Campaign signs at the Madison Community Center on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 (staff photo)
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.
Books at Central Library (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
Local leaders may consider imposing a small fee on out-of-county residents who want an Arlington library card.
County Board member Maureen Coffey brought up the idea at a budget work session with library officials on March 5. She said that a “very low fee model” would provide some cash for “greater investment in the collection.”
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Barley Mac in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jared Serre)
A decade-long run for Rosslyn’s Barley Mac restaurant and bar came to an abrupt end yesterday (Monday).
Co-owner Andrew Lewis told ARLnow that he is evaluating next steps for the restaurant that opened in spring 2016 following “leasing difficulties” at 1600 Wilson Blvd.
The former Coffee Republic at 3130 Potomac Avenue in Crystal City (staff photo by Jared Serre)
A Crystal City-area coffee shop shuttered last week after less than a year in business — though the chain hopes to open another Arlington location soon.
Coffee Republic, which opened last March on the ground floor of Azure National Landing, served its last cup of joe at 3130 Potomac Avenue on Thursday.
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A conceptual rendering of a proposed multifamily building at 2000 15th Street N. (via Arlington County)
The Arlington Housing Commission has gotten its first look at a redevelopment proposal expected to bring nearly 400 apartment units to a site across the street from Courthouse Plaza.
Trammell Crow Residential will seek County Board approval later this spring for “Alexan at Courthouse,” a 15-story residential building proposed to replace a 40-year-office building at 2000 15th Street N. As currently planned, the project calls for 394 units totaling about 412,000 square feet of interior space.
They have done it before, and supporters of the Cherrydale branch library say they will again fend off efforts to close the branch.
The advocacy group Citizens for Cherrydale Library is once again mobilizing to save the facility, this time from County Manager Mark Schwartz’s proposal to shutter the branch in order to save about $450,000 in the coming fiscal year.
County Board member Takis Karantonis speaks at a meeting on Dec. 17, 2025 (screenshot via Arlington County)
One Arlington leader wants localities to be more aggressive in seeking transportation and transit funding along the I-66 corridor.
County Board member Takis Karantonis lamented that nearly $40 million in available funding will be left on the table in the latest round of “I-66 Commuter Choice” grants.
Cranes over the West Falls development in Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Another Assault Arrest After Arraignment — Bryan Betancur, a pardoned Jan. 6 Capitol rioter, was arraigned in Arlington County court on an assault and battery charge for allegedly touching a woman’s hair on a Metro train. He was then arrested again in the courthouse parking lot by Metro Transit Police on an outstanding D.C. warrant related to a series of similar incidents on Metro. [NBC 4, Tisha Lewis/X]
Mob Assault Near Pentagon City — Two D.C. women, ages 23 and 24, were arrested and charged with malicious wounding by mob after allegedly assaulting an acquaintance outside a building on the 1100 block of Army Navy Drive early Friday. The victim sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital. One suspect was additionally charged with DUI and breath test refusal. [ACPD]
MPD Frets About ACPD Raise — D.C.’s police force has dropped to 3,144 officers, with attrition outpacing hiring for seven consecutive years, according to the Washington Post. Interim chief Jeffery W. Carroll told the D.C. Council that federal agencies offering signing bonuses of up to $70,000 are “drawing not only recruits, but also MPD officers who resign.” Carroll also cited Arlington’s forthcoming pay hike to $90,000 as a recruiting challenge. [Washington Post]
Condo Project for Langston Blvd — Taicoon Property Partners will take plans for a seven-story, 88-unit condominium project at 1501 Langston Blvd before the county Site Plan Review Committee in the coming weeks. The building would replace a vacant office that housed the Air & Space Forces Association for 40 years and include a 1,300-square-foot Air Force Heritage Gallery on the ground floor. [UrbanTurf]
Board Visits Fire Training — “Today, several County Board members attended a live burn training at the Fire Training Academy and saw firsthand the discipline, teamwork and preparation required of Arlington’s fire recruits. We’re grateful for their commitment to serving the community.” [Arlington County Board/X]
County Survey Is Real — Arlington County is reminding residents that a survey about county services and programs — distributed via direct mail, email, social media and in person — is legitimate. [Arlington County/X]
Dems Challenge Trump Arch — Congressional Democrats have joined a legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch, arguing in U.S. District Court that the project at Memorial Circle near Arlington National Cemetery must receive congressional approval. “This is not Pyongyang,” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said. “Most Americans want to be able to appreciate the view of Arlington Cemetery without a massive eyesore.” [Washington Post]
D.C. Water Still at Risk — The Potomac River remains the sole source of drinking water for D.C. and surrounding N. Va. communities, and the region has narrowly avoided a contamination crisis three times in the past six years, according to NOTUS. The Army Corps of Engineers is studying backup supply options but has so far identified only a modest reservoir expansion that would add about 12 hours of supply. [NOTUS]
Cristol Leaving Tysons Alliance — Former Arlington County Board chair Katie Cristol will resign Friday as CEO of the Tysons Community Alliance after leading the organization for less than three years. Cristol told FFXnow she is “departing to pursue other opportunities.” [FFXnow]
Taco Bell 50K Returns — The Taco Bell DC 50K, a 32.4-mile race to eight Taco Bell locations through Alexandria, Arlington and D.C., is returning Nov. 27. About 500 people participated in last year’s Tex-Mex-fueled race, which requires runners to eat at least one menu item at every stop. [ALXnow]
Super El Niño Possible — New climate data suggests a strong or even historically intense El Niño could develop by fall or winter, according to the Washington Post. The Capital Weather Gang notes big El Niño winters tend to be “feast or famine for snow in DC,” bringing either a massive snowstorm or a too-warm, mostly-rain season. [Washington Post, CWG/X]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 77, accompanied by calm winds that will shift to the south at 5 to 7 mph later in the afternoon. The night will remain mostly clear, with a low around 61 and a gentle south wind of 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]
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Expect sunny skies and a high near 77, accompanied by calm winds that will shift to the south at 5 to 7 mph later in the afternoon. The night will remain mostly clear, with a low around 61 and a gentle south wind of 3 to 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Life isn’t about getting and having, it’s about giving and being.” – Kevin Kruse
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