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.
Synetic has recently received a $10,000 award from the George Preston Marshall Fund to provide scholarships to our summer programs, both our summer camps and the Teen Conservatory. We are thrilled to provide need-based scholarships for physical theater education to students who cannot otherwise afford to attend camps.
If you wish to apply for a scholarship, click below!
Synetic Theater’s award-winning physical theater company brings its signature blend of movement, storytelling, and creativity to young artists ages 7-13 in ten one-week, fun-filled, repeatable sessions. No previous experience is required—just curiosity, energy, and a willingness to leap into the fun.
At Synetic, every child is a storyteller. Through dance, pantomime, stage movement, ensemble games, and world-building activities, campers learn to express themselves using their bodies, voices, and imaginations. Synetic’s experienced teaching artists guide students through an immersive process that builds confidence, collaboration skills, and creative problem-solving—all while having a blast.
Each session ends with a showcase where campers proudly share their original work with family and friends.
Bring the whole family to Arlington Mill for an evening of laughs, basketball, and underdog determination with Goat.
This animated family comedy follows a determined young goat chasing his dream of becoming a professional basketball star. Before the movie, kids can enjoy face painting and family-friendly activities, making this one of our most kid-focused events of the summer.
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]
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.