Arlington
- Lawmakers weigh merging Northern Virginia transit agencies to cut costs
Virginia lawmakers want to examine consolidating Northern Virginia’s transit agencies to assess potential cost savings and service improvements. The proposal, which is included in the two-year budget lawmakers passed Monday, directs the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to include in its report not only the cost savings and long-term financial impacts of merging multiple […]
- Spanberger signs assault weapons ban, package of criminal justice and energy bills
Gov. Abigail Spanberger late Thursday signed a sweeping package of legislation approved during the 2026 General Assembly session, including a ban on the future sale and manufacture of assault-style firearms, new restrictions of weapons in hospitals, marijuana sentencing reforms, voter roll maintenance changes and protections for immigrant workers. The assault weapons measure, one of the […]
- Rejected Virginia student voter registrations, Judge approves settlement
A federal judge has approved a consent decree requiring Virginia election officials to accept certain voter registration applications submitted by college students, resolving a lawsuit that alleged students were being improperly denied registration over missing dormitory-related details. The agreement, approved last week by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, bars electi
- Fairfax County Holds Real Estate Tax Rate Steady for FY 2026
Fairfax County has maintained its real estate tax rate at $1.085 per $100 of assessed value in the fiscal year 2026 adopted budget plan. This action continues the rate level that has remained unchanged since fiscal year 2022. The decision supports homeowner stability amid rising property assessments while funding essential county operations. Revenue projections estimate […]
- Virginia proposes two-year delay in raising school standards
The Virginia Board of Education may delay the full implementation of the state’s plan to raise academic benchmarks for reading and math by two years, rather than gradually increasing them over a four-year period starting this year as scheduled. The department briefed board members on the proposed delay at their work session on Wednesday at […]
- Virginia eyes toll revenue for transit as express lane debate grows
Virginia is pushing to reinvest express lane and toll revenue into public transit instead of road projects, even as public concerns persist about using priced roadways. The focus on reinvesting express lane revenue is reflected in the estimated $46.5 million the commonwealth expects to generate from its express lanes, which are designed to mitigate congestion […]
- Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs wetlands, PFAS and flooding bills
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs an environmental bill into law in Stafford, VA on May 6, 2026. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) On the banks of Aquia Creek in Stafford, Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday signed a slew of bills designed to protect Virginia’s clean water from harmful forever chemicals and aid communities as sea levels […]
- House Judiciary Committee Launches Investigation into Arlington County Prosecutor Parisa Dehghani-Tafti Over Alleged Sanctuary Policies and Public Safety Concerns
WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee has opened a formal oversight investigation into Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, Virginia, accusing her office of implementing sanctuary-style policies that prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens and endanger local communities. In a letter dated May 4, 2026,
- New law will enhance emergency response for people with disabilities
Two things inspired Del. Leslie Mehta, D-Chesterfield, the most when she sought public office: her now-deceased eldest daughter Brooke and her passion for healthcare policy. Both converged in the first piece of Mehta’s legislation to be signed into law by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. House Bill 1370, she said, is about “making sure that those with […]
- Virginia House Bill 50 Proposes Study on Cricket as Sanctioned High School Sport
In the 2026 session of the Virginia House of Delegates, a bill was introduced that would encourage the Virginia High School League to conduct an evaluation of the feasibility of adding cricket as a sanctioned high school sport in Planning District 8. The legislation seeks to have the league assess whether it would be practical […]
- US Supreme Court decision ends Virginia’s redistricting fight, reshapes 2026 races
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision late Friday to reject Virginia Democrats’ emergency appeal over congressional redistricting effectively ended any remaining effort to revive the state’s redistricting referendum, triggering a wave of Democratic campaign suspensions over the weekend and forcing both parties to quickly regroup ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Several Democrats who launched campa
- Virginia House Bill HB311 Aims to Enhance Driver Protections in Photo Speed Monitoring Enforcement
In the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session, House Bill 311, introduced by Delegate Otto Wachsmann, sought to amend state law governing photo speed monitoring devices by requiring more detailed information on mailed summonses for captured violations.
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces $6.2 Million in Growth and Opportunity Virginia Grants
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced $6.2 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grants for 10 projects that advance Virginia’s economic competitiveness through innovation, workforce development, and strategic industry growth. The awarded projects will leverage an additional $4 million in investment.
- Watershed mapping project shows rapid loss of forests, offers new view of Va.’s changing landscapes
Approximately 60% of Virginia is located inside the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and those communities now have access to an updated map that shows precisely how their landscapes are changing over time.
- Migration patterns have changed. In Virginia, most rural counties are seeing a large influx of young adults.
Pulaski county seems to be thriving in an age when talent is seen as the key to success and the labor pool is shrinking.
- Protesters in Richmond call for ban on local cooperation with ICE after wave of detentions
Protesters hold signs outside Richmond City Hall on Monday during a rally against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions, calling for the city to bar local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Richmond City Hall Monday afternoon to protest what they called an escalation of […]
- Virginia job picture is ammunition for local Democrats in the heat of elections
Arlington’s Democratic leadership at the state and federal levels has ammunition from new data that shows an increase of Virginia’s unemployment claims. Rep. Don Beyer, D-8, seized on the figures released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday. The data showed that Virginia had been the only state that recorded a statistically significant rise […]
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces U.S. Department of Education Action on Title IX Violations in Northern Virginia School Divisions
RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) determined that the gender policies of five school divisions in Northern Virginia – Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Arlington County, Prince William County and the City of Alexandria – violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The school […]
- Arlington Public Schools is Violating Title 9, discriminating against boys and girls in the public schools
Arlington Public Schools is discriminating against Boys and Girls in our Public School System.
- Arlington Cocaine bust results in 15-year prison sentence for man
After being caught during an sting operation in Arlington, a man from Philly will spend 15 years in prison.
- Fairfax City is considering expanding the ban on firearms in public places
Fairfax City Council, four years after a vote to prohibit firearms from public property and to ban them in the city, is now considering whether or not to extend these restrictions.
- Arlington man sentenced to nine years for domestic violence
Evan Omar Larsen, 23, appeared before the Loudoun County Circuit Court for sentencing for his convictions of one count of Abduction, one count of Unlawful Wounding, and one count of Strangulation.
- Arlington leader opposes a region-wide tax on sales to support Metro
Arlington’s representative in a panel that is studying D.C. Metro financing opposes a regional sales tax for the transit system.
- Tysons Casino proponent donates $15,000 to Arlington Democrat delegates Patrick Hope and Adele McClure
Two Arlington state representatives received $15,000 from a developer who hopes to bring casino gaming to Northern Virginia.
- Arlington performing arts groups concerned about new county fees
Arlington County has changed the way that it bills performing art groups for their services, causing some concern amongst advocates.
- Police say student who made threats was armed with knives at school
Police have charged a middle school student after they say he threatened a student with a blade.
- Arlington schools could be closed down if they can’t accommodate more elementary school students
Arlington Public Schools officials have said that they do not plan to close any elementary schools in the near future due to excess capacity.
- Arlington’s new voting machines may be delayed in their selection and use
Arlington is currently on the hunt for its next-generation voting equipment. The question of when voters will be able use it is still open.
- Virginia Attorney General wants to take over Fairfax County indecent-exposure case
Virginia’s Attorney General is reportedly seeking to revive an indecent-exposure case filed in Fairfax against a man who was later charged with for allegedly exposing him at Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington.
- Senate majority leader champions Tysons casino bill
A lobbying flyer shared with lawmakers in Virginia includes a rendering Comstock’s proposed casino development at Tysons.
- Long Bridge Project begins construction
A new two-track railroad bridge that will connect Arlington with Washington, D.C. broke ground Oct. 15 and is slated to be completed in 2030. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) is constructing the state’s Long Bridge Project. The largest of the Commonwealth’s Transforming Rail in Virginia projects, Long Bridge is a $2.3 billion infrastructure improvement […]
- Amazon announces deal with Dominion Energy to develop a small nuclear reactor
Amazon announced Wednesday that it entered into an agreement with Dominion Energy to pay for the development of a small modular reactor as the utility explores building one at its North Anna Power Station, an existing traditional nuclear power plant in Louisa County.
- Amazon Web Services Plans to Invest $35 Billion in the Commonwealth by 2040 to Expand Data Center Campuses
For Immediate Release: January 20, 2023 Contacts: Office of the Governor: Christian Martinez, Christian.