Author: Dan Egitto

Dan Egitto is an editor and reporter at ARLnow. Originally from Central Florida, he graduated from Duke University and previously reported at the Palatka Daily News in Florida and the Vallejo Times-Herald in California. Dan joined ARLnow in January 2024.

Events

Santa arrives at the Pentagon City mall next week

By Dan Egitto
Christmas decorations at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in a past year (file photo)

A bit of Christmas magic is coming to Pentagon City beginning next week as photos with Santa return to the neighborhood’s mall.

Saint Nick arrives on Friday, Nov. 14 and will stay through Christmas Eve on Dec. 24. He’ll be near Nordstrom on the first level of the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.

Go to Santa arrives at the Pentagon City mall next week Read more
News

Fall leaf collection begins Monday in Arlington

By Dan Egitto
Leaf collection sign in the Waycroft-Woodlawn neighborhood (staff photo)

As fall foliage piles up in yards and streets around Arlington, the county’s annual leaf collection program begins next week.

Leaf vacuums will suck up fallen leaves in 19 neighborhoods beginning on Monday, Nov. 10. The first pass will continue every weekday through Nov. 28, only taking a day off for Thanksgiving.

Go to Fall leaf collection begins Monday in Arlington Read more
News

ACPD starting salaries increase to $90K starting next summer

By Dan Egitto
An ACPD officer at a crime scene (file photo)

The starting salary for officers at the Arlington County Police Department is jumping to about $90,000, the highest in the D.C. area.

The pay bump, which goes into effect on July 1, 2026, represents a roughly $18,000 increase from the current starting salary of $72,013.50 for new officers, ACPD spokesperson Ashley Savage told ARLnow.

Go to ACPD starting salaries increase to $90K starting next summer Read more
News

Arlington Democrats hold up local and statewide wins as rebuke of Trump

By Dan Egitto and Scott McCaffrey
County Board Chair Takis Karantonis addresses supporters following his reelection on Tuesday, Nov. 4 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Arlington Democrats celebrated big wins at both the local and state level yesterday (Tuesday), connecting voters’ decisions to the Trump administration’s impacts on Virginia.

In speeches before a jubilant crowd at Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse, several victors in Arlington’s blue sweep lifted up the success of gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and other Democrats in statewide races on Election Day.

Go to Arlington Democrats hold up local and statewide wins as rebuke of Trump Read more
News

LIVE: Election results for governor, attorney general and other races affecting Arlington

By Dan Egitto
Campaign signs outside Yorktown High School (staff photo by Jared Serre)

As election results roll in tonight, ARLnow will be tracking the outcome of races affecting Arlington and Virginia as a whole.

Three of the highest offices in Virginia are on the ballot this year, as are three seats representing Arlington in the House of Delegates.

Go to LIVE: Election results for governor, attorney general and other races affecting Arlington Read more
News

Arlington County Sheriff’s Office takes over medical care at jail, replacing private contractor

By Dan Egitto
Jail entrance at the Arlington County Detention Facility (file photo)

The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office took over operational control of medical care at the Arlington County Detention Facility this week, fulfilling a longstanding goal.

Sheriff Jose Quiroz has long advocated for shifting to an in-house medical model at the jail that saw several in-custody deaths under a former provider. Under the change, which went into effect yesterday (Monday), medical staff will report directly to Chief Medical Director Dr. Richard Malish, whom the sheriff appointed to a newly created position this spring.

Go to Arlington County Sheriff’s Office takes over medical care at jail, replacing private contractor Read more
News

DEVELOPING: Reagan National grounds flights after reported threat to arriving airliner

By Dan Egitto
A United Airlines flight is stopped on a runway at Reagan National Airport (screenshot via Fox 5)

All flights were grounded at Reagan National Airport midday Tuesday while a United Airlines jet was evacuated over a reported security threat.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on social media that a United Airlines flight “received a bomb threat,” resulting in passengers being evacuated and law enforcement conducting a full search of the aircraft.

Go to DEVELOPING: Reagan National grounds flights after reported threat to arriving airliner Read more
News

Election Day begins smoothly in Arlington after strong early voting turnout

By Dan Egitto
The polling place at The Jefferson in Ballston on Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Election Day is off to a smooth start in Arlington, with about 8% voter turnout as of 9 a.m. following strong in-person early voting.

About 32,000 Arlington voters cast early in-person ballots this year, compared to 27,800 during the last gubernatorial election. However, mail-in ballots are down compared to 2021, a pandemic year: around 9,800 were cast this year compared to 14,800 in 2021.

Go to Election Day begins smoothly in Arlington after strong early voting turnout Read more
News

Expansion and renovations starting soon at planned Reeves Farmhouse group home

By Dan Egitto
The Reeves Farmhouse at 400 N. Manchester Street (via HomeAid National Capital Region/Flickr)

The construction phase of a project bringing a new group home for adults with intellectual disabilities to the Reeves Farmhouse is expected to begin soon.

A year after the local Habitat for Humanity chapter and HomeAid National Capital Region broke ground on the historic structure at 400 N. Manchester Street in October last year, HomeAid and the construction company Toll Brothers announced that they’re ready to start work on the next stage.

Go to Expansion and renovations starting soon at planned Reeves Farmhouse group home Read more
News

APS offers free dinners for families during government shutdown

By Dan Egitto
Wakefield High School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington Public Schools is offering free dinners at three high schools for families affected by the government shutdown.

Beginning Thursday, the school system will serve free hot meals every weekday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the cafeterias at Yorktown, Washington-Liberty and Wakefield high schools. Each location will provide 250 meals every day on a first-come, first-served basis.

Go to APS offers free dinners for families during government shutdown Read more
News

Bracing for SNAP disruptions, Arlington allocates $350K for AFAC food aid

By Dan Egitto
Arlingtonians wait in line at Arlington Food Assistance Center (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington County is sending $350,000 to the county’s largest food pantry in response to possible disruptions in food aid for thousands of residents.

The funding transfer is intended to expand the Arlington Food Assistance Center’s capacity to help the roughly 10,000 local residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is expected to go on pause beginning Saturday because of the government shutdown.

Go to Bracing for SNAP disruptions, Arlington allocates $350K for AFAC food aid Read more
Events

‘Taco Bell DC 50K’ will take runners to two Arlington Taco Bells next month

By Dan Egitto
The Taco Bell Cantina near Courthouse on March 7, 2023 (staff photo)

Two of Arlington’s Taco Bell locations are expected to host hundreds of runners the last weekend of November during a 50K race fueled by Tex-Mex.

The Taco Bell DC 50K — an unlicensed event billed as both “the ultimate mix of endurance and spice” and “something completely stupid” — will take contestants on a roughly 32-mile loop, visiting eight Taco Bell locations in Northern Virginia and D.C. on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Go to ‘Taco Bell DC 50K’ will take runners to two Arlington Taco Bells next month Read more
View More Stories