Author: Emily Leayman

Emily Leayman is a senior reporter at ARLnow, ALXnow and FFXnow. She was previously a field editor covering parts of Northern Virginia for Patch for more than eight years. A native of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, she lives in Northern Virginia.

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Arlington House materials targeting Robert E. Lee likely not returning, Beyer says

By Emily Leayman
Arlington House as seen over Arlington Memorial Bridge (staff photo by James Cullum)

Arlington’s congressman isn’t expecting the Trump administration’s National Park Service to return to Arlington House educational materials that cast Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s role in history in a critical light.

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) and other Democrats in Virginia’s congressional delegation had demanded the return of the Junior Ranger Program activity booklet to Arlington House in time for America’s 250th birthday . The booklet was reportedly flagged for stating, “In 1829, Robert E. Lee promised to serve in the Army and protect the United States. In 1861, he broke his promise and fought for slavery.”

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From paid leave to gun legislation, here’s what changes in Virginia on July 1

By Emily Leayman
Del. Adele McClure, D-2, at 2026 Juneteenth celebration (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

More than 1,100 bills have come out of the latest General Assembly session, and many take effect on July 1.

As Democrats gained a trifecta with the election of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and control of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, legislators passed bills focused on immigration enforcement, gun control, housing and tenant protections, reproductive rights and more. Democrats also passed Virginia’s first-ever paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, and child care assistance programs for workers.

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Special train for America’s 250th anniversary to roll through Arlington on Tuesday

By Emily Leayman
Specially-themed America 250 locomotives (via CSX)

A commemorative train themed for America’s 250th anniversary will roll through Arlington tomorrow.

Railroad operator CSX will run the special train from Alexandria to D.C. on Tuesday, June 30. The train features two America250 locomotives — one with a stars and stripes theme and the other with an American bald eagle and “United We Stand” phrase. Accompanying the specially-designed locomotives are two heritage units featuring original 1827 Baltimore & Ohio colors and 10 historic executive business cars used for presidential travel.

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Virginia legislators propose new tax on data centers’ power usage to break budget deadlock

By Emily Leayman
Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas speaks on the budget bill (HB 30) on June 22, 2026 (via Virginia Senate)

Democratic leaders in the Virginia General Assembly reached an agreement on a state budget with a compromise on taxing data centers.

The proposed budget agreement, announced last Friday evening, kept the sales and use tax exemption for data centers, which has divided lawmakers in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates. However, it adds a new data center electricity consumption tax, which would charge a rate of $0.011 per kilowatt hour based on the electricity a data center uses each month.

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DOJ challenges Virginia laws restricting officer face coverings, ICE agreements

By Emily Leayman
Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

The Trump administration’s Justice Department is challenging several state laws passed by Virginia Democrats targeting the work of federal immigration enforcement officers.

The complaint, filed in the Eastern District of Virginia’s Richmond Division, challenges state laws that seek to ban federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks and restrict 287(g) agreements between federal immigration enforcement and state and local law enforcement agencies.

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Sen. Warner backs bill to curb data centers’ impacts on electricity prices

By Emily Leayman
CoreSite’s Reston data center campus (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is throwing support behind legislation intended to address the impacts of data centers on rising prices of electricity for Virginia residents.

The Power for the People Act, which Warner is co-sponsoring, aims to address cost and reliability issues associated with data centers’ power needs. The legislation directs states to look into new rate classes for data centers, seeks a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rule to ensure data centers are paying for infrastructure upgrades that would not be otherwise needed, and seeks to increase accountability in local electricity infrastructure.

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Del. McClure’s childcare assistance bill is signed, but funding questions persist

By Emily Leayman
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs bills to create the Employee Child Care Assistance Program (via Office of Gov. Abigail Spanberger)

Legislation addressing the high cost of childcare in Virginia has received Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s signature — but it’s still unclear how much funding it will entail.

The governor held a ceremonial signing at a Richmond daycare yesterday (Wednesday) for Del. Adele McClure’s HB 18 and the Senate version (SB 3) by state Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D-13). The pair of bills will create an Employee Child Care Assistance Program with matching funds to incentivize employers to provide contributions for their employees’ childcare costs.

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Virginia Democrats demand return of Arlington House materials targeting Robert E. Lee

By Emily Leayman
The U.S. flag flies at half-mast in front of Arlington House (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Virginia’s Democratic congressional delegation is demanding the restoration of Arlington House educational materials that cast Robert E. Lee’s role in history in a critical light.

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, who represents Arlington in the 8th Congressional District, led Democrats in demanding the National Park Service bring back a Junior Ranger Program activity booklet to Arlington House. The booklet was reportedly flagged for stating, “In 1829, Robert E. Lee promised to serve in the Army and protect the United States. In 1861, he broke his promise and fought for slavery.”

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More public restrooms will get diaper changing tables after Arlington state senator’s efforts

By Emily Leayman
Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) (staff photo by James Cullum)

New publicly-accessible buildings could be required to have baby diaper changing tables after a push from state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39), whose district includes part of Arlington.

Virginia’s Board of Housing and Community Development voted Monday to approve Bennett-Parker’s proposal to require diaper changing tables in new buildings that are open to the public. The policy would apply to each floor containing public restrooms in new assembly, business, educational, and mercantile occupancy buildings, Group R-1 hotels and motels, and highway rest stops.

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Faith in Housing bill crosses finish line, clears path for church-based affordable housing

By Emily Leayman
Central United Methodist Church and Unity Homes building in Ballston on April 30, 2026 (staff photo)

The “Yes in God’s Backyard” movement is celebrating after the Faith in Housing bill, supporting expedited church-based affordable housing development, has been signed into law.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed state Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-29)’s SB 388 and Del. Joshua Cole (D-65)’s HB 1279, which will eliminate the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt nonprofits to develop affordable housing on their properties. The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027 and will sunset on Jan. 1, 2031 unless reenacted by a future General Assembly.

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GOP bill to return Arlington, Alexandria to D.C. condemned as ‘unconstitutional’ by Rep. Beyer

By Emily Leayman
A view of D.C. from Rosslyn (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A Republican legislator’s proposal to make Arlington and Alexandria part of D.C. has earned immediate condemnation from the region’s congressional representation.

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) introduced the “Make DC Square Again Act” yesterday (Wednesday) in the wake of Virginia voters approving a redistricting referendum to benefit Democrats’ representation in Congress. McCormick’s legislation seeks to reunite Arlington, Alexandria and the District, which had been the case for 46 years in the 19th century.

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Spanberger proposes final edits to immigration enforcement bill from Del. Lopez

By Emily Leayman
Del. Alfonso Lopez 2025 campaign kickoff (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A bill from Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3) seeking to limit law enforcement collaboration with federal immigration enforcement has received minor adjustments from Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

Lopez’s HB 1441, and companion bill SB 783, ban state and local law enforcement agreements with federal immigration enforcement and limit when state and local law enforcement can cooperate.

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