Libby Garvey | ARLnow.com

Published September 24, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated October 8, 2020 at 3:42PM

Arlington County is considering a plan to host some children of working parents in community centers for supervised learning, while Arlington Public Schools readies its plan for a return to in-person learning.

The use of community centers would be a relief valve for families that are unable to have a parent stay home during the day and do not have the means to pay for daytime child care. It would serve as an interim step until APS again offers full-time, in-person learning — whenever that may be.

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Purple Lounge Back in Business After Liquor License Restored

By ARLnow.com

Published September 16, 2020 at 11:45PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:13AM

Purple Lounge is resuming operations after reaching a settlement with Virginia ABC for the restoration of its liquor license.

Six people have been shot in violence linked to the business at 3111 Columbia Pike since last September, including a double shooting late last month and a triple shooting, in which one person was killed, in June. The continued violence, complaints from neighbors, and repeated code violations led Virginia ABC to suspend Purple Lounge’s license to serve alcohol earlier this month.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 14, 2020 at 6:00AM

Garvey Stands By Streetcar Stance — “It cost her the goodwill of many in the county’s Democratic ranks, and four years ago nearly cost her her job, but Libby Garvey says she has no regrets. Garvey, now seeking a third full term on the Arlington County Board, used the Sept. 8 Arlington County Civic Federation candidate forum to remind voters of her full-throttle opposition to the Columbia Pike streetcar system – the biggest political controversy of recent years.” [InsideNova]

Local Man Facing Child Porn Charges — “An Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigation by state and local agencies has resulted in the arrest of an Arlington man. Detectives arrested Luis Hernandez Orozco, 25, and charged him with two counts of Possession of Child Pornography. He is being held in the Arlington County Detention Facility.” [Arlington County]

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Beyer and Garvey to Trump Campaign: Wear Masks in Arlington, Please

By ARLnow.com

Published September 1, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:13AM

Two top local Democratic elected officials are calling on the Trump administration and the president’s Rosslyn-based campaign to wear masks while in Arlington County.

Rep. Don Beyer and Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey sent a letter today to Trump’s chief of staff and campaign manager, imploring them to follow public health guidelines at campaign headquarters and at events.

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More Crashes at Rock Spring Intersection, Despite New Signs

By ARLnow.com

Published September 1, 2020 at 2:00PM | Updated September 1, 2020 at 2:23PM

Another crash at the intersection of Little Falls and Old Dominion, on Friday

“We’ve seen too many accidents here. Think [before] you cross!”

So reads signs recently placed on Little Falls Road, at the crash-prone intersection with Old Dominion Drive, below signs restricting traffic to right turns only during rush hour. A few yards from the signs, around lunchtime Friday, was yet another crash.

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After Another Shooting at Lounge, County ‘To Explore All the Options’

By ARLnow.com

Published September 1, 2020 at 11:55AM | Updated September 2, 2020 at 3:49PM

(Updated at 1:25 p.m.) Another shooting in the parking lot of Purple Lounge on Columbia Pike has county officials mulling additional action against the nightlife venue.

Police say a man was shot around 5 a.m. Sunday outside the business at 3111 Columbia Pike, after the suspect opened fire into a crowd. The shooter was also shot and lightly wounded by security guards, according to an Arlington County Police Department press release.

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JUST IN: Arlington Records New Summer Peak in COVID-19 Cases

By ARLnow.com

Published August 19, 2020 at 10:35AM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:13AM

(Updated at 11 a.m.) Arlington has reached a new high water mark for coronavirus cases this summer.

The county recorded 175 new COVID-19 cases over the past seven days — an average of 25 per day — according to new Virginia Dept. of Health data. Twenty-nine new cases were reported overnight.

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JUST IN: No In-Person Marine Corps Marathon for 2020

By ARLnow.com

Published July 20, 2020 at 1:15PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:13AM

Marine Corps Marathon runners in the Rosslyn area in 2012 (photo by Wolfkann)

The Marine Corps Marathon will be held virtually this year, race organizers announced today.

The October marathon usually involves miles of closed streets, tens of thousands of runners grouped together, and large festivals in Rosslyn and Crystal City. That will not be the case for 2020.

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Petition Calls for Renaming Fairlington Bridge Amid Battle Over ‘BLM’ Art

By ARLnow.com

Published July 6, 2020 at 5:30PM | Updated July 6, 2020 at 11:50PM

(Updated at 11:45 p.m.) More than 500 people have signed a petition calling for the S. Abingdon Street bridge over I-395 to be renamed “Black Lives Matter Bridge.”

The petition was created amid dueling efforts to place and remove the letters “BLM” on the bridge’s chain link fence, a thus far nonviolent dispute that has resulted in multiple calls to Arlington County police.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 17, 2020 at 7:30AM

Big Response to Small Biz Grant Program — “Those hit hard by the pandemic can receive help through the small business emergency grant program. More than 1,100 businesses have applied, [County Board Chair Libby] Garvey said, and at least 63% of them are owned by women or minorities. ‘With an additional $1.6 million, we can provide grants to a total of 400 businesses, more than 50% of those that… were eligible,’ Garvey said,” during her State of the County address Tuesday morning. [WTOP, Zoom]

Chamber Presents Valor Awards — Also on Tuesday, “awards were presented to honor Arlington County’s public safety personnel and first responders. Fourteen honorees were recognized for their courageous, and often lifesaving, actions in the line of duty. Leadership of all respective departments submitted nominations for the honorees, based on their performance over the past year.” [Arlington Chamber of Commerce, InsideNova]

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County Leaders Defend ACPD Officers Who Were Recalled from D.C. Protests

By ARLnow.com

Published June 3, 2020 at 8:45AM | Updated June 3, 2020 at 10:09AM

(Updated at 10 a.m.) Despite what you might have seen on TV, the Arlington police officers who were sent to assist the response to protests in D.C. conducted themselves professionally, county leaders say.

In a half-hour phone interview with ARLnow, Police Chief M. Jay Farr, County Board Chair Libby Garvey and County Manager Mark Schwartz discussed the decision to send officers to help U.S. Park Police in D.C., and the subsequent decision to bring them back to Arlington — which is facing criticism from the local police association.

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County to Begin Regular COVID-19 Testing of Public Safety Personnel

By ARLnow.com

Published June 2, 2020 at 1:55PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:19AM

Arlington County is planning to start regular testing of public safety personnel and critical employees, ARLnow has learned.

The county has acquired a rapid testing machine, which is currently undergoing a certification process. Once its accuracy is certified, it will be used to regularly test law enforcement, fire department and emergency communications personnel, as well as public health and other critical county employees.