Prominent voting rights advocates are applauding a new executive order returning Virginia to a multistate voter roll program and limiting when voters can be removed from the rolls before elections.
An executive order signed earlier this week by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) reverses Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R)’s 2023 decision to leave the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a nonpartisan organization that shares voter registration and identification data between 26 member states.
Plans to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday with a July 3 “civic jam” celebration are solidifying in Falls Church.
Rather than attempt to compete with national celebrations the following day, the Falls Church event will focus on citizen involvement.
One of the most common questions from families before enrolling at Children’s House Montessori School (CHMS) is: “What does the day actually look like?”
The answer begins the moment a child walks through the door.
In CHMS toddler classrooms, children begin each morning with outdoor playground time, followed by a predictable routine that helps children navigate transitions with confidence. After coming inside, children hang up their tote bags on a low, child-sized hook, wash their hands at the sink, and then join their friends for circle time. This small but meaningful act of independence signals the start of their school day. These morning routines are intentional moments that help toddlers develop self-help skills, responsibility, and a sense of belonging within the classroom community.
Throughout the morning lesson time, children learn how to care for their classroom and surroundings. After working with an activity, they return it to the shelf just as they found it. If something spills, a child learns to clean it up with the small mop or cloths kept nearby for exactly that purpose. In Montessori education, these small courtesies reflect a child’s growing sense of responsibility and care for their surrounding environment.
Circle time brings the classroom community together for group lessons led by experienced, certified CHMS teachers. Children gather to sing songs, read books, and engage in discussions that build listening skills and early literacy. These moments foster a sense of connection and give toddlers a gentle, structured touchstone within the broader freedom of the Montessori day. After circle time, children move into individualized and small group hands-on learning. From child-sized shelves carefully organized by subject area, toddlers choose lessons that call to them. One child might practice pouring water between small pitchers. Another may work on a floor mat, carefully matching objects to their corresponding picture cards, building observation skills and vocabulary. (more…)
Clement Qualifies for Ballot — Independent Audrey Clement has qualified to be on the Nov. 3 Arlington County Board ballot, election officials confirmed to ARLnow. Clement has been running for local office as a protest candidate since 2011, typically for County Board but on two occasions for School Board. Last November, she finished second in the five-candidate County Board race, receiving 15% of the vote to 65% for Democrat Takis Karantonis. —Scott McCaffrey
Nvidia Backs Clarendon Startup — Arlington software startup ORAN Development Co. (2300 Clarendon Blvd) has raised $45 million in a round led by Nvidia and Booz Allen Hamilton’s venture arm to develop software that turns cell towers into mini data centers. AT&T, Nokia and Cisco also invested. [WBJ]
AeroVironment Buys ESAero — Arlington-based defense tech company AeroVironment has acquired California-based Empirical Systems Aerospace for approximately $200 million, its second major deal following the $4.1 billion purchase of BlueHalo in 2025. [Potomac Tech Wire]
Caffè Nero’s Compass Makeover — Caffè Nero, the European coffee chain that won Compass Coffee’s assets at auction for $4.76 million, is taking a slow approach to rebranding the local shops. The company plans to close the Rosslyn location (1201 Wilson Blvd) briefly next week to repair plumbing damage from before the sale. [WBJ]
Vision Zero’s Cautionary Snail — Arlington County is offering free Vision Zero lawn signs featuring a “Cautionary Snail” mascot to remind drivers to slow down. Supplies are limited. [Arlington County]
Pentagon City Skating Ends — “Time to garage the zamboni and put the ice skates away for the winter. Spring is here!” [CartChaos22202/X]
Restaurant Burglary Arrest — An Arlington man, 27, has been charged with burglarizing Pupatella Pizza in Merrifield’s Mosaic District last August and Churasuko in Tysons in March, stealing alcohol and cash, according to FCPD. [FFXnow]
Peak Bloom Declared — “PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! It’s official! The cherry blossoms are opening & putting on a splendid spring spectacle.” [National Mall NPS/X]
Warner: Moratorium ‘Idiocy’ — Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) called a proposed national moratorium on AI data center construction “idiocy,” saying it would give China an edge in the AI race. The moratorium was proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). [Axios]
D.C. Federal Task Force Extended — The House voted 218-206 to extend Trump’s D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force through 2029. The bill, sponsored by Rep. John McGuire (R-Va.), seeks to codify the executive order that ramped up federal law enforcement and immigration arrests in D.C. [Washington Post]
Helicopter Flight Stats — Military, air medical and law enforcement helicopters average about 91 flights per day in the D.C. area, according to a new GAO report that recommends military operators improve community outreach about noise impacts. [PoPville, Martin Austermuhle/X]
It’s Friday — Expect rain throughout the day with a high near 64 degrees, though temperatures will fall to around 50 by the afternoon. Winds out of the north at 9–13 mph with gusts up to 22 mph. A dramatic cooldown follows overnight, with a low around 33 and rain likely before 2 a.m. [NWS]
Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 26, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect rain throughout the day with temperatures dropping to 49°F by 5 PM and north winds up to 23 mph. There’s an 80% chance of rain, with 0.1 to 0.25 inches expected. Rain is likely in the evening, mainly before 7 PM, with skies turning partly cloudy overnight and a low of 33°F. Winds will decrease slightly to 18 mph, with a 60% chance of additional light rain. See more from Weather.gov.
“When you choose to forgive those who have hurt you, you take away their power.”
– Oprah Winfrey
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.
Friday, June 19, 2026
8pm (Doors open at 7)
Mister Days is bringing its “Rally in the Alley” fundraiser back to Clarendon this weekend, with barbecue, a DJ and thousands of expected revelers.
The event is scheduled for this Saturday (March 28) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1101 N. Highland Street, with a portion of 11th Street closing to make room for the festivities. Admission is $10, with proceeds going to the Mister Days Reach Out Foundation, which supports Arlingtonians in need.
Arlington’s police chief is seeking to free up funding for about half of all officer positions that are currently frozen, capitalizing on a surge in job applications.
Chief Andy Penn argues that more funding could help the Arlington County Police Department get closer to full staffing and significantly cut overtime costs. He is asking the County Board to consider unfreezing 20 full-time sworn officer positions in the coming fiscal year.
Arlington’s twice-yearly collection event for old electronics and household hazardous materials is returning this weekend at Wakefield High School.
The spring Environmental Collection and Recycling (E-CARE) event will take place rain or shine from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at 1325 S. Dinwiddie Street.
Six Arlington vape stores were raided by local, state and federal law enforcement last week as part of a regional investigation.
The Arlington County Police Department, with the assistance of Virginia State Police and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, executed search warrants at six tobacco shops on March 18, ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage told ARLnow.
The Washington Nationals placed official MLB baseballs on six graves at Arlington National Cemetery this week, honoring servicemembers with ties to the game.
The tradition, now in its third year, recognizes individuals buried at the cemetery who played, led or shaped the game of baseball.
