Is 2025 the year Falls Church follows neighboring Arlington in enacting ranked-choice voting to elect its governing body?
It’s a question that will be answered in coming months by the seven-member City Council, whose members will have to address both logistical and philosophical issues before coming to a decision and setting the timetable.
Arlington’s tree canopy may be on a slight upswing, according to county officials.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean there are more trees in the community.
Busy Travel Season Expected — “With over 50 million passengers traveling through Washington’s airports in 2024, the Airports Authority is preparing for record travel volumes throughout the upcoming holiday season. During busy weekends and holidays… passengers may experience heavily congested airport-area roads, limited parking availability and bustling terminals.” [Press Release]
Big Donation for Marymount — “Marymount University’s continued momentum is fueled by transformative gifts… In the latest example of this generosity, a recent $1 million donation from Terry Thompson — a Marymount Board of Trustees member since 2022 — will make a significant impact on both Women’s Athletics and Honors Program scholarships.” [Marymount University]
Warby Parker Opening in Clarendon — Warby Parker, the eyeglasses retailer and optometry office, will celebrate a grand opening 10 a.m. Saturday at its new location at The Crossing Clarendon. The event at 2800 Clarendon Blvd feature free treats from Good Company Doughnuts and tote bags with purchase. —Katie Taranto
Rosslyn Crash on Camera — From Dave Statter: “From a distant camera on I-66, another red light runner crash with injuries on N. Lynn Street at Langston Blvd. eastbound.” [Twitter]
Hamster Up for Adoption — From the Animal Welfare League of Arlington: “Who’s the cutest little snack-sized friend? It’s Brownie! This adorable hamster is ready to scurry her way into your heart. With her tiny paws, twitchy nose, and a personality as sweet as her name, Brownie is the perfect companion.” [Facebook]
It’s Friday — Expect scattered showers to end by 7am, followed by patchy fog clearing by 9am. The sky will transition from cloudy to mostly sunny, with temperatures reaching a high near 56 degrees. A northwest wind will blow at 6 to 10 mph. Friday night will be mostly clear, with a low temperature around 45 degrees and the northwest wind at 8 to 11 mph. [NWS]
Plans for a new $177 million west entrance to the Ballston Metro station are beginning to solidify.
Proposed plans for the project, meant to reduce congestion and improve access to areas west of the station, were published last month.
A man accused of carrying out a spate of armed robberies across the D.C. area — including four in Arlington — has been arrested.
Antonio Kingsbury, 36, is accused of committing at least 17 armed robberies between Jan. 9 and Nov. 7, including at several establishments along Columbia Pike, according to federal prosecutors.
Three suspects were apprehended this morning after an armed robbery at a local CVS store.
The robbery happened around 6:45 a.m., at the CVS next to the Courthouse Metro station. Initial reports suggest one of the suspects pulled a knife on a CVS employee before fleeing with stolen items.
By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrats who control both chambers of the Virginia legislature are hoping to make good on promises made on the campaign trail, including becoming the first Southern state to expand constitutional protections for abortion access.
Two new data analyses agree: Arlington’s relatively high apartment-rental costs are still moving upward.
A Zumper survey released earlier this week has Arlington as the priciest location for apartments in the D.C. region, with a median one-bedroom monthly rental price of $2,410 and median two-bedroom price of $3,220.
Board Meetings Could Start Later — Arlington County Board Saturday meetings in 2025 would start an hour later, 9:30 a.m. vs. the current 8:30 a.m., under a proposal coming to Board members Saturday. Any decision won’t be final until the body’s organizational meeting on Jan. 6. [Arlington County]
GMU Law Lawsuit — “Two law students at George Mason University… have filed a free speech and due process lawsuit against the school president and other leaders, saying their constitutional rights were violated after raising concerns about putting tampons in men’s restrooms.” [WTOP, Virginia Mercury]
Ribbon Cutting for Hopkins Clinic — From state Sen. Barbara Favola: “Proud to welcome @HopkinsMedicine to Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood. This center offers primary & speciality care to patients, including walk-ins. It’s located on bus & metro lines in one of our most densely populated areas, taking a step in improving equitable access to care.” [Twitter]
Follow ARLnow on Bluesky — ARLnow will soon start posting local news headlines regularly on Bluesky, the fast-growing social network that just crossed the 15 million user mark. ALXnow and FFXnow are also on the service. [Bluesky]
Local GOP Greets Trump — From Arlington GOP Chair Matthew Hurtt: “Excited to welcome @realDonaldTrump back to the White House today. @goparlington and our friends were out in force as his motorcade made its way onto the White House compound for his historic meeting with @JoeBiden.” [Twitter]
Torri Huske Back on Campus — “An exemplary student, Huske took a gap year last year to prepare for the Olympic Games and returned to Stanford in September. Though she isn’t quite sure of her long-term career goals yet, she will be a design major working in engineering and sustainability.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Hacking Event for Parking Data — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “Hey Arlington nerds: Do this Nov. 16 parking-data hacking event. Please note: this is an in-person multi-person experience so prepare accordingly.” [Twitter]
Some Optimism for More Snow — ” It would be going out on a limb to forecast a cold and snowy winter. But we’re not convinced this winter will be a total bust. In fact, we’re projecting more snow than last winter (8 inches) and perhaps the most since 2018-2019 (16.9 inches). And we don’t expect it to be as mild as most recent winters. We’re predicting that temperatures will end up close to the norm.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain in the afternoon, with cloudy skies and a high of 52°F. Winds will be east at 5-8 mph, and there’s a 70% chance of precipitation, potentially up to a quarter of an inch. Tonight, rain will continue until 4am, accompanied by patchy fog and a low of 45°F, with east wind around 7 mph. The chance of precipitation increases to 90%, with potential amounts between a quarter and half an inch. [NWS]
Top Arlington County Board priorities including housing affordability and public safety will likely hold steady following JD Spain, Sr.’s victory last week.
However, Spain is seeking to distinguish himself from the Board’s current approach to government oversight, engagement and transparency.
The concept of granting religious organizations more flexibility to create affordable housing on their properties is a good one, Falls Church officials say.
But city leaders remain wary of pending legislation in Richmond that could handcuff local-government zoning powers in order to obtain that outcome.
A pair of traffic enforcement events will be happening in Arlington in coming days as part of a fall safety campaign.
The Arlington County Police Department has scheduled two “high-visibility traffic education and enforcement activations” in connection to the region-wide “Street Smart” campaign, including one tomorrow:
