Virginia’s annual sales tax holiday returns August 5 — 7. Virginians have the opportunity to purchase qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items and Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products without paying sales tax (currently at 5.13 percent in most localities). Learn more about what items are eligible at tax.virginia.gov/virginia-sales-tax-holiday. Virginians are also seeing lower prices at the pump.

Electric vehicles (EVs), once thought to be a curious and risky idea, appear to be the wave of the future and local governments and businesses are responding.

Some victories arrived this month for those who value Arlington history, though preservationists felt the strain of uphill battles to stay in touch with our past roots.

This summer marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which bars federally funded education programs and activities from discriminating on the basis of sex. Interestingly, the simple, terse language of Title IX, authored by Senator Birch Bayh (D-IN), does not mention sports, but most modern-day references to Title IX center on women’s athletic opportunities. Title IX mandates gender equity in education and activities, a sea change from previous practice at the high school and college levels.

Our surprise from my recent 50th-year high school reunion was the clear attachment of many classmates to their longest-standing identity badges: their elementary schools.

Last week, Governor Youngkin hit the six-month anniversary of his inauguration, completing 1/8 of his term. But who’s counting? Fortunately, he can’t be re-elected under Virginia’s constitution.

The long-awaited re-opening of the Hidden Oaks Nature Center was celebrated last Saturday with speeches, a ribbon-cutting, bubbles big enough to envelop a small child, crows, critters and even a barbershop quartet!

Missing from the messy machinations over missing middle housing is a measure of the majority. How many Arlingtonians favor the proposal to “upzone” to allow less-expensive housing types countywide?
Clues surfaced at the July 12 county board work session as more individuals and organizations weighed in on either side.

On March 7, 2012, I wrote this speech for a demonstration (yes, the free speech Youngkin wants to criminalize). Sadly and angrily I say these remarks are still apropos! I am writing this for all the women who decided to ‘take a knee’ yesterday in recognition of our denied civil rights.

Cathy Parr is a longtime constituent, but we had not visited for several years, so when she called and asked for an appointment, I knew it was for something important. Cathy was born with cerebral palsy (CP), which affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. CP also affected Cathy’s speech, a diagnosis called dysarthria, making what she is saying difficult to understand, but which does not affect her intelligence or comprehension.