Former President Joe Biden drops in on a birthday dinner at Carbonara in Virginia Square (courtesy of Nick Johnson)
Former President Joe Biden turned an ordinary birthday celebration into a uniquely memorable one shortly after dining in Virginia Square last weekend.
A group of Washington-Liberty High School students were out to dinner at Carbonara on Sunday when they noticed what appeared to be Secret Service members and the 46th president.
The departures lanes at Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport are among the 40 that will see flights cut starting Friday due to the government shutdown, according to a list distributed to the airlines.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it would reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers exhibit signs of strain during the ongoing government shutdown.
Leaf collection sign in the Waycroft-Woodlawn neighborhood (staff photo)
As fall foliage piles up in yards and streets around Arlington, the county’s annual leaf collection program begins next week.
Leaf vacuums will suck up fallen leaves in 19 neighborhoods beginning on Monday, Nov. 10. The first pass will continue every weekday through Nov. 28, only taking a day off for Thanksgiving.
Fall colors along a street near Jamestown Elementary (staff photo)
Beyer Touts Dem Win — “‘This is day one, when we take back our country from a dictatorship,’ U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) told the crowd. ‘This is the first step to taking back the House in 2026 … In the meantime, we have a powerful governor, lieutenant governor [and] attorney general, that will once again make Virginia the shining star in our wonderful country.'” [ALXnow, Rep. Don Beyer/X]
Beyer Statement on Tariffs — “The Supreme Court has a duty to uphold the law, limit the damage of the President’s nonsensical global trade war, and roll back this unprecedented and illegal power grab. The economic stagnation, job losses, business closures, and higher prices stemming from Trump’s taxes must end. New Dems urge the Supreme Court to take decisive action to block this lawless campaign and restore order to the balance of powers and the American economy.” [Press Release]
Warner Proposing AI Bill — “Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) announced they will introduce the AI-Related Job Impacts Clarity Act. This legislation would require major companies and federal agencies to report AI related layoffs to the Department of Labor to be compiled into a publicly available report.” [Press Release]
New Legal Notice — Retail restaurant/caterer applying for ABC on/off-premises alcohol license. [Public Notices]
Regional Drought Continues — “Rainfall in October was below normal, the fourth such month in a row, and November doesn’t look much different. Drought continues to expand and intensify across the D.C. area, and the forecast for this month offers little prospect for improvement. We’re expecting a relatively dry pattern to persist, with temperatures near or slightly above normal as the region transitions toward winter.” [CWG]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 57 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 8 to 11 mph and gusts reaching up to 22 mph. As for Thursday night, the weather will be mostly clear and the temperature will drop to a low of about 38 degrees, with a light and variable wind. [NWS]
Alonzie Scott, a recently retired federal worker, is seen at an Arlington, Va., polling center on Tuesday, Nov. 4th, 2025. (AP Photo/Helen Wieffering)
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Not everyone who voted in Northern Virginia in Tuesday’s election has felt the impact of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government, but even many who haven’t said they have colleagues or neighbors who are dealing with the consequences.
“I’ve seen so many federal families lose their jobs, lose their income, lose their certainty here,” said Karina Valdez, who voted at the Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center in Arlington.
Fire department response to apartment fire near Courthouse (courtesy Jacqueline Vicino)
Two dogs are safely back with their owners after being rescued from an apartment fire Wednesday night.
The blaze broke out around 6 p.m. in an apartment on the 2300 block of 11th Street N., in the Courthouse area. The fire was out by 6:20 p.m., according to the Arlington County Fire Department, but not before drawing a large emergency response.
The starting salary for officers at the Arlington County Police Department is jumping to about $90,000, the highest in the D.C. area.
The pay bump, which goes into effect on July 1, 2026, represents a roughly $18,000 increase from the current starting salary of $72,013.50 for new officers, ACPD spokesperson Ashley Savage told ARLnow.
Campaign signage for some of the winning Falls Church candidates (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
Three incumbents and one newcomer on the Falls Church City Council ballot were elected yesterday (Tuesday), while the winner of the final seat on the School Board hangs in the balance.
Challenger Arthur Agin prevailed in the City Council race, as did incumbents Laura Downs, Marybeth Connelly and David Snyder. Agin will take the seat of Debora Schantz-Hiscott, who did not seek re-election, in January.
County Board Chair Takis Karantonis addresses supporters following his reelection on Tuesday, Nov. 4 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Arlington Democrats celebrated big wins at both the local and state level yesterday (Tuesday), connecting voters’ decisions to the Trump administration’s impacts on Virginia.
In speeches before a jubilant crowd at Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse, several victors in Arlington’s blue sweep lifted up the success of gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and other Democrats in statewide races on Election Day.
A 19-year-old from the Richmond area has been accused of making a bomb threat against Yorktown High School in September.
Alexander Blake Berg was arrested last month and charged with two felonies over the September threat, which didn’t close the school but did result in an increased police presence on campus.
President Donald Trump has refused to negotiate with Democrats over their demands to salvage expiring health insurance subsidies until they agree to reopen the government. But skeptical Democrats question whether the Republican president will keep his word, particularly after the administration restricted SNAP food aid, despite court orders to ensure funds are available to prevent hunger.
Christmas arrives early at the Whole Foods in Clarendon Tuesday night (courtesy George Brazier)
Flyover Planned Today — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an Aircraft Flyover in the NCR over the Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, November 5 at approximately 2:05PM.”
Key Elementary Break-In — “At approximately 11:27 p.m. on November 3, police were dispatched to the report of a burglary alarm at Escuela Key Elementary School. Upon arrival, it was determined the three male suspects allegedly made entry into the school before fleeing the scene on foot. Responding officers subsequently observed three individuals matching the description of the suspects walking in the area and took them into custody.” [ACPD]
ICE Blasts Arlington — “Officers with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. field office apprehended Edgar Bernabe Estrada, 45, Oct. 20 in Arlington… Arlington County officials release criminal alien offenders back into their community to reoffend, rather than allowing ICE officers to arrest them while they’re in local law enforcement custody.” [ICE, ICE D.C./X]
Will All Feds Get Paid? — “The Trump administration is sending notifications to federal staff suggesting that only those who are working during the government shutdown will be paid when it ends, despite a 2019 law that also guarantees pay to furloughed employees.” [Washington Post]
BBC Highlights Stumbling Stones — “On a warm late-summer afternoon, just across the Potomac River from Washington DC’s marble monuments, I stood with an exuberant crowd of residents, civic leaders and history enthusiasts in Arlington, Virginia. A roar of applause rang out as two small bronze markers were unveiled in the pavement in front of a modest home, their surfaces etched with names and dates.” [BBC]
School Fitness Test Order — “Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order (EO) 55 to reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test in the Commonwealth’s public school divisions, reinforcing the Commonwealth’s commitment to whole-child wellness and academic excellence.” [Press Release]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 70, accompanied by a southwest wind of 7 to 16 mph, with gusts reaching up to 32 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 45. The southwest wind will blow at 13 to 16 mph but will shift to the northwest after midnight, with potential gusts as high as 43 mph. [NWS]