Dan Egitto | ARLnow

HQ2 left largely untouched as Amazon announces 14,000 corporate layoffs

Published October 30, 2025 at 9:15AM

Amazon HQ2 (courtesy Amazon)

Amazon is slashing about 14,000 jobs, but the company’s HQ2 in Pentagon City will mostly be spared, ARLnow is told.

The company said in a Tuesday letter to employees that it is laying off thousands of corporate workers to reduce bureaucracy and “realize efficiency gains” in “this generation of AI.”

News

Officials celebrate $11M overhaul of bike and pedestrian infrastructure on Army Navy Drive

By Dan Egitto

Published October 29, 2025 at 3:45PM

Officials celebrate a ribbon cutting for infrastructure upgrades along Army Navy Drive (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Three years of pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly upgrades along Army Navy Drive culminated in a ribbon cutting in Pentagon City today (Wednesday).

Four members of the Arlington County Board, the chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and other transit advocates attended the ceremony at the intersection of Army Navy Drive and S. Hayes Street, along the 0.6-mile stretch of road that received improvements between S. Joyce Street and 12th Street S.

News

Stay cautious and support food pantries if you can, Arlington advocates urge amid uncertainty

By Dan Egitto

Published October 29, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated October 29, 2025 at 3:44PM

Volunteers distribute food at Arlington Food Assistance Center in December 2020 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Local food security organizations are seeking donations and urging caution as uncertainty continues to hang over food assistance in Virginia during the government shutdown.

While federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is expected to come to a halt on Saturday unless lawmakers strike a deal, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) announced a plan yesterday for a stopgap measure to make sure people can still eat.

Around Town

When to expect trick-or-treaters and other tips for Halloween in Arlington

By Dan Egitto

Published October 28, 2025 at 3:45PM

Halloween skeleton decor at N. Jackson Street and N. Pershing Drive, October 2025 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Halloween is Friday, bringing trick-or-treaters, free Lyft rides and lots of thematic events to Arlington.

Here’s a look at what county newcomers can expect and where to go locally on the spookiest night of the year.

Events

Pentagon City ice rink reopens on Friday ahead of spooky ‘Thriller on Ice’ event

By Dan Egitto

Published October 28, 2025 at 11:45AM

The ice rink at Westpost at National Landing (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

As brisker weather returns, the outdoor ice rink in Pentagon City is reopening Friday in advance of a free Halloween-themed skating event.

The rink at Westpost at National Landing opens for the 2025-2026 winter season at 10 a.m. on Halloween, a spokesperson told ARLnow. The next day, an event called “Thriller on Ice” will feature a DJ “spinning all your favorite Halloween tracks” from 5-8 p.m. this Saturday.

News

New stoplight, pedestrian beacon planned for Wilson Blvd intersection in Dominion Hills area

By Dan Egitto

Published October 24, 2025 at 11:45AM

The intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Livingston Street (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A preliminary design for a safer intersection in the Dominion Hills area includes a traffic signal, more separation for bike lanes and a flashing beacon for pedestrians.

Respondents have until Monday, Oct. 27 to submit feedback on plans for the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Livingston Street. This is located near Powhatan Springs Park, about half a mile west of another Wilson Blvd intersection where a bicyclist was seriously injured in a crash earlier this month.

Events

‘Hallow-E-Waste’ electronics collection event happening in Falls Church tomorrow

By Dan Egitto

Published October 24, 2025 at 9:15AM

Big Chimneys Park in Falls Church (via City of Falls Church/YouTube)

A Falls Church sorority chapter is hosting a Halloween-themed collection event for old electronics tomorrow (Saturday).

The city’s Chi Beta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha has planned the “Hallow-E-Waste” event, which will feature daytime trick-or-treating for kids in addition to waste collection.

News

Youngkin declares state of emergency for hunger relief before federal benefits halt

By Dan Egitto and The Associated Press

Published October 23, 2025 at 3:50PM

Volunteers place food in crates for distribution at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

A federal food aid program that helps about one-eighth of Americans buy groceries stands to be paused Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown — but Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) says he has found a workaround.

The governor declared a state of emergency today (Thursday), which he said will let him spend emergency funds to provide hunger relief to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is set to pause payments at the end of next week.

News

Planning for Drew Park expansion to kick off with Green Valley open house

By Dan Egitto

Published October 22, 2025 at 10:00AM

Drew Park in Green Valley (via Arlington County)

An open house about a planned expansion to Green Valley’s Drew Park is happening next week.

Part of a long-anticipated project to create a new Drew Park Master Plan, the event will let community members provide input and learn more about the future of the recreation area at 2310 S. Kenmore Street, between John Robinson, Jr. Town Square and Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School.

News

Marine Corps Marathon happening as planned this weekend, bringing road closures

By Dan Egitto

Published October 21, 2025 at 9:15AM

Finish line of a past Marine Corps Marathon (file photo)

The Marine Corps Marathon is still happening this weekend despite the government shutdown, bringing numerous road closures to Arlington.

Now in its 50th year, the sold-out race — one of the largest marathons in the country — will begin as scheduled on Sunday morning, just like the Army Ten-Miler last week, organizers announced in an Instagram post.

News

Woman struck by falling tree on Pimmit Run Trail died from her injuries

By Dan Egitto

Published October 20, 2025 at 10:00AM

Entrance to the Pimmit Run Trail from the Arlingwood neighborhood (staff photo)

A woman crushed by a falling tree on Pimmit Run Trail last month was later pronounced dead at the hospital, ARLnow has learned.

The incident happened around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, near the Arlington-Fairfax County border. Two people were walking on a relatively remote section of the trail when “a tree fell striking one of the individuals,” U.S. Park Police said.

News

Tales of ghost hunting and local ‘haunted history’ coming to Arlington libraries

By Dan Egitto

Published October 20, 2025 at 8:30AM

The former Overlee Community Association Clubhouse, home to reported ghost sightings in 2012 (file photo)

A paranormal investigator and researcher of strange happenings in Northern Virginia is hosting a series of talks at Arlington Public Library starting today (Monday).

Alex Matsuo, the author of “Haunted Northern Virginia” and other books about supernatural mysteries and explorations, will speak about “scientific ghost hunting” at Glencarlyn Library from 6:30-7:30 p.m. today.