The Arlington County Board has requested more study on possible increases to towing rates before making a decision.
Board members unanimously rejected a staff and advisory-panel recommendation to hold a November public hearing and potentially increase maximum towing rates from the current $155 ($135 plus $20 surcharge) to as much as $210.
Rosslyn Office Building Sells — “Velocis sold 1530 Wilson Blvd. for $28 million, less than half its 2020 price. Douglas Development affiliates purchased the 78% leased Rosslyn office building. The 10-story building houses tenants including SAS, Blue Origin, and Cailabs.” [WBJ]
More on ‘No Kings’ Protest — ”Everyone out here is an unpaid protester who came because they love the United States of America,’ said Maria Powers of We of Action Virginia, which organized Saturday’s overpass protests. ‘They are patriots who say, ‘I love the Constitution.’ I love the fact that we have rules that reign supreme here and we don’t bow down to any dictators, to any kings.'” [Patch]
Va. State Race Recap — “The Virginia governor’s race was supposed to be the marquee contest of 2025, a historic showdown between two women who national Democrats and Republicans alike hope can rally their parties into next year’s congressional midterms. But two downballot contests keep stealing the limelight in unpredictable ways.” [Washington Post]
Drug Take-Back Day Locations — “The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) fall National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will take place on Saturday, October 25… Arlington County offers four permanent drug take-back boxes where community members can anonymously dispose of prescription medications for free.” [ACPD]
Amazon Web Services Disruption — “The far-reaching Amazon Web Services outage that crippled some financial services, retail sales, video games, airlines and more throughout Monday is being traced to the company’s data center cluster in Northern Virginia. Popular sites and apps were struggling to recover Monday afternoon from the stubborn outage.” [WBJ, Axios]
ARLnow Affected By AWS Issue — ARLnow’s social media posts, email newsletters and event calendar approvals, among other online functions, were delayed by yesterday’s major Amazon issues. Full service was restored by Monday evening. [ARLnow/X]
La Niña Is Back — “With winter fast approaching, the recent declaration that La Niña has officially arrived may leave Washingtonians wondering what the climate pattern will mean locally. The answer may not thrill snow lovers. During La Niñas, the prevailing storm track usually runs north of Washington. That tends to pull in milder air during storms, leading to more wintry mixes or rain instead of snow.” [CWG]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 71 degrees, accompanied by a south wind ranging from 5 to 11 mph and gusts reaching 22 mph. Tonight, there is a 40% chance of showers before 2 am; however, the mostly cloudy skies will gradually clear with a low of around 49 degrees. The west wind will be around 7 mph. [NWS]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A will is only one part of a comprehensive estate plan. Depending on your circumstances, you may also benefit from:
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.
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.
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
Good Monday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Oct 20, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high of 71 degrees, accompanied by a south wind ranging from 5 to 11 mph and gusts reaching 22 mph. Tonight, there is a 40% chance of showers before 2 am; however, the mostly cloudy skies will gradually clear with a low of around 49 degrees. The west wind will be around 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails to always reach your destination.”
– Jimmy Dean
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.
A soccer season that began with uncertainty when two standout players unexpectedly did not return has become yet another significant winning campaign for the Bishop O’Connell Knights.
The girls high-school team began the week in first place in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference with a 6-0-1 mark with five shutouts, and stood 10-1-1 overall. O’Connell is expected to be the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
*Mamistad Groups meet IN PERSON-only the introductory Zoom call is virtual. :)
Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for.
Update 2/20/26: The felony charge has been dropped, but the driver was found guilty of two misdemeanors: assault and battery and property damage under $1,000. He has received a suspended six-month sentence.
A 58-year-old Arlington man is in jail after police say he purposely struck a bicyclist with his car following an argument.
Arlington officials have added online resources in support of county residents impacted by the ongoing federal shutdown.
The updates include links to local, state and federal supports for those impacted since Oct. 1 as either federal workers of contractors. Tens of thousands of federal workers live or work in Arlington, one of the highest concentrations in the D.C. area.
Changes are coming to a longtime pizzeria and American restaurant in Courthouse.
The family that had owned Fire Works Pizza since 2010 is departing, having passed the torch to local restaurateur Fitzgerald Lewis earlier this month. The entrepreneur, whose resume also includes the Clarendon restaurants Green Pig Bistro and Buena Vida, intends to refresh the 15-year-old restaurant with new furnishings and a new name next year.
Someone who was helping a motorist change a tire on the side of I-395 in Arlington was struck and seriously injured by a passing driver.
The incident happened early Friday morning (Oct. 17), around 12:45 a.m., near the Pentagon and the Route 1 interchange.
A fast casual Middle Eastern restaurant is now open on Restaurant Row after relocating from Water Park.
Falafel Inc opened last week at 500 23rd Street S. after departing its previous Crystal City kiosk at 1601 Crystal Drive. The D.C.-based chain, known for its affordability and award-winning falafel, replaces a bank that closed in 2023.
