There’s no better time than March to stop into one of Arlington’s many Irish establishments.
Several pubs, bars and restaurants in Arlington and Falls Church are celebrating the drink, music and food of the Emerald Isle in the days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day, which is next Tuesday, March 17. Here’s a look at what is happening in the days ahead.
A community launch event for VHC Health’s proposed behavioral health facility in Glencarlyn is taking place next week.
The meeting, the first in a series of community engagement efforts for the proposed 146-bed rehabilitation and mental health center at 601 S. Carlin Springs Road, will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. next Monday at the Kenmore Middle School auditorium (200 S. Carlin Springs Road).
In the months of November and December 2025, the Trump Administration took four related actions: (1) they froze all adjudication of applications for nationals subject to a related travel ban, (2) they announced that being from one of those countries would be a ‘significant negative factor’ in benefits adjudication, (3) they froze adjudication of all affirmative asylum claims, and (4) they announced a ‘re-review’ of all immigration benefits granted to people from a list of thirty-nine countries since the beginning of the Biden Administration. We told you, as these policies were introduced, that they were going to be controversial – we told you that litigation would put an end to them, because “[s]ome federal judge, somewhere, will say ‘enough.'”
Last week, a federal judge, John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, said “Enough!” in vigorous language, striking down all four policies in a strongly worded decision. The purpose of this advertorial is to explain: (1) why the federal district court took this action, (2) what real-world effects we expect this to have, and (3) what the Trump Administration’s prospects on appeal are.
First, what did Judge McConnell’s decision say?
In short, Judge McConnell flatly rejected the government’s claim that its decisions were non-discriminatory and rooted in a reasonable desire to ensure security and accurate adjudication. It’s worth lingering over the language that Judge McConnell employs in his introduction.
“But the rule of law has to apply to everyone equally and, as evident here, USCIS has neither “followed the law” nor “done things the right way.” Indeed, the agency has violated the very immigration laws that Congress has charged it with administering, as well as the administrative laws that govern the agency’s actions. In enacting its latest immigration policies, USCIS: claims statutory and regulatory authority that it does not possess; makes decisions without the reasoned explanations that it must provide; acts without regard for the reliance interests of applicants that it must consider; and justifies its actions with pretextual concerns of “national security” that mask anti-immigrant sentiments that it is forbidden from letting influence its decision-making. In legal terms, that means USCIS’s actions are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious.”
What Judge McConnell means, more or less, is that the Trump Administration can’t use the administrative apparatus of USCIS to accomplish its policy goals without either passing a statute or promulgating a regulation. As a reminder, the Trump Administration didn’t even try to promulgate a regulation concerning any of the above memoranda, it simply announced them, one ukase after another.
Now, what will the Trump Administration do?
Our prediction is cynical: The Trump Administration will do nothing. They’ll slow-walk any compliance with Judge McConnell’s order while they file an appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking an emergency stay of Judge McConnell’s order. If they lose at the First Circuit, they’ll seek another form of emergency relief, via the Supreme Court’s so-called “shadow docket.” Only if the Administration loses twice on appeal will they even contemplate compliance with this order.
What should applicants for benefits affected by these newly unfrozen orders do? The right answer depends on the individual case. The great majority of applicants, we suspect, will choose to wait and see what the outcome of the government’s appeal will be. We’ll report on that, too, when the next round of litigation is concluded.
As increasing numbers of Virginians download the Mobile ID app, options for using digital identification around Arlington remain somewhat limited.
The app that launched in November has already surpassed 100,000 users, the Virginia DMV announced last Friday. In Arlington, it’s useful at a handful of locations.
Falls Church has formally opened its doors to e-scooters. Now it just needs to find some takers.
City Council members voted 7-0 on Monday night for a one-year pilot program, hoping to entice companies to deploy up to 100 e-scooters and e-bicycles within the community’s 2.2 square miles.
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County leaders know there is a parking problem for users of Central Library. What they don’t have yet is a plan to address it.
“We get lots of feedback from users about the inadequacy of parking,” library director Diane Kresh said during a March 5 work session focused on library operations.
Beyer Hosting Resource Fair — Rep. Don Beyer (D) is hosting a resource fair for federal workers, contractors and economically impacted individuals on March 21 at Wakefield High School. “Come meet with local partners who can connect you with housing assistance, food banks, resources for small businesses, and more,” Beyer said. [Rep. Don Beyer/X]
Rowers Return to Potomac — “Rowers have returned to the Potomac River after the lifting of restrictions that were put in place due to a sewage spill in Maryland two months ago.” The Virginia Department of Health lifted its recreational water advisory last week, though it continues to advise against contact with a 4.7-mile stretch between the American Legion Bridge and Chain Bridge. [Andrew Leyden/X]
School Choice Celebration — More than 100 people gathered at the Leadership Institute in Clarendon on Saturday for EdReform Virginia’s 4th Annual School Choice Celebration. Former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears headlined the event, offering “a robust defense of educational freedom.” [EdNews Virginia]
SER Makes Eater List — SER Restaurant (1110 N. Glebe Road), which has served tapas in Ballston for 10 years, was included on DC Eater’s 38 Best Restaurants Around D.C. list. “It’s hard to go wrong with any of the 12-plus tapas on the list, but the tomato bread, croquetas, and deep-fried eggplant are not to miss,” according to Eater. [Patch]
Boater Sues Over Sewage Spill — A Great Falls resident has filed a class action lawsuit against DC Water over the January sewer collapse that dumped more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. The plaintiff’s boat is moored at Columbia Island Marina on the Pentagon Lagoon, where waters were “directly contaminated” by the spill. Meanwhile, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network says sewage may still be leaking into the river. [FFXnow]
Five Guys BOGO Take Two — “We screwed the first one up so bad, we’re trying to redo it,” Five Guys CEO Jerry Murrell told WTOP. The Alexandria-based burger chain is rolling out another buy-one, get-one free offer this week after its initial 40th anniversary BOGO led to long lines and stores running out of stock. The chain is also giving $1.5 million in bonuses to employees who bore the brunt. [WTOP]
FCPD Encrypting Radios — The Fairfax County Police Department is moving forward with plans to encrypt its main dispatch radio channels. Once in effect, FCPD will join numerous regional agencies — including ACPD, Prince William County Police, Virginia State Police and D.C.’s Metropolitan Police — that have partially or fully encrypted their transmissions. [FFXnow]
Assault Weapons Ban Advances — A bill that would ban the import, sale, manufacture, purchase or transfer of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines (more than 15 rounds) in Virginia is heading to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D). The bill does not make it illegal to possess assault weapons or magazines already owned. If signed, it takes effect July 1. [Tyler Englander/X, DC News Now]
Lucas Grades Spanberger B– — Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) gave Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) a B– for her work with the Senate. Lucas is pushing to eliminate an estimated $1.6 billion-a-year tax break for data centers, an idea opposed by business groups. Spanberger and House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) have been tepid on changing the tax provision. [Radio IQ, Virginia Scope, WBJ]
Lawmakers Slam Deceptive Mailers —Members of Virginia’s congressional delegation, including Rep. Don Beyer (D), are condemning mailers from a PAC that invoke Jim Crow imagery to oppose the April 21 redistricting referendum. The PAC is linked to a former Hampton GOP delegate, according to the Virginian-Pilot. [Press Release, Virginian-Pilot]
W&OD Rail Line Eyed — Transit advocates have revived a 60-year-old proposal to add rail service along the W&OD Trail right-of-way from Purcellville to the East Falls Church Metro station. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission has received more than 60 requests to study the concept. [FFXnow]
March Warmth — “Temperatures climbed into the mid-80s in the D.C. area Tuesday afternoon, the warmest weather for March 10 since 2016. WTOP Meteorologist Mike Stinneford reported high temperatures climbed to 84 degrees at all three airports in the D.C. region by 3 p.m.” [WTOP]
It’s Wednesday — Partly sunny skies tomorrow with a high near 82 and a chance of rain after 9 a.m. Strong storms are possible in the afternoon and evening as a cold front clashes with unseasonably warm air — the Storm Prediction Center has the region at a Level 2 (of 5) severe risk, with potential for downpours, gusty winds and hail. Overnight lows drop to around 51 with rain likely. [NWS, CWG/X]
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Good Tuesday 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 10, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect rain chances before 3pm and after 4pm, partly sunny skies, and a high near 82 degrees. South winds will range from 6 to 11 mph, gusting up to 22 mph, with a 50% precipitation chance. Wednesday evening brings a slight chance of rain before 7pm, increasing after 8pm along with cloud cover and a low around 51 degrees. South winds will pick up to 11-15 mph, gusting up to 25 mph, and a 70% chance of precipitation. Anticipate new precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
“You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.”
– John Mason
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
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The finish to the 2025-26 boys basketball campaign was very familiar to the Bishop O’Connell Knights.
Like a year ago, the high-school team enjoyed lofty rankings in various polls, compiled the same overall 23-10 record and defeated scads of top teams while playing a very difficult schedule.
Making ranked-choice voting permanent and potentially banning campaign signage on local rights-of-way top the agenda for County Board members’ meeting this weekend.
Other items scheduled for discussion at the Saturday meeting include an $8 million contract for Wilson Blvd street improvements, a $5 million contract for a culvert replacement on N. Dumbarton Street and a hearing on relocating the Madison Community Center’s early voting site during renovations there.
