Washington, DC (June 11, 2025) – Overall crime in the Washington, DC region has decreased 13 percent in the first four months of 2025 compared with the same time period in 2024 according to a new data dashboard created by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and now live on the COG website.
During this time period, all categories of crimes against persons and property are showing declines regionwide, including robbery which decreased 32 percent, homicide which decreased 30 percent, rape which decreased 23 percent, and aggravated assault which decreased by 21 percent. The dashboard and latest information on crime trends were presented today by COG staff and area law enforcement to the region’s elected officials at the COG Board of Directors meeting.
Attorney General Jason Miyares has filed a lawsuit and separate objection to 23andMe’s plan to sell the personal genetic data of roughly 15 million consumers without their knowledge or consent in violation of Virginia law and the company’s own privacy commitments to consumers.
23andMe, a popular direct-to-consumer DNA testing company, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. As part of its restructuring, it is attempting to sell off its data—including biological samples, DNA results, and health-related traits—to the highest bidder.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Ed Markey (D-MA) in introducing the Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 to strengthen aviation safety. The legislation follows Warner and Kaine’s years-long advocacy against further crowding in the capital area airspace – which will continue – and comes in direct response to the January 29, 2025 collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a regional commercial jet operating as American Airlines flight 5342 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that took the lives of 67 people.
The crash exposed multiple system failures, including the Army Black Hawk not transmitting safety-enhancing ADS-B technology (radio systems that aircraft use to share their positions with each other and with air traffic control), unsafe route design for mixed traffic near DCA, and lack of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) coordination to prevent future incidents. The Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 addresses these specific failures, as well as broader long-standing FAA air traffic controller shortages, FAA internal safety management systems, and the need for important post-accident safety reviews.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today responded to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) revealing that 16 million Americans would lose their health insurance under the Republican tax plan. The report highlights the devastating consequences of the GOP’s attempt to gut Medicaid and refusal to extend premium tax credits that help working families afford their health care. The senators issued the following statement:
“Sixteen million people. That’s the cost of the Republican plan. This is not just a number – it represents moms, dads, kids, veterans, and retirees who will be forced to choose between rent and life-saving care. At a time when costs are already too high for too many Americans, this plan would rip coverage away from millions just to hand tax breaks to the wealthiest. It’s cruel, it’s shortsighted, and we are going to fight like hell to stop it.”
Arlington, VA – June 4, 2025 – Monday Properties, a dynamic real estate investment firm and industry-leading multifamily developer, today announced that Two Birds, a Reggio Emilia-inspired childcare and preschool for infants and children, birth through pre-kindergarten, has signed a 10,824-square-foot, 15-year lease at Three Ballston Plaza.
Monday Properties recently completed a comprehensive renovation of the lobby and arrival experience at its 16-story premier office tower in Arlington’s vibrant Ballston neighborhood. The childcare facility will occupy the first floor of Three Ballston Plaza beginning in Q1 2026.
FAIRFAX, VA (June 4, 2025) – NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: SMR) (NuScale), the industry-leading provider of proprietary and innovative advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, today announced the opening of its latest Energy Exploration (E2) Center™ – the largest of its kind in the United States. Established in partnership with George Mason University’s College of Engineering and Computing, the E2 Center is located in George Mason’s new Fuse building at Mason Square in Arlington, VA.
Designed to engage students in hands-on nuclear science and engineering educational activities, the E2 Center was funded by the Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank, powered by the Virginia Department of Energy. This grant is a strategic investment in Virginia’s nuclear energy workforce development.
RICHMOND – Did you get a text about an overdue traffic ticket charge? It’s likely a scam. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is alerting customers about a new text scam where fraudsters pose as Virginia DMV and falsely claim you owe money for unpaid fines.
In the text message, the scammers urgently tell you to pay a fine to avoid having your license and registration suspended and include a link in the message. Clicking that link could result in your personal information being stolen, making you a victim of this scam.
May 28, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade and chairs the New Democrat Coalition’s Trade Task Force, issued the following statement on a ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade vacating and permanently enjoining Donald Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on nearly every country in the world, including his “Liberation Day” tariffs and separate tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China:
“This ruling is a major victory for the American people, who have spent months under threat of a stupid, self-imposed economic disaster thanks to Donald Trump’s trade war. Trump’s tariffs have already raised costs on Americans, strained our alliances, hurt our credibility, and threatened the global economy. They’ve driven uncertainty to a peak, hurt our small businesses, and greatly raised the danger of a recession.
RICHMOND, VA— Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Current Employment Statistics Survey (“CES” or “establishment survey”) data, Virginia’s nonfarm payroll employment edged up 500 over-the-month to 4,272,700, a 47,900 increase since April 2024. Since January 2022, the CES job count has increased by 268,100.
“In addition to the 500 nonfarm payroll jobs added in April, March’s positive revision includes another 800 jobs,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This report underscores the resiliency of Virginia’s labor market and the need for us to continue our pro-growth policies that have seen record investment by companies wanting to be part of Virginia’s future.”
ARLINGTON, Va. – Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, a world-class shopping destination and proud pillar of the community located in the heart of Washington, D.C., is slated to reveal a new community mural that brings art, culture and vibrancy to the heart of Arlington. Created in collaboration with celebrated artist Sabrina Rupprecht, this bold installation is a visual love letter to the region’s diverse heritage and dynamic future, offering a local interpretation of the center’s offerings mixed with iconic D.C. elements.
Shoppers are invited to join the celebration on Thursday, May 22, at 4 p.m., where they’ll have a chance to meet the artist and enjoy themed mocktails, sweets, light bites and more. The mural is located on Metro Level at the Breezeway entrance, offering an eye-catching welcome for locals and visitors alike.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal court today ordered Dr. Badar Khan Suri released from detention on bond eight weeks after immigration authorities arrested him in retaliation for constitutionally protected speech and associations. He will be able to return from Texas to Virginia, where his case challenging the constitutionality of his arrest is proceeding, and where he lives with his wife and three children.
“Hearing the judge’s words brought tears to my eyes,” said Dr. Khan Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh. “I truly wish I could give her a heartfelt hug from me and from my three children, who long every day to see their father again. Speaking out about what’s happening in Palestine is not a crime. Let’s show the world that this country is still a place where people can and do express their beliefs without fear.”
Equality Arlington, an LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit, applauds the Arlington County Board for reaffirming its commitment to LGBTQ+ residents through key investments in public health and fair housing protections in the FY 2026 budget. The approved budget includes:
Additionally, Equality Arlington commends the County’s planning to prevent rising HIV infection rates amid the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to federal HIV prevention funding and rollback of free HIV prevention medication to residents.
