A new “innovation district” seeking to promote public-private partnerships has launched in Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard.
The National Innovation Quarter, or “National IQ,” promises “to solve the most pressing challenges at the intersection of national competitiveness and technology,” according to a press release.
Arlington home sales were down substantially last month, following trends throughout the D.C. area and across the nation.
January typically is one of the softest months of the year in local real estate, but last month was unusually anemic. In Arlington, 97 properties went to closing, down just over 20% from January 2025, according to data reported Feb. 10 by MarketStats by ShowingTime.
This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Janice Chen, Esq., and Victoria Khaydar, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.
If you filed an asylum application with USCIS more than a year ago, and that application is still pending, you may recently have received a notice from USCIS directing you to pay something called the Annual Asylum Fee. Or you may not have. That, as we will explain, is part of the problem.
The Annual Asylum Fee was created by H.R. 1 – the reconciliation bill enacted in July 2025, sometimes known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – which requires asylum applicants to pay a fee for every year that their asylum application remains pending. The length of time an application remains pending is, of course, determined almost entirely by the government, not by the applicant. This feature of the law has not escaped the notice of asylum seekers or their lawyers.
The rollout has been, to put it charitably, iterative. USCIS launched a payment page in October 2025 and began sending notices. A federal court in Maryland paused the notices a few weeks later. That pause was lifted in February 2026. In April 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published an Interim Final Rule, effective May 29, 2026, which spelled out the consequences of failing to pay on time: rejection of the asylum application, termination of the applicant’s work permit, and potential referral to removal proceedings. Meanwhile, the notices themselves have proven unreliable. Many applicants report never receiving one, and some only learned that they had owed the fee when the USCIS website informed them that their payment period had expired.
In July 2026, a coalition of organizations representing asylum seekers and TPS holders sued USCIS in federal court in Massachusetts in Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts v. USCIS. On July 21, 2026, the court issued an administrative stay, and on August 5, 2026, it extended that relief while the case proceeds. Under the court’s orders, USCIS may not:
The stakes were not small. According to the plaintiffs, USCIS had been prepared to reject 227,186 pending asylum applications for nonpayment. In August, USCIS also reopened expired payment windows, so applicants who were previously told their deadline had passed may now be able to pay.
But note what the court did not do. The order expressly allows USCIS to keep collecting the fee, and USCIS’s position is that anyone who receives a notice must pay it according to its instructions.
A longstanding soccer organization in Arlington has opened a new indoor training facility and headquarters in the Penrose neighborhood.
The Arlington Soccer Association’s new 9,200-square-foot facility, called the Arlington Training Center, opened at 140 S. Wise Street last month with the goal of supporting year-round training.
Explore exciting fall workshops at Art House 7! Coming up October 24–25, master artist Teresa Oaxaca returns for a special 2-day Painting a Child’s Portrait in Oils workshop for ages 16–adult. Looking for something shorter? Try the pottery wheel, create a ceramic leaf plate or keepsake ornaments, or explore drawing, printmaking, and Suminagashi. We also offer parent-child workshops and special art workshops for kids on Veterans Day and Election Day!
Art House 7 offers classes throughout the year, taught by a range of fantastic teachers. You can buy art supplies next door. We’re near the Lee Harrison Shopping Center.
Richard Edelin Crouch, 85, of Arlington, Virginia, died peacefully of advanced Parkinson’s Disease on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 2025, with his family by his side, in his room at Sunrise at Bluemont Park in Arlington. Richard was born December 3, 1940, in Washington, D.C. Richard is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Crouch, son John Crouch (wife Laura), grandchildren Jack, Griffin and Fiona Crouch of Arlington, sister Stephanie Crouch Burgess, brother J. Douglas Crouch, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter Virginia (Ginny) Crouch, brother Howard Rodney Crouch, and his parents.
Richard was dedicated to preserving knowledge and physical reminders of our history. He served on the Boards of Frying Pan Farm Park, the Fairfax Historical Society, and many other local historical organizations. He led the rebuilding and preservation of his thrice-great grandfather Jesse Crouch’s home in Boones Creek, Tennessee. He was the author of Brandy Station: A Battle Like None Other; Rough-Riding Scout: The story of John W. Mobberly, Loudoun’s Own Civil War Guerrilla; and The Virginia Gentleman: A Field Guide, an Owner’s Manual, a History, and a Way of Life.
Join us in person for a day packed with excitement and peace of mind! Our Child Safety Fun event features a cool fair filled with games and activities for the kids, plus a seat check station to make sure the car seats are installed correctly and to ensure your little ones are buckled up safely. It's a perfect chance to have fun and learn some important safety tips. Don’t miss out on this awesome event made just for families!
With two of three postseason swimming-and-diving championship meets now complete, the perennial power Yorktown Patriots girls team has one title and a runner-up finish to its credit.
Yorktown won the Liberty District meet for the ninth straight season. A week later, the four-time defending champions placed second in the 6D North Region tournament.
The Virginia Senate has approved a bill seeking to base presidential election results on the national popular vote rather than the electoral vote.
The Senate passed Sen. Adam Ebbin’s (D-39) national popular vote bill 21-19 on party lines Monday, and the House voted to engross a companion bill and will have a final vote today (Thursday).
A walkout in protest of immigration enforcement is in the works next week at several Arlington Public Schools facilities.
It’s unclear how large or widespread it will be, although tipsters have said action is planned at all major high schools in Arlington on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m., as well as some middle schools at a later time that afternoon.
The county manager’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee is ready to move beyond the planning stage and start impacting policy decisions.
“We have a really good base” to build on, committee chair Samantha Perez said at the organization’s first meeting of 2026.
Sewage Situation Update — “Pumping challenges continue at the damaged Potomac Interceptor. Two pumps clogged w/non-disposable wipes Monday night, causing an overflow & contained on-site. E. coli levels remain elevated at collapse site, downstream levels remain below EPA standards.” [PoPville, Washingtonian, Fox 5]
Registration for Police Camps — “The Arlington County Police Department is excited to kick off Summer 2026 with fun, engaging and educational camp experiences for Arlington youth! Through hands-on activities and positive connections, we’re committed to building skills, confidence and lasting relationships with school-aged members of our community.” [ACPD]
Fairfax Casino Bill Update — “Senate Bill 756, championed by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34), was advanced on a 10-5 vote yesterday (Tuesday) by the chamber’s Finance and Appropriations Committee with a key revision — criteria that limited potential casino sites to Tysons have now been dropped.” [FFXnow]
Inside Compass Coffee’s Failure — “How did a D.C. feel-good story — a company started by two Marines who redirected their military discipline into the coffee business — wind up here, with a mountain of debt, an uncertain future and a contentious legal battle between founders?” [Washington Post]
Dems Tout Affordability Bills — “Lawmakers highlighted House Bill 834 and House Bill 837 by Del. Adele McClure, D-Arlington. The first would require landlords to coordinate with tenants after fire or damages to properties before terminating any leases, preventing residents from abruptly losing housing.” [Virginia Mercury]
Cannabis ER Visits Rise — “Emergency department visits linked to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) have increased nearly 29% over a five-year period in Virginia. According to the VHHA Data Analytics Teams, the annual adult emergency department visits for cases of cannabis abuse, dependence, poisoning diagnoses and CHS rose during the period from 2020-2024.” [WAVY]
Snow Cover Hangs On — “Wednesday morning report of 2 inches snow on the ground at DCA makes 18 straight days of cover. At this depth, it’s now tied for 7th longest streak on record. Longer lasting than snow remnants after historic February 2010 snowstorms!” [CWG/X, NWS/X]
It’s Thursday — Expect to see mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 38 degrees. The northwest wind will be blowing at a speed of 11 to 15 mph, alongside gusts reaching up to 26 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 24 degrees, and a northwest wind blowing at roughly 10 mph. [NWS]
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