News | ARLnow.com

Democrat Jay Jones wins race to be Virginia attorney general despite controversies

Published November 4, 2025 at 10:20PM

FILE - Democratic candidate for Virginia attorney general Jay Jones participates in the debate with Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in Richmond, Va., Oct. 16, 2025. (Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP, Pool, File)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrat Jay Jones was elected Tuesday as Virginia attorney general, riding a wave of voter dissatisfaction with the White House to overcome the revelation that in 2022 he sent widely condemned texts embracing violence against a fellow state lawmaker.

The former Virginia delegate defeated Republican incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares weeks after it emerged that Jones had texted a fellow delegate suggesting the then-House speaker should get “two bullets to the head.” Jones apologized for the private messages both in statements and at a debate in October.

UPDATED: Abigail Spanberger elected Virginia governor, Hashmi lieutenant governor

By The Associated Press

Published November 4, 2025 at 8:15PM | Updated November 4, 2025 at 10:23PM

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger speaks during a campaign event with former President Barack Obama, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor’s race Tuesday, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to give Democrats a key victory heading into the 2026 midterm elections and make history as the first woman ever to lead the commonwealth.

Spanberger’s victory will flip partisan control of the governor’s office when she succeeds outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

DEVELOPING: Karantonis reelected to County Board as Democrats sweep local races

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2025 at 8:05PM | Updated November 4, 2025 at 9:28PM

Takis Karantonis greets voters outside Glebe Elementary School on Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Takis Karantonis will get another term on the Arlington County Board.

The Democratic incumbent decisively defeated his divided competition in the County Board race, which was conducted via ranked choice voting.

LIVE: Election results for governor, attorney general and other races affecting Arlington

By Dan Egitto

Published November 4, 2025 at 6:30PM

Campaign signs outside Yorktown High School (staff photo by Jared Serre)

As election results roll in tonight, ARLnow will be tracking the outcome of races affecting Arlington and Virginia as a whole.

Three of the highest offices in Virginia are on the ballot this year, as are three seats representing Arlington in the House of Delegates.

Arlington County Sheriff’s Office takes over medical care at jail, replacing private contractor

By Dan Egitto

Published November 4, 2025 at 3:45PM

Jail entrance at the Arlington County Detention Facility (file photo)

The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office took over operational control of medical care at the Arlington County Detention Facility this week, fulfilling a longstanding goal.

Sheriff Jose Quiroz has long advocated for shifting to an in-house medical model at the jail that saw several in-custody deaths under a former provider. Under the change, which went into effect yesterday (Monday), medical staff will report directly to Chief Medical Director Dr. Richard Malish, whom the sheriff appointed to a newly created position this spring.

Nonprofits unsure of county’s expectations in new Green Valley initiative

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 4, 2025 at 2:45PM

Apartments and retail next to John Robinson, Jr. Town Square (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Nonprofits had many questions at a recent forum on new county funding to support placemaking initiatives in Green Valley.

The County Board set aside $80,000 in the fiscal year 2026 budget for the Green Valley Neighborhood Partnership Initiative. The deadline for applications from nonprofits seeking all or part of the funding is Nov. 14, with a final decision expected in January.

DEVELOPING: Reagan National grounds flights after reported threat to arriving airliner

By Dan Egitto

Published November 4, 2025 at 12:45PM | Updated November 4, 2025 at 2:20PM

A United Airlines flight is stopped on a runway at Reagan National Airport (screenshot via Fox 5)

All flights were grounded at Reagan National Airport midday Tuesday while a United Airlines jet was evacuated over a reported security threat.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on social media that a United Airlines flight “received a bomb threat,” resulting in passengers being evacuated and law enforcement conducting a full search of the aircraft.

Virginia governor’s race will test Trump and Democrats nationally — and make history

By The Associated Press

Published November 4, 2025 at 12:15PM | Updated November 4, 2025 at 1:17PM

This combo image shows Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears, left, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, right. (AP Photo)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia voters are deciding a history-making race for governor Tuesday that will serve as a barometer of attitudes toward President Donald Trump and Democrats’ attempts to regain their footing on the national stage.

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, a staunch conservative who serves as Virginia’s lieutenant governor, and Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a center-left Democrat and former CIA case officer who helped her party win a House majority during Trump’s first presidency, are vying to become the first-ever woman to lead the commonwealth. Earle-Sears also would make history as the first Black woman elected governor in any state.

Election Day begins smoothly in Arlington after strong early voting turnout

By Dan Egitto

Published November 4, 2025 at 11:35AM

The polling place at The Jefferson in Ballston on Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Election Day is off to a smooth start in Arlington, with about 8% voter turnout as of 9 a.m. following strong in-person early voting.

About 32,000 Arlington voters cast early in-person ballots this year, compared to 27,800 during the last gubernatorial election. However, mail-in ballots are down compared to 2021, a pandemic year: around 9,800 were cast this year compared to 14,800 in 2021.

Federal shutdown isn’t deterring home-buyers in Arlington, much of N. Va.

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 4, 2025 at 10:00AM

Home for sale locally (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Despite the federal-government shutdown, Arlington and much of Northern Virginia are seeing robust interest among potential home-buyers, something unusual this time of year.

The county recorded 728 home showings for the week ending Nov. 2, according to figures reported by the Bright MLS multiple-listing service.

Most Falls Church homes opting into new organics disposal program

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 4, 2025 at 9:15AM

Signage announces changes to Falls Church trash collection (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A majority of Falls Church households are willing to give the city’s new organics disposal program a try.

Slightly more than 70% of city households eligible for the program were opting to get an organics bin from the government, based on preliminary statistics reported by City Manager Wyatt Shields at the Oct. 27 City Council meeting.

Expansion and renovations starting soon at planned Reeves Farmhouse group home

By Dan Egitto

Published November 4, 2025 at 8:30AM

The Reeves Farmhouse at 400 N. Manchester Street (via HomeAid National Capital Region/Flickr)

The construction phase of a project bringing a new group home for adults with intellectual disabilities to the Reeves Farmhouse is expected to begin soon.

A year after the local Habitat for Humanity chapter and HomeAid National Capital Region broke ground on the historic structure at 400 N. Manchester Street in October last year, HomeAid and the construction company Toll Brothers announced that they’re ready to start work on the next stage.