An Annandale man is facing numerous charges after a call for suspicious activity in a parking lot led to a big drug bust.
The arrest happened early Monday morning in a parking lot on N. Pierce Street, in the Fort Myer Heights neighborhood near Rosslyn. Police say they saw drug paraphernalia “in plain view” inside a car after responding to the call, and later determined that one of the two occupants had an outstanding warrant.
The Department of Justice has a new list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” that it accuses of impeding federal immigration enforcement — and Arlington isn’t on it.
The Justice Department previously included Arlington on a much longer list of “sanctuary jurisdictions,” which included 19 Virginia counties and 13 cities in the commonwealth and hundreds of others nationwide.
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].
Question: Do you have guidance for choosing a Title Company to work with when buying or selling a home?
Answer: Title companies manage the legal side of the transaction like ensuring buyers have clear ownership after closing, reviewing and recording the deed, issuing title insurance, and preparing paperwork for the buyer and seller to sign at closing. They work in the background of transactions and, usually, the less you hear from them, the better. In the DMV, title companies generally do not represent one party; they are a fiduciary to the transaction (support both parties).
Locally, it is common for buyers to select the title company. Sometimes, a seller may want to use their own firm/attorney and will request a “split settlement” but that is uncommon.
Your Real Estate Agent, But Ask Why
Among the reasons you’d hire an agent should be their network of professionals that support a real estate transaction: title, lending, inspections, contractors, etc.
If you have an agent, they should be the first person you turn to for a title company recommendation. They’ve probably worked with dozens of local firms before and should have a vetted service partner.
It’s perfectly fair to ask your agent why they’re recommending a title company to make sure it’s for the right reasons. Some agents and brokerages benefit financially from doing business with title companies and it’s important that you know if a financial relationship exists.
Fees
Title insurance is typically the largest fee, and rates are set by the insurer, not the title company. Rates are usually similar, so large differences may reflect basic vs. enhanced coverage. Buyers can choose the coverage level; or whether to purchase owner’s title insurance at all.
Discretionary fees charged by the title company usually don’t vary by more than a few hundred dollars. You can always find a cheaper option for title services, but the quality of legal/title support on a real estate transaction may not be a smart place to save a few hundred dollars.
Location
Use a local title company who is familiar with the local real estate and tax practices, not just licensed to practice here. I use a different title company in Northern VA than I do in Washington DC or Maryland.
Office locations matter less than you’d think because most title companies will support virtual (like a Zoom meeting) or mobile (send a notary to you), but most consumers like closing in an office so check where they conduct closings to make sure it’s convenient.
Attorney Experience
Most sales follow a standard, predictable process that inexperienced title companies/attorneys can handle but occasionally something unexpected comes up that requires experience and expertise to resolve. If problems do surface, having access to an experienced local title attorney makes a big difference in keeping a deal on track and reducing the risk, stress, and effort of all parties.
No Return to SROs — “Today, two school systems around the region still operate without [School Resource Officers]. In Arlington County, there’s no consideration being made to bring them back. “We have 50 or 51 really well trained school safety coordinators, and their focus is on building positive relationships with students and staff,” said Bethany Zecher Sutton, who chairs the Arlington School Board. She said leaders of that program are former SROs.” [WTOP]
Back to School Soon — “Summer will soon wrap up for students around Arlington. The first day of school in Arlington Public Schools for K-12 students is Monday, Aug. 25, with PreK & VPI starting on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The 2025-2026 school year will include the introduction of a new cellphone policy.” [Patch]
Fmr. Gov. Teaching at GMU — “The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University welcomes former Virginia governor Robert F. (Bob) McDonnell to the faculty as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Practice. A seasoned public servant with a deep background in law, governance, business, law enforcement, and military service, McDonnell brings nearly 4 decades of practical experience to one of the nation’s most dynamic public policy schools.” [GMU]
Frozen Cocktail Destinations — “Top off the summer season and chill out with creative frozen cocktails. Scroll on, sweet tooths and fruit fans, for the area’s best takes on coladas, daiquiris, margaritas and the almighty frosé. Cool your heels with these slushy sippers.” [Arlington Magazine]
Cool Start to August — “From Aug. 1-5, the average high temperature was 82 degrees, a bit past half a degree below our last cool start to August in 2023. In fact, the five-day average is the coolest since 1985, when the same stretch was 81.4 degrees… These weather good times won’t last. The 90s are set to return next week.” [CWG]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies, reaching a high of around 82 degrees, accompanied by an east wind blowing at approximately 10 mph. The wind may pick up, gusting as high as 22 mph. As the night sets in, it will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to about 65 degrees. The east wind will slow down to around 5 to 8 mph. [NWS]
Please join us in congratulating Benny Mirpuri, owner of Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repair at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, on reaching an incredible 35 years in business.
For three and a half decades, Benny has proudly served the Pentagon City and surrounding communities, providing quality jewelry and watch repair services along with the exceptional customer service that has made Fast-Fix a trusted local business.
Good Wednesday 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 — Aug 6, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect mostly sunny skies, reaching a high of around 82 degrees, accompanied by an east wind blowing at approximately 10 mph. The wind may pick up, gusting as high as 22 mph. As the night sets in, it will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to about 65 degrees. The east wind will slow down to around 5 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Equality Arlington’s Coming Out Day Celebration is Sunday, October 11th (National Coming Out Day) from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Lyon Village Community House (1920 N Highland St, Arlington, VA)! Join us for: Arlingtonians sharing coming out stories, Live music, Food, and Sharing your story in our “coming out closet”.
Suggested donation is $15 a person. Please RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/EAComingOutRSVP. If you need a free ticket, email [email protected].
The Arlington County Police Department is asking for the public’s help in investigating dozens of traffic signs vandalized with anti-fascist graffiti.
The wave of vandalism incidents, many of which involve the word “fascism” written under the word “stop,” has been going on for months — at a significant cost to taxpayers, according to local officials.
Arlington’s unemployment rate continued its upward trajectory in June, reaching a 55% year-over-year increase, according to new data.
A total of 5,247 county residents were reported as seeking work that month, according to state data released earlier this week. That’s up from the 3,380 residents reported as unemployed in June 2024, and up from 5,061 recorded in May of this year.
New technology is helping Arlington County keep track of the millions of times that bicyclists and pedestrians use local trails and bridges throughout the year.
An updated online dashboard in partnership with the French firm Eco Counter includes a running tally of pedestrians and bicyclists that pass by 35 sites on trails countywide.
By ASHRAF KHALIL Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Washington, D.C.-area statues commemorating the Confederacy will be restored and replaced, in line with President Donald Trump’s pushback on recent efforts to reframe America’s historical narrative.
Five days of live entertainment, family-friendly fun and, of course, food-eating contests kick off next week with the start of the 49th annual Arlington County Fair.
Starting next Wednesday, Aug. 13, and lasting through Sunday, Aug. 17, this year’s fair at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd Street S.) includes a relocated beer garden and a new partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Registration is now open for Rosslyn Fall Fest, returning to the NOW pop-up park (1401 Wilson Blvd) on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 1 to 6 p.m. Expanded this year onto Oak Street, the FREE event will transform Arlington’s most urban neighborhood into a seasonal destination featuring an inflatable corn maze, local makers market, seasonal beer garden, live music, and fall-themed experiences for all ages to enjoy.
Attendees can explore a curated market of local makers and artisans, enjoy ciders and seasonal brews in the beer garden, navigate an inflatable corn maze, test their skills at inflatable axe throwing, and take part in pumpkin-themed activities and other fall experiences. Food vendors, live music, and dog-friendly programming round out the afternoon.
