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Gov. Glenn Youngkin (right) with President Trump at White House ceremony (via White House)
Unemployment claims in Northern Virginia rose 7.1% between January and February, new data shows — offering a first glimpse of the impacts of mass federal layoffs.
A total of 53,394 people in the region were counted as unemployed and looking for work in February as sweeping job cuts began going into effect.
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: Why would anybody waste thousands of dollars each year on condo fees?
Answer: Most people associate paying condo fees with throwing money down the drain, but most people do not look at condo fees the right way.
In this June 20 article, the Wall Street Journal reported a study by Angi (formerly Angie’s List) that home maintenance and emergency repairs have increased by 85% and 175%, respectively, from 2019 to 2025.
By comparison, condo fees in Arlington increased by an average of just 32% from 2019 to 2025, making them a steep bargain for condo owners compared to other homeowners.
What Do Condo Fees Pay For?
For those who haven’t spent time studying condo budgets, some of the main expenses in a condo budget include:
Maintenance, Emergency Repairs, and Utilities: general upkeep and operations of the building
Reserves: a building’s savings account for major repairs or replacement of things like the roof, elevators, carpet, etc
Property Management/Staff: contracts for a property manager, front desk, janitorial services, and engineer
Master Insurance: this policy usually protects everything except your personal items and improvements within each unit
The U.S. Marshals Service makes an arrest near the Ballston Metro station (video courtesy anonymous)
A man wanted in two jurisdictions by federal authorities was taken into custody in Ballston earlier this week.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Service arrested 22-year-old Tyler Jordan Clendenen on Tuesday, mere feet from the entrance to the Ballston Metro station.
An American Disposal truck in Northern Virginia (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Falls Church City Council members appear as divided as ever on how costs for trash collection in single-family neighborhoods should be funded.
At a Monday work session, Council members split almost down the middle on whether to shift to a fee-for-service model or to stick with funding weekly trash services through the city. More specifically, they are still debating whether they can work out details in the few weeks remaining before the city’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget is due for adoption.
Join us for a special Movie Night on the Pike as we transform Arlington Mill into an outdoor World Cup watch party!
Watch the FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals on a giant screen alongside neighbors from around the globe while enjoying the excitement, energy, and community spirit that make Columbia Pike one of the most diverse places in the region.
A wet bench near the East Falls Church Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington Students Celebrate Ovi — “Hundreds of students (895 to be exact) from Arlington elementary schools packed stands to cheer on newly-crowned National Hockey League (NHL) goals leader Alex Ovechkin instead of sitting in their classrooms Wednesday morning. The special practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington comes just a few days after Ovechkin scored goal number 895, breaking the NHL’s career goals record.” [DC News Now]
Feds Investigate DCA Incident — “A federal investigation is focusing on an air traffic control communications breakdown that led to a formation of military jets coming within seconds of colliding with a Delta Air Lines flight near Reagan National Airport, multiple sources told CNN. The March 28 incident was in the same crowded Washington, DC, airspace that was the site of January’s fatal midair collision between a commercial flight and an Army helicopter.” [CNN]
Horses for Funerals, Again — “The Army will soon begin limited use of horse-drawn caissons for funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, phasing in the long-held tradition after nearly two years of work to improve the care of the horses. Starting June 2, the caissons will be used for two funerals per day, up to 10 per week, the Army said. The decision comes as the Army struggles to improve training, get better equipment and facilities and rebuild the stable of horses after two died in 2022 due to poor feed and living conditions.” [Associated Press]
Beyer Blasts Trump Tariffs — “Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today ripped the ‘logic’ of President Trump’s insane tariff regime to shreds today during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Trump’s trade policy with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer… ‘It hurts our alliances, it is hurting our economy, it hurts our ability to make and keep free trade agreements.'” [Press Release]
Passover Food Options — “Passover—aka Pesach—is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the end of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt. This year’s holiday runs from April 12-20… Find full Passover meals, a la carte dishes and delicious desserts at these local spots.” [Arlington Magazine]
Closures for Pentagon City Event — “The 2025 Pink in the Park: Art of Pink event will take place at Metropolitan Park on Friday, April 11, 2025. Set-up for the event will begin at approximately 6:00 a.m. on Friday, and the event will be open Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. The following road will be closed from approximately 6:00 a.m. on Friday, April 11 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.” [ACPD]
It’s Thursday — Expect showers mainly after 2pm, with cloudy skies and temperatures reaching up to 57°F. Southeast winds will range from 6-10 mph, gusting up to 20 mph, with a 60% chance of precipitation. Rainfall amounts will be less than a tenth of an inch. Thursday night will bring rain, lows around 47°F, east winds of 7-10 mph, and a 90% chance of precipitation. Rainfall amounts will be between a quarter and half of an inch. [NWS]
Expect showers mainly after 2pm, with cloudy skies and temperatures reaching up to 57°F. Southeast winds will range from 6-10 mph, gusting up to 20 mph, and a 60% chance of precipitation. New rainfall amounts will be less than a tenth of an inch. Thursday night will bring rain, lows around 47°F, east winds of 7-10 mph, and a 90% chance of precipitation. Rainfall amounts will be between a quarter and half of an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
The Falls Church shopping center with over 120 family-owned businesses relies heavily on sales of imported goods from Vietnam, China and numerous other countries that have ridden an economic rollercoaster over the past week.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order (via White House)
At least for the time being, a new executive order on election matters is unlikely to impact Arlington.
Virginia “already does” many of the things included in the executive order that President Donald Trump signed on March 25, county registrar Gretchen Reinemeyer said.
The arrest of Badar Khan Suri on March 17 (via ACLU Virginia/Instagram)
A Georgetown fellow arrested in Rosslyn last month remains in immigration custody and is getting treated as a “high-security” detainee, new court filings say.
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian citizen detained on the basis of his and his family’s ties to Palestine, has variously been denied food, a bed, clean clothing and contact with his family since March 17, his lawyers said in a federal court filing yesterday (Tuesday).
