News | ARLnow.com

BREAKING: Dehghani-Tafti Defeats Stamos in Commonwealth’s Attorney Race

Published June 11, 2019 at 7:40PM | Updated June 11, 2019 at 10:27PM

Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, left, is challenging Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos

(Updated at 10:25 p.m.) The top prosecutor in Arlington and Falls Church has lost her bid for re-election.

In the most closely watched local race in today’s Democratic primary, incumbent Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos has been defeated by challenger Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, who ran a campaign centered on criminal justice reform. Tafti has 52% of the vote compared to 48% for Stamos, with all 59 precincts in Arlington and Falls Church reporting, though the results are unofficial until certified.

County Board to Vote on Paving New W&OD Trail Connection in Barcroft

By Airey

Published June 11, 2019 at 4:45PM

Diagram of proposed W&OD trail connection to 9th Street S. (Image via Arlington County)

Arlington County Board members are scheduled to consider paving a connection between the W&OD Trail and 9th Street S. in Barcroft by the Buchanan Community Garden.

The proposal is to put an asphalt connection and a stop sign between 9th Street and the trail, crossing an area on the side of the trail currently used by Dominion subsidiary Virginia Electric Power Company.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Race Driving Higher Election Turnout Today

By ARLnow.com

Published June 11, 2019 at 3:45PM

Voting is still underway in Arlington and a competitive commonwealth’s attorney race may drive higher-than-normal turnout.

As of 1 p.m. the Arlington elections office reported an estimated 10 percent turnout. That points to what may be upwards of 15 percent turnout by the time polls close at 7 p.m., according to Arlington County Registrar Linda Lindberg.

New Food Hall Coming to Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published June 11, 2019 at 1:00PM | Updated June 11, 2019 at 1:26PM

Rendering of new Rosslyn food hall (via American Real Estate Partners)

A building in one of the highest foot traffic areas of Rosslyn is getting a big upgrade.

The owner of the Rosslyn Metro Center building at 1700 N. Moore Street announced today that it will be starting construction on a $35 million renovation project later this month. The building, which is next to the Metro station, will also be getting a new food hall and fitness studio.

BREAKING: Man Dies in Apartment Fire Near Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published June 11, 2019 at 11:20AM | Updated June 11, 2019 at 1:45PM

Scene of house fire on 3800 block of 5th Street N. (Photo via Arlington County Fire Department)

(Updated at 1:30 p.m.) One person has died after a fire in Ashton Heights, near Ballston, Tuesday morning.

First responders were dispatched to a garden-style apartment on the 3800 block of 5th Street N at 7:44 a.m. today where they found an unconscious man in the living room, the Arlington County Fire Department said in a statement at 1:30 p.m. today.

Voting Kicks Off Quietly Around Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published June 11, 2019 at 10:45AM | Updated June 11, 2019 at 3:36PM

A voter waits to cast his ballot at the Madison Community Center polling precinct

(Updated at 10:55 a.m.) Starting at 6 a.m. today, voters began showing up at their polling places across Arlington as voting in the Democratic primary kicked off.

At Randolph Elementary School in Douglas Park, St. Agnes Catholic Church in Cherrydale, and Madison Community Center in Old Glebe, lines were short and skies were clear.

Amazon to Donate $3 Million for Affordable Housing Near HQ2

By ARLnow.com

Published June 11, 2019 at 9:45AM | Updated June 11, 2019 at 11:36AM

The gift is being handled by the Arlington Community Foundation, which announced the commitment this morning.

“The gift will create a fund to support programs that maintain and create housing options for low-income individuals and families,” the foundation said.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 11, 2019 at 8:35AM | Updated June 11, 2019 at 8:57AM

Polls Open for Democratic Primary — All Arlington voters can vote in today’s Democratic primary. Polls are open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. You can find your polling place and other information on the state elections website. [Twitter]

Politico Profiles Prosecutor Primary — “One sign that this era of agitated civic life is not merely a reflection of Donald Trump or Twitter is that the agitation has penetrated, of all places, into Arlington County, Virginia. In normal times, Arlington politics are polite and consensus-driven, almost proudly dull.” [Politico]

Virginia Tech to Build New Campus in Alexandria Near Amazon HQ2

By Airey

Published June 10, 2019 at 5:15PM | Updated October 2, 2019 at 11:18AM

Virginia Tech announced today that it will build its latest campus in Potomac Yard, just across the border from Arlington in Alexandria and within close proximity to Amazon’s HQ2.

The university will be building a 1.5 million-square-foot, graduate-level “Innovation Campus” on a 15-acre property near the Regal movie theater, across Potomac Avenue from the Potomac Yard shopping center. The property is being developed by Lionstone and JBG Smith, which recently inked its deal with Amazon.

Interfaith Group Asks Local Leaders to Fix Community Woes With Amazon Revenue

By Airey

Published June 10, 2019 at 3:45PM | Updated June 10, 2019 at 4:30PM

(Updated at 4 p.m.) A local interfaith group is proposing Arlington and Alexandria redirect Amazon revenue to address long-standing community issues like affordable housing and school crowding.

Virginians for Organized Interfaith Community Engagement called on officials to dedicate portions of their revenue from Amazon to solve long-standing issues like Arlington’s affordable housing squeeze and ever-growing school enrollment.

Candidate Essay: Theo Stamos

By ARLnow.com

Published June 10, 2019 at 3:00PM

Incumbent Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos is running for re-election

Here is the unedited response from Theo Stamos:

By now, you know the issues in this election. Rather than rehash them, it is important for you to know who I am, my leadership in the legal community, why Arlington is so important to me, and why I deserve your vote for Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Candidate Essay: Parisa Dehghani-Tafti

By ARLnow.com

Published June 10, 2019 at 2:30PM

Here is the unedited response from Parisa Dehghani-Tafti:

My family and I are blessed to be part of this community. We are rightly proud of our schools, our local government, and the leadership role Arlington and the City of Falls Church have taken in the Commonwealth across a number of issues. The glaring exception remains our criminal justice system. But together we can change that and bring much needed reform to our Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office while keeping our families safe.