The median rental cost for an Arlington apartment is down 0.9% year-over-year, according to new data, paralleling a slight nationwide decrease.
The county’s apartments remain among the most expensive in major urban areas outside California.
Flyover Planned This Morning — From AlertDC: “The United States Military will conduct a flyover in the National Capitol Region at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 11:05 AM.”
Data Center Power Usage — “Data centers and AI are gobbling up electricity, but the share differs significantly by state. Between 2010 and 2025, data centers went from less than 5% to roughly 40% of Virginia’s electricity consumption.” [Derek Thompson/X]
Shutdown Shakes Up Va. Races — “The federal government shutdown — and the escalating battle over which party bears the most blame — has injected a major new question mark into the governor’s race in Virginia, home to hundreds of thousands of federal workers… The state is home to more than 300,000 federal workers — more than any other state but Maryland. That reality means anxiety over government shutdowns and their economic fallout runs especially deep in northern Virginia’s densely populated suburbs.” [CNN]
Top of Ticket Spending Down — “Republican nominee and current Lt. Gov Winsome Earle-Sears and Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger are making their final pushes to voters before they fill out their ballots. Even with the historic implications, total fundraising for this gubernatorial race is substantially down from other recent elections, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.” [Virginia Mercury]
Gov. Touts Efficiency Gains — “We are CUTTING RED-TAPE and REDUCING COSTS for Virginia families and businesses! Our best-in-class regulatory reform efforts have set a gold standard for the Nation. Over $1.275 million in saving each year for Virginians. Less government bureaucracy, saving you time and money!” [Gov. Glenn Youngkin/X]
‘Suspicious Person’ Arrest — “The male suspect allegedly jumped over the fences of residences in the 400 block of S. Edgewood Street. A lookout was broadcast, and responding officers observed the suspect exiting a residence in the 300 block of S. Fillmore Street where they detained him following a brief struggle. During a search incident to arrest, brass knuckles were recovered.” [ACPD]
Local Woman’s Sake Shop — “Arlington resident Reiko Hirai started her online shop, DC Sake cō, with a grand plan to introduce the DMV to the wide world of sake. “I have a personal mission to bring sake to everyone,” she says. “My dream would be for everyone to one day say, ‘Honey, are we having beer, wine or sake tonight?’” The Kyoto native sells all sorts of hard-to-find sake and Japanese beverages.” [Arlington Magazine]
Coming to Potomac Yard — “The longest-standing vacancy at Potomac Yard Center has been filled. Ulta Beauty Inc. will replace Dressbarn, which closed its location at 3501 Richmond Highway in 2019 along with all 650 of the retailer’s locations. The 9,700-square-foot storefront is listed “at lease” on Willard Retail’s Potomac Yard Center brochure, but Ulta confirms it is opening there, with a planned debut in spring 2026.” [WBJ]
New Legal Notice — Establishment seeks restaurant/caterer alcohol license. Objections are due within 30 days. [Public Notices]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 70 degrees, accompanied by an east wind around 8 mph. Thursday night will see partly cloudy conditions with a low around 52 degrees. [NWS]
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.
USCIS administers immigration benefits. In the time-honored tradition of government agencies since the days of Ur and Uruk, USCIS uses forms to collect, store, and interpret information. Immigrants complete these forms in order to obtain benefits. Most U.S. citizens have no idea what reams of paperwork these forms require. An ordinary green card application is comprised of ninety-seven pages of bare forms, which typically are supported by several hundred pages of supporting documents.
In better times, forms are a necessary evil. In the times we actually live in, forms are just another weapon with which to thwack your political opponents.
In the second iteration of the Trump Administration, USCIS has discovered a new, extremely petty way to make immigrants’ lives more difficult – by releasing new form versions which make utterly minute changes, and then decrees that yesterday’s official version is obsolete as of today.
The Office of Management and Budget, by the way, requires that all government forms have an ‘edition date’ and an ‘expiration date.’ USCIS evades this neatly by making the expiration date purely notional – the form can be valid after the expiration date, and it can be decreed obsolete at any time before or after the expiration date. (The edition date is notional, too – in the first months of the Trump Administration, USCIS persistently released forms backdated to January 20, 2025, seemingly just for the inaugural vibes.) The forms altered in the last two weeks are highlighted below.
- Form G-28. Four pages, stating that a lawyer represents you.
- Form G-28. Four more pages, stating that the same lawyer represents your spouse.
- Form I-130. A twelve-page biographical survey of you, the U.S. citizen.
- Form I-130A. A six-page biographical survey of your spouse.
- Form I-131. A fourteen-page request for permission to travel while the government thinks about whether to grant the green card application.
- Form I-485. A twenty-four pager. This is the green card application itself. It repeats all of the biographical detail from Forms I-130 and I-130A.
- Form I-693. A fourteen-page list of certifications concerning your health and fitness. (No, your family doctor can’t do it for you – you have to go to someone called a Designated Civil Surgeon.)
- Form I-765. A seven-page request for a work permit while the government thinks about whether to grant your green card application.
- Form I-864. A twelve-page contract in which you (the U.S. citizen) promise to repay the government for welfare benefits, if your spouse draws on them, and in which you further promise to keep your spouse above the poverty line. (more…)
Good Wednesday 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 — Oct 1, 2025.
- 12:05 am: JUST IN: Government shutdown begins, with federal layoffs and economic impacts expected | 🗣️ Comments
- 7:30 am: Morning Notes for October 1, 2025 | 🗣️ Comments
- 8:30 am: What happens now that a government shutdown is underway? | 🗣️ Comments
- 9:15 am: Falls Church officials seek to overhaul design of city website | 🗣️ Comments
- 10:00 am: Housing panel seeks more local autonomy to tackle affordability in Arlington | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:45 am: Oktoberfest celebrations happening this weekend at restaurant in Crystal City | 🗣️ Comments
- 1:45 pm: NEW: Police still looking for car chase suspect who leaped from 14th Street Bridge | 🗣️ Comments
- 2:45 pm: ‘Maman’ French-inspired cafe plans Courthouse debut later this month | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:45 pm: Enforcement issues in Montgomery County could inform gas-powered leaf blower ban in Arlington | 🗣️ Comments
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
- 10:30 am: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
- 11:30 am: Tunes & Treats
- 12:00 pm: Resource Pop Up
- 1:00 pm: Mid-Day Flow with Spenga
- 2:00 pm: Pokémon in Real Life
- 3:30 pm: CrossFit Teens trial
- 3:30 pm: Cozy Crafts
- 5:00 pm: MoCA on the Move at Met Park: Fall Art Series – Tissue Paper Marigolds
- 5:30 pm: Kids CARE Club: Happy Howl-O-Ween
- 6:30 pm: Gentle Yoga
- 7:00 pm: Art Night: Try Printmaking! Block Carving and Printing at Art House 7
☀️ Thursday’s forecast
Expect sunny skies and a high near 70 degrees accompanied by an east wind around 8 mph. Thursday night will see partly cloudy conditions with a low around 52 degrees. The east wind at around 5 mph will become calm in the evening. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“There is nothing permanent except change.”
– Heraclitus
🌅 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.
Ever Wanted to Duel with a Sword or Hit a Bullseye? Fall Registration Is Open at Nova Fencing & Arch
There’s something a little bit magical about picking up a foil for the first time — or drawing back a bow and watching your arrow fly true. It’s why fencing and archery have such a hold on kids and adults alike: real focus, real skill, and a thrill you don’t get from the usual sports lineup.
This fall, Nova Fencing & Archery Club in Bailey’s Crossroads is opening registration for both, with beginner classes for every age starting the week of September 12th. Fencing welcomes ages 7 to 12 and teens and adults 13 and up. Explore Archery, coached by USA Archery certified instructors, welcomes ages 8 to 12 and meets Tuesdays or Saturdays. And for our youngest fencers, ages 4 to 6, ABC’s of Fencing meets on Saturdays. All classes run eight sessions for $195, equipment provided, no experience needed — yes, even for grown-ups who’ve never held a sword or a bow before.
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As Arlington County staff research a possible ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, they may take some lessons from a nearby jurisdiction’s struggles with a similar prohibition.
A ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in Montgomery County went into effect July 1, threatening $500 citations if someone is photographed using the noisy and environmentally unfriendly devices. Recently, however, that county’s leaders have been rethinking ways to enforce the ban while respecting people’s privacy.
Add to Calendar
Join us as Signature Theatre joins MoCA Arlington to create a space for mingling, art-making, and discovery! Guests can move through the galleries and enjoy a range of programmed activities, including:
Vintage rack hosted by local sellers — Nicole Lanteri Designs + Thrifted To Be Here
Shop curated selections of vintage art, homewares, clothing and jewelry. A mix of styles, eras + price points!
The first Arlington location of the French-inspired cafe chain Maman is expected to open in Courthouse within the next few weeks.
The New York City-based franchise is preparing to open on the ground floor of The Commodore apartments at 2055 15th Street N., in the corner retail bay next to YogaSix. It hopes to serve its first customers by the end of the month, co-owner Elisa Marshall told ARLnow.
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Update on 10/14/25: The suspect was found dead in the river, according to Virginia State Police.
Earlier: An early morning car chase today ended with the suspect jumping from the 14th Street Bridge, landing on a catwalk and making an escape, police say.
With October finally here, a restaurant in Crystal City is transforming its outdoor patio and park space into an Oktoberfest-themed beer garden this weekend.
Festivities at Surreal will include long, communal picnic tables, refreshment kiosks and a central entertainment stage where DJs and live music will play throughout the day. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the celebration, which promises an “authentic beer selection,” live music, games and festival food.
Arlington’s Housing Commission is seeking more local leeway in addressing affordable housing and new formulas for determining the number of affordable units in new projects.
Commission Chair Kellen MacBeth included these recommendations in a letter to the County Board following a review of policies by the Affordable Housing Ordinance working group established earlier this year. County leaders are currently developing legislative priorities for the 2026 General Assembly session.
Falls Church city leaders are working to update a government website that they acknowledge has fallen behind the times.
Poor functionality on mobile devices, broken links and outdated information and contacts currently plague the website, according to Joshua Surprenant, who joined the communications staff in April and has been tasked with dissecting the site’s strengths and weaknesses.
Pentagon MMA has brought a special honor home to Arlington from the birthplace of Muay Thai.
The Arlington Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu Academy is now officially a certified and registered Muay Thai Gym Partner through the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, making Pentagon MMA the only Muay Thai academy on the East Coast to have earned this distinction.