The Arlington NAACP works to protect the rights of all local residents and seeks support from across the community, leaders said at the organization’s 79th annual Freedom Fund banquet.
“All together, we can accomplish so much,” branch president DeLishia Davis said at the Oct. 17 event, held on George Mason University’s Arlington campus.
Ireland’s Four Courts and First Down are among the best sports bars in the whole D.C. region, according to a new ranking from Washington Post readers.
Four Courts — a popular Irish pub in Courthouse that was previously named “America’s Best Soccer Bar” in another voting contest — ranked No. 3 in the newspaper’s list. Just behind that, at No. 4, was First Down Sports Bar in Ballston.
This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Janice Chen, Esq., and Victoria Khaydar, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.
If you filed an asylum application with USCIS more than a year ago, and that application is still pending, you may recently have received a notice from USCIS directing you to pay something called the Annual Asylum Fee. Or you may not have. That, as we will explain, is part of the problem.
The Annual Asylum Fee was created by H.R. 1 – the reconciliation bill enacted in July 2025, sometimes known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – which requires asylum applicants to pay a fee for every year that their asylum application remains pending. The length of time an application remains pending is, of course, determined almost entirely by the government, not by the applicant. This feature of the law has not escaped the notice of asylum seekers or their lawyers.
The rollout has been, to put it charitably, iterative. USCIS launched a payment page in October 2025 and began sending notices. A federal court in Maryland paused the notices a few weeks later. That pause was lifted in February 2026. In April 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published an Interim Final Rule, effective May 29, 2026, which spelled out the consequences of failing to pay on time: rejection of the asylum application, termination of the applicant’s work permit, and potential referral to removal proceedings. Meanwhile, the notices themselves have proven unreliable. Many applicants report never receiving one, and some only learned that they had owed the fee when the USCIS website informed them that their payment period had expired.
In July 2026, a coalition of organizations representing asylum seekers and TPS holders sued USCIS in federal court in Massachusetts in Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts v. USCIS. On July 21, 2026, the court issued an administrative stay, and on August 5, 2026, it extended that relief while the case proceeds. Under the court’s orders, USCIS may not:
The stakes were not small. According to the plaintiffs, USCIS had been prepared to reject 227,186 pending asylum applications for nonpayment. In August, USCIS also reopened expired payment windows, so applicants who were previously told their deadline had passed may now be able to pay.
But note what the court did not do. The order expressly allows USCIS to keep collecting the fee, and USCIS’s position is that anyone who receives a notice must pay it according to its instructions.
A man has been found guilty of breaking into his former girlfriend’s Arlington apartment to hold her captive, threaten her life and sexually assault her across a terrifying 48 hours.
Johnson Wan faces up to life in prison after jurors convicted him following a three-day trial last week.
Chalice Theatre presents the Tony-award winning play Copenhagen, by Michael Frayn, Nov 6-15, 2026, at UUCA, 4444 Arlington Blvd. In Autumn 1941, Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, the two presiding geniuses of quantum physics, meet for the first time since the breakout of war. Danish physicist Bohr and his wife, Margrethe, live in Nazi-occupied Denmark; their visitor, Heisenberg, is German. The two old friends, now on opposing sides, have between them the potential to change the course of history. Frayn’s play imagines the three characters re-drafting the events of 1941 in an attempt to make sense of what happened. Run time: 2hr 30min with one intermission. Free discussion panels exploring questions raised by the play accompany the Sunday matinees. For more details and tickets, visit https://uuca-526363.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3948982 Questions? [email protected] Chalice Theatre is a community theatre ministry of UUCA.
Like every year, the 2026 inductees in the Arlington Sports Hall of Fame had a wide variety of significantly notable achievements.
That latest class consists of five new members, who were inducted during an Oct. 14 evening dinner ceremony at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The addition of Robert Asher, Tony Bentley, Clayton Deskins, Marcus Ginyard and Brian Rosenberger brings the total number of inductees to 80 in an organization that began in 1958.
This event is for: First-time pregnant & new moms, Mamistad Providers and invited providers.
Are you expecting your first baby or navigating life with a newborn? Join our mixer connecting first-time pregnant moms, new moms, and perinatal providers. We'll help you understand what a new mom village should look like and how to start building yours.
Meet doulas, lactation and sleep consultants, nurses, pelvic floor specialists, perinatal mental health therapists, chiropractors, dietitians, coaches and more!
The county government has found a new, if temporary, location to store snow during the coming winter season.
County Manager Mark Schwartz on Tuesday (Oct. 20) told County Board members that the local government has reached an agreement with the owners of the former Key Bridge Marriott site to use it for depositing snow after storms.
Eden Center’s New Wave — “Eden Center, the Northern Virginia shopping center for all things Vietnamese, often feels fixed in time… a new generation of restaurateurs is bringing fresh energy to the dining hub.” Among them: TamTam Brunch & Dinner, the Pop-Up District food hall and Bánh Mì Oi. [Washingtonian]
Free Halloween Costumes — The county is giving away “new to you” Halloween costumes at the Solid Waste Bureau (4300 29th Street S.) weekdays from 7 a.m.–4 p.m., while supplies last. Sizes aren’t guaranteed and costumes are first come, first served. [Arlington County]
Clarendon Ballroom Sued Over Songs — “Clarendon Ballroom is among 11 businesses nationwide facing copyright infringement lawsuits filed by a music licensing organization that claims the establishments repeatedly played copyrighted songs without permission… The organization said the average licensing cost for bars and restaurants is less than $2 per day.” [Patch]
Flower Power at the Pentagon — Yesterday marked 59 years since the March on the Pentagon, when tens of thousands of Vietnam War protesters tried to levitate the building. The protest also produced an anti-war icon: “A young man, the M14 rifles of the 503rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne) trained on him, delicately placing carnations in their barrels.” [Washington Post]
Golfers Defend East Potomac — Regulars at East Potomac Golf Links say the course isn’t the dump President Trump describes as he pushes to remake it into a championship course. As for the area dubbed “Trash Island”: “It is not an island. It is not awash in trash.” [Washington Post, WTOP]
Governor’s Dominion Demands — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) “warned that Virginia regulators should reject the proposed $67 billion merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy unless the companies agree to freeze residential base-rate increases for six years and nearly triple their promised monthly customer credits.” SCC staff has also recommended rejecting the deal as proposed. [Virginia Mercury]
Legal Immigrants Losing Medicaid — More than 14,000 people in the D.C. region are losing Medicaid coverage this month. “Many are legal immigrants — including refugees fleeing war, interpreters who worked with service members in Afghanistan and survivors of sex trafficking.” [WAMU]
Child Care Gap’s Price Tag — “Closing Virginia’s child care affordability gap would require up to $4.5 billion annually over the next decade, according to the Virginia Department of Education — an investment that, under one scenario, would also raise annual pay for 43,000 educators by an average of $17,000.” [Virginia Mercury]
Tidal Flooding Through Friday — Alexandria is forecast to reach minor flood stage at high tide through at least Friday afternoon, as a slow-moving nor’easter offshore, persistent northerly winds and king tide season push water levels up along the tidal Potomac. [Capital Weather]
Experts Split on Winter Snow — “Taken together, the five forecasts average 15.5 inches of snow, slightly above DC’s normal of 13.7 inches… But the range is striking — from just 3.3 inches to 25.5 inches — underscoring the uncertainty surrounding snowfall this winter.” [Capital Weather]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 66 and northwest winds at 7–10 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 47. [NWS]
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Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Here’s a look back at today’s most-read stories and a look ahead to tomorrow.
Everything else we published today, Oct 21, 2026.
FOAP 2027 Board of Directors Vacancy Announcement
"The Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium is seeking to fill three vacancies on its 2027 Board… [Announcement]
St. Charles Preschool Open House – November 13th @ 9:30 AM
Please join us for an Open House at St. Charles Preschool on November 13th at 9:30 am to learn… [Announcement]
Workshops You’ll Love at Art House 7
Explore exciting fall workshops at Art House 7! Coming up October 24–25, master artist Teresa… [Announcement]
Chalice Theatre Presents Copenhagen | Performances November 6–15, 2026
Chalice Theatre presents the Tony-award winning play Copenhagen, by Michael Frayn, Nov 6-15… [Announcement]
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
🏃 Run, Recline + Recreate with Liberty
Oct 24: 5K fun run + outdoor yoga beside Reclining Liberty, with a live DJ, coffee, vendors & art making. Register for a shirt by Zaq Landsberg! [Event]
🎃 Annual Community Trunk-or-Treat at Pentagon MMA
Oct 24: Family friendly Muay Thai & Jiu Jitsu class followed by spooky trunks, candy, and tons of fun! [Event]
Child Safety Fun Fair & Car Seat Check
Oct 25: Get your child car seat inspected by a Nationally Certified Technician for FREE! [Event]
Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle
Oct 25: Join CCS for this intimate and optimistic reflection on mortality, which served as Gioachino Rossini’s final plea for paradise. [Event]
Building Your New Mom Village Mixer
Oct 29: First-time pregnant moms, new moms and perinatal providers – let’s connect! Note: this location is near MOSAIC DISTRICT. [Event]
💉 The Vaccine Trifecta: The Intersection of Science, Policy, and Politics
Oct 29: Join Dr. Bruce Gellin for the 2026 Dolan Lecture to explore how science, policy, and politics shape vaccine acceptance and public trust. [Event]
The Last Supper: Planning for the End of Life
Nov 1: We’ll gather over lunch for meaningful learning and compassionate discussion on preparing for the end of life. [Event]
Dialogue for Democracy
Nov 3: Dialogue for Democracy invites high school students from across the DMV to George Mason University. [Event]
How Do Retirement Communities Work? – Free Workshop
Nov 4: Interested in learning about how Continuing Care Retirement Communities work, but don’t know where to start? Join us on 11/4 to learn more! [Event]
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Today: Arlington and Falls Church saw a high of 68° at 1:55 p.m. (normal for the date), a low of 48° at 6:00 a.m., no rain and a peak gust of 21 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 43. North wind around 7 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
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The Arlington County Board is suing the Trump administration over worries about potential interference at polling places during the midterm elections.
The federal lawsuit filed yesterday (Tuesday) centers on recent statements from leaders at the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, which the County Board alleges threaten voter safety and have caused county leaders to divert significant resources to plan for potential conflicts with federal agents.
Arlington police expect to release footage of a fatal officer-involved shooting by Friday after sharp remarks from County Board members over the weekend.
Police Chief Andy Penn on Tuesday (Oct. 20) told County Board members that plans to release body-worn camera footage of the May 8 incident are in their final stages. Police also intend to seek public comment on a policy that will guide the handling of such incidents in the future.
Explore exciting fall workshops at Art House 7! Coming up October 24–25, master artist Teresa Oaxaca returns for a special 2-day Painting a Child’s Portrait in Oils workshop for ages 16–adult. Looking for something shorter? Try the pottery wheel, create a ceramic leaf plate or keepsake ornaments, or explore drawing, printmaking, and Suminagashi. We also offer parent-child workshops and special art workshops for kids on Veterans Day and Election Day!
Art House 7 offers classes throughout the year, taught by a range of fantastic teachers. You can buy art supplies next door. We’re near the Lee Harrison Shopping Center.
