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Morning Notes

Published October 20, 2020 at 6:00AM

Board Shelves Pike Housing Proposal — “Arlington County Board members on Oct. 17… [removed] from consideration a staff proposal to change rules governing affordable housing on Columbia Pike. Board members, who had weathered intense community skepticism of the proposal when it first was heard in June, had placed the proposal back on their October agenda, and had recommendations from both the Planning Commission and county manager to approve it. But when critics again suited up to do battle, board members threw in the towel.” [InsideNova]

Another Top Bond Rating for County — “For the 20th year in a row, all three credit ratings agencies have reaffirmed Arlington County’s debt ratings of Aaa/AAA/AAA — the highest possible rating. Arlington is one of just 48 counties in the United States, and one of nine in Virginia, to receive this designation.” [Arlington County]

Around Town

The Spirits of ’76 Is Closing in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Published October 19, 2020 at 3:45PM

Spirits of '76 in 2016

The Spirits of ’76, a bar in Clarendon that opened just before the 2016 election, is closing just before the 2020 election.

The bar at 3211 Washington Blvd is just off the main drag of Clarendon, on a block in which restaurants have struggled. It opened in October 2016 with Americana decor, a robust whiskey list, and a menu of American comfort food.

News

Photos: Biden Car Parade Over the Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Published October 19, 2020 at 2:00PM

A parade of Latino voters drive to Walter Reed Community Center to cast their votes in-person during the first day of early in-person voting (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The Trump campaign famously has had boat parades. Over the weekend the Biden campaign organized a car parade in Arlington.

On Saturday, the first day of expanded early voting, Biden’s Virginia campaign held a Latino Car Parade “to encourage Latinos to vote early and highlight the importance of the Latino vote in Virginia.”

Around Town

Zinga! Frozen Yogurt Appears Closed

By ARLnow.com

Published October 19, 2020 at 11:30AM

Zinga! Frozen Yogurt appears to have closed

Zinga! Frozen Yogurt has closed in Arlington’s Williamsburg Shopping Center, though it’s not immediately clear if the closure is permanent.

The froyo shop closed last week, and a “for lease” sign was placed in the window. As of Friday, the leasing sign was down, but the store remained closed and many of the furnishings appear to have been cleared out.

News

New Coronavirus Cases Hit Multi-Month Peak Over Weekend, But Ease a Bit Today

By ARLnow.com

Published October 19, 2020 at 9:35AM | Updated October 19, 2020 at 10:38AM

(Updated at 10:35 a.m.) A run-up in Arlington’s seven-day moving average of new coronavirus cases eased a bit today.

The average rate of new cases hit 26.4 per day on Sunday, the highest point since June 2. Today, after 12 new cases were reported overnight, that dropped to 25.0 new cases per day.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 19, 2020 at 6:00AM

‘Open Schools’ Signs Also Being Stolen — “The debate over whether kids should be learning in or out of schools is getting ugly in Arlington. So much so, dozens of signs that said ‘Open Schools Now’ have gone missing. ‘Some of them have gotten stolen and neighbors have found them in trash cans,’ parent Russell Laird said Friday, standing near 100 new signs that had just been delivered. ‘I told people, keep count of how many were stolen, come back with double.'” [Fox 5]

County Getting More COVID-19 Aid — “The Arlington County Board today accepted more than $3 million dollars in additional federal aid to support low-to-moderate-income residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid included more money for housing vouchers and funding for a range of relief programs to support families and small businesses.” [Arlington County]

Opinion

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

Published October 16, 2020 at 6:00PM

Bob & Edith's Diner on Langston Blvd, at night (file photo)

We are now 18 days from Election Day. Let that sink in.

If you’re sick of hearing about the presidential election, however, perhaps a heaping helping of local news will help. Here are the most-read Arlington stories of the past week:

News

Armed Robbery Suspects Elude ACPD in Wild Chase

By ARLnow.com

Published October 16, 2020 at 3:55PM | Updated October 16, 2020 at 9:16PM

Arlington County Police cars (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) A group of armed robbery suspects managed to flee into D.C., eluding a phalanx of Arlington police cruisers after being chased across the county.

The incident started around 7:30 this morning. Officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of S. Ross Street, near The Wellington apartments and Columbia Pike, for a report of a person robbed at gunpoint and assaulted by four people he knew.

News

More Early Voting Locations to Open Saturday

By ARLnow.com

Published October 16, 2020 at 2:30PM

Four new early voting locations will open in Arlington this weekend.

The Aurora Hills, Langston-Brown, Madison and Walter Reed community centers will all be open for early voting, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. The voting hours at the community centers are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays and 2-7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

News

Widespread Political Sign Vandalism Is Continuing in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published October 16, 2020 at 11:35AM

Damaged political signs in North Arlington (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Along George Mason Drive near the hospital Thursday morning, bare metal frames were almost as ubiquitous as the undamaged political signs still standing in the median.

Reports of widespread political sign vandalism earlier this month have seemingly not deterred the vandal or vandals. Newly ripped, trampled or discarded signs can still be seen along Arlington’s main roads. Many, if not most, are those supporting the Democratic presidential ticket.

News

Forty New COVID Cases Reported in Arlington Today

By ARLnow.com

Published October 16, 2020 at 10:30AM

Arlington has reached a nearly two-month peak in the rolling seven-day average of new daily coronavirus cases.

Forty new COVID-19 cases were reported in the county overnight, bringing the pandemic total to 4,318 and the seven-day average to 24.3 cases per day.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 16, 2020 at 7:30AM

Big Jump in Local Home Sales — “The red-hot summer real-estate market that evolved out of the springtime COVID crisis showed no signs of abating in September across Arlington. If anything, the market last month doubled down – literally. Home sales across the county totaled 274, up 44.2 percent from the 190 transactions recorded in September 2019.” [InsideNova]

Dems Protest Outside Trump HQ — Democrats protested outside of Trump reelection HQ in Rosslyn yesterday morning, criticizing the president for not agreeing to a virtual debate with Joe Biden. They came with signs and a large “Baby Trump” balloon. [Twitter]