News

Arlington Democrats are turning their attention to attempts to help the national party take back the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in 2026.

“We do have our work cut out for us,” said Kip Malinosky, a former chair of the Arlington County Democratic Committee who chairs its “Beyond Arlington” initiative.


News
Leaf collection begins in Dominion Hills (courtesy anonymous)

Beyer on Reopening Vote — Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) on Tuesday told ARLnow he expects today’s expected vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to reopen the federal government will pass with all Republicans and perhaps a handful of Democrats supporting it. At a Veterans Day event in Clarendon, Beyer confirmed he will vote against the measure. —Scott McCaffrey 

Ballston Eatery Opening — “An organic eatery encouraging diners to “eat positive” is opening soon in Ballston. Life Alive Cafe intends to open on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 818 N. Quincy Street… The first 100 customers on opening day will receive “beautifully branded gift bags featuring signature goodies, special offers, and surprises from a local partner,” according to a press release.” [ARLnow]

Arlington AI Acquisition — “Arlington-based AI cloud computing company Corvex Inc. said Monday it is merging with Pleasanton, California’s Movano Inc. in an all-stock deal that will create a public company… Movano is best known as the maker of the Evie Ring, a wearable health care device.” [WBJ]

Local Man Arrested for Threats — “The Oxford Police Department has arrested a Virginia man in connection with terroristic threats made against a local pharmacy. According to police, the investigation began on Sept. 30 after the department received a report from the pharmacy’s security team about threats posted on X (formerly Twitter) by an anonymous user. After more than a month of investigation, authorities identified the suspect as [a] 21-year-old… of Arlington, Virginia.” [Oxford Eagle]

History Made on Election Day — “More than three decades after she last ran for office, Mary Sue Terry sat in front of the television on the farm where she grew up and watched Abigail Spanberger make the history she was denied. It took only an hour after polls closed Tuesday for Spanberger, a Democrat, to be declared the first woman elected governor of Virginia. Terry almost achieved that milestone in 1993.” [Washington Post]

Northern Lights Tonight — “SEVERE geomagnetic storms are likely Wednesday, November 12, 2025 due to the arrival of multiple coronal mass ejections, or CMEs. Widespread displays of the aurora borealis are possible across the northern United States and Canada!” [MyRadar/X]

Lights Seen Last Night — “Some faint color is currently visible from Arlington due to the geomagnetic storm. Point your phone north to see it.” [ARLnow/X]

Doug Predicts Snowy Winter — “If you’re a fan of snow, Storm Team4 says this could be your year. If you’re not a fan of snow … you may want to start bracing yourself now ahead of this winter in the D.C. area… Storm Team4 is predicting somewhere in the range of 13″ to 20″ of snow for the D.C. metro area, and much more for our neighbors to the west.” [NBC 4]

New Legal Notice — Restaurant applies for on/off-premises alcohol license; objections due 30 days. [Public Notices]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high around 58 degrees, with southwest winds of 10 to 13 mph shifting to west in the afternoon and gusts up to 24 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 39 degrees and west winds of 6-9 mph. [NWS]


Sponsored

No matter your age, having a will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family. A properly prepared will ensures your wishes are carried out, helps reduce family disputes, and can make the estate administration process much smoother.

Unfortunately, many Virginians make avoidable mistakes that can create unnecessary stress and expense for their loved ones. Here are five of the most common.

1. Trying to Write a Will Without Legal Guidance

Online templates and DIY wills may seem like an easy way to save money, but they often create bigger problems later. Virginia law has specific requirements for a valid will, including proper signatures and witness requirements. Even small mistakes can leave a will open to challenges or delay the administration of an estate.

2. Forgetting to Update Your Will

A will shouldn’t be something you create once and forget. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, buying a home, or losing a loved one can all affect your estate plan.

Reviewing your will every few years—or after a major life event—helps ensure it still reflects your wishes and keeps your loved ones protected.

3. Overlooking Federal Estate Tax Planning

Virginia no longer has a state estate tax, but federal estate taxes may still affect larger estates. As home values and investments continue to grow, more families may find themselves closer to the federal exemption than they expected.

Planning ahead can help minimize tax consequences and preserve more of your estate for your beneficiaries.

4. Not Planning for Minor Children

For parents, a will does more than distribute assets—it allows you to name a guardian for your minor children. Without that designation, a court may ultimately decide who will care for them.

Many families also choose to establish a trust so inherited assets can be managed responsibly until children reach an age or milestone they determine is appropriate.

5. Choosing the Wrong Executor—or Not Naming One at All

Your executor is responsible for carrying out your wishes, paying debts, and distributing your assets. Selecting someone who is organized, trustworthy, and capable of handling those responsibilities is just as important as deciding who inherits your property.

It’s also essential to clearly identify your beneficiaries. Vague language or outdated information can create confusion and, in some cases, disputes among family members.

Don’t Forget the Rest of Your Estate Plan

A will is only one part of a comprehensive estate plan. Depending on your circumstances, you may also benefit from:

  • A revocable living trust
  • A durable power of attorney
  • An advance medical directive
  • A transfer-on-death deed for your home

Together, these documents can help protect your finances, outline your healthcare wishes, and simplify matters for your family if you’re ever unable to make decisions yourself.

The Bottom Line

A well-prepared estate plan provides peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. By avoiding these common mistakes and keeping your documents up to date, you can help ensure your wishes are honored while reducing stress for your family in the future.

If it’s been several years since you’ve reviewed your will—or you’ve never created one—it may be time to speak with an experienced Virginia estate planning attorney about your options.

PJI Law, PLC: Estate Planning Attorneys in Fairfax, VA

At PJI Law, PLC, we work with clients across Fairfax and Northern Virginia to build estate plans that reflect their intentions and align with Virginia law. Our estate planning attorneys take the time to review your assets, beneficiary designations, business interests, and family structure so your plan works as intended.

Whether you’re creating your first will or revisiting an existing one, our team will help you avoid the mistakes that can undermine your entire estate plan.

Call (703) 865-6100 or contact us online to schedule your complimentary consultation today.

PJI Law, PLC
3900 Jermantown Rd, 2nd Floor
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(703) 865-6100
https://pjilaw.com


News

Elected leaders at the local, state and federal levels used a Veterans Day event in Arlington to press for more support for those who have served and are serving their country, and for their families, as well.

“We need to take care of them,” said Rep. Don Beyer, attending the annual ceremony sponsored by John Lyon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3150 and held at the Clarendon War Memorial.


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Sports

Bursting on the high-school cross-country scene by winning her first race as an unknown sophomore runner in early September, Molly Hardwick continues to prove she is no fluke.

The Yorktown High School harrier capped the 2025 campaign with probably her biggest accomplishment and against the toughest competition Saturday (Nov. 8) — a runner-up finish in the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 girls state championship meet.


Around Town

Good Monday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Nov 10, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

☁️ Tuesday’s forecast

Unfortunately, there was an error with the forecast. In order to provide accurate information, the forecast should be added manually. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
– Maya Angelou

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.


News

The search and seizure of a cell phone belonging to an Arlington activist has set off a tug-of-war involving Arlington’s top prosecutor and state and federal authorities.

As partial allies in the legal action, seeking to limit an investigation of the phone belonging to 66-year-old retired academic Barbara Wien, are Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti and Wien’s attorney, former Chief Public Defender Brad Haywood.


News

Arlington County police are investigating gunfire early Sunday morning in the Hall’s Hill neighborhood.

The shot rang out around 3:30 a.m., according to an ACPD crime report, but no one was hurt and no damage was reported. While investigating, police arrested a Maryland man on drug related charges.


Sports

A cross-country season that began strong and seldom faltered finished with the Bishop O’Connell Knights boys cross-country team winning the Division I private-school state championship for the first time since 2000.

Improving from fifth place in last year’s meet, the Knights brought home the title Nov. 6 on the 5,000-meter Panorama Farms course near Charlottesville. O’Connell finished ahead of second place and defending state champion Potomac School.


Sports

Although they didn’t win, the Wakefield Warriors ended their high-school football season on a high note of sorts.

By rallying late in a 35-32 home loss to the McLean Highlanders in Liberty District action Nov. 7, the Warriors scored the most points in a contest during their seven-game losing streak.