A polling place at the Lubber Run Community Center, during the Democratic primary on June 17, 2025 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Arlington voters have been turning out in slightly higher numbers in today’s Democratic primary, tracking with trends statewide.
As of 1:30 p.m., about 4% of registered voters had cast ballots, according to the Arlington Elections Office. That’s slightly more than at the same point last year, when 3.7% of the county had voted in the Democratic primary.
Scene of shooting in Green Valley in December 2023 (courtesy Matthew Young)
Green Valley leaders are once again asking for more county support in addressing issues with crime in the neighborhood.
Yordanos Woldai, first vice president and public-safety chair of the Green Valley Civic Association, called for more police and government efforts to address alleged drug dealing, gambling, noise, loitering and even shootings.
A 35-year-old man accused of exposing himself and masturbating near children has a lengthy list of recent arrests.
Police say Sami Kasawat committed the lewd act around 3 p.m. last Tuesday in the area of Oakland Park in Virginia Square. He fled the scene but was arrested the next day in Courthouse.
Voting at Arlington Central Library on Nov. 7, 2023 (staff photo by James Jarvis)
By ROBERT YOON Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Virginia Democrats will settle a crowded six-way primary for lieutenant governor on Tuesday as well as a contested nomination fight for state attorney general. Meanwhile, voters across the commonwealth will choose nominees for the state House of Delegates.
June 2025 meeting of Arlington Human Rights Commission (screenshot via Arlington County)
Arlington’s newly reconstituted Human Rights Commission got to work last week with a discussion of new limits on its ability to pursue accountability for county leaders.
After the Arlington County Board fired all members of the commission last August following several confrontations between the two groups, commission Chair Jimmy McBirney used a Thursday meeting to acknowledge the entity’s “limited jurisdiction and limited scope.”
Rainy night in Virginia Square (staff photo by Vernon Miles)
Primary Day Today — “Today is Virginia’s Democratic primary election, with Arlington voters choosing nominees for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, House of Delegates District 1, and County Board in contested races. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.” [Arlington County]
School Board Field Stands at Three — With the filing deadline set for today at 7 p.m., it appears it likely will be a three-person field for the lone School Board seat on the Nov. 4 ballot. Independent James “Vell” Rives IV and Democratic endorsee Monique “Moe” Bryant have qualified for the ballot access, county election officials tell ARLnow, joining Major Webb in the race to succeed Mary Kadera. –Scott McCaffrey
Trash-Collection Rate Unchanged — County Board members on Saturday voted to leave unchanged, for the coming year, the annual rate of $415.75 for trash/recycling services to single-family homes. The rate will be enough to fully recoup the $13.85 million cost of the program for fiscal 2026, which begins on July 1. –Scott McCaffrey
Assault on Police at Metro Station — “At approximately 4:40 p.m. on June 13, an officer on patrol in the Pentagon City Metro Station stopped a male subject for fare evasion. As the officer spoke to the subject, the female suspect, who is known to the subject, attempted to intervene and grabbed the officer before walking away. The officer issued commands to the suspect, who was noncompliant. With the assistance of additional responding officers, the suspect was taken into custody.” [ACPD]
Sustainability Accolade for ART — “Arlington Transit’s new bus Operations and Maintenance Facility (AOMF) has received the highest sustainability rating possible for a public service site: the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum for Communities certification.” [Arlington County]
Tech Event at Amazon HQ2 — “CivStart, a nonprofit innovation hub dedicated to advancing state and local government technology, in partnership with Arlington County, is gearing up for a groundbreaking State of GovTech event in Arlington, Virginia, on June 17–18, 2025. This event will bring together top government officials, tech innovators, and industry leaders.” [Arlington County]
It’s Tuesday — Expect scattered rain until 2pm followed by showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm, while patchy fog clears before 9am. The mostly cloudy day will have a high near 82, with a south wind around 6 mph and a 30% chance of precipitation. For Tuesday night, anticipate scattered showers and thunderstorms, a mostly cloudy sky, a low around 71, a southeast wind of 3 to 5 mph, and a 50% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
The Arlington YMCA is still pursuing redevelopment plans, but the loss of a developer and tough market conditions have pushed back the timeline.
Facing concerns from some patrons about ongoing maintenance issues, the YMCA told ARLnow that it is working on improvements to the Virginia Square facility and hoping to receive county approval for redevelopment in early 2027.
A set of garden apartments in Westover neighborhoods (file photo)
A local nonprofit is sounding the alarm about a worsening affordable housing crisis that’s driving homelessness to new heights across Northern Virginia.
Falls Church-based Homestretch released new data showing that finding affordable housing in the region has become increasingly difficult for many residents.
Job seekers at a Crystal City career fair (file photo by Jay Westcott)
An Arlington nonprofit has launched a new emergency assistance fund for out-of-work federal employees.
Arlington Thrive’s new Federal Worker Resilience Fund, which provides direct aid for rent, utility payments and other essentials, is meant to support fired and furloughed federal workers “whose jobs were affected by recent policy changes.”
Crab cake sandwich at NuVegan (staff photo by Vernon Miles)
A vegan soul food institution is living on just east of Shirlington, even after its original location in D.C. closed last year.
NuVegan Cafe — formerly Everlasting Life — used to attract long lines in Columbia Heights, with locals and visitors alike lining up to get soul food from an entirely vegan menu.