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Morning Notes

Published February 10, 2011 at 9:02AM | Updated February 10, 2011 at 3:00PM

I-395 HOT Lanes Could Be Reconsidered — Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton tells Potomac Local that should High Occupancy Toll lanes on the Beltway and I-95 prove successful, HOT lanes could still be added to I-395. On Tuesday Arlington County announced they were withdrawing their lawsuit against a planned HOT lanes project on I-395, following an announcement from VDOT that they would no longer pursue HOT lanes between Arlington and Alexandria. [Potomac Local]

DCA Baggage Handler Gets Trapped in Cargo Hold — A baggage handler at Reagan National Airport became trapped in the cargo hold of a plane after another baggage handler closed the cargo door without realizing someone was still inside. The trapped employee had to yell and pound on the ceiling to get the attention of the plane’s co-pilot. [TBD]

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 4, 2011 at 8:00AM

Arlington Has Biggest Income Jump in U.S. — The 2010 Census data is out, and Arlington had the largest jump in median income among municipalities in the United States. Median household income rose by $12,705 between 2000 and 2009. Two other Northern Virginia localities — Alexandria city and Loudoun County — were also among the biggest income gainers. [Bloomberg]

Hispanic Population Falling in Arlington — While the Hispanic population is on the rise in many parts of Virginia, new census data shows that the Hispanic population in Arlington has actually shrunk. The Hispanic population in Arlington fell 11 percent between 2000 and 2009. Arlington’s Asian population, meanwhile, jumped by 21 percent, while the non-Hispanic white population rose by 16 percent. [Washington Post]

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Alexandria Businessman Mulling GOP Run For State Senate

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 4:01PM | Updated February 2, 2011 at 4:36PM

“I’ve been actively considering this for the past two weeks,” Maibach said in a phone interview. He expects to announce a decision by the end of the month.

Maibach has a long resume that has led him from his native Illinois to California’s Silicon Valley to the Washington region.

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Murray Blasts Moran, Setting Up Possible Electoral Rematch

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 4:18PM | Updated February 1, 2011 at 4:34PM

On Thursday, Moran started taking heat for comments that he made to a U.S. government-sponsored Arab TV network regarding Americans’ attitudes toward having an African American president. Now Murray is piling on, calling Moran’s comments “wildly inaccurate” and “un-American” in the email reprinted below (after the jump).

Murray, a retired Army colonel who Moran defeated by a 24-point margin, has been lying low since November, but he has maintained his email list and recently set up a new web site. The latest email suggests he may be relishing a rematch against Moran, who he accuses of denigrating his military service.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 25, 2011 at 8:05AM

Iwo Jima Memorial Revamp Planned — One of the most memorable sights in Arlington may be getting a face lift. The 56-year-old Iwo Jima memorial is in need of a refurbishment and more frequent flag replacements, supporters say. A group, the Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation, also wants to add a volunteer-staffed reception center with permanent restrooms, replacing the plastic portable toilets currently on site. [USA Today]

George Allen Wants His Senate Seat Back — Former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) says he will run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) and formerly held by himself. The 2012 race will also feature a challenge on Allen’s right during the primary. Some fellow Republicans wasted no time portraying Allen, once thought of as a possible presidential candidate, as “one of the biggest government guys out there” and “a part of the Washington establishment.” [Washington Post]

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Treasurer O’Leary To Hold Re-Election Kick-Off

By ARLnow.com

Published December 30, 2010 at 8:25AM

O’Leary, who first took office in 1984, touts his efforts to bring down the tax delinquency rate in Arlington County. The rate was nine percent shortly before he took office, and is just over one half of one percent now.

Republicans are currently looking for qualified candidates to run against O’Leary and other Democrats who are up for re-election this year.

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Moran wins DPVA Chair, Rousselot Mulls Next Move

By ARLnow.com

Published December 6, 2010 at 10:34AM

Rousselot says it was worth the trouble to advance his agenda for the state party.

“I set a reform agenda in my DPVA Chair campaign, and I gained many new supporters for reform both in Arlington and around Virginia,” he said.

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DEVELOPING: Arlington’s Top Prosecutor Retiring

By ARLnow.com

Published December 1, 2010 at 11:46AM

The four-term prosecutor said he will not seek re-election next year. In a statement, Trodden endorsed Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos to be his successor.

“Theo has earned, in her nearly 25 years of experience, the respect of the bench, the defense bar, her colleagues and the citizens of Arlington County and the City of Falls Church,” Trodden said. “She is the right person at the right time.”

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With Zimmerman Re-Elected, Board’s Agenda Remains Unchanged

By ARLnow.com

Published November 5, 2010 at 11:53AM

Mark was a well-spoken, likable family man who took measured, intellectual positions on the issues. He was a Republican who Democratic voters could potentially find common ground with, especially in an anti-incumbent year.

In the end, however, Arlington voters re-elected Democrat Chris Zimmerman by a wide margin.

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Foreign Visitors Flock to Arlington for Elections

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2010 at 9:52AM

As it does nearly every election day, Arlington played host to foreign media outlets and to foreign officials interested in learning more about the American election process.

Television news crews from France, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, China, Australia and the UK all brought cameras to Arlington polling places throughout the course of the day.

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Google Leads Voters Astray

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2010 at 9:21AM

Virginia Square resident Charlie Fitzpatick tells Fast Company magazine that a Google service intended to assist voters directed him to a location in Courthouse, almost a mile away from where he was supposed to be voting.

A text message service intended to provide polling place information also provided misinformation on election day, Fast Company reports.

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Dems Sweep, Bonds Pass as Arlington Remains Deep Blue

By ARLnow.com

Published November 3, 2010 at 8:59AM | Updated November 3, 2010 at 9:19AM

Congressman Jim Moran, county board member Chris Zimmerman and school board member Sally Baird were all re-elected. All four proposed county bond issues, each supported by the Democrats, passed. No bond received less than 62 percent of the vote.

At the Democrat’s victory party in the Westin hotel in Ballston, Moran declared victory early, but tempered his remarks with a warning about challenges that lie ahead for the party.