A fire engine in the Ballston area was out of service last night due to understaffing at the Arlington County Fire Department.
Engine 102 was ACFD’s busiest fire engine last year, responding to over 3,400 calls. As the department continues to grapple with high vacancy rates, however, the equipment was temporarily “browned out” — impacting firefighters’ ability to respond to medical calls as well as fires.
Arlington’s elected leadership is not saying much about the future of the county’s Missing Middle policy — at least not from the dais.
Pressed to make some comment on what will happen with the residential zoning change — known alternately as Expanded Housing Options (EHO) — County Board members on Saturday (Oct. 19) opted to stay mum.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Carl Williams, PhD, LCADC
For families in Arlington and nearby Northern Virginia communities, the search for addiction treatment often begins with a practical question: What kind of help is actually appropriate?
The answer isn’t always obvious. A person may be working full time, caring for children or maintaining a household while substance use becomes increasingly difficult to control. Another person may need a more structured level of care because of medical, psychological or safety concerns.
Recent local data show progress in reducing opioid overdose deaths, but they also show why access to treatment remains important.
Arlington County recorded 29 opioid overdoses in 2025, including three fatal overdoses. That was a substantial decline from 53 total opioid overdoses and 10 fatal overdoses in 2024, according to Arlington County’s opioid incident data.
The numbers represent meaningful progress. Arlington’s Addiction Recovery Initiative, or AARI, continues to coordinate prevention, treatment access, harm reduction and overdose-response efforts across the county. Arlington also provides a substance-use resource line to help people connect with treatment, support groups and other services.
The broader Northern Virginia picture shows a similar direction. In the Fairfax Health District, there were 56 opioid overdose fatalities in 2025, down 22% from 72 in 2024 and 52% from the record high of 117 in 2023. Fairfax County reported the figures in June 2026.
Fairfax-specific figures shouldn’t be read as Arlington statistics. They do, however, provide useful regional context for families in Arlington, Falls Church and neighboring communities who may be comparing treatment options across Northern Virginia.
Several factors can influence overdose trends, including wider access to naloxone, treatment services, medications for opioid use disorder, public education and changes in the illicit drug supply. Local prevention and response systems can also make it easier for people to receive help after an overdose or other substance-related crisis.
But overdose statistics capture only one part of substance use. A person doesn’t have to experience an overdose to have a substance use disorder, and someone can struggle for years without entering formal treatment.
Fairfax County’s treatment numbers illustrate the continuing need. More than 2,105 people with opioid use disorder received assessment and treatment services through the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board in fiscal year 2025.
For families trying to decide whether treatment is necessary, the question is therefore broader than whether an overdose has occurred.
Substance use can be difficult to recognize when a person continues meeting visible responsibilities.
A professional may continue showing up for work while drinking or using drugs in private. A parent may continue managing school schedules and household responsibilities while relying increasingly on substances to cope with stress. Someone can appear successful to friends and colleagues while privately experiencing cravings, loss of control or repeated attempts to cut back.
The McDonald’s at 3013 Columbia Pike is back in business after some renovations.
The location was bustling with dozens of customers this morning (Monday) after closing for at least a month. The fast food restaurant remodeled its kitchen to improve efficiency and installed a new service counter, a representative told ARLnow.
Love your neighborhood, but not the way your house works?
Do you add on? Go up? Move walls? Or rethink the space you already have?
New figures show efforts to reduce absenteeism in Arlington public schools may be bearing fruit.
When Arlington School Board members approved the system’s fiscal 2025 budget in the spring, they set a goal of ultimately reducing chronic absenteeism from the then-current level of 13.5% to less than 8%. In recently updated data, there was a bit of progress on that front.
Music. Art. Food. Community. The Takoma Park Folk Festival brings it all together for one free, unforgettable day. Discover six stages of live music from around the world, shop an acclaimed juried craft show, enjoy international cuisine, connect with local community organizations, and let the kids explore crafts and activities in the Children's Nook. It's one of the region's most beloved traditions, and a celebration of the creativity, diversity, and welcoming spirit that has long defined Takoma Park.
New this year! Jam at the Crossroads is a place for musicians of all levels to come together and be part of the music.
Arlington leaders believe people-power helped sway National Park Service officials to re-evaluate plans for clearing more trees and vegetation adjacent to the George Washington Memorial Parkway in the county.
The acting superintendent of the GW Parkway announced on Friday (Oct. 18) that a “full review” would be conducted before anything else happens in the verdant buffer area between the roadway and the Potomac River below it.
The Arlington County Board has tidied up a section of the county’s zoning ordinance that caused the Fairlington neighborhood fits.
County Board members on Saturday (Oct. 19) approved zoning amendments removing bureaucratic hurdles that had been placed on interior renovations and expansions of older townhouse and condominium properties.
One day of D.C. Startup and Tech Week is taking place in Crystal City tomorrow (Tuesday).
Kicking off at 10 a.m. at the National Landing Experience Center at 241 18th Street S., the full day of programming will cover topics including AI and business, Web3 and blockchain, and climate and sustainability.
Public Hearing Set for Deer-Culling Plan — Arlington County Board members voted 5-0 Saturday to advertise for a Nov. 16 public hearing zoning changes needed to bring professional sharpshooters to the county starting the winter of 2025-26 to address deer overpopulation. –Scott McCaffrey
Towing Changes Hearing Set for November — Despite concerns voiced by the chair of the Trespass Towing Advisory Board and several business groups, Arlington County Board members on Saturday set a Nov. 16 public hearing on a wide array of changes to the county’s towing regulations. –Scott McCaffrey
Boeing Strike May Be Ending — “Boeing and its machinists’ union have reached a new contract proposal, the union said Saturday, outlining a deal that could end a more than month-long strike that has hobbled the manufacturers’ aircraft production. The ratification vote is set for Wednesday.” [CNBC]
Alleged Shoe Thief Nabbed at Pentagon — From Dave Statter: “Police gather up about 20 pairs of shoes and arrest a man officers say was with that large haul at the Pentagon Transit Center last night. @PFPAOfficial officers spotted the man and confirmed the shoes were stolen from T.J. Maxx on S. Joyce Street in nearby Pentagon City. @ArlingtonVaPD soon arrived to help.” [Twitter]
Man Accused of Assaulting Cops — “3800 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 12:31 a.m. on October 18, police responded to the report of a dispute inside a residential building. While conducting the investigation, the suspect disregarded officer’s commands and pushed an officer to enter the scene of the investigation and subsequently stuck another officer.” [ACPD]
Chicken at National Airport — From @WashProbs on Sunday: “A random chicken was spotted at DCA at 8 am this morning.” [Twitter]
MoCo Missing Middle Melee — “Deep blue and normally like-minded, Montgomery County isn’t a typical setting for political divides, especially one with angry shouting at public meetings where each side accuses the other of working to ruin Maryland’s most populous county… But introduce a plan to allow new housing types in single-family neighborhoods and fault lines start to emerge.” [Washington Post]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a comfortable high of about 77°F, accompanied by a light northwest wind at around 6 mph. As night falls, the skies will remain clear and the temperature will drop to a cool 51°F with calm winds. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Trailing 10-0 at halftime to an opponent with many bigger linemen, the Bishop O’Connell Knights were confident they were still in the game.
In the second half, though, that size advantage for the host St. Mary’s Ryken Knights began wearing on O’Connell, which eventually lost the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Metro Division high-school football game, 38-7, Friday night (Oct. 18) in Maryland.
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.
