Arlington’s unemployment rate has risen to its highest point in nearly four years.
A total of 5,061 Arlington residents were counted as seeking jobs in May, according to new figures from the Virginia Employment Commission.
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Numerous large-scale redevelopment and conversion projects are scheduled to go before the Arlington County Board at upcoming meetings.
A full slate of projects would bring a total of 1,535 new residential units and 344 hotel rooms to Rosslyn, Ballston, Shirlington, Crystal City and Virginia Square. They include both teardowns and adaptive-reuse projects involving underused office buildings.
An 82% increase in estimated costs has led Falls Church officials to rethink plans to improve a key city byway.
As a result, it appears likely that transportation and stormwater improvements along Lincoln Avenue will be phased in over time.
Veteran Stops Rape Suspect — “Kevin Cochie barely got back to his apartment at Water Park Towers in Crystal City when he heard screams from down the hallway. Cochie opened his door expecting to tell someone to stop the noise but instead, he encountered a naked woman yelling for help.” [WUSA 9]
ICE Spotted in Courthouse — From Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti: “I’ve had confirmed that yesterday ICE was outside the courthouse at the magistrate’s office, where police take folks to charge them. So people who were walking out of the magistrate’s office after being CHARGED — not convicted, just charged, when the presumption of innocence is attached — were being greeted by ICE… No confirmation on who or how many people were abducted, but will try to find out.” [Facebook]
GMU Prez Under Fire — “When the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights notified George Mason University on July 1 that it was opening an antisemitism investigation based on a recent complaint, the university’s president, Gregory Washington, said he was “perplexed.” Compared with other campuses, where protesters had ransacked buildings and hunkered down in encampments, George Mason had been relatively quiet over the past year, he said.” [ProPublica]
Youngkin AI Order — “Governor Glenn Youngkin today issued an executive order launching a first-of-its-kind agentic artificial intelligence (AI) regulatory reduction pilot to ensure that the Commonwealth captures the benefits of the latest artificial intelligence technology in reducing regulatory burdens and keeping regulations and guidance documents streamlined and up to date.” [Press Release]
It’s Monday — Expect showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with otherwise mostly cloudy skies and a high near 89. A calm wind will become south around 6 mph in the afternoon, with a 70% chance of precipitation. Monday night, showers and thunderstorms are predicted before 8pm, possibly continuing until 2am. The temperature will drop to a low of 73, with an 80% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Arlington’s two Republican members of the Electoral Board appear at loggerheads over how long early-voting dropboxes should be available before Election Day.
Richard Samp, the senior Republican on the three-member panel and its vice chair, used the July 8 board meeting to press for a reduction from more than 40 days of use to just 10. Not everyone was in favor.
Crash Families Fault Army — “The Army has avoided accountability and shirked oversight months after the deadly midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter in Washington, dozens of family members said in a letter to the Army’s top official, calling for action and greater transparency.” [Washington Post]
Va. Falls in CNBC Ranking — “Virginia, last year’s No. 1 state and a top three finisher in each of the last five years, slips to fourth place in 2025 — its worst showing since 2018 — and cedes the No. 1 spot to North Carolina. A major reason is a drop in the state’s Economy ranking, to No. 14 in 2025 from No. 11 last year.” [CNBC]
Dems Blast Falling Ranking — “Virginia used to be #1. But Trump’s attacks on the Federal government ravaged Virginia’s economy. Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Earle-Sears stood by cheering. These are the consequences.” [Arlington Democrats/X, Abigail Spanberger/X, Rep. Don Beyer/X]
Youngkin Blames CNBC — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin isn’t taking the demotion in stride. The Republican on Thursday blamed new methodology from CNBC this year that includes “a new subjective metric that mistakenly ascribes substantial risk to Virginia from the federal government’s presence in the Commonwealth,” Youngkin wrote on social media.” [WBJ, Gov. Glenn Youngkin/X]
Local GOP Club Leader Dies — “I write to you with a heavy heart to announce the untimely passing of Rebecca (Becky) Ault, Acting President of the Arlington Republican Women’s Club (ARWC), on the morning of Tuesday, July 1st.” [Arlington GOP]
New Metro Cars Coming — “Metro ordered 256 8000-Series railcars from @Hitachi Rail USA, with options for more to replace the 3000-Series. Pilot car delivery is now expected in June 2027. The design of the 8000-Series includes open gangways, digital displays, and more handholds! ADA compliance, improved seating, wider walkways, and multi-purpose areas are key.” [WMATA/X]
It’s Friday — Expect patchy fog until 9am, followed by mostly sunny skies and a high near 89 with light, variable winds. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. For Friday night, showers and thunderstorms are possible mainly before 7pm, transitioning to partly cloudy skies and a Low around 73 with calm winds. [NWS]
The Virginia Court of Appeals has withdrawn a recent decision reinstating Arlington’s “Missing Middle” ordinance, once again striking it from the books as judges reconsider arguments.
In a ruling that adds yet another layer of complexity to the legal fight over the controversial zoning change, the appeals court agreed on Tuesday to reassess a judgment that the court handed down just last month.
A new 355-unit apartment building has begun leasing in Crystal City, completing a pair of neighboring developments at the site of a former office building.
Valen, a 25-story tower at 2050 S. Bell Street, offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows and a rooftop pool. Its neighbor at 2051 S. Bell Street, The Zoe, began leasing last fall.
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Per-square-foot sales prices dropped but some other data points moved higher as the Arlington real-estate market closed out the first half of 2025.
The average per-square-foot sales price for homes that went to closing countywide in June was $482, according to statistical data reported July 10 by Bright MLS, the Mid-Atlantic’s multiple-listing service.
A man from Philly is set to spend a decade and a half in prison for drug distribution after being nabbed during a sting in Arlington.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, along with Arlington County police chief Andy Penn, announced the sentencing Thursday morning.
A $5 million project to relocate and consolidate Arlington County’s infrastructure for responding to emergencies is expected to begin later this year.
The county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management, along with a new Situational Awareness Intelligence Unit (SAIU), are all moving into the Bozman Government Center.
Falls Church officials next week are expected to authorize requests for regional funds in support of two key transportation upgrades.
The proposals for Haycock Road and Annandale Road were discussed at the July 7 City Council work session, with formal action slated for Monday, July 14.