Emily Leayman | ARLnow

Va. Senate defeats bill supporting by-right multifamily development in commercial zones

Published March 5, 2026 at 10:00AM | Updated March 5, 2026 at 9:25PM

State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40) introduced an amendment to HB 816 before it was defeated in the Senate (via Virginia General Assembly)

A bill seeking to permit by-right multifamily development in commercial zones was defeated in the Virginia Senate yesterday (Thursday) despite limitations proposed by Arlington’s state Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40).

The Senate voted 17-22 on HB 816 by Del. Dan Helmer (D-10). The House did not vote on the companion bill SB 454 by state Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-16) but referred it back to the House Counties, Cities and Towns committee.

Around Town

Musicians play for pets in new volunteer program at Arlington animal shelter

By Emily Leayman

Published March 4, 2026 at 3:45PM

A musician plays for cats at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington (courtesy of Wild Tunes)

A new program at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington is treating shelter pets to performances by volunteer musicians.

The Paws in Music program, a partnership with the Houston-based nonprofit Wild Tunes, organizes volunteers to play music at the animal shelter in shifts. The performances began yesterday (Tuesday).

Around Town

DOJ lawyer turned polyamory writer to deliver talk at One More Page Books

By Emily Leayman

Published March 4, 2026 at 1:45PM

Natalie Davis, author of "Saying Yes: My Adventures in Polyamory" (courtesy of Natalie Davis)

A D.C.-area writer and advocate for polyamorous lifestyles will discuss her experiences outside of monogamy at a talk in East Falls Church tomorrow (Thursday).

One More Page Books (2200 N. Westmoreland Street) will host author Natalie Davis for a discussion on her new book, “Saying Yes: My Adventures in Polyamory,” from 7-8 p.m. The event will include a book reading, conversation with certified sex therapist Tamara Pincus, a Q&A session and a book signing.

News

Arlington’s ‘Dream Project’ awaits court outcome on undocumented students’ in-state tuition

By Emily Leayman

Published March 4, 2026 at 9:15AM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

An Arlington-based nonprofit that intervened in Virginia’s federal court case over in-state tuition for undocumented students is now awaiting a judge’s decision.

The Dream Project is watching the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after a joint agreement challenging Virginia’s law was invalidated last Friday, Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, the nonprofit’s CEO and an Arlington School Board member, told ARLnow.

Around Town

Yorktown High School graduate to appear on ‘Jeopardy!’ tomorrow

By Emily Leayman

Published March 2, 2026 at 9:15AM

Arlington's Quentin Powers with Jeopardy host Ken Jennings (via Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)

Yorktown High School graduate Quentin Powers is appearing on “Jeopardy!” tomorrow (Tuesday) following his return from U.S. Peace Corps service abroad.

Powers, 25, will be one of three contestants on the episode airing at 7:30 p.m. on WJLA-TV. The 2018 Yorktown graduate said he auditioned for the game show while serving in the Peace Corps in East Timor, an island nation located in southeast Asia.

News

Winter electric bill spikes spark scrutiny of Va. data centers’ power usage

By Emily Leayman

Published February 27, 2026 at 10:00AM | Updated February 27, 2026 at 2:53PM

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

High-than-usual electric bills in Virginia this winter have prompted discussion about the role data centers could play in driving up costs.

Dominion Energy, the commonwealth’s largest electric utility company, has said that new rates in 2026 and unusually cold weather could be responsible for many customers’ higher bills.

News

Mail delivery improving in North Arlington as USPS addresses backlog, pushes new hiring

By Emily Leayman

Published February 26, 2026 at 2:45PM

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

North Arlington residents say their mail service is finally improving after months of spotty deliveries.

Following ARLnow’s reporting on the issue and advocacy from U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D), residents in the 22207 ZIP code say they’ve now gotten some, but not all, of their missing mail in batches.

Around Town

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

By Emily Leayman

Published February 25, 2026 at 3:45PM

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.

News

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

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press

Published February 25, 2026 at 10:00AM

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.

News

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

By Emily Leayman

Published February 24, 2026 at 3:45PM

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.

News

Virginia lawmakers advance later deadline for counting ballots after postal delays

By Emily Leayman

Published February 19, 2026 at 2:45PM

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.

News

Months of spotty mail deliveries raise concerns for North Arlington residents

By Emily Leayman

Published February 17, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated February 19, 2026 at 4:19PM

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.