Tensions already are appearing among Falls Church’s elected and staff leadership, even before planning for a major affordable housing plan starts to take shape.
Council members voted 5-1 on April 27 to authorize spending up to $175,000 on a consultant to help guide potential redevelopment in portions of the Virginia Village community. Even then, however, leaders disagreed over how the process should move forward and how many potential development scenarios should be considered.
Royals Visit Arlington Cemetery — “Cannons fired a 21-gun salute as King Charles III and Queen Camilla entered Arlington National Cemetery for an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” The ceremony took place on the final day of the royal couple’s state visit to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. [Arlington National Cemetery, NBC Washington]
Beyer Primary Challenger Drops Out — Daniel Gray, one of a number of challengers taking on Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary, yesterday suspended his campaign. In a statement, he said it proved impossible to both hold down a full-time job while simultaneously campaigning. —Scott McCaffrey
Juvenile Robbed at Gunpoint — “The juvenile male was outside when a vehicle with three male suspects approached him and engaged him in conversation. A struggle ensued at the vehicle, during which the suspects brandished firearms and stole the victim’s cash before fleeing the scene.” The robbery occurred around 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of S. Dickerson Street. [ACPD]
Pricier Parking in Alexandria — “Alexandria City Council on Wednesday approved City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal to increase metered parking fees and parking ticket fines… raising parking meter rates from $1.75 to $2.75 and parking ticket fines from $40 to $55.” The changes take effect July 1. [ALXnow]
Mayor Flags Bargaining Bill — “Richmond Mayor Danny Avula sent a letter to the Spanberger Administration outlining his concerns with two statewide collective bargaining bills in the Virginia General Assembly… Avula’s letter said the bills as currently written could cause ‘significant implications’ for local governments.” [WTVR, Graham Moomaw/X]
Warner AI Bill Advances — Sen. Mark Warner (D) applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee’s unanimous passage of his bipartisan GUARD Act, which would ban AI companies from providing AI companions to minors and create new crimes for companies that knowingly make available to minors AI companions that solicit or produce sexual content. [Press Release]
It’s Friday — Mostly sunny with a high near 68 and a slight chance of rain showers after 2 p.m. Winds out of the west at 5–10 mph. Overnight lows will fall to around 48 with a 40% chance of rain showers before 2 a.m. [NWS]
Arlington and Fairfax officials went in two different directions in adopting their fiscal year 2027 budgets.
The Arlington County Board on April 22 approved a 2-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, to $1.053 per $100 assessed valuation, to help fund the county’s $1.7 billion budget.
An office birthday party briefly prompted a massive police response after a 911 caller confused revelry for gunfire.
Police were dispatched to a report of an active shooter on the first floor of an office building on N. Kent Street in Rosslyn around 1:30 p.m. today (Thursday).
The “Yes in God’s Backyard” movement is celebrating after the Faith in Housing bill, supporting expedited church-based affordable housing development, has been signed into law.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed state Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-29)’s SB 388 and Del. Joshua Cole (D-65)’s HB 1279, which will eliminate the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt nonprofits to develop affordable housing on their properties. The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027 and will sunset on Jan. 1, 2031 unless reenacted by a future General Assembly.
Arlington’s median apartment rental rates remain modestly down year-over-year in one new national survey, while posting a slight uptick in another.
In each case, the county’s costs for renters are among the highest in the nation — fifth most expensive in one survey, seventh in the other.
Royals at Cemetery Today — “The Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery will be closed from 8 a.m. to approximately 10:30 a.m. due to preparations for a special event at ANC. Tram service will also be unavailable until 1 p.m.” King Charles III and Queen Camilla are visiting as part of a U.S. trip marking America’s 250th anniversary. [Arlington National Cemetery/X]
Tour de France Owner Joins Race — “Amaury Sports Organisation, the French company that operates the Tour de France, is joining the Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic with an eye on growing the profile of the D.C. region’s premier cycling event.” The race is run by the Arlington-based nonprofit Arlington Sports Inc., which has put on the event since 1998. The partnership may eventually lead to an ownership stake, organizers said. [WBJ]
ACPD Mourns Volunteer — “It is with deep sadness that the Arlington County Police Department announces the passing of Auxiliary Lieutenant Heather Hurlock. Lt. Hurlock began her service with our agency 30 years ago after retiring from a career as the U.S. House of Representatives Chief Clerk.” [ACPD/X]
Va. Low on Drug Use — Virginia ranks 46th out of 51 (sixth-lowest) for drug problems, according to a new WalletHub study. The personal finance site “compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 20 key metrics, ranging from arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescription use and employee drug testing laws.” New Mexico ranks first; Utah ranks last. [WalletHub]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 67. Northwest winds around 14 mph could gust as high as 24 mph. Skies should remain mostly clear overnight, with a low around 44. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Frequent County Board candidate Audrey Clement has taken issue with the amount of time her assailant was sentenced to serve for attacking her and a bystander outside a library in March.
The man, 47-year-old Jonathan Rogers, pleaded guilty to striking Clement in the back of the head and hitting a bystander in the eye when he intervened in the apparently unprovoked attack. Rogers was released from jail on Sunday after spending just 50 days behind bars — an amount of time that Clement believes is unacceptable.
County leaders are marking the 20th anniversary of an initiative they believe has made a significant difference in addressing intimate-partner and sexual violence.
Looking ahead, those behind Project PEACE say it is being updated to align with best national practices, with a focus on listening more intently to survivors of violence. A new blueprint provides “a refreshed, community-driven vision for the future,” said LaToya Young, coordinator of Project PEACE.
A company that uses self-driving robots to deliver food, groceries and online purchases has begun mapping out the streets and sidewalks of Arlington County.
Avride, a Massachusetts-based company that produces autonomous cars in addition to delivery bots, has deployed at least one “personal delivery device” to chart a two-mile radius in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. The initial phase is expected to last for about two weeks, according to a county webpage about the devices.
The first Republican contender in the redrawn 7th Congressional District made his pitch to Arlington Republicans this week.
Douglas Ollivant, a Culpeper County resident and managing partner of a strategic consulting firm, is for now the only announced candidate in the 7th District as approved by voters on April 21, although more could be on the way.
The Arlington County Civic Federation marked its 110th anniversary with a call for continued vocal, but still civil, community engagement.
“We’re not a perfect organization, but we work really hard,” Civic Federation board of directors chair David Smith said at the organization’s annual awards dinner, which on April 24 drew more than 100 participants to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
