Expect to see a lot more kids named Charlotte and Liam running around Virginia in a couple of years.
Those are the most popular names for boys and girls among the 96,683 babies born in the commonwealth last year, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health. Both names have held the top spot for at least six years straight.
Supporters of Arlington youth gymnastics turned out last night (Tuesday) to press county leaders on planned cuts to local programs.
A $1.7 billion budget proposal from County Manager Mark Schwartz calls for shuttering the Arlington Aerials and Arlington Tigers, along with community gymnastics programs, at Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center. The programs, operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation, do not recoup costs through user fees, Schwartz and staff have said.
We’re off to a busy start since opening last month, and with continued momentum and expansion ahead, our team is searching for the right person to step into a key leadership role within our restaurant group.
As we continue to grow, we’re currently seeking an Operating Partner to help lead day-to-day operations, develop strong teams, and deliver the high-energy guest experience our restaurants are known for.
Wood & Iron Gameday has grown across the Richmond region since opening in 2017. Known for its house-made elevated bar food and fresh-squeezed cocktails, Wood & Iron delivers a lively atmosphere that’s perfect for watching the big game or gathering with friends any day of the week. (more…)
Reagan National Airport recorded its lowest annual passenger count in three years in 2025, even as Dulles International Airport set an all-time record.
Just under 24.9 million passengers traveled through DCA last year, down 5.3% from 26.3 million in 2024, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) reported yesterday (Tuesday) — confirming preliminary numbers released last month.
ICA Language Services (ICA), a family-owned, woman-led small business based in Arlington, is celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking decades of supporting the U.S. military and diplomatic community through language training and testing.
Founded in April 1986 as Inlingua Foreign Language Center, a 6-classroom language school, ICA expanded under the leadership of Deidre Doyle, an entrepreneur with a background in organizational management who joined the company the same year. As a military spouse, she had developed a deep understanding of military organizations and culture, helping shape ICA into a trusted provider of language training and testing for military professionals. Doyle became a partner in 1993 and sole owner in 2009, when she changed the name to ICA Language Services.
A driver accused of striking two pedestrians near Ballston and then fleeing the scene has been arrested.
Zai Atwater, 24, was taken into custody in D.C. over the alleged road rage incident, the Arlington County Police Department announced today.
In-person event
8th Annual EcoExtravaganza
One of the D.C. area’s most popular bagel brands is coming to Ballston.
Call Your Mother just announced plans to open at 4000 Wilson Blvd — the former home of a Starbucks location that closed last year after only two years in business. A specific opening date has not yet been announced for the shop, though it is expected “soon-ish,” according to Call Your Mother’s website.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered a Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address yesterday (Tuesday), questioning whether the president was improving affordability and keeping Americans safe.
Spanberger took aim at Trump’s policies including tariffs, the One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress, federal immigration enforcement tied to the deaths of two Americans, federal workforce reductions through DOGE, withholding of the Epstein files, and the threat of a war with Iran.
New data suggests that Arlington Public Schools is making progress on lowering the rate of students being chronically absent from class.
Through Jan. 30, 10% of APS students this school year were absent from class more than 10% of the time, according to data reported at the Feb. 19 School Board meeting. That’s down from rates of 12.4% for the 2024-25 school year and 13.2% from 2023-24.
Falls Church city leaders appear to have a little more budget breathing room over the coming months compared to surrounding jurisdictions.
At a Feb. 23 City Council meeting, finance officials estimated 4% revenue growth in fiscal year 2027 without increasing tax rates. It was a figure Mayor Letty Hardi called “very, very rosy” compared to the situations in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax County.
ACPD Starting Pay Among Highest — “Interesting: The range of starting salaries and hiring bonuses for different police forces in the Washington region range pretty widely. But the federal forces generally outpace local ones. Supreme Court Police start at $83k with $50k of hiring bonuses; MPD is $75k and $25k.” [Martin Austermuhle/X]
Housing Lawsuit Bill Tabled — “Among a slate of bills lawmakers introduced this year to address housing stock and affordability issues was House Bill 447 by Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax. It aimed to curb people filing lawsuits to stall housing developments by fine-tuning requirements for legal challenges against local government land use decisions.” [Virginia Mercury]
Data Center Tax Bill — “Senate Democrats in Virginia are pushing to end the tax incentive largely credited with driving the surge in data center development across the commonwealth, arguing the lucrative tax break is costing the state billions… Proponents of the incentive say ending the exemption will damage Virginia’s economy and cost local jurisdictions revenue.” [WBJ, VPM]
Biz Groups Worry About Bill Costs — “Virginia business costs set to rise as Gov. Spanberger is expected to sign paid family leave and minimum wage hike bills. Business groups worry about competitiveness but are aligned with Spanberger on housing/affordability measures. Paid leave would offer 12 weeks off, funded by employer/worker contributions starting 2028.” [ARLnow/X, WBJ]
MoCo Cutting Gymnastics, Too — “Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School gymnastics instructor Paula Shaibani stood in front of the Montgomery County school board Thursday in Rockville carrying the message of a community frustrated with the district’s recent decision to stop offering girls gymnastics as a varsity-level sport at the end of the academic year.” [Bethesda Today]
More Snow on Tap — “In addition to a barely noticeable chance of flakes early Wednesday and another light inconsequential rain with maybe some wet snow mix Thursday, a potentially bigger and perhaps multipart event looms early next week. We could see a few rain or snow showers from it as soon as late Sunday. Larger waves of wintry weather currently look to arrive Monday as well as Tuesday.” [CWG/X]
It’s Wednesday — There’s a slight chance of snow before 8am, followed by a slight chance of rain between 8am and 10am. Skies will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, and the temperature will reach a high near 55. The southwest wind will blow at 10 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 37, as the west wind shifts to 5 to 7 mph. [NWS]
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Flickr pool photo by Rob Pegoraro
