Stellina Pizzeria (Photo by Rey Lopez, courtesy Stellina)

Some Arlington restaurants have been honored, by association at least, in the latest edition of the city-centric Michelin Bib Gourmand list.

A number of D.C. restaurants with Arlington outposts made the list, which highlights great but affordable during experiences.

News

Air Defense Exercise Planned This Morning

By ARLnow.com

Published April 20, 2021 at 10:15AM

Don’t be surprised if you see helicopters and some small planes flying around the D.C. area this morning — it’s all part of a military training exercise.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) says the air defense exercise will be conducted between 11 a.m. and noon. It will involve Coast Guard helicopters and general aviation aircraft — often smaller prop planes.

News

More Business Burglaries Reported in Westover and Dominion Hills

By ARLnow.com

Published April 20, 2021 at 9:40AM

File photo

The recent spate of business burglaries in Arlington is continuing.

Early Saturday morning a group of three thieves broke into businesses in the Dominion Hills and Westover neighborhoods, stealing several cash registers and leaving behind piles of broken glass. At least five businesses were damaged by the burglars.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 20, 2021 at 5:00AM

Final Departure for Gate 35X — Reagan National Airport’s notorious Gate 35X served its last unhappy passengers last night. A newly-built, fully-indoor concourse opens today. [WTOP, Twitter, Twitter, The Points Guy]

Rosslyn Resident Makes Big Donation to UNC — “The University of North Carolina at Pembroke… has received a $6 million planned gift — the second largest in the university’s history — from former trustee Mary Ann Elliott to name the McKenzie-Elliott School of Nursing.” Elliott is a Rosslyn resident and former aerospace executive. [Yahoo]

Around Town

Here Are the Top 40 Highest-Rated Restaurants in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published April 19, 2021 at 3:45PM | Updated April 22, 2021 at 10:37AM

Dinner hour in Shirlington Village in May 2020 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Anecdotally, at least, restaurants seem to be getting busier around town.

That’s not too surprising, given the warmer weather and the fact that vaccinations are on the rise and now available to everyone ages 16 and up.

News

Coronavirus Cases Slow in Arlington As Vaccinations Quicken

By ARLnow.com

Published April 19, 2021 at 9:45AM

The rate of new coronavirus cases in Arlington has reached the lowest point since October.

A total of 167 cases have been reported over the past week. That follows about two months of the case total fluctuating between about 200-300 new cases per week.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 19, 2021 at 5:00AM

Covid Testing Unit Coming to Marymount — “The mobile testing unit, operated by Quest Diagnostics, will operate at the university in the parking lot by Reinsch Library, from April 19 – May 7, open Monday-Friday from 9 AM – 4 PM. It will offer no-cost, no-appointment COVID-19 testing to the general public, as well as Marymount students, staff and faculty.” [Arlington County]

School Board Candidate’s Emails FOIAed — “Arlington School Board candidate Mary Kadera said a political opposition-research effort is unlikely to turn up any dirt on her. In a note to supporters, Kadera (one of two candidates in the upcoming Democratic caucus) noted that a local resident had submitted a request under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act in order to gain access to all the e-mails she has sent to School Board members over the past two years.” [Sun Gazette]