Legislation to ban the sale of assault-style weapons is among a raft of gun control bills heading to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) as the Virginia General Assembly session ends tomorrow (Saturday).
Many of the firearm-related bills advanced by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly aren’t new, but faced vetoes from former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). They’re expected to fare differently under Spanberger, who has indicated support for legislation such as ghost gun bans, more restrictions on gun access for people convicted of domestic violence crimes, and strengthened red flag laws.
Parking meter in a performance parking zone in Ballston (staff photo)
Low compliance rates at local parking meters have the Arlington County Civic Federation considering a push for more enforcement.
The proposal to increase enforcement is one of 36 transportation-related recommendations that could be sent to county leaders. The package was introduced at the March 10 federation meeting, with a vote possible as early as next month.
Snow falling on a food truck at the corner of Wilson Blvd and N. Randolph Street in Ballston (staff photo)
Record Temperature Plunge — Temperatures plunged more than 50 degrees in 24 hours across the D.C. region, with National Airport dropping from a record high of 86 on Wednesday to 33 with snow by Thursday afternoon. The swing ties the largest 24-hour temperature drop in D.C. history, and the 0.1 inches of snow that fell made it the most improbable snowfall on record at DCA. [CWG/X, Mike Thomas/X, Andrew Markowitz/X]
Area 2 Farms Goes Franchise — Arlington indoor farming startup Area 2 Farms is pursuing franchise deals for a national rollout, with startup costs between $308,000 and $471,000. CEO Oren Falkowitz said demand from real estate firms offering vacant urban space and individuals seeking alternatives to corporate life accelerated the plan. [WBJ]
Bike Lane Blocked Again — “Fear not, even in the snow, the Quincy ‘protected’ bike lane is blocked. Never forget that Arlington DES chose this, and they could choose safety any day.” [Bike Gillian/Bluesky]
Unplug This Weekend — The Arlington Diocese’s Diocesan Days of Unplugging start today and run through Sunday. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge expanded the initiative to three days this year, encouraging Catholics to fast from screens and reconnect with prayer and community. [Catholic Herald]
Passover Dining Options — Arlington Magazine rounded up local spots offering Passover meals and dishes for the holiday, which runs April 1–9. Options include Celebrity Delly in Falls Church, Call Your Mother in McLean and Balducci’s. [Arlington Magazine]
Eaves Fairfax Towers Infill — Arlington-based AvalonBay Communities filed a rezoning application to add 478 multifamily units and 115–140 townhomes around the existing 415-unit tower at 2251 Pimmit Drive in Falls Church. The 17-acre redevelopment would replace surface parking lots and preserve 100 or more affordable units. [WBJ]
‘Don’t Want to Be Rosslyn’ — D.C. mayoral candidate Kenyan McDuffie said he supports relaxing the Height Act “in certain parts of the city” but added, “we certainly don’t want to be Rosslyn.” [Axios]
Senate Passes Housing Bill — “Everywhere I go in Virginia, I hear from working families struggling with the high cost of living,” Sen. Mark Warner (D) said after the Senate passed the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act. The bill includes more than 40 housing provisions, including Warner’s RESIDE Act to convert vacant buildings into affordable homes. [Press Release]
It’s Friday — Clouds will thicken throughout the day as temperatures reach a high near 54°F and breezy conditions move in. Expect winds to pick up from the south, ranging from 7 to 22 mph and gusting up to 38 mph. For Friday night, skies will clear, leaving a low temperature around 42°F. Southwest winds will blow between 10 and 17 mph, with gusts reaching up to 31 mph. [NWS]
County Manager Mark Schwartz, right, listens as Homes.com's Brad Case makes a point (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
To maintain services amid falling commercial real estate values, Arlington may end up reaching even deeper into homeowners’ pockets in the years to come.
At a March 11 forum sponsored by Advance Arlington, County Manager Mark Schwartz warned of even more pressure to raise taxes on homeowners due to a drop in the assessed valuation of commercial properties.
Demolition at 2300 9th Street S. (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Demolition has begun at the site of an eight-story former office building off of Columbia Pike, making way for a 16-home townhouse redevelopment.
Crews got to work last week tearing down a garage structure at 2300 9th Street S., preparing to demolish the 1970s-era office building beginning next week. That teardown is expected to take four to six weeks, according to a notice shared with nearby residents.
Remaining “snowcrete” in Courthouse on a warm March day (courtesy Peter Roof)
County Defends Rescue Merger — Arlington County pushed back on what it called “incorrect information circulating” about the proposed FY27 budget, clarifying that Fire Stations 2 and 9 will remain open. The proposal consolidates ACFD’s two heavy rescue companies into a single unit at Fire Station 1 (500 S. Glebe Road), boosting per-shift staffing from four to six. The County Board work session on the fire department budget is set for March 19. [Arlington County/X, Arlington County]
Pepper Spray Road Rage — A man, 46, of Arlington was charged with attempted malicious wounding by caustic substance after he allegedly rear-ended another vehicle near Arlington Blvd and S. George Mason Drive, then attempted to pepper spray the other driver before fleeing. He was later located on Columbia Pike, according to police. [ACPD]
Three Seasons in One Day — After record highs of 85–86 degrees Wednesday, evening thunderstorms and tornado warnings, the D.C. area faces a 45–50 degree temperature plunge today as a strong cold front barrels through. Rain showers will change to a brief rain-snow mix this afternoon before ending, though accumulation should be minimal given the warm ground. [CWG/X, WWG/X]
Metro Grout Pad Work — Metro crews replaced grout pads — which elevate the tracks and hold them in place — between Pentagon City and Braddock Road on the Yellow and Blue lines this past weekend. [WMATA/X]
Arlington Restaurant Churn — An AI-assisted analysis of closure data found the county has about 700 restaurants, with roughly 25 closing over the past year — a rate of about 4%, below the national average. The median closed restaurant was about 5 years old, and an estimated 25–30% of current restaurants are 10+ years old. [ARLnow/X]
McAuliffe Eyes Congress — Former Va. first lady Dorothy McAuliffe announced she will run for the proposed 7th Congressional District, which would stretch from Arlington to western Augusta County. She joins Del. Dan Helmer and former federal prosecutor J.P. Cooney, who served as a deputy to special counsel Jack Smith, in a crowded Democratic primary. [FFXnow]
N. Va. Leads Job Losses — The D.C. metro area lost more jobs on a percentage basis than any other U.S. metro with 1 million+ residents last year, shedding around 56,000 positions — 96% from federal layoffs, according to the Brookings Institution. The UVA Weldon Cooper Center now forecasts Virginia employment will shrink by 0.2% in 2026. [Cardinal News]
It’s Thursday — Rain showers will transition to a mix of rain and snow by 2pm, with temperatures dropping to around 40°F. Expect breezy conditions with northwest winds at 14-21 mph and gusts up to 38 mph. Precipitation chances are at 90%, but snow accumulation should be minimal. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 33°F, northwest winds at 5-9 mph becoming calm after midnight, and gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
The dining room of Locket in Rosslyn (staff photo by Katie Taranto)
A ballot measure to substantially increase D.C.’s minimum wage would undoubtedly have major effects on Arlington’s neighbor, but the region-wide impacts are murkier.
One Fair Wage’s proposal to raise the District’s minimum wage to $25 per hour by July 2029 has earned support from labor advocates seeking to make D.C. more affordable for the working class, but criticism from business owners worried about going out of business or having to lay off employees.
FILE - Cars drive past data centers that house computer servers and hardware required to support modern internet use, such as artificial intelligence, in Ashburn, Virginia, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Nearly two decades ago, Virginia gave tech companies a tax break on equipment and software, and they began to build. The state became a data center hub, and they kept building. Residents bemoaned the noise while they built some more. Artificial intelligence boomed, and the power grid strained — still, more building.
Now, amid a growing national pushback on data centers, Virginia senators have voted to end a projected $1.6 billion annual tax break, requiring the industry to resume paying a minimum 5.3% sales tax. The proposal has left some opponents warning that it would bring construction of data centers in Virginia to a screeching halt.
Renderings of the proposed VHC Health facility at 601 S. Carlin Springs Road (courtesy VHC Health)
A community launch event for VHC Health’s proposed behavioral health facility in Glencarlyn is taking place next week.
The meeting, the first in a series of community engagement efforts for the proposed 146-bed rehabilitation and mental health center at 601 S. Carlin Springs Road, will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. next Monday at the Kenmore Middle School auditorium (200 S. Carlin Springs Road).
A person using a cellphone (via Jonas Leupe/Unsplash)
As increasing numbers of Virginians download the Mobile ID app, options for using digital identification around Arlington remain somewhat limited.
The app that launched in November has already surpassed 100,000 users, the Virginia DMV announced last Friday. In Arlington, it’s useful at a handful of locations.
