Inauguration Day is just four days away.
With president-elect Trump about to take the oath of office for the second time, we were wondering how many people in Arlington were planning to watch — or attend.
Those attending will have to be a hardy bunch, given the forecasted wind chill in the teens on Monday. On the other hand, there should be no shortage of options for watching on TV or online (including clips).
So what’s your plan?
As we kick off another year of local news coverage, we’re turning to you – our readers – for guidance on how we can better serve Arlington.
Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping ARLnow over the years. Thanks to survey responses from readers like you, we’ve expanded our reporting, launched new features, and adjusted our coverage to focus on the issues that matter most to Arlingtonians.
Beyond news coverage, we’re exploring new ways to keep you informed and engaged with your community. Weigh in on that and other topics — from email newsletters to podcasts — in our 2025 ARLnow Reader Survey.
The survey takes just a few minutes to complete, but its impact will help guide our decisions throughout 2025. Thank you for your support and feedback, Arlington!
Arlington County is facing a $30-40 million budget gap in the fiscal year starting July 1.
Arlington’s” budget season” is now underway and county leaders are focused on how to allocate funds and balance the budget. But with more than half of county spending considered non-discretionary, options for cuts are somewhat limited.
On the other hand, another way to close the budget gap — higher property tax rates — looks to be politically challenging given that a continuous rise in home assessments paired with a tax rate increase last year has Arlington homeowners more sensitive to higher taxes.
Given our recent reporting on some of the potential options and tradeoffs, which option for balancing the budget are you leaning towards?
If you vote for cuts, let us know where in the budget should they be made.
Though Valentine’s Day is next month, it’s not too early to make reservations to celebrate with your special someone.
We’ve compiled the top spots for “Best Restaurant for a Fancy Dinner in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards. Before choosing your favorite, consider menu options, taste, service and overall atmosphere.
Did we miss your favorite restaurant? Write it in!
Don’t wait to vote as polls will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Gym/Fitness Studio in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on ARLnow’s pet of the year 2024. The results are now official:
After a winter break extended by three consecutive snow days, Arlington Public Schools students are going back to class today, albeit on a delay.
APS announced the two-hour delay last night, shortly before Fairfax County Public Schools announced it would stay closed on Thursday. Loudoun County first announced a delay, then shifted to a closure.
Among other nearby school systems, Alexandria and Montgomery County are both on a two-hour delay, while D.C. schools are open on time for the second day in row.
When APS announced it was staying closed on Wednesday, the school system cited “persistent hazardous conditions on side streets, sidewalks and parking lots near our school sites.”
A student-created online petition showed photos of still-snow-covered roads and trails, and cited frigid wind chill temperatures today, in arguing that APS should remain closed Thursday and Friday.
The petition has garnered more than 6,750 online signatures.
“The school has recently announced a delayed start for the day,” an update post on the petition says. “While this is an improvement, we still believe that more can be done to ensure the safety of the APS community. Continue to sign this petition to show that we still don’t feel safe going to school.”
Given the current conditions and the actions of other jurisdictions, do you think APS made the right call today?
The Arlington fitness community contains a variety of spots to help get you moving in the new year.
Here are the top picks for “Best Gym/Fitness Studio in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards. From high-intensity training to mindful yoga classes, these spots will keep you motivated and sweating.
Don’t see your gym or fitness studio listed? Write it in!
Voting will close in two weeks so hurry to vote for your favorite fitness spot.
Voting for Pet of the Year 2024 is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on ARLnow’s commenter of the year 2024. The results are now official:
Accumulating snow is likely to fall Sunday night into Monday morning.
Chances of the season’s first significant snowfall are increasing, with a near certainty of at least an inch of snow and a roughly three-in-four chance of more than 3 inches, according to a Thursday afternoon forecast update from the Capital Weather Gang.
The timing of the storm, notably, could extend what has already been a two-week winter break for local students.
With just a tenth of an inch of accumulation so far this season, and below average snowfall over the past few years, how are you feeling about this potential storm?
The Washington Commanders are officially in the playoffs and enjoying the team’s best season in years.
Led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Dan Quinn, in his first year as the team’s head coach, the Commanders have undergone a renaissance few would have dreamed possible when former owner Dan Snyder sold the team to Josh Harris last year.
Given the excitement over the team, after years of futility, we’re wondering just how big the fanbase is in Arlington. How many residents are jumping on the bandwagon — or have never stopped rooting for the team? And how does that compare to those who still support other NFL teams?
Let’s find out.
As 2024 draws to a close, let us celebrate the animal companions who have captured our hearts and made our community a bit more special with their adventures.
We’ve gone back and reviewed the adorable pets of Arlingtonians to compile the top picks for “Pet of the Year” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Read more about our top picks: Lilith, Leo, Miso, Dottie, Buddy, Louie, Fresa, Trifecta, Zuzu and Jasper.
Did we miss your favorite furry companion? Write them in! And don’t forget to vote — polls will close in two weeks.
Voting for Commenter of the Year 2024 is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on Arlington’s best hill to go sledding on. The results are now official:
The holidays are here and in less than two weeks we will be in a new year.
Before we welcome in a new year, it’s time to highlight the voices that made community discussions on ARLnow so engaging in 2024. We’ve gone back and checked the stats to compile the top choices for “Commenter of the Year” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Don’t see your favorite ARLnow commenter listed? Write them in.
Polls will close in two weeks, so don’t wait to vote!
Voting for Best Hill to go Sledding on in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on Arlington’s best place to get a massage. The results are now official:
Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah are on the same day this year — Wednesday, Dec. 25.
The midweek holidays may make travel plans more difficult or more straightforward, depending on your perspective and your work situation.
When we polled readers on holiday travel in 2020, it was in the middle of the pandemic and only 22% of the more than 2,000 respondents said they had plans to travel.
Let’s see how much your holiday travel planning has changed between then and now.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) says Virginia workers shouldn’t pay state tax on tips they get from customers.
Adopting the policy — supported on a federal level by both president-elect Donald Trump and vice president Kamala Harris during the recent election — would let tipped workers keep an extra $70 million each year throughout the Commonwealth, the governor’s office said in a press release Monday.
Youngkin says he is proposing the tax change in his upcoming budget. GOP state senators, meanwhile, signaled their support for Youngkin’s proposal in statements Monday, after introducing a bill last week to eliminate state income tax on gratuities.
The governor’s press release is below.
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced a budget proposal to exempt service tips from Virginia’s state income tax. This proposal will return an estimated $70 million annually to the pockets of hardworking Virginians to further deliver on Governor Youngkin’s commitment to lower the cost of living for working families across the Commonwealth. This builds on the more than $5 billion in tax relief already delivered for Virginians under his administration.
“We have delivered over $5 billion in tax relief to date, and we remain committed to lowering the cost of living for hardworking Virginians. It’s their money, not the government’s,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “By removing tips from taxable income, it will directly increase the take-home pay of hundreds of thousands of Virginians and give them more buying power, which in turn will improve financial stability, stimulate local economies, and honor the value of their hard work.”
The Virginia Department of Taxation and the Virginia Employment Commission estimate that more than 250,000 Virginians within the food service industry, personal service industry (such as hair stylists), and hospitality industry (such as bellhops and concierges) could benefit from the proposed tax relief. Workers who receive tips from their employment in other industries would also benefit.
Virginians who earn tips will be able to claim a deduction on their state tax return, provided the income is included in their federal adjusted gross income. The Department of Taxation will use IRS data and employer-reported W-2 information to ensure compliance.
The Commonwealth’s robust financial health, marked by record employment levels, rising revenues and surpluses, robust reserves, and a AAA bond rating, enables the Commonwealth to implement meaningful tax relief for Virginians while maintaining fiscal responsibility and sustaining vital investments in public services.
Critics of exempting tips from tax have a number of reasons why they think it’s a bad policy, however, from issues of fairness to a loss of revenue to the risk of distorting labor markets.
“It’s not fair to subsidize Le Cirque waiters but not McDonald’s customer service associates with tax-free tips. Or to so favor a hotel’s housekeeper, but not a homeowner’s house cleaner,” the Tax Policy Center wrote in September. “Or, for that matter, traditional employees and not independent contractors in the growing gig economy.”
What do you think? Should Virginia exempt service tips from state income tax? Or do you oppose the governor’s proposal?
