Del. Alfonso Lopez 2025 campaign kickoff (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3) is proposing several pieces of legislation to place restrictions on federal immigration enforcement in Virginia, including at sensitive locations like schools and polling places.
One bill introduced by Lopez would prohibit federal immigration enforcement within 40 feet of polling places, as well as near local electoral board locations to certify or recount election results. Activities like loitering and handing political materials are already restricted within 40 feet of polling places, but immigration enforcement is not explicitly mentioned under current Virginia law.
Arlington Tech Robotics club adviser Steve Nystrom, works with students on projects (staff photo by Savannah Taffe)
School Board members are giving themselves extra time before making final decisions on rearranging the locations of some non-traditional secondary programs.
Rather than being taken up the first week of February, as would be the typical cycle following its Jan. 22 presentation as an information item, final discussion and vote will be taken two weeks later.
Circle time brings the classroom community together for group lessons led by experienced, certified Montessori teachers.
One of the most common questions from families before enrolling at Children’s House Montessori School (CHMS) is: “What does the day actually look like?”
The answer begins the moment a child walks through the door.
In CHMS toddler classrooms, children begin each morning with outdoor playground time, followed by a predictable routine that helps children navigate transitions with confidence. After coming inside, children hang up their tote bags on a low, child-sized hook, wash their hands at the sink, and then join their friends for circle time. This small but meaningful act of independence signals the start of their school day. These morning routines are intentional moments that help toddlers develop self-help skills, responsibility, and a sense of belonging within the classroom community.
Throughout the morning lesson time, children learn how to care for their classroom and surroundings. After working with an activity, they return it to the shelf just as they found it. If something spills, a child learns to clean it up with the small mop or cloths kept nearby for exactly that purpose. In Montessori education, these small courtesies reflect a child’s growing sense of responsibility and care for their surrounding environment.
Circle time brings the classroom community together for group lessons led by experienced, certified CHMS teachers. Children gather to sing songs, read books, and engage in discussions that build listening skills and early literacy. These moments foster a sense of connection and give toddlers a gentle, structured touchstone within the broader freedom of the Montessori day. After circle time, children move into individualized and small group hands-on learning. From child-sized shelves carefully organized by subject area, toddlers choose lessons that call to them. One child might practice pouring water between small pitchers. Another may work on a floor mat, carefully matching objects to their corresponding picture cards, building observation skills and vocabulary. (more…)
Arlington is well-positioned to withstand any national upticks in measles cases, but it can’t become complacent, the county’s public health director says.
Arlington students have a 97.5% vaccination rate against the highly contagious disease, compared to 93.9% statewide and 92.5% nationally, according to data presented to County Board members on Tuesday.
Snow clearing operations in Courthouse (courtesy Michael Draper)
New Snow Removal Phase — “Phase 4 clean-up continues, with crews working roads needing more attention and transferring snow from narrow areas. The storage space opened last night on 14th Street N behind the Bozman Center is now full. A Farmers Market on Saturday is unlikely.” [Arlington DES/X]
County Hauling Snow — “The commercial corridors are particularly challenging because there’s limited space available. To help make space, we have been conducting a once-in-a-generation snow hauling effort — so far, we’ve hauled over 1,000+ truck loads of snow to locations around the County.” [Arlington County/X, Arlington County/X]
Later Opening for Rec Centers — “Tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 29, Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and all other Parks and Recreation facilities will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.” [Arlington DPR/X]
‘Severe Service’ for ART — “Due to icy road conditions ART will continue to run Severe Service Thur. Jan. 29, 2026. Only ART 41, 45, 51, 55, 77, and 87 will run, expect possible delays. Once remainder of routes are in passable conditions, we will reassess service levels.” [ART Alert/X]
Consultant for DCA Noise? — “A citizens’ advisory panel is formally pressing for an outside consultant to be hired to analyze noise related to air traffic at Reagan National Airport. But the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) appears disinclined to acquiesce to that request.” [FFXnow]
Upcoming Special Election — “A Special Election will be held on Feb. 10 for State Senate District 39! Only voters who reside in this district are eligible to vote. This includes Pentagon/Crystal City, Aurora Highlands, & east Arlington Ridge.” [Arlington Elections/X]
Letter: Minnesota Matters — “People in Minnesota are grieving after federal immigration agents killed Renée Good and Alex Pretti. Their deaths have shaken communities far beyond Minneapolis. We mourn them and extend our sympathy to their families and loved ones. What happened there matters here in Arlington.” [Letter to the Editor]
Care Sought for Cold — “There has been a recent increase in visits to emergency departments and urgent care facilities related to hypothermia and cold exposure in Virginia. Call 2-1-1 to find a warming center near you.” [VDH/X]
Historic Cold Spell — “D.C. plunged to 13 degrees on Tuesday morning, while many locations in the region dipped into the single digits and below zero. The frigid morning was part of a punishing cold snap that ramped up Saturday and may not relax until around Groundhog Day on Feb. 2. By some measures, it could rank among the most severe cold spells since the late 1800s.” [CWG/X]
New Legal Notice — Restaurant seeks ABC license: wine and beer, on/off premises. [Public Notices]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny conditions and a high of 23 degrees, but wind chills could reach as low as -5 due to a west wind blowing at 6 to 10 mph, and gusts reaching up to 20 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 6 degrees and wind chills as low as -2, accompanied by a northwest wind at around 6 mph. [NWS]
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Expect sunny conditions and a high of 23 degrees, but wind chills could reach as low as -5 due to a west wind blowing at 6 to 10 mph, and gusts reaching up to 20 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 6 degrees and wind chill values as low as -2, accompanied by a northwest wind at around 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Zig Ziglar
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Amazon HQ2 in Pentagon City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Amazon is slashing about 16,000 corporate jobs in the second round of mass layoffs for the ecommerce company in three months.
The tech giant has said it plans to use generative artificial intelligence to replace corporate workers. It has also been reducing a workforce that swelled during the pandemic.
Crews clear snowbanks in Ballston on Jan. 28, 2026 (staff photo)
Arlington’s snowplows moved into the final phase of their cleanup efforts today (Wednesday), but sidewalks and streets littered with blocks of snow persist in many places.
County crews are now in Phase 4 of storm response, clearing ice off roads, school grounds and county property, including designated trails. Waste collection will also return on a limited basis tomorrow, only for trash and recycling carts.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
U.S. Rep Don Beyer (D-Va.), currently seeking a seventh term in Congress, says he has “mixed feelings” on Virginia legislators’ redistricting proposal that is being blocked by a state judge.
Beyer, who represents Arlington and several neighboring localities in the 8th Congressional District, told ARLnow the current maps approved through the 2021 redistricting process made Virginia “one of the least gerrymandered in the country.”
