Schools

Yorktown High School was placed in an enhanced security stance this morning due to an intruder.

The incident happened around 8 a.m. today (Wednesday) when a former student allegedly entered the school. They were contained to one of the classrooms and police were called.


News

Members of the Falls Church City Council appear ready to jumpstart plans for the city’s newest park.

As they determine what to do with the city government’s $5.3 million fiscal 2024 surplus, Council members seem enthusiastic to allocate $1.5 million to complete design and move forward with construction on what they call the Fellows site.


Sponsored

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.

The government likes to release unpopular items on Friday afternoons, and, when the government has something really unpopular to say, the Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend is considered ideal. Last Friday, before the Memorial Day weekend, USCIS published a truly incredible policy reversal – PM 602-0199 (the “May 21 Memo”), which purports to upend the ability of most foreigners to apply for green cards from within the United States. DHS and USCIS’s respective public messaging on the memorandum is clear but wrong. The memorandum was more nuanced, but still, in our view, deeply misleading. The purpose of this advertorial is to explain what happened, why it matters, and offer some predictions about how this unforced error is going to be resolved.

First, here’s what DHS and USCIS said about their own memo.

What do these press releases mean? They mean to highlight the following distinction: some people apply for a green card from inside the United States, at USCIS field offices; others apply for a green card from outside the United States, at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. Per both press releases, nearly everyone who applies from inside the U.S. is ineligible to become a lawful permanent resident. Almost everyone who applies for a green card should do so via U.S. Embassies and consulates abroad.

That might seem reasonable, and, ex ante, it could be, if our laws and institutions were set up properly. There are, unfortunately, a few problems with this new policy position, both practical and legal. (more…)


Events

Halloween is tomorrow (Thursday), and many varieties of spooky celebration are coming to Arlington.

From a Bluemont costume parade to a “monster ball” at a Clarendon club, festivities for ghouls and goblins of all stripes are taking place starting tomorrow afternoon and continuing through Saturday.


Announcement

Join the Capitol Hill Chorale for our final concert of the season, “Lamentations Into Joy” on Saturday, May 30th, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 31st, at 4 p.m. at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church.

This concert contains matched pairs of pieces from seven composers, contrasting expressions of sadness and joy. It also features the premiere of a new piece by CHC Composer-in-Residence Kevin Siegfried.


News

By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Wednesday allowed Virginia to resume its purge of voter registrations that the state says is aimed at stopping people who are not U.S. citizens from voting.


Event

Internationally acclaimed pianist Carlos César Rodríguez joins NCE for a luminous performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, “Elvira Madigan,” celebrated for its elegance, lyricism, and timeless appeal. Artistic Director and violinist Leo Sushansky takes center stage in Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, a cornerstone of the violin repertoire, offering a deeply personal and passionate interpretation of its sweeping romantic lines.

The program is further enriched by Florence Price’s Adoration, a work of profound beauty and spiritual warmth, and Johan Svendsen’s Romance, cherished for its lyrical charm and expressive simplicity.


Around Town

Following the Crystal City Underground’s closure, a longtime women’s boutique will relocate to a larger nearby space this weekend.

Crystal Boutique’s last day at 2100 Crystal Drive is Saturday. The shop first opened in 1970, focusing on evening wear and other garments for “mature and older women,” owner Joel Cohen told ARLnow.


News

A man has been arrested and charged with brandishing a gun at a local hotel.

The incident started shortly before 6 a.m. at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Pentagon City, according to scanner traffic, and ended with an arrest at gunpoint near the Army Navy Drive side of the Pentagon City mall.


Opinion

Anecdotally, there sure seem to be quite a few homes decorated for Halloween this year.

From strings of orange lights to animatronic ghouls to giant skeletons with wandering eyes, some homes have gone all out for the spooky season.


Events

A donation drive for people affected by Hurricane Helene is taking place in Arlington this week.

From noon to 7 p.m. today (Wednesday) and Friday, the county’s four public safety agencies are collecting supplies for North Carolina residents impacted by the storm’s destruction.


News
“Pink Boney Club” Halloween decorations outside of a home in Virginia Square (staff photo)

Idido’s Owners Buy D.C. Pub — “The owners of a now-closed Northeast D.C. brewpub have sold the Rhode Island Avenue property to the proprietors of an Arlington cafe, who plan to open a coffee shop there and possibly redevelop the site in the long term. The Public Option, a go-to pub in the Langdon neighborhood since 2015, shuttered in December… The property… sold Oct. 22 for $1.4 million to the owners of Idido’s Coffee and Social House.” [WBJ]

F.C. Warns of Phone Scam — “The City of Falls Church Police Department is alerting the community about an active financial scam involving impersonators claiming to be police officers and requesting payment over the phone… Remember: no legitimate law enforcement agency or officer will ever call you demanding money or immediate payment under any circumstances.” [City of Falls Church]

More Winter Predictions — “Snow lovers in the D.C. area have been deprived for the last five winters and the upcoming season offers little hope for a revival. Forecasters from five private companies expect another mild winter with a meager supply of snowflakes.” [Capital Weather Gang, ARLnow]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 77 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind at about 7 mph. As for Wednesday night, anticipate partly cloudy conditions and a low around 60 degrees. [NWS]