News

A Georgetown scholar living in Rosslyn has been detained by immigration authorities, prompting an outcry, including from Arlington’s congressman.

The arrest happened Monday night at the Rosslyn home of Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national, as first reported by Politico. It has continued the national debate about the intersection of free speech and immigration, which started with the arrest of a pro-Palestinian Columbia graduate student.


News

Arlington County’s water pipes are receiving their annual cleaning starting next week, bringing temporary changes to tap water’s taste and odor.

Starting Monday and continuing through May 5, tap water will be treated with chlorine instead of chloramine “to clean water mains and clear them of any flow issues.”


Sponsored

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.

1. Trying to Write a Will Without Legal Guidance

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.

2. Forgetting to Update Your Will

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.

3. Overlooking Federal Estate Tax Planning

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.

4. Not Planning for Minor Children

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.

5. Choosing the Wrong Executor—or Not Naming One at All

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.

Don’t Forget the Rest of Your Estate Plan

A will is only one part of a comprehensive estate plan. Depending on your circumstances, you may also benefit from:

  • A revocable living trust
  • A durable power of attorney
  • An advance medical directive
  • A transfer-on-death deed for your home

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.

The Bottom Line

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.

PJI Law, PLC: Estate Planning Attorneys in Fairfax, VA

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


Sports

The spring sports season is underway in full with regular-season action taking place for all of Arlington’s high-school teams.

Many days, with the exception of Sunday, have multiple contests for all of the teams in baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and track-and-field.


News

Over $400,000 in funding for immigration-related services is included in a package of grants that the Arlington County Board approved for local nonprofits this week.

However, one Arlington-based organization focused on immigrant communities —  the Ethiopian Community Development Council — pushed back at a County Board meeting on Tuesday after a selection panel declined to recommend funding the nonprofit. Board members declined to bend the rules to help, but said they would help the group find additional streams of funding and other support.


Around Town

A new fast-casual seafood restaurant opened yesterday in Falls Church, serving New England-style lobster rolls and seafood.

Annapolis, Md.-based Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is soft opening now on the ground floor of The Oak condominiums on 243 West Falls Station Blvd. It’s the first restaurant to open at the West Falls development, with more eateries expected later this year.


News
An anti-Elon Musk protest in front of the Tesla store on S. Glebe Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

County Approves Grants — “On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the Arlington County Board awarded grants totaling more than $1.8 million to 23 nonprofits serving Arlington. This funding was awarded as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026) equity-based grant program, RACE to Rebuilding Trust & Community.” [Arlington County]

Arlingtonians Protest Cuts — “Parents and teachers across the country, including the DMV, are standing against cuts to the U.S. Department of Education. It’s part of the National Education Association’s ‘Walk-In to Protect Our Students and Families.’ … Parents and students at Barcroft Elementary School stood outside Wednesday morning expressing their concerns about dismantling the Department of Education and how it could hurt students, families, and teachers, especially at Title I schools.” [DC News Now]

Pedestrian Struck Tuesday Afternoon — A pedestrian was struck by a driver along Washington Blvd, near ramps to and from the GW Parkway. Initially reported to be unconscious by 911 callers, the pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to U.S. Park Police. [ARLnow/X]

ACFD’s Busiest Rescue Truck — “In 2024, Rescue 109 was our busiest Rescue in Arlington with 1,928 calls. Our Rescue Companies are staffed with 4 personnel that are all trained to a specific specialty team. R109 is part of the Hazardous Materials Team and responds to all incidents that involve victim rescues.” [ACFD/X]

D.C. Cherry Blossom Update — “Mild weather is hastening the development of D.C.’s famed cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin. On Wednesday, the National Park Service said the blossom buds reached their third stage: extension of florets.” [Capital Weather Gang, National Mall NPS/X]

It’s Thursday — Expect cloudy conditions and rain showers after 2pm with a high of 71°F, accompanied by a southeast wind of 9-15 mph, gusting up to 24 mph, and a 90% chance of precipitation. Rainfall amounting to a quarter to half an inch is possible. On Thursday night, showers will mainly occur before 2am, with lows around 37°F, a northwest wind of 11-18 mph, and gusts up to 37 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation with similar rainfall amounts. [NWS]


News

Add hotel-occupancy rates to the Arlington County government’s growing list of economic concerns.

Projections for the next 60 days suggest Arlington’s hotel-room usage will be down 15% from a year before and expected hotel revenue down 12%.


News

Arlington neighborhoods have long held what amounts to veto power over the installation of new sidewalks, but that may soon change.

County Manager Mark Schwartz recently told two advisory panels he is interested in developing a countywide sidewalk plan to fill in gaps — and potentially override the views of individual communities.


Around Town

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 — Mar 19, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌧️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect showers to begin after 2pm with a high of 71°F, accompanied by a southeast wind of 9-15 mph, gusting up to 24 mph, and a 90% chance of precipitation. Rainfall amounting to a quarter to half an inch is possible. On Thursday night, showers will mainly occur before 2am, with lows around 37°F, a northwest wind of 11-18 mph, and gusts up to 37 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation with similar rainfall amounts. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“A heart filled with love is like a phoenix that no cage can imprison.”
– Rumi

🌅 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! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.