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Arlington Officials Release Previously Secret Construction Bids
County leaders change position on secrecy of bids; refuse to reveal expectations.
New documents released by Arlington County officials show the four bids for the new aquatics center at Long Bridge Park range from $81.9 million to $82.8 million.
Transitway to the Future
Alexandria and Arlington set to break ground on region's first transitway with dedicated lanes.
This week, elected leaders and government officials from Alexandria and Arlington will turn swords into plowshares, setting aside their previous differences about the Crystal City Potomac Yard transitway and wielding ceremonial shovels to break ground.
Mask Penalty Indoors, Side-Eye Outdoors
State Senate approves civil penalty indoors, City Council ditches fines outdoors.
Not wearing a mask indoors might get you a $500 fine from the Commonwealth of Virginia, although failing to wear on the sidewalk outside will get you just a side-eye from the City of Alexandria.
Flu Shot Clinic Serves Double Duty as Disaster-Planning Scenario
Planning for the worst while helping city residents feel their best.
Alexandria is in the grip of a medical emergency. A mysterious strain of influenza is creating a deadly health crisis, and it doesn’t seem to be responding to the standard flu vaccine. Wait. Calm down. It’s just a disaster planning scenario.
Model Silence
Alexandria School Board members face decision on rights of transgender students.
Alexandria School Board members aren't saying much about how they plan to respond to a controversial new model policy from the Virginia Department of Education, which denies the ability of students to decide which pronouns and names they prefer at school.
Do Backyard Hens Pose Threat to Public Health in Arlington?
Here's the scoop on potential hazards of proposed zoning change.
Do backyard hens pose a risk to public health in Arlington? That question will be at the center of a debate now taking place in the county.
Democrats Lead in Polls as Voters Head to the Polls for Election Day
Hotly contested race for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Democrats have the wind at their backs heading into Election Day next week, as Republican gubernatorial candidates Ken Cuccinelli struggles to overcome a deficit in the polls.
Sealing the Record
House and Senate Democrats disagree on how old convictions should be expunged.
For people haunted by a conviction for felony drug possession or misdemeanor disorderly conduct, a debate now happening in the Virginia General Assembly is one that could have dramatic consequences for finding a place to live or landing a job. Lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow those people to seal their criminal record, expunging old convictions and helping them wipe the slate clean. But Democrats are bitterly divided over how to accomplish that goal.
Emission Ambition
County sets goal to reduce carbon emissions by 10.4 metric tons over the next 40 years.
Arlington County has a new goal to slash carbon emissions. But the first-ever community energy plan unanimously adopted last month imposes no mandates or penalties if residents and business fail to clean up their act. And it doesn’t set any money aside for strategic investments.
How Alexandria Stole the National Science Foundation from Arlington
Financial incentives are increasingly being used to attract federal agencies.
Standing outside the National Science Foundation in the heart of Ballston, it's easy to see why Arlington and Alexandria have been fighting over the federal agency.
Seaport Foundation Without a Seaport?
Waterfront plan leaves nonprofit homeless, for now.
A sense of uneasiness fills Randall Smith when he starts talking about the future of the Seaport Foundation, the nonprofit that taught him how to build boats. One recent afternoon found him scarfing a board so that it has the right ratio to be part of a kit that the nonprofit sells for people to make a kind of boat known as a Bevin's Skiff. By this time next year, the nonprofit will have to move out of this building, which will be demolished as part of the waterfront plan.
Bike Lane Controversy Creates a King-Sized Debate in Alexandria
City Council set to take up proposal to remove parking and install bike lanes.
Months of bitter accusations and counter-accusations are set to culminate this weekend as members of the Alexandria City Council take up a plan to remove four blocks of parking spaces on King Street to make room for a bike lane in each direction.
Being There
How much virtual participation it too much?
Advocates for open government worry about too much virtual participation. Virginia Press Association executive director Betsy Edwards says the law is designed to make sure the public and the press have an opportunity to ask members of the Planning Commission why they voted against a zoning change and or why the mayor voted for a bike lane. She worried that unlimited virtual participation would limit availability to the public and the press to ask questions and get answers.
Casting a Ballot
Recent changes to voting make casting a ballot easier than ever.
Recent changes to voting make casting a ballot easier than ever.
Scoop on Chickens in Arlington
Do backyard hens pose threat to public health in Arlington?
Do backyard hens pose a risk to public health in Arlington? That question will be at the center of a debate now taking place in the county. This week, members of the Urban Agriculture Task force will conduct their first meeting. In the next year, the newly created group is expected to craft a resolution for the County Board on what kind of zoning changes — if any — should take place to ease restrictions on backyard hens.
Raw Politics: Alexandria Officials to Roll Out Sewer Master Plan
Proposal would fund fix to lingering problems as well as handle demands of development.
Lately, it seems that city officials have their minds in the gutter — literally.
How Much Money Does Your School Administrator Make?
Alexandria school system has some of the highest paid administrators in the region.
The administrator in the corner office at your local school is sitting pretty with a six-figure paycheck.
Council Notebook
Want to know how much city officials are going to charge you for the privilege of living in Alexandria? Check the advertisements.
Union of Pedestrians: Waterfront Plan Prompts Changes to Union Street
Union Street to become 'shared street.'
The first signs of change from the waterfront plan are about to sweep through Old Town, adding features city officials believe will make the thoroughfare more friendly to pedestrians who will walk along the redeveloped properties.
Tightening Asbestos Regulations
Bill protecting workers passes Senate with unanimous vote.
It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it. Yet labor advocates say the people who are licensed to remove asbestos may not be fully aware of the dangers posed by toxic chemicals.