RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia gubernatorial candidates Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger faced off Thursday for the first and only time on the debate stage in a fiery affair that was combative from the very first answer.
Earle-Sears, perceived by operatives in both parties to be trailing, went on the offensive throughout the hourlong clash, interrupting almost every one of Spanberger’s answers and referring to the congresswoman only by her first name.
Good Thursday 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 9, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high near 65, with northeast winds at 6 to 9 mph shifting to the southeast in the afternoon. Friday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 53 and southeast winds at 3 to 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Be like a lotus. Let the beauty of your heart speak.”
– Amit Ray
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.
This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at [email protected].
On Friday, I learned that the house fire at the Hyde Park condominium in Ballston was the home of my friend, Greg, his wife Caroline, and their beloved dog, Maisie. I’m sure you saw it in Wednesday’s ARLnow news cycle.
Greg and Caroline were not home when the fire occurred, but they tragically lost their dog Maisie, a loss that overshadows the loss of their personal belongings.
A Bit About Maisie
Maisie lived in the Ballston neighborhood since she was born almost six years ago. She loved meeting old friends and new, between her walks at home and her frequent training walks in Old Town, she had more than either of her parents did. She loved every dog and cat and person she ever met, but she never got over her mistrust of squirrels. She will be missed as much as she was loved.
Support Lost Dog Rescue in Honor of Maisie
Please consider donating to Arlington’s Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation in Maisie’s memory.
Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and is an exemplary nonprofit that helps homeless pets find their way to loving homes through rescue and adoption.
There is nothing Greg and Caroline would appreciate more than knowing that Maisie’s memory is helping support the well-being of other dogs and cats.
Leave a Kind Word for Greg and Caroline
If you would like to share well wishes with Greg and Caroline, please leave a comment, and I’ll make sure it gets back to them.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Heather Campbell lost her job working for a food bank over the summer because of federal funding cuts. Her husband serves as an officer in the Air Force, but now he’s facing the prospect of missing his next paycheck because of the government shutdown.
If lawmakers in Washington don’t step in, Campbell’s husband won’t get paid on Wednesday. Because the couple lacks the savings to cover all their expenses, they expect to survive on credit cards to pay the mortgage and feed their three children, racking up debt as the political stalemate drags on.
Wine & Food Tasting Event at Arrowine, Saturday, August 15, 1- 4 p.m.
Summer adventures are calling — whether you’re packing up for the Beach, escaping to the Shenandoah Mountains, planning a picnic, or heading out for a romantic night of music at Wolf Trap. And if you want those moments to be stress‑free, delicious, and perfectly paired, we’ve got just the tasting for you.
Another “No Kings” day of action will involve several Arlington demonstrations next week, including a march into D.C. and a Ballston protest led by local seniors.
Over 1,500 people have already signed up for the latest wave of anti-Trump demonstrations in Arlington, part of over 2,000 protests planned nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 18, organizers told ARLnow.
*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.
The annual Army Ten-Miler race is still taking place this weekend despite the government shutdown.
The race with over 28,000 registered participants will take place as scheduled at 8 a.m. on Sunday — beginning and ending, as usual, at the Pentagon, the U.S. Army announced in a press release today.
Ruthie’s All-Day and Our Mom Eugenia made it in The Washington Post’s new “40 Best Restaurants in and Around D.C.” list.
Departing Post food critic Tom Sietsema featured the two restaurants in his annual list of the top 40 restaurants across D.C., Maryland and Virginia, which came out yesterday (Wednesday).
The owners of a small wine bar and restaurant in Ballston are closing their doors for good this month, citing rising operating costs, flagging sales and a struggling region-wide economy.
Pirouette Cafe & Wine Shop’s last day of service is Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4000 Fairfax Drive, owners Jackie and Philippe Loustaunau announced on social media and in an email to customers yesterday (Wednesday).
A week of countywide dining deals kicks off on Monday with the return of the annual Arlington Restaurant Week.
Over 80 Arlington restaurants plan to offer discounts, specials and prix fixe meals from Oct. 13-20 as part of the yearly promotion by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Participants range from fast-casual to formal dining and include local favorites like The Italian Store.
County election officials have concluded that Long Bridge Park won’t work as an early-voting site for the 2028 presidential election, and they’re working to identify alternatives.
The county government’s fitness and aquatics center at the park was used as one of three early-voting locations in 2024 but “ended up serving fewer voters than expected,” election officials said in a draft strategic plan currently out for public review.
