Metrobus riders will soon have the ability to use credit and debit cards to pay for rides.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is adding the same “Tap-Ride-Go” ability to its buses as it currently has on the rail system, creating an alternative to cash and physical or phone-based SmarTrip cards.
The number of Arlington rental units that are financially accessible to those earning less than 80% of area median income (AMI) has skyrocketed rather than plummeted over the past decade.
Not because housing is becoming cheaper, but because incomes of local residents have risen faster than the cost of renting.
The current deputy chair of the Arlington County Democratic Committee has launched a bid to become the next chair, competing against another party leader.
Deputy Chair Paul Ruiz spent part of the Nov. 5 monthly party meeting working the room for support of his campaign to succeed Chair Steve Baker. He has said he wants to “build a Democratic committee that listens, builds up new leaders and leads with purpose.”
Stephen Miller Case Update — “Late Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsey Vaala denied the FBI’s petition for a warrant to search the smartphone owned by the suspect in the case, a 66-year-old retiree named Barbara Wien. The Justice Department plans to appeal, a source told Axios. The FBI wants to examine Wien’s phone to see if she lied to investigators or was part of a group that might pose a risk to Miller and his family.” [Axios]
Veterans Day County Closures — “Arlington County Government offices and services are operating on modified schedules for the Veterans Day holiday on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. Trash/Recycling/Yard Waste Curbside Routes – Regular collection. Parking – Permit parking is always in effect unless specifically noted on the sign. Meters are not enforced on holidays.” [Arlington County, Arlington County]
Vets Day Event at ANC — “The 72nd annual National Veterans Day Observance will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at 11 a.m. in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery.” [ANC/X]
Now Open at Pentagon City Mall — “Fashion Centre at Pentagon City… is redefining the shopping experience with two new openings, POP MART and Duck Donuts, both debuting on Saturday, Nov. 8. Together, the beloved global collectible retailer and local donut shop bring a mix of flavor, creativity and interactive energy to the center.” [Press Release]
Blue Wave May Benefit Metro — “Democrats will soon control top positions in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. That could lift transportation projects, including Metro funding. A new task force has a fresh proposal on how to fund Metro’s capital budget.” [WBJ]
Power Costs at Ballot Box — “Electricity costs were a key issue in this week’s elections for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, a data center hotspot, and in Georgia, where Democrats ousted two Republican incumbents for seats on the state’s utility regulatory commission.” [Associated Press]
Overreach Defines Va. Elections? — “Many will look at Tuesday and the Virginia GOP’s worst massacre of the 21st century and shrug it off as a blue state doing what a blue state does. That conclusion ignores abundant state political history and squanders two informative takeaways, writes columnist Bob Lewis.” [Virginia Mercury]
SNAP Payments Coming — “Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that, following federal notification that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits would be paid this week, Virginia will pause the issuance of Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) benefits to ensure full compliance with federal requirements.” [Press Release]
VDOT Preps for Winter — “It may not feel like it now, but winter weather is approaching. To prepare, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is stocking supplies and inspecting equipment to ensure crews and materials are ready for when the first snowflakes fall.” [Press Release]
Growing Season Over — “As of today, the growing season has been declared over for most of the region. Frost/freeze products will not be issued in these areas until spring.” [NWS/X]
New Legal Notice — Establishment seeks mixed-beverage license; objections due within 30 days. [Public Notices]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high of 49 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at 11-16 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. The night will be mostly clear with a low of 29 degrees and similar wind conditions. On Veterans Day, it will be sunny and breezy, with a high near 45 degrees and a west wind at 15-20 mph, gusting as high as 33 mph. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Flickr pool photo by Jeff Vincent
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is voting on the first steps to end the 40-day government shutdown Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who wanted to continue the fight.
The group of three former governors — New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine — said they would vote to reopen if the Senate passed three annual spending bills and extend the rest of government funding until late January. Senate Majority Leader John Thune endorsed the deal Sunday night and called an immediate vote to begin the process of approving it.
WASHINGTON (AP) — With the combination of the longest government shutdown, the mass firings of government workers and a fresh cut in federal food aid, the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington is bracing for the swell of people who will need its help before the holiday season.
The food bank, which serves 400 pantries and aid organizations in the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and two Maryland counties, is providing 8 million more meals than it had prepared to this budget year — a nearly 20% increase.
Reagan National Airport is “expecting significant delays and cancellations through this evening due to air traffic reductions.”
The airport urged those with flight reservations “to monitor their flight status closely with their airline,” according to a social post Friday afternoon. As of 5 p.m., the FAA listed average flight delays of four hours at Reagan National, attributing the delays to “staffing” issues.
A 23-year-old man is accused of using an air pistol to shoot people and vehicles from inside a South Arlington apartment early yesterday morning (Thursday).
The Arlington County Police Department was dispatched around 4:40 a.m. to a report of a shooting just off of Columbia Pike, in the Columbia Heights neighborhood, according to a press release. They arrived to find two men who had been struck by projectiles, suffering “minor injuries.”
While supportive of redrawing congressional boundaries, one of Arlington’s state legislators isn’t convinced that it will guarantee her party more seats in the House of Representatives next year.
“This is sort of a risky business,” Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40) said at a community roundtable yesterday (Thursday). “It could go either way. It is not a magic bullet.”
One side of a 1950s-era bridge over Four Mile Run will close for reconstruction beginning next week.
The west side of the Arlington Ridge Road bridge, which crosses from Arlington into Alexandria just south of S. Glebe Road, will close next Wednesday to all vehicle and sidewalk traffic. It will remain inaccessible for about 11 months while crews demolish and reconstruct the southbound side.
With election season in the rear-view mirror, Arlington’s civic and political leaders are again turning to potential changes in the county’s form of governance.
But while several local organizations have given the concept their blessing, a key state legislator who supported efforts in the 2025 legislative session has said she wants to hold off in 2026.
Guidance to DCA Passengers — “As of November 6, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it is imposing flight reductions at busy airports around the United States. Airlines will reach out directly to affected customers regarding flight cancellations or rescheduling options… Double-check the status of your flight directly with your airline before coming to the airport.” [Reagan National Airport]
Va. Dems Plan for Power — “Virginia Democrats awoke Wednesday to a more favorable political landscape than they had dared imagine, their electoral victories for governor and other statewide offices combining with a massive new majority in the House of Delegates to enable any agenda they care to pursue… ‘The word of the day is restraint. We can’t overreach,’ [Del. Don] Scott said during a news conference in Richmond. ‘We have to be wise with the gift that the voters have given us to govern.'” [Washington Post]
N. Va. Powered Wave — “Virginia’s blue wave moved nearly every county to the left this week. In a state shaken up by federal job cuts, the Democratic wins offer a rebuke to President Trump’s first nine months in office. Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger — who campaigned on affordability — made big gains in Northern Virginia counties where President Trump did better than expected last year.” [Axios]
SoberRide Ridership Record — “A record-shattering 4,056 persons in the Washington-metropolitan area used the free safe ride service, SoberRide®, Halloween weekend as opposed to possibly driving home drunk. Last weekend’s ridership was the most ever for a single SoberRide® campaign in the program’s 34-year history.” [Press Release]
Snow Possible Monday — “We’re still watching the chance for some early-season snowflakes in the area as a serious blast of wintry air drops into the eastern United States early next week. A potent cold front passing through the region Sunday night will set the stage. Monday will be quite a shock after weekend highs around 70 degrees. Highs may only make it into the 40s, more than 10 degrees below average.” [CWG]
It’s Friday — Clouds will increase, reaching a high of around 61°F, with south winds of 8-15 mph and gusts up to 29 mph. Expect rain Friday night, primarily before 1am, as it becomes mostly cloudy with lows around 53°F. South winds will continue at 8-13 mph with gusts up to 23 mph. The chance of rain is 60%, with less than a tenth of an inch of new precipitation possible. [NWS]
