News

Expected spikes in health care premiums, cuts to Medicaid funding and tighter eligibility requirements have left Arlington social services scrambling to meet an incoming surge in need.

Northern Virginia officials at the state and federal level say they’re doing what they can to soften the impacts of planned federal rollbacks, many of which aren’t scheduled to take effect for months or years. Despite Democrats’ efforts in Congress, however, one of the first major changes — a lapse in enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act — is expected to hit as many as 100,000 Virginians at the end of the year.


News

Three incumbents and one newcomer on the Falls Church City Council ballot were elected yesterday (Tuesday), while the winner of the final seat on the School Board hangs in the balance.

Challenger Arthur Agin prevailed in the City Council race, as did incumbents Laura Downs, Marybeth Connelly and David Snyder. Agin will take the seat of Debora Schantz-Hiscott, who did not seek re-election, in January.


Schools

The Arlington School Board is once again seeking state authorization to administer standardized tests in languages other than English.

The School Board’s 2026 General Assembly legislative package, which went to a vote yesterday (Thursday), carries over the Board’s request from the 2025 legislative session.


News

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Democrats are taking steps to redraw their state’s U.S. House districts, hoping to boost their party’s chances in next year’s midterm elections and counter President Donald Trump’s push for more partisan districts in Republican-run states.

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott sent a letter Thursday to members telling them to convene Monday for a special session but did not state a reason. The purpose includes congressional redistricting aimed at gaining more Democratic-held seats, according to four sources with direct knowledge of the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because they are not authorized to publicly discuss them.


News

New polling suggests broad support among Virginians for state-level legislation to support building more housing.

A survey of about 1,300 Virginia voters found that the vast majority of respondents — about 73% — believe that the state lacks enough homes that people can afford to rent or buy.


News

By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed a slew of bills reforming labor and gun laws, blocking Democrats’ attempts to reintroduce legislation nearly identical to what they proposed unsuccessfully last year.


News

By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia legislature ended its 45-day session Saturday with a slew of budget amendments ranging from tax cuts to child care, but some lawmakers said they would likely return to the Capitol later this year to address a mounting threat: massive federal government layoffs planned by the Trump administration.


News

A state bill that would loosen restrictions on liquor sales is picking up support from members of Arlington’s restaurant scene.

Restaurants with mixed beverage licenses in Virginia are mandated to make at least 45% of sales from food and no more than 55% of sales from liquor-based mixed beverages. Senate Bill 1163 would lower the food sale requirement to 30%, allowing higher revenue percentages from liquor — something multiple restaurant owners told ARLnow they would welcome.


News

Newly proposed legislation could make it possible for Arlington to implement major county-government changes.

Del. Patrick Hope (D-1) has introduced a bill for the 2025 General Assembly session that would make it possible for Arlington voters and officials to adopt several changes.


News

By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia House of Delegates passed resolutions on Tuesday enshrining rights to abortion, voting and marriage equality in a critical step for Democrats hoping to amend the state’s constitution next year.


News

By OLIVIA DIAZ and BEN FINLEY Associated Press/Report for America

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s state Capitol and General Assembly buildings are going to be closed Wednesday, effectively postponing lawmakers’ first working day of the legislative session nearly two days after a winter storm shut down Richmond’s water system.


News

Ensuring access to affordable, high-quality daycare and early-childhood education has landed near the top of the Arlington County Board’s 2025 legislative wish list.

The cost of child care in Northern Virginia is “more expensive than college,” Board member Takis Karantonis said at the body’s Tuesday (Dec. 3) work session with members of the county’s delegation to the General Assembly.


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