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Vernon Miles

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Arlington Courtroom Drama

Public Defenders protest pay inequality with Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

“You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”

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Arlington’s Uninsured

Lack of expansion taints Affordable Care Act anniversary.

National and Virginia leadership’s planned celebration of the five-year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act quickly became a discussion of the program’s outreach failings and concerns following Virginia legislature’s decisions not to expand the program. Federal and state officials met at the Arlington Mills Community Center on Monday, March 23, for for a round table discussion led by Sylvia Burwell, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8). Much of the panel’s conversation centered around

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Change in Arlington Courthouse Skyline

County Board approves office complex despite concerns about vacancies.

A new 12-story office building at 2025 Clarendon Boulevard will change the face of Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood. At its March 14 meeting, the County Board unanimously approved the redevelopment despite concerns about the design and use of the building.

Wave of Retirements Hits Arlington

Arlington County faced three major retirements over the past week. On Friday, March 13, Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan announced that she would be retiring, effective June 30.

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Change in Arlington's Courthouse Skyline

County Board approves office complex despite concerns about vacancies.

A new 12-story office building at 2025 Clarendon Boulevard will change the face of Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood. At its March 14 meeting, the County Board unanimously approved the redevelopment despite concerns about the design and use of the building.

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Death Knell for Arlington's Artisphere?

Where the Artisphere went wrong.

The County Manager Barbara Donnellan has finally made the recommendation to put the Artisphere down after five years of its limping through budget seasons. Tasked with finding a way of saving the financially hemorrhaging arts center, Donnellan warned the County Board in December that Artisphere’s future was in jeopardy, and followed through with listing the Artisphere as one of the optional cuts in the proposed Fiscal Year 2016 County Manager Budget, released Feb. 19.

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Arlington Public Schools Plan for Cuts

Facing a budget gap, Arlington superintendent plans series of tiered reductions.

With a funding gap of $13.6 million, Arlington Public Schools (APS) Superintendent Patrick Murphy’s proposed budget comes with a few extra potential cuts.

Arlington County Manager Avoids Tax Rate Increase

Homeowners to face rise in property taxes through higher assessments.

Beneath the surface of the County Budget there are several notable changes that could have a sizable impact on the lives of many Arlingtonians.

Incremental Defeats

Northern Virginia Democrats face major defeats and minor victories.

Halfway through every session of the Virginia legislature, bills from the House are sent to the Senate for a vote and vice-versa. The event is called crossover, and in 2015 this will be marked by the complete absence of major reforms the Democratic minority hoped to push through.

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Arlington's ‘Love the Run You’re With’

Valentine’s Day race draws a crowd.

After weeks of miserable cold, the weather warmed up just enough to make the Pacers Running “Love the Run You’re With” 5 kilometer race in Arlington bearable.

Scott, Tejada To Move on

Two Arlington Public Figures announced that they will finish their term of service in 2015. Arlington Police Chief M. Douglas Scott will retire in March after 12 years as Arlington’s Chief of Police. County Board member Walter Tejada has decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for another term in office.

Board Revisits Plan To Address Growing Enrollment

Goal of 725 new elementary school seats no later than September 2018.

The Arlington School Board responded to the County Board’s decision not to approve a new elementary school site with a statement expressing the School Board’s renewed commitment to engaging with the community to find a solution.

‘Love the Run You’re With’

Valentine’s Day race draws a crowd.

After weeks of miserable cold, the weather warmed up just enough to make the Pacers Running “Love the Run You’re With” 5 kilometer race in Arlington bearable.

After Defeat of Jefferson Site Project: What Next?

Unanswered questions divide County Board on proposal.

With the defeat of the proposed Thomas Jefferson Elementary School at the Arlington County Board, the public schools face overcrowding and a widening of the school “relocatables” program.

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Arlington Aiming To Rebound

Arlington looks for new industries, double-downs on contracting.

With an average of 20 percent office vacancy across the county, it’s clear that the exodus of federal government jobs has impacted Arlington. Local neighborhoods have struggled with their own losses and have, in turn, found a diverse range of solutions to try and rebound.

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Addressing Growing Student Population in Arlington

New schools and boundary changes in the works in Arlington Public Schools.

While the rest of county moves into the new year, Arlington County Schools are finding themselves in the middle of a challenging one. Arlington schools have faced a 21 percent increase in student population over the last five years and anticipate a 19 percent increase over the next five. This has put a strain on school resources, and consequently has forced the schools to ask for budget increases. Meanwhile, the schools have begun plans to shift school boundaries to spread the student population as evenly as possible.

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Arlington-Alexandria Coalition Moves Forward

Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for Homelessness undergoes transformation to “Bridges to Independence.”

At the end of 2014, the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless (AACH) will cease to exist. The organization, with its nearly 30 years of work transitioning homeless families into apartments and houses across Northern Virginia, will be going through a transition itself when it becomes “Bridges to Independence.”

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Arlington Celebrates Richard Thompson

Local cartoonist’s work exhibited in film and book at Arlington Central Library

Nick Galifinakis and David Apatoff had a problem. They wanted to keep meeting at the home of fellow cartoonist Richard Thompson, creator of Washington Post comic Richard’s Poor Almanac and his nationally syndicated comic Cul de Sac, to chat and to pour over his work, but were afraid that Thompson would kick them out if they didn’t come up with a good reason to stay. This was the origin of “The Art of Richard Thompson.” Though likely apocryphal, the story is indicative of the reverence and humor with which the editors compiled the collection.

Arlington: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Arlington Small Business Saturday promotes local entrepreneurs.

For many small businesses, making their way in the world today takes everything they’ve got.

Arlington: Board Defers Apartments’ Demolition

An application to the Arlington County Board to demolish the existing Key Boulevard Apartments and construct a new affordable housing project has been deferred.

Arlington: School Board Faces $20 Million Budget Gap

County Board details gaps in funding for 2016 budget.

With no tax rate increases, the Arlington County Board is projecting a $24 million gap between revenue and expenditures for fiscal year 2016.

Thriving in Arlington

Local nonprofit fights to offset funding loss from Fannie Mae. jump

The reactive approach to homelessness isn’t working. For Thrive, an Arlington-based nonprofit that provides financial assistance to local citizens in need, the aim is to end homelessness by keeping it from happening in the first place.

Arlington County Board Cancels Streetcar

Fisette cites “political realities.”

After nearly 10 years of planning, the Arlington County Board has decided to end the Arlington-Fairfax Streetcar project.

Arlington Votes

A morning of low turnout at Arlington’s Madison and Marshall precincts.

Arlingtonians lined up to vote on Election Day to choose between Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie.

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Northern Virginia Democrats Hold Their Ground

In uneasy election, Beyer takes 8th district, but leaves Senate too close to call.

Despite the election still being too close to call, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner gave his supporters at the Doubletree Hotel in Crystal City a full smile and a victory speech. With less than 1 percent of the vote favoring Warner over his Republican challenger Ed Gillespie, the question is whether or not Gillespie will ask for a recount. But if this was troubling Warner as much as it was the Democrats gathered the night of Nov 4, he didn’t show it.

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Arlington Votes

A morning with the election staff and voters at Arlington’s Madison and Marshal precincts

Arlingtonians lined up to vote on Election Day to choose between Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie. At a more local level, they also chose a candidate to represent the 8th district in the House of Representatives, to vote on the candidates for County Board and School Board, and to vote on four bonds.

Bonds on the Ballot

Arlington puts $200 million in bonds to a public vote.

This year, Arlington is putting the fate of $219 million in the hands of its citizens. On the Nov. 4 ballot, residents will have a chance to vote on four major bonds.

Vihstadt Fights To Keep Seat

Incumbent John Vihstadt fights to keep seat and kick out the streetcar.

After 15 years of a Democratic-controlled County Board in Arlington, John Vihstadt, an Independent, has been throwing a few wrenches into the board’s plans.

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Facing Off in County Board Rematch

Democrat Alan Howze campaigning for comeback victory.

Things did not go well in Alan Howze in the previous election.

An Economic Debate

8th Congressional District candidates differ over priorities.

Congressional candidates Don Beyer and Micah Edmond squared off last week at a forum in what could rank as one of the election season’s tamest political debates.

Waging Upstream Battle Against Mainstream Parties

Taking a Chance on an Independent.

John Saylor says with pride that he was Gwendolyn Beck’s friend long before he became her campaign manager. Like most friends in the Washington area, he’d talk politics with Beck.

Carson Runs as Libertarian

Jeffrey Carson, the 8th district’s Libertarian candidate, has an unconventional campaign.

Following Don Beyer’s Political Journey

Don Beyer likes climbing mountains. One of his two current dreams is to climb a via feratta, one of the climbing routes along the alps. Beyer has a certain fascination with the Eiger, or “The North Wall.” For Beyer, the appeal is in the challenge.

Micah Edmond Walking the District

On the campaign trail with Edmond.

Micah Edmond’s 8th District Congressional campaign has a problem.

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Streetcar Proposal Ignites Debate

County Board seat debate centers on mass transit.

Arlington County Board candidates John Vihstadt (Independent) and Alan Howze (Democrat) have similar stances on many of the city’s issues.

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