Before Arlington moves to change its form of government, it needs to educate more residents on what the current structure is and why reforms might be needed, one County Board member believes.
“Walk down a street in Ballston, Columbia Pike, anywhere — most folks will look at you like a deer in the headlights” when governance is brought up, Julius “J.D.” Spain, Sr., said at the Jan. 13 Arlington County Civic Federation meeting.
This week marks the 10-year anniversary of Mark Schwartz becoming Arlington’s county manager on a permanent basis.
Schwartz had been appointed to the role in an acting capacity in July 2015, and County Board members announced on Jan. 8, 2016 that they had decided to make the position permanent.
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.
On April 16 – just yesterday – The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) publicly released its precedent decision in Matter of M-K-, 29 I&N Dec. 556 (BIA 2026), the immigration case of Palestinian activist and former Columbia University graduate student, Mahmoud Khalil. Though the decision was originally issued on April 9, 2026, its designation and publication today as binding BIA precedent makes it significantly more consequential, because the ruling now is binding precedent within the immigration court system. (more…)
Another candidate has entered a challenge against Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) in the lawmaker’s first primary election in his 18 years on the Senate.
Mark Moran, a former reality television star and Wall Street investment banker who lives in Falls Church, announced his candidacy today (Wednesday), one year and one day after President Trump was sworn into office.
At some point a lot of guys realize they don’t really have a friend group anymore.
Not in a dramatic way. Friends move away, people get busy, and actually seeing the same guys regularly almost never happens.
Two restaurants in Arlington and three in Falls Church made the grade in Washingtonian’s new “100 Very Best Restaurants” list.
Regulars in the local dining scene will be familiar with most of these spots, all of which were also highlighted last year. They range from a Vietnamese restaurant in Falls Church’s Eden Center to a popular French-inspired establishment on Langston Blvd.
Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC (PPMW) will host its 2026 Impact Gala on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., dinner, dancing and impactful programming, at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria downtown Washington, DC. The annual event will bring together a stylish crowd of advocates, community leaders, and supporters to raise critical funds for the organization’s “Fight Forward” campaign, which supports access to reproductive health care, education, and advocacy across the region. Along with live music, diner and programming, special guest appearances include actress and activist Sophia Bush, professional soccer champion Ashlyn Harris, and other special invited guests. Join us for a fabulous evening for an important cause.
Nearly 7,000 homes and businesses are without power in and around Pentagon City on a frigid Wednesday morning.
The outage was first reported shortly after 8:30 a.m., encompassing parts of Pentagon City, Crystal City, Aurora Highlands and Arlington Ridge. In all, 6,902 Dominion customers were without power, according to the utility’s website.
Arlington government leaders appear willing to fill financial gaps if the federal government reduces housing grants to support vulnerable populations — but they don’t know how big those gaps might be.
“We’re not going to not find a way to fund it. We’re not going to let that all fall apart,” Board member Maureen Coffey said at the Housing Commission’s Jan. 15 meeting, which looked at impacts of current and future budget cuts to federal housing funds.
The Arlington Commission on the Status of Women opened 2026 with a goal of increasing public awareness of its activities.
But the effort also came with a caution that the body not stray from its statutory role as an advisory panel to the County Board.
All-Day Cafe in Rosslyn — “Michelin-starred chef Fabio Trabocchi’s restaurant group plans to open an all-day cafe in the Rosslyn office building where he opened a Sfoglina outpost just before the Covid-19 pandemic. Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants has inked a deal to take over the roughly 2,200-square-foot former AHRA Cafe space, across the lobby from the Sfoglina upscale Italian restaurant that opened at 1100 Wilson Blvd. in October 2019.” [WBJ]
Miller Protester Profiled — “Wien was on a quiet cul-de-sac that day when she noticed a black SUV idling in front of a large white house. She recalls asking the driver to kill the engine as she rattled off information about rising asthma rates. Then she looked up and saw someone on the porch she recognized: Miller’s wife, Katie Miller. Standing there in her sundress, Wien steeled herself and pointed her fingers at her own eyes, then at Miller, as if to say, “I’m watching you.” To Katie Miller, it appeared to be a threat.” [Washington Post]
Garage Fire in Cherrydale — “Units are on scene of a house fire on the 1800 block of N Monroe St. Smoke was visible from the garage upon arrival… Units are working on ventilation. No injuries to occupants or firefighters. Small explosion from the fire caused the garage doors to blow out. Fire Marshals will be investigating the origin and case.” [ACFD/X]
House Fire Along Rt. 50 — “Units are on scene of a house fire on the 2600 block of Arlington Blvd. Smoke was visible from the structure… Occupant was evaluated and refused transport. No injuries to firefighters.” [ACFD/X]
Robbery Attempt Near Va. Square — “The male and female victims were walking in the area when they were approached by the male suspect who displayed what appeared to be a firearm and attempted to steal the male victim’s belongings. The suspect assaulted the male victim, resulting in both of them falling to the ground. A second suspect approached the group, and the two suspects subsequently fled the scene on foot. No injuries were reported, and the suspects did not steal any of the victims’ belongings.” [ACPD]
Mardi Gras Comes Early — “In anticipation of Mardi Gras, Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery in Arlington will be offering Carnival-inspired confections, LIL’ GRAS, every Tuesday and Thursday in the pastry case leading up to Fat Tuesday on. Feb. 17. On Tuesdays, guests can sample a Carnival Cupcake, which is topped with Creole Cream Cheese and sweet sprinkles. Then on Thursdays, fan favorite flashback King Cruffin will return.” [Patch]
Paper Slams City’s Marketing — “For the City of Falls Church’s noble efforts at economic development to be sustained, a concerted effort to draw in revenue from populations beyond its borders is required. There is no evidence that anybody at City Hall has gotten this message, beyond lip service.” [FCNP]
Local Measles Case — “A measles case in Northern Virginia has raised concern about more people becoming exposed to the disease, including at the Inova Fairfax Hospital campus in Merrifield. The Virginia Department of Health reported today (Tuesday) that a preschool-aged child who traveled internationally was confirmed to have measles. This is the third measles case reported in Virginia so far in 2026.” [FFXnow]
Spanberger on Federal Gov’t — “‘I believe the governor of Virginia and the president of the United States should have a productive relationship built on mutual trust,’ Spanberger said, omitting the word ‘respect’ that was in the written version of the speech. ‘And let me say here today, that where there are shared priorities, I will actively seek and be ready for partnership.’ But when federal policies threaten Virginia jobs, she said, ‘I will not hesitate to push back.'” [Washington Post]
Storm Likelihood Increasing — “Confidence is increasing for a significant winter storm for the region Saturday into Sunday. Significant travel delays and closures are becoming increasingly likely, so start planning ahead to minimize impact on you and your family.” [NWS/X]
Double Digit Accumulation Possible — “Of dozens of simulations from multiple modeling systems, the average snowfall forecast is around 8 to 10 inches, but that amount is by no means a lock as there is a large range of projections.” [CWG]
It’s Wednesday — Clouds will gradually increase throughout the day, reaching a high near 40°F, accompanied by a southeast wind that will shift to the south at 9-14 mph in the morning and gust up to 25 mph. Wednesday night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low temperature around 33°F. The south wind will persist at around 10 mph, with possible gusts up to 20 mph. [NWS]
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lindsey Halligan, who, as a hastily appointed Justice Department prosecutor, pursued indictments against a pair of President Donald Trump’s adversaries, is leaving her position as her months-long tenure has now concluded, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday night.
Halligan’s departure from the role of interim United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia came as multiple judges were casting doubt on her ability to remain in the job legally following a court ruling two months ago that declared her appointment illegal. She was appointed in September to a 120-day stint, which concluded Tuesday.
