News | ARLnow.com - Part 1074

Hope Considering Bill to Allow Arlington to Hire Independent Auditor

Published January 15, 2015 at 3:50PM

Such legislation, should it pass the Republican-controlled state legislature, would be a victory for County Board members Libby Garvey (D) and John Vihstadt (I), who have championed the hiring of an independent auditor as a way to bring more accountability to county government. Hope’s legislation would only authorize the hiring, it would not require the County Board to do so. It would also apply to other Virginia jurisdictions with a County Manager form of government.

Currently, the County Board does not have the authority to hire an independent auditor, since Virginia is a Dillon Rule state and the County Manager form of government doesn’t provide any provisions for such a hire.

La Tagliatella to Close at the End of the Month?

By Ethan Rothstein

Published January 15, 2015 at 2:35PM

We’re told by one restaurant employee that Jan. 31 will be its last day. A manager, when contacted by ARLnow.com, said “there’s been talk of it” but “we haven’t gotten any official word yet.”

The restaurant, owned by Polish company AmRest, was the third American location of a franchise that was popular in Europe, and was viewed as a harbinger for potentially hundreds of additional U.S. locations. In May, the Washington Business Journal reported those expansion plans were on hold, and theorized the Post’s review — which called La Tagliatella “a threat to our nation” and compared it unfavorably to Olive Garden — might have had something to do with it.

Ebbin Leading Ethics Reform Push in General Assembly

By Ethan Rothstein

Published January 15, 2015 at 11:00AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:34PM

Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) has introduced SB 1289, called the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act. If passed, the bill would establish an independent commission on ethics, which would review all government disclosure forms, conduct random audits of legislators and grant waivers for certain gifts. It would also limit “tangible” gifts to $100 and intangible gifts, like flights and meals, to $250.

“Having a commission gives real teeth to our efforts and shows we’re serious about enforcement,” Ebbin said yesterday. “I’ve been working on this for a few years, for common sense ways to increase transparency and to penalize things that are beneath the standards of our public officials.”

Lopez Gears up for Fight Against Anti-Immigrant Bills

By Ethan Rothstein

Published January 15, 2015 at 10:00AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:34PM

The decision allowed children of undocumented immigrant who are legal residents because of the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to receive in-state tuition if they meet other state residency requirements.

In this legislative session, there are bills in the House of Delegates and the state Senate that aim to undo Herring’s action. Lopez had previously introduced bills every year to do what Herring did in one fell swoop; now, he’s moving to block the new bills.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 15, 2015 at 9:05AM | Updated January 15, 2015 at 11:03AM

Ebbin Bill to Return Checks As Tax Refund Option — State Sen. Adam Ebbin has proposed a bill that would force the state to start using paper checks again for tax refunds. In 2012 Virginia budget eliminated paper check refunds, allowing residents to get their refund either via electronic transfer or pre-paid debit card. Ebbin unsuccessfully proposed a similar bill last year. [InsideNova]

Favola Hate Crime Bill Fails — A bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the definition of hate crimes in Virginia has failed. The bill was proposed by state Senator and former Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola. [Associated Press]

County Offices Closed Monday for MLK Day

By Ethan Rothstein

Published January 14, 2015 at 5:00PM

On Friday, Jan. 16, the district, circuit and family courts, sheriff’s office and the Department of Motor Vehicles in Arlington will also be closed for Virginia’s Lee Jackson Day, and all will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Arlington’s county offices will be open on Friday, as will schools and community centers, but all will be closed the following Monday in observance of the holiday. Arlington’s libraries and human services offices will also close.

BREAKING: Three Hurt in Explosion, Fire at Eden Center

By ARLnow.com

Published January 14, 2015 at 2:30PM | Updated January 14, 2015 at 4:15PM

(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) The Arlington County Fire Department is on the scene of a two-alarm fire at the Eden Center in Falls Church.

Three people were transported to the hospital after a reported explosion in the mall on the 6700 block of Wilson Blvd, according to ACFD spokeswoman Lt. Sarah Marchegiani. The injuries are described as non-life threatening.

Arlington Delegate Takes Aim at Gerrymandering

By Ethan Rothstein

Published January 14, 2015 at 1:35PM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:35PM

One of his biggest priorities after being elected in August to replace Del. Bob Brink (D) will be reforming the process by which Virginia draws its districts for both state and federal legislatures. Sullivan’s legislation, HB1485, would follow through on recommendations made by a state government integrity panel last month.

Although a long-shot in the Republican-controlled Virginia General Assembly, Sullivan’s bill calls for redistricting to become a nonpartisan process.

Favola, Sullivan Introduce Campus Sexual Assault Bills

By Ethan Rothstein

Published January 14, 2015 at 12:00PM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:35PM

Del. Rip Sullivan (D), in his first regular session in the General Assembly after being chosen in a special election to replace now-retired Del. Bob Brink, has already filed a bill aimed to help campus sex assault victims. HB1508 would require college campuses to have a memorandum of understanding with “a local sexual assault crisis center” to allow those reporting sexual assault to be able to take their claims off campus.

State Sen. Barbara Favola (D) is co-patron of a bill in the senate, along with two Loudoun senators, Sens. Jennifer Wexton (D) and Jill Vogel (R). Favola said that despite Rolling Stone magazine retracting its story detailing a gang rape at a University of Virginia fraternity house, she’s still concerned about university responses to reports of sexual crimes on their campuses.

APS to Open on Two Hour Delay Due to Snow

By ARLnow.com

Published January 14, 2015 at 7:25AM | Updated January 14, 2015 at 7:46AM

Forecasters say the accumulating snow has likely ended for Arlington. While few problems have been reported on the roads so far, earlier this morning Arlington Public Schools made the call to open on a two hour delay.

Arlington joins D.C. and Loudoun, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in opening two hours late. Fairfax and Prince William counties have closed school for the day. The federal and Arlington County governments are open on time with an option for unscheduled leave or telework.

UPDATED: Four Mile Run Water Main Break Leaves 150 Without Water

By Ethan Rothstein

Published January 13, 2015 at 11:30AM | Updated January 13, 2015 at 3:27PM

(Updated at 3:25 p.m.) A broken water main has filled a section of Four Mile Run Drive with water, causing emergency crews to shut down the road while it is undergoing repair.

The break is near the intersection of Four Mile Run Drive and S. Cleveland Street, near the intersection of S. Glebe Road and W. Glebe Road, I-395 and the Alexandria border.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 13, 2015 at 9:45AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:35PM

Unitarian Church Named Historic Place — The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. The church’s modernist building was designed by noted architect Charles M. Goodman. [Arlington County]

Va. Lawmakers Fight Over State Song — Virginia is one of two states currently lacking a state song. The old song was “retired” 18 years ago due to questionable lyrics that drew complaints from African Americans. State lawmakers are against trying to settle on a new state song, but so far there are no clear frontrunners. [Washington Post]