A sign for the Washington Post is seen at the company's offices, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Mass layoffs at The Washington Post today (Wednesday) have prompted grief and outrage among D.C.-area reporters and a pointed rebuke of the newspaper’s owner from U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.).
The publication eliminated about one-third of its staff today, cutting the jobs of numerous respected journalists on its Metro desk while eliminating its sports section, several foreign bureaus and its books coverage in a widespread purge that represented a brutal blow to journalism and one of its most legendary brands.
Seated and standing e-scooters by LINK (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Nearly seven years after a failed first attempt, Falls Church officials are trying again to entice e-scooter and e-bike operators to the city.
Council members are considering a proposal to allow a maximum of 100 total operating certificates for “shared mobility devices”: motorized skateboards, scooters, bicycles and electrically assisted bicycles.
Arlington County Board member Julius "JD" Spain, Sr. (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
Arlington County Board member JD Spain Sr. is throwing his support behind a state bill to accelerate affordable housing development on church properties.
Spain joined the Rev. Alice Tewell of Clarendon Presbyterian Church — which put its affordable housing proposal in Lyon Village on pause last year amid rising costs coupled with a lengthy approval process — in testifying on behalf of State Sen. Jeremy McPike’s (D-29) Faith in Housing Act.
WERA control room in 2015 (Courtesy of Paul LeValley/AIM)
Arlington officials say they’ve exhausted all options to settle up to half a million dollars in debts from Arlington Independent Media (AIM) after the organization’s operational collapse.
Local leaders have “spent a lot of time and energy” to make sure there is no replication of the situation with other grantees, County Manager Mark Schwartz said at a Jan. 22 meeting of the county’s Audit Committee.
George Mason University’s FUSE building in Virginia Square at sunrise (photo by Nicole Kelleher/Schar School of Policy and Government)
Black History Month Events — “This February (and all year long) there are countless ways to celebrate Black history and culture in Northern Virginia. Visit a historic site or museum, catch a performance highlighting famous African Americans, witness a traditional “broom-jumping” marriage ceremony and celebrate Black culture as an essential part of the American story.” [Arlington Magazine]
Courthouse Library Still Closed — “Due to a water pipe leak and heating issues at Courthouse Library, the location will remain closed as of Monday, February 2 until further notice as repairs are evaluated. Please continue to check the Library’s website for the Courthouse Library’s status this week.” [APL, APL/X]
Body Found Near Bridge — “[Firefighters] are on the Potomac recovering a body on the ice discovered a short time ago just north of the 14th Street Bridge complex. Only one lane is getting by to the left on the George Mason Bridge, carrying the outbound main lanes.” [Dave Statter/X]
Car Chase in Pentagon City — “@VSPPIO chased a vehicle twice through Pentagon City. The first time, around 1:15 a.m., the driver got away as they passed the Fashion Center. About 15 minutes later, it showed up at S. Joyce and Army Navy, passing an @ArlingtonVaPD officer and making a path to DC via the I-395 express lanes.” [Dave Statter/X]
Gov’t Shutdown Ends — “President Donald Trump signed a roughly $1.2 trillion government funding bill Tuesday that ends the partial federal shutdown that began over the weekend and sets the stage for an intense debate in Congress over Homeland Security funding. The president moved quickly to sign the bill after the House approved it with a 217-214 vote.” [Associated Press]
Indecent Exposure in Rosslyn — “On February 2, police received an online report for a late exposure. It was determined at approximately 5:35 p.m. on January 30, the female victim was walking in the area when she observed the male suspect expose himself.” [ACPD]
County’s New Service Dog — “Arlington County’s public safety agencies are proud to welcome Wellness K9 Dottie, a 15 m/o Black Lab, to the team! Dottie joins our Office of Public Safety Wellness from @HeelingHouse & will provide comfort & support to our first responders. Say hi if you see her out & about!” [ACPD/X]
New Legal Notice — Restaurant applying for on/off-premises wine, beer, and mixed-beverage license. [Public Notices]
It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high of 33 degrees with a north wind at 9 mph. Wednesday night brings a 20% chance of snow before 10 pm, followed by mostly cloudy skies that will gradually clear up. The low temperature will be around 17 degrees. [NWS]
Tributes to the students who integrated the former Stratford Junior High School, outside of Dorothy Hamm Middle School in 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The following in-depth local history feature was supported by the ARLnow Press Club. Join to support local journalism and to get an exclusive version of our afternoon newsletter, plus an early look at what we’re covering each day.
This week marks the 67th anniversary of the integration of Arlington’s Stratford Junior High School by four Black seventh-grade students: Lance Newman, Michael Deskins, Gloria Thompson and Michael Jones.
Parking meter in a performance parking zone in Ballston (staff photo)
The future of increased parking rates along Arlington’s commercial corridors is expected to go before the County Board later this month.
The Board is on track to decide whether to eliminate the “performance parking” pilot project or make the rate changes for about 4,500 parking spaces permanent.
The N. Quincy Street snowcrete pile in early February (staff photo)
Arlington residents and businesses with icy sidewalks may begin hearing from the county starting today (Tuesday).
County Manager Mark Schwartz ended a pause on enforcement of Arlington’s snow removal ordinance at 9 a.m. today, dispatching code enforcement inspectors to begin ensuring compliance. Parking enforcement will also resume “on a limited basis” this week, according to a press release.
Reduced hours at the Shirlington Transit Center, driven by vandalism concerns and budget constraints, prompted criticisms during last week’s bitter cold.
The transit center at 2975 S. Quincy Street cut its hours to 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays and eliminated Saturday hours entirely on Nov. 14. It was a significant reduction from the center’s previous hours of 5:30 a.m. to midnight.
A stock photo of prescription medicine (via Christine Sandu/Unsplash)
A rising number of syphilis infections in Arlington is driving a push to do better at testing and treating the sexually transmitted infection.
In the most recent data, from 2024, Arlington’s rate of syphilis infection — 31.2 cases per 100,000 population — was nearly 50% higher than the Virginia rate of 21.4 cases per 100,000, and was more than double that of Northern Virginia as a whole (14.3 cases per 100,000).
Sun setting over a field of icy snow at Nottingham Elementary (staff photo)
Limited Trash Collection Continues — “Regular Tuesday curbside collection for Feb. 3, but trash and recycling only, plus requested cart servicing. No organics, no special pick-up for metal, e-waste or brush.” [Arlington DES/X]
Potomac River Frozen — “The Potomac River was completely frozen today between NW DC and Arlington following a >1 week stretch below freezing.” [Vortrexed/X]
Warning About Walking on River — “MPD is aware of individuals attempting to walk on the iced over Potomac River near the Georgetown waterfront. Walking on iced over DC waterways is extremely dangerous. Your putting your life, and the lives of first responders, at extreme risk!” [MPD/X]
Courthouse Library Closure — “Due to a water leak, Courthouse Library will remain closed Monday, February 2. Please continue to check the Library’s website for Courthouse Library’s status this week as repairs are evaluated.” [APL/X]
Cemetery Closed Again — “For the safety of our visitors and family pass holders, Arlington National Cemetery will remain closed through Wednesday, Feb. 4. Funeral services will continue as scheduled.” [ANC/X]
Sewage Spill Update — “More than a week after part of a major D.C. Water sewage pipeline collapsed, causing more than 200 million gallons of untreated wastewater to spill into the Potomac River, concerns are rising about the impact on wildlife and experts warn that the cleanup and emergency repair costs will likely be several million dollars.” [Washington Post]
Stratford Integration Story — “This is the part of the story that always gives me chills. A congressman, Joel Broyhill, visited the Deskins home in the Hall’s Hill neighborhood to threaten Ron’s father’s job as an @ArlingtonVaFD firefighter for being part of the school integration lawsuit. Carroll Deskins bravely showed Broyhill the door. Ron Deskins had a 34 year career as a @ffxfirerescue firefighter, retiring as a captain.” [Dave Statter/X]
Free Super Bowl Sunday Rides — “Preparing to combat that time of the year when… one-third (33%, 2023) of U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers,* a local nonprofit organization announced today that free safe rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area during this weekend’s Super Bowl LX.” [Press Release]
Fairfax Conference Center? — “As he approaches his 18th anniversary as CEO of Visit Fairfax, Barry Biggar has the same item atop his to-do list as when he started on the job: a conference center. “We needed it 25 years ago, we need it today,” Biggar said during a Jan. 28 presentation to the Fairfax County Planning Commission.” [FFXnow]
Temp Rises Above Freezing — “The thermometer ticked up to 33 in D.C. at 2 p.m. It’s the first time the city has risen above 32 since January 23 at 8 p.m. That’s a streak of 233 hours at or below freezing, now done. Although we closed in on 10 straight days, based on full calendar days this will end up a nine-day streak at or below freezing. This is tied for 5th longest on record since 1872.” [CWG/X]
It’s Tuesday — A mix of rain and snow is possible in the late afternoon, with increasing clouds and a high near 39. The chance of precipitation is 20%. For Tuesday night, snow is likely mainly before 1am with a cloudy sky and a low around 27. The wind will turn calm, then shift to north around 6 mph after midnight. The chance of precipitation rises to 60%, with new snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. [NWS]
One of the Virginia Village quadplex apartment buildings owned by Falls Church (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
Falls Church city officials have started talking with potential partners about what could be one of the largest housing projects in the city’s history.
In discussing possibilities with four nonprofit or governmental housing organizations, the city has “laid out a road map” for what could happen to the Virginia Village community, including the construction of a substantial amount of affordable housing, City Manager Wyatt Shields told City Council members at a Jan. 27 meeting.
