state legislature | ARLnow.com

Arlington Wants Democrats to Push Big for Affordable Housing Funds Next Year

Published November 14, 2019 at 11:25AM

Virginia Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

Arlington’s leaders will be pushing the state to increase its affordable housing contributions more than five-fold as Democrats head to Richmond after taking control of the House of Delegates and State Senate.

The Arlington County Board will vote this Saturday, November 16, on holding a public hearing about the legislative priorities as the General Assembly prepares to convene in Richmond for the 2020 legislative session between January 8 and March 7. The draft document lists a number of priorities Arlington leaders hope its state delegates and senators will also push during the 60-day period.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 12, 2019 at 7:30AM | Updated November 12, 2019 at 9:00AM

VHC to Take More Trauma Patients — “Virginia Hospital Center is preparing to become a trauma center. The Arlington hospital, now amid a major campus expansion, is taking steps to secure Level 2 trauma designation — meaning it could handle more serious cases like head injuries and complex fractures with a devoted response team, led by an in-house general surgeon.” [Washington Business Journal]

APS May Be Rethinking School Swap — “As the potentially contentious redistricting of elementary-school boundaries begins to take shape, Arlington school leaders may be tiptoeing away just slightly from somewhat radical suggestions they offered just weeks ago.” [InsideNova]

News

Arlington Democrats Eye Other Races As Voting Kicks Off

By Airey

Published November 5, 2019 at 9:05AM

Voting underway at Abingdon Elementary (staff file photo by Jay Westcott)

Today may be Election Day in Arlington, but the Arlington Democratic party may well be watching other jurisdictions’ elections more closely.

Virginia is one of the few states with a “serious shot” at flipping both its House and Senate blue this election, an outcome Democratic leaders have long hoped for to pass a more progressive agenda in Richmond and boost Democratic presidential candidates come next November. Acknowledging that Arlington voters overwhelmingly vote blue already, the local party is casting its support out wider to help other Democratic candidates in the state.

News

Arthur Purves: Why You Should Vote for Me

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2019 at 2:30PM

Here is the unedited response from Republican challenger Arthur Purves.

I am running to end racial inequality in Virginia public schools. This is my eighth race in 24 years, and every time I have run on the same platform: to end racial inequality in public schools by bringing back phonics, arithmetic drill, history, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, instead of tax hikes, busing, and police.

News

Del. Alfonso Lopez: Why You Should Vote for Me

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2019 at 2:00PM

Democrat candidate Del. Alfonso Lopez running for the 49th District (courtesy photo)

Last week, we asked the two candidates in the 49th District House of Delegates race to write a 750 word essay on why our readers should vote for them in the Nov. 5 general election.

Here is the unedited response from the Democratic incumbent Del. Alfonso Lopez.

Opinion

Del. Patrick Hope: Right to Work is Wrong for Virginia

By ARLnow.com

Published September 20, 2019 at 2:45PM

The following op-ed was written by Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington).

The Labor Day holiday may have passed but the rights of workers remain at the forefront of my agenda.

News

Del. Lopez Picks Up New Challenger in Candidate Terry Modglin

By Airey

Published July 10, 2019 at 4:30PM | Updated July 12, 2019 at 3:08PM

Independent House of Delegates candidate Terry Modglin (Image via Facebook)

(Updated on 07/12/19) A new independent candidate has thrown his hat in the ring to challenge Del. Alfonso Lopez’s bid for re-election this year.

Terry Modglin is former non-profit organization executive who also served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam for four years. He’s now running against the Democratic incumbent to represent parts of Arlington and Fairfax County in the Virginia House of Delegates. This is the second candidate to run against Lopez, who recently defeated Democratic challenger Julius “JD” Spain, Sr. in the primary election.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 1, 2019 at 8:30AM | Updated July 1, 2019 at 10:23AM

New State Laws Take Effect Today — A number of laws intended to improve safety on Virginia’s roads and highways take effect today, July 1. [Press Release, Press Release]

Wardian Runs Around Beltway — “Michael Wardian has sat in traffic on the Capital Beltway and thought, ‘Wow; I wish I could just park my car here and take off and run home.’ This weekend, he ran the entire loop of the iconic highway. Wardian, of Arlington, Virginia, ran the 89.9 miles of the Beltway in 17 hours, 54 minutes and 59 seconds.” [WTOP, WUSA 9, RunWashington]

News

BREAKING: Dehghani-Tafti Defeats Stamos in Commonwealth’s Attorney Race

By ARLnow.com

Published June 11, 2019 at 7:40PM | Updated June 11, 2019 at 10:27PM

Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, left, is challenging Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos

(Updated at 10:25 p.m.) The top prosecutor in Arlington and Falls Church has lost her bid for re-election.

In the most closely watched local race in today’s Democratic primary, incumbent Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos has been defeated by challenger Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, who ran a campaign centered on criminal justice reform. Tafti has 52% of the vote compared to 48% for Stamos, with all 59 precincts in Arlington and Falls Church reporting, though the results are unofficial until certified.

News

Candidate Essay: Nicole Merlene

By ARLnow.com

Published June 10, 2019 at 11:30AM

Last week, we asked the two Democratic candidates in the State Senate race for the 31st District to write a sub-750 word essay on why the county’s residents should vote for them in the June 11 primary.

Here is the unedited response from Nicole Merlene:

News

Candidate Essay: Barbara Favola

By ARLnow.com

Published June 10, 2019 at 11:00AM

State Sen. Barbara Favola (D)

Here is the unedited response from Barbara Favola:

Why you should vote for me.

News

Candidate Essay: Julius ‘JD’ Spain, Sr.

By ARLnow.com

Published June 10, 2019 at 10:30AM

Here is the unedited response from Julius “JD” Spain, Sr.:

The 49th District deserves the best leadership. As Delegate, one my priorities will be to introduce legislation to reform our mental health system. In Virginia, our mental health system is broken, and we are losing too many children and young adults because we have not done enough to support them. This issue is one that requires immediate attention. I will work with experts in mental health to improve access to mental health resources for individuals and families.