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.

Around Town

‘Liam’ and ‘Charlotte’ remained most popular Virginia baby names in 2025

By Emily Leayman
A newborn baby (Omar Lopez/Unsplash)

Expect to see a lot more kids named Charlotte and Liam running around Virginia in a couple of years.

Those are the most popular names for boys and girls among the 96,683 babies born in the commonwealth last year, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health. Both names have held the top spot for at least six years straight.

Go to ‘Liam’ and ‘Charlotte’ remained most popular Virginia baby names in 2025 Read more
News

Gov. Spanberger swings at Trump on affordability in State of the Union response

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press
FILE - Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers her State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly at the Capitol, Jan. 19, 2026, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered a Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address yesterday (Tuesday), questioning whether the president was improving affordability and keeping Americans safe.

Spanberger took aim at Trump’s policies including tariffs, the One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress, federal immigration enforcement tied to the deaths of two Americans, federal workforce reductions through DOGE, withholding of the Epstein files, and the threat of a war with Iran.

Go to Gov. Spanberger swings at Trump on affordability in State of the Union response Read more
News

D.C.-area delegation seeks more funds for burst sewer pipe after Potomac spill

By Emily Leayman
Heavy rain along the Potomac River, with Rosslyn in the background (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A coalition of D.C.-area representatives is seeking more funding for infrastructure upgrades as authorities continue to monitor the effects of a massive sewage spill in the Potomac.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) was among 14 members of Congress from the region who requested federal funding today (Tuesday) to rehabilitate and modernize the burst Potomac Interceptor. The delegation is also seeking additional funds for wastewater infrastructure nationwide following a recent briefing on efforts to repair the sewer line and mitigate health risks.

Go to D.C.-area delegation seeks more funds for burst sewer pipe after Potomac spill Read more
News

Virginia lawmakers advance later deadline for counting ballots after postal delays

By Emily Leayman
Del. Adele McClure (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Legislators representing Arlington are advancing matching bills to extend elections offices’ deadlines for receiving and counting absentee ballots.

HB 82 and SB 58, introduced by Del. Adele McClure (D-2) and State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40), respectively, call for moving the deadline from noon to 5 p.m. on the third day after an election.

Go to Virginia lawmakers advance later deadline for counting ballots after postal delays Read more
News

Months of spotty mail deliveries raise concerns for North Arlington residents

By Emily Leayman
U.S. Postal Service location on N. George Mason Drive (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Update at 4:15 p.m. Thursday — Rep. Don Beyer shared that he met with the Arlington postmaster, who indicated the U.S. Postal Service will clear its backlog of undelivered mail next week. The congressman said a new manager who was hired has approved additional hiring to prevent future delays.

Earlier: Issues with mail delivery, sometimes involving important documents, have been plaguing one North Arlington ZIP code for months and have gotten worse this winter, residents say.

Go to Months of spotty mail deliveries raise concerns for North Arlington residents Read more
News

Virginia minimum wage on track to increase to $15 per hour by 2028

By Emily Leayman
Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks at her inauguration at the Virginia State Capitol, Jan. 17, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia’s minimum wage is on track to continue increasing over the next two years.

Two companion bills — SB1 and HB1 — have passed both chambers and are expected to go to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), who has indicated that she will sign them into law.

Go to Virginia minimum wage on track to increase to $15 per hour by 2028 Read more
News

Longtime local real estate company exits residential sales

By Emily Leayman
Buck & Associates office in Arlington (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Buck & Associates, a 50-year-old real estate company based near Courthouse, is turning the page on residential sales.

The firm has announced that its residential real estate agents have moved to other brokerages in Northern Virginia. Buck & Associates founder Bill Buck is planning a renewed focus on commercial real estate.

Go to Longtime local real estate company exits residential sales Read more
News

Church-based affordable housing bill passes both Va. chambers, approaching finish line

By Emily Leayman
Central United Methodist Church and Unity Homes building in Ballston as it prepared to open in 2024 (staff photo by Savannah Taffe)

The “Yes in God’s Backyard” movement scored a win this week as the Faith in Housing bill passed the Virginia Senate after gaining initial approval in the House of Delegates.

The Senate voted 21-18 on Wednesday to pass state Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-29)’s SB 388, which would eliminate the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt nonprofits to develop affordable housing on their properties. The legislation might still need final approval in the House next year, however.

Go to Church-based affordable housing bill passes both Va. chambers, approaching finish line Read more
News

Bill to support popular vote in presidential elections passes Virginia Senate

By Emily Leayman
A polling place at the Lubber Run Community Center, during the Democratic primary on June 17, 2025 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

The Virginia Senate has approved a bill seeking to base presidential election results on the national popular vote rather than the electoral vote.

The Senate passed Sen. Adam Ebbin’s (D-39) national popular vote bill 21-19 on party lines Monday, and the House voted to engross a companion bill and will have a final vote today (Thursday).

Go to Bill to support popular vote in presidential elections passes Virginia Senate Read more
Around Town

North Arlington kids use ‘snowcrete’ blocks to build sturdy winter hideout

By Emily Leayman
Kaleb and Logan Sundsmo and Zara and Carys Murphy created a snowcrete fort in the Woodmont neighborhood (courtesy of Aaron Sundsmo)

A group of kids in Arlington’s Woodmont neighborhood seized an opportunity during the recent snow days to build a heavy-duty fort made from “snowcrete.”

During their days off from school the week of Jan. 25, brothers Kaleb and Logan Sundsmo, 14 and 12, and neighbor twin sisters Zara and Carys Murphy, 13, teamed up to build a structure from icy snow and Amazon boxes.

Go to North Arlington kids use ‘snowcrete’ blocks to build sturdy winter hideout Read more
Around Town

Popular Arlington-focused Facebook group comes back online after over a month

By Emily Leayman
A Google Maps photo of an exit sign on I-395 served as the cover photo for the "I Grew Up in Arlington" Facebook group (via Google Maps)

Weeks after Facebook suspended a longstanding group where Arlingtonians shared memories of growing up in the county, the group has been restored.

“I Grew Up in Arlington, VA” was back online as of yesterday (Monday) morning, co-moderators Eric Dobson and David Tyskowski told ARLnow.

Go to Popular Arlington-focused Facebook group comes back online after over a month Read more
Around Town

Starbucks exits Pentagon City mall, closing two locations

By Emily Leayman
Starbucks' former space is vacant at the Pentagon City mall (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Starbucks no longer has a presence at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City after shuttering two kiosks.

Starbucks spots in the mall’s Macy’s and food court have closed. The food court location is vacant, while the other has signage indicating that the cafe is gone and the area is “temporarily closed for construction.”

Go to Starbucks exits Pentagon City mall, closing two locations Read more
View More Stories