News | ARLnow.com - Part 1010

County May Face Budget Gap Next Year Despite Expected Tax Revenue Rise

Published November 17, 2015 at 4:30PM | Updated November 17, 2015 at 5:06PM

The County Board will review these increases — as outlined in the County Manager’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget guidance — at its meeting this Thursday, kicking off the county’s annual budgetary process.

Increases in the real estate assessments for single-family homes, townhouses and condos will provide the county with most of its revenue growth. On average, such assessments are expected to rise 3 percent, causing tax bills for Arlington residents to increase by approximately $175 at current tax rates.

Arlington Ready to Welcome Syrian Refugees

By ARLnow.com

Published November 17, 2015 at 3:20PM | Updated November 17, 2015 at 3:40PM

Following the terror attacks in Paris, there has been a backlash against plans to bring refugees from Syria’s bloody civil war to the U.S. More than half of the nation’s governors — mostly Republicans — have expressed opposition to hosting Syrian refugees in their states.

In Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) says he will not ban refugees from the Commonwealth. Arlington, meanwhile, says it’s ready to help refugees who are sent to the county.

County Board to Decide How to Spend Nearly $22 Million in Extra Funds

By Jennifer Currier

Published November 17, 2015 at 11:00AM

The surplus must be allocated as part of the Board’s year-end budgeting process.

The County Manager has made recommendations for how the money should be spent, covering five different categories, including:

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 17, 2015 at 9:15AM

Water Main Break in Courthouse — Courthouse Road is closed between Route 50 and 14th Street N., near the police station, due to a water main break that was discovered overnight. Repairs are still underway as of this morning’s rush hour. [WTOP]

Arlington Scores New Office Tenant in Va. Square — Arlington County will fill 50,000 square feet of vacant office space in Virginia Square thanks to a new tenant. GW Medical Faculty Associates will be moving into 3811 N. Fairfax Drive this coming spring, creating more than 200 jobs. [Arlington County]

Pair of Soldiers Charged with Stealing Beer, NASCAR Shirt

By ARLnow.com

Published November 16, 2015 at 4:45PM

The incident happened Saturday afternoon. Police say the men broke into a house on the 2100 block of 2nd Street S., near the entrance to the base, and stole an 18 pack of beer and a NASCAR sweatshirt.

The men were arrested and held at the Arlington County jail on a military detainer. From the Arlington County Police crime report:

Police Seek Friday Night Flashers in Courthouse, Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Published November 16, 2015 at 2:00PM

The first incident happened about a block from the Whole Foods, just before 7 p.m. From an ACPD crime report:

EXPOSURE, 151113043, 2600 block of N. Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 6:55 p.m. on November 13, an unknown male subject exposed his genitals to a female victim. The suspect is described as a black male in his twenties, approximately 5’9″ and weighed 160 lbs. He was wearing dark jeans, a dark zippered hoodie, and had short cropped hair.

Report: Use of Deadly Force in Officer-Involved Shooting ‘Justified’

By Jennifer Currier

Published November 16, 2015 at 12:30PM

Prosecutors will not seek criminal charges against the Arlington County Police officer involved in the fatal shooting in Buckingham in May, concluding his use of deadly force was justified.

According to the complete investigation report, Officer Michael Laird “acted consistent with ACPD policies governing use of force” and his actions were “justifiable and necessary to defend himself and others present.”

County Board Approves Year-Round Yard Waste Collection

By ARLnow.com

Published November 16, 2015 at 11:35AM

Year-round yard waste collection is coming to Arlington

On Saturday, the Arlington County Board unanimously approved a measure that will provide curbside collection of yard waste year round for Arlington households.

Church Has Message for ‘Black Lives Matter’ Sign Vandal

By ARLnow.com

Published November 16, 2015 at 10:55AM

The church has vowed to replace the sign and now it has a message for the vandal or vandals who defaced it.

The Rev. Dr. Katy Dwyer published the following open letter “to the person(s) who altered our sign” over the weekend, inviting them to join a conversation on racial justice at the church Monday night.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 16, 2015 at 9:00AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:32PM

Murder Victim Feared Her Estranged Husband — Bonnie Black, who was found dead in her home in the Aurora Highlands neighborhood on April 17, feared her estranged husband, court documents show. After months of continuing to live in the neighborhood a free man during the investigation, David Black is now in jail, charged with murder. [NBC Washington]

Wakefield, W-L Fall in Football Playoffs — The playoff runs for the Wakefield and Washington-Lee high school football teams have ended early. Wakefield could’t hang on to a 6-0 lead at halftime, falling to Potomac Falls 21-6, while W-L lost 44-20 to Westfield. [InsideNova, Washington Post]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 13, 2015 at 9:00AM

Owner of Clarendon Restaurant on ‘Real Housewives’ — Ashley Darby, who co-owns the new Oz restaurant in Clarendon with her husband, will be a cast member on the upcoming “Real Housewives of Potomac.” The series will premiere on Bravo on Jan. 17. [Eater]

Arlington ZIP Code Makes ‘Most Expensive’ List — The 22207 ZIP code, which includes the northernmost neighborhoods of Arlington, has made the Forbes list of “Most Expensive ZIP Codes” in the U.S. The ZIP code ranked No. 339 on the list, with a median home price of $1,212,952. [Patch]

‘Black Lives Matter’ Sign Vandalized Outside Arlington Church

By ARLnow.com

Published November 12, 2015 at 10:00AM | Updated November 12, 2015 at 2:32PM

A “Black Lives Matter” sign outside of Rock Spring Congregational church was vandalized earlier this week.

The church, at 5010 Little Falls Road near Yorktown High School, says that the word “Black” was cut out of the sign at some point between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.