I am deeply disappointed in today’s ruling from the Supreme Court of Virginia. On a 4-3 partisan vote, the Court’s Republican majority chose politics over the rule of law, twisting the plain language of our Constitution to reach the outcome Donald Trump and his allies wanted. You did your part. You organized, canvassed, talked to your neighbors, and convinced a majority of Virginians to vote yes last month. From the beginning, we knew this effort would be challenged in court. The plan always relied on judges faithfully interpreting the law. Today, the Court failed that test. This ruling silences millions of Virginians who cast their ballots in a free and fair election. It throws out the will of the people, weakens faith in our institutions, and continues the dangerous trend of shifting power away from voters and into the hands of partisan justices. But we are not done fighting. Our focus now shifts to defeating Rob Wittman, Jen Kiggans, Ben Cline and John McGuire — and building a wave election here in Virginia that no court can ignore.

The post Del. Marcus Simon Weighs In On Virginia Court Decision first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

The post Governor Spanberger Statement on Supreme Court of Virginia Ruling to Overturn Results of Redistricting Referendum  first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Senator Mark Warner released the following statement regarding the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn a free and fair referendum to redraw congressional districts in Virginia:

“While I respect the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision, it’s impossible to ignore that more than three million Virginians already cast their ballots on the amendment and deserved to have their voices heard.

“Let’s be clear: this started because Republicans across the country decided to push mid-decade redistricting in states where they thought they could rig the map for partisan gain. Virginia’s effort was a response to that national power grab, not the cause of it.

“Donald Trump assumed he could tilt the playing field and lock in political advantage before a single ballot was cast. But Virginians are paying attention. They want leaders who will protect their rights, defend their freedoms, and actually focus on lowering costs and getting things done. Democrats will still show up this November, we will still compete everywhere, and when the votes are counted, Virginians will send a strong message about the kind of leadership they want.”

The post WARNER STATEMENT ON VA SUPREME COURT RULING ON REDISTRICTING REFERENDUM first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

RICHMOND — In a ruling with major implications for Virginia’s political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections, the Supreme Court of Virginia on Friday struck down the state’s newly adopted congressional redistricting map, restoring the previous district boundaries drawn after the 2020 Census.

The 4-3 decision invalidated a voter-approved constitutional amendment and the congressional map that followed it, with the court finding that lawmakers violated constitutional procedures when placing the proposal before voters.

The court ruled that the General Assembly improperly advanced the amendment after early voting had already begun, depriving voters of adequate notice and rendering the process unconstitutional.

Justice D. Arthur Kelsey, writing for the majority, said the decision was based on constitutional procedure rather than partisan considerations.

“The Constitution’s procedural safeguards are not optional,” the opinion stated.

The map, backed largely by Democratic lawmakers, had been expected to shift several Republican-held congressional districts into more competitive territory. Political analysts said the plan could have altered the balance of power in Virginia’s congressional delegation.

Republicans challenged the map shortly after its approval, arguing it amounted to an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander and violated the bipartisan redistricting reforms Virginia voters adopted in 2020.

Democratic leaders defended the measure as a response to aggressive Republican redistricting efforts in other states, including Texas, Florida and North Carolina.

With Friday’s ruling, Virginia will revert to the congressional boundaries currently in place unless lawmakers adopt a new plan that satisfies constitutional requirements.

The decision immediately reshapes the outlook for the 2026 congressional races and is expected to intensify political debate in Richmond over how legislative and congressional maps should be drawn in the future.

The post Virginia Supreme Court Strikes Down Congressional Redistricting Map first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

Between 1948 and 1967 Joan Miró (1893-1983), one of the greatest modern artists of all time, made seven trips to the U.S. from his home in Spain, and it was his influence on 30 American artists between the 1940s and 1960s and their influence on him which is the focus of the latest Phillips Collection exhibition, “Miró and the United States.” 

It’s a big show of 75 works, paintings, sculpture, films and more by Miró and his fellow artists whose creations display their effects upon modern art around the world. 

For some of the art, it’s a public debut; many are on loan from major institutions.

Not that Miró ever wanted to be labeled a Surrealist, but with a fading Dada movement, he became Surrealism’s informal leader whose works some say include elements of Fauvism and Expressionism, movements which associated artists helped usher in. 

He began drawing classes at age seven in a private school at a medieval mansion and he was only 25 when he had his first solo show which did not go well. Some made fun of him and defaced his art.    

Throughout his life, Miró frequently experienced depression, the first time when he was 18, some of the illness which may have been prompted by the business school he attended at the same time that he attended art school, and later, when he worked in the business world. 

Art rescued him.

Miró excelled at dream interpretations and the portrayal of the unconscious, resisting conventions and bourgeois society, favoring instead, upending them on paper. 

In the U.S. Marcel Duchamp and collectors included Miró’s “Somersault” at a Brooklyn Museum show in 1926, which added to Miró’s European allure, the painting on view at the Phillips. 

A smaller reproduction of the mural Miró made for the Terrace Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati in1947 welcomes visitors to the exhibition.  

It was his first visit to the U.S, his first commission in the U.S. for the first hotel in the postwar era, the first hotel to have elevators without operators in them, rooms with individual temperature controls and sofas that would convert to beds at the push of a button.  

(Today the hotel rests in a sad state, owned by a developer after it fell into disrepair and was one of 11 on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of America’s Most Endangered Historic Places for 2020.)

For the Texas Commerce Bank in Houston, the architect, I.M. Pei chose Miró to design a sculpture, installed in 1982, the artist’s largest public monument in the U.S., a cast found in the Phillips’s stairwell.

“His work is a celebration of life,” The Phillips quotes Pei. 

In 1944 Jackson Pollock (with art in the Phillips’s show) called Miró and Picasso “the two artists I admire most,” and Miró later noted: “It was really American painting that inspired me.”

The other artists featured with Miró at the Phillips are Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, Jeanne Reynal, Len Lye, Mark Rothko, Arshile Gorky, Janet Sobel and 21 more.  

The Fundació Joan Miró in his hometown of Barcelona organized the exhibition with the Phillips, which is the only venue in the U.S. to see this Miró.  

An almost 300 page catalogue with 260 illustrations is for sale in the gift shop for $65.

The museum hosts several related events for the show:  

May 21, 2026, 6:30 p.m. A panel discussion, “Miró and the United States” (on a third Thursday with free admission from 5 – 8 p.m. with required reservations)

May 29, 12 – 1 p.m., “Miró and Poetry with Paul Jaskunas”

June 13, 12 – 1 p.m., “The Phillips Plays:  Abstract Collage,” good for families

Every Thursday through Sunday at 1 p.m., a “spotlight talk” on one work from the exhibition.

Admission is $20, adults; $15, seniors; $12, military; $10, students and educators with I.D and no charge for anyone 18 and under or for members.

Several discounts make admission at the Phillips more affordable: Pay what you can after 4 p.m. daily, and on the third Thursday of every month, the museum has extended hours until 8 p.m. with free admission beginning at 5 p.m. 

Regular operating hours are Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Special events will close some or all of the Phillips on May 6, 7 and 8.

1600 21st St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20009. Ph.: 202 387-2151 

The post Miro On Display In Phillips Latest Collection Exhibiton first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

On Wednesday, May 6th, The Meridian Mustangs baseball team snatched an important win over the Annandale Atoms. They won 10-0, forcing a mercy rule ending after the top of the 5th inning. The team scored the majority of their points in the 1st inning, notching seven runs.

This dominant win could not have come at a better time for the Mustangs, who are currently trying to claw their way into the playoffs. Their overall record now stands at 7-9 and their record against regional opponents is 4-8. This puts them at 10th in the regional standings, needing 8th or better to make the playoffs.

While the Mustangs’ offense was clearly on point, it was the defense that really made the difference. The team’s starting pitcher, senior Andrew Niemi, allowed just one hit and struck out five batters in three innings. The team’s closer, sophomore Christopher Thompson, also had an impressive outing, with no hits allowed, as well as two strikeouts in as many innings. Thompson also had 2 RBIs.

The season has been a roller coaster of a ride for the Mustangs, and the team was never able to stack wins and find a rhythm. Head coach Adam Amerine could not overstate the importance of their victory.

“[This win] is huge. We’ll take all the [playoff] points we can get. We have marked games that we have to win over the next two-and-a-half weeks, and this was one of them,” coach Amerine commented.

The Mustangs were clearly the better team, but their monstrous seven run 1st inning undoubtedly did wonders for the team’s confidence and morale.

“It allows the pitcher to relax. He can just throw strikes and let the defense work, let the [offense] put the ball in play, and he doesn’t have to be too fine on the mound. And of course, any time you can score seven in an inning it adds a little bit of a pump [to the team],” coach Amerine explained.

With this contest now in the rearview mirror, the Mustangs now have just five games left in the regular season, and four of those games are against regional opponents. Their last two games are coincidentally against the two teams ahead of the Mustangs in the standings, with the final game against 8th ranked Warren County. These two games, above all others, will be must wins for the Mustangs. That being said, their next game is against regional opponent Manassas Park, who the Mustangs beat 27-1 in their last meeting. The squad will look to build some momentum against the struggling Cougars.

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Equality Arlington Calls Out School Board on Key Issues 

Equality Arlington this week announced that it sent a joint letter with the Arlington Gender Identity Alliance (AGIA) to the Arlington School Board and Arlington Public Schools administration urging them to immediately address the high rates of poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and attempts, sexual violence, and bullying facing LGBTQ+ students in Arlington schools.

The 2024 Arlington Youth Survey results released at the end of 2025 painted a troubling picture of the struggles and challenges confronting transgender, non-binary, and all LGBTQ+ students in Arlington, the groups noted. Below are excerpts of some of the most troubling findings:

46.3% of transgender students reported experiencing poor mental health including stress, anxiety, or depression (most of the time or always) during the last 30 days before the survey

30.6% of nonbinary students seriously considered attempting suicide during the 12 months before the survey

19.4% of nonbinary students made a plan for attempting suicide during the 12 months before the survey

18.5% of transgender students actually attempted suicide at least once during the 12 months before the survey

5.5% of LGBQ students have been physically forced to have sexual intercourse

9.7% of LGBQ students experienced sexual violence by someone at least once during the 12 months before the survey

5.5% of LGBQ students experienced sexual dating violence at least once during the 12 months before the survey

19.4% of nonbinary students did not go to school because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to/from school at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey

20.4% of transgender students were bullied on school property during the last 12 months before the survey

16.7% of nonbinary students were electronically bullied through texting, Instagram, Facebook, or other social media in the 12 months before the survey

Equality Arlington and AGIA urged APS to adopt the following measures:

Ensure consistent and effective enforcement of APS’ non-discrimination policies at all schools

Incorporate affirmative books and lessons into APS instruction, including during Pride Month

Charge the APS and DEI office with actively supporting Gender & Sexuality Alliances (GSA) at all schools invested in professional development from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s Welcoming Schools leading up to the Seal of Excellence.

“We will continue working with Arlington Public Schools over the coming weeks and months to ensure that they take the health and safety of LGBTQ+ students seriously and begin implementing concrete changes to address their needs,” the groups’ letter stated. “All students deserve safe and supportive learning environments—it’s time for APS to take real action to ensure that LGBTQ+ students are supported and free from discrimination, violence, and bullying.” 

Weekly Gay Community Brunch This Saturday at Freddie’s

On Saturday, May 9, at 11 a.m. a gay community brunch and conversation will be convened at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, 555 23rd St. S., Arlington, Virginia 22202. 

LGBTQ+ folk will gather in the heart of National Landing. The all-you-can-eat buffet-style brunch is reasonably priced at $14.99 plus gratuity and includes dessert and a mimosa or a non-alcoholic beverage.

Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant is a vital “home base” in Northern Virginia for drag performances, karaoke, and community activism.

TJ Flavell, the leader of Go Gay DC – Metro DC’s LGBTQ+ Community group hosts the brunch, said “Freddie’s Beach Bar provides a safe, joyful space for LGBTQ+ folk that reminds us all of the power of visibility and belonging.”

Gay Spring Luncheon At Frederico’s May 24

The local LGBTQ+ community is gearing up for a spring luncheon at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 24 at Federico Ristorante Italiano, 519 23rd St. S, Arlington, Virginia, 22202. The event is a monthly activity hosted by Go Gay DC – Metro DC’s LGBTQ+ Community, that promises to blend Crystal City’s rich history with a modern, inclusive social atmosphere.

The luncheon is expected to attract a diverse group of local professionals and gay community advocates, including Nicholas F. Benton, the founder, owner, and editor of the Falls Church News-Press and author of numerous books. 

TJ Flavell, the founder and leader of Go Gay DC, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming gathering. “These events are much more than just great food; they are the heart of our community building efforts,” said Flavell. “Federico provides the perfect backdrop for meaningful conversation, where the history of our neighborhood meets the vibrant energy of our future. Everyone is welcome.”

Formerly known as the Café Italia, which served the community for over four decades, the venue was revitalized under the leadership of the co-owners, including gay community advocate Freddie Lutz (who also owns Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant).

Today, the restaurant stands as a testament to Arlington’s heritage, featuring photos of past guests above the doorway, and a warm, inviting environment. where every guest is treated like family. Patrons can expect a menu rooted in authentic Italian tradition, enhanced by fresh herbs grown in the garden of one of the co-owners.

Those interested in attending can find more details on the events link on gogaydc.com. 

The post Gay News 5-7-2026 first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

F.C. Women’s History Walk This Weekend

In addition to all the pleasures that a Saturday morning in Falls Church normally brings, such as the Farmer’s Market, an additional one comes this Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the opportunity to amble around Cherry Hill Park and peruse all 70 “Her Story” stations of the Falls Church Women’s History Walk, installed throughout the park.

The History Walk is a self-guided stroll through stations that represent the Falls Church Women’s History “All Stars.” The public will also have the opportunity — that very same morning — to experience the Falls Church Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale at the Community Center, learn about native plants and butterflies, and find something wonderful to bring home and plant in a garden. The sale will also feature pots, tools, gifts, and décor and will be open from 8 a.m. to noon.

At noon, on the front porch of the Cherry Hill Farmhouse, there will be a ceremony to recognize this year’s grand marshals: Marty Behr, Sharon Schoeller, Sandy Tarpinian, and Melissa Teates. At 1 p.m., there will be a special recognition for the Young Women of Action.

Other signs and stations featured in and around the park will honor Young Women of Action from Falls Church’s middle and high schools, along with displays from local civic groups, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Creative Cauldron, the Village Preservation Society, the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, the Victorian Society, the Girl Scouts, and the Mary Riley Styles Library.

Consultant Chosen for F.C. City Manager Search

The City of Falls Church has selected Raftelis as the executive recruitment firm to assist the City Council in the search for the next City Manager. In March, current City Manager Wyatt Shields announced his forthcoming retirement, effective this September after 23 years of service to the City.  

Raftelis is a well-respected consulting firm that specializes in serving local governments and has a strong track record in successful executive recruitment. The City’s contract with Raftelis will ensure a comprehensive search process that will start with an opportunity for community members and staff to provide feedback to the City Council on attributes the City should look for in its next City Manager. The feedback form is currently open and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 21.

Helena’s Mexican Opens 2nd Site in Downtown F.C.

Helena’s Mexican Restaurant has opened a second location in the region at the site of the former Cuates Grill, at 502 W. Broad. The popular Alexandria-based family owned and operated restaurant is offering margarita and food specials all this week in honor of Cinco de Mayo.  

F.C. Education Foundation Hails ‘Spectacular’ Gala

“We’re also coming off a wonderful evening at the 2026 FCEF Annual Gala and Auction, where our community came together in support of FCCPS. Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our 400+ attendees, sponsors, and volunteers, the event was a tremendous success and will have a lasting impact in our schools,” said Suzanne Hladky in a statement this week on behalf of the Falls Church Education Foundation.. 

“The 2026 FCEF Annual Gala and Auction was nothing short of spectacular!” she wrote. “Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, bid on an item, raised a paddle, and showed up to support FCEF and FCCPS. Special shout out to the Meridian Jazz Band musicians and director, Chad Steffey, for kicking off the night in style.  

“We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 employee awards. Congrats Brannon McLaughlin, Roberto Fuentes, Josh Singer, and Kieran Shakeshaft,” she added. 

Our talented Meridian IB Design students, under the guidance of teacher Kenny George, handcrafted many auction items for FCEF this year using tools and machinery purchased with Super Grants. From whimsical yard geese (complete with couture outfits), custom chess boards, vertical planters, picture frames, artwork, and more, these items helped raise thousands for the Foundation.  

Route 29 Public Planning Meeting Set for May 19

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation will host an in-person community meeting on the Route 29 Active Transportation Study at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Timber Lane Elementary School, 2737 West St., just outside the City of Falls Church.

FCDOT will present proposed improvements to the street, including sidewalks, bike paths, transit stops and crossings. Residents and commuters will have the opportunity to review the proposals, ask questions and provide feedback. In addition, a survey will be available after the meeting.

The study aims to create an environment that is comfortable for pedestrians and bicyclists, connects both sides of Route 29, improves access to transit, and helps build driver awareness that the corridor is expected to accommodate all users. 

62,100 Fewer Federal Jobs in Region Now: Report

In January 2026, there were 62,100 fewer federal jobs in the Washington area than in January 2025, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data reported by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). The current total of 313,700 federal workers in the region is at its lowest level in 30 years, underscoring a significant shift in the role of the federal government as an employer in Greater Washington. 

MWCOG monitors workforce and other trends through its Regional Economic Monitoring System (REMS) and provides the region with timely data meant to inform decisions on economic development, workforce strategy, and housing and transportation planning. 

The unemployment rate increased from the previous month, rising from 3.8 to 4.4% in the Washington area. 

The national rate for January was 4.7%, meaning the region continues to perform slightly better than the country overall, even as conditions soften.

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The post News & Notes 5-7-2026 first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

My column last week on public signs led me down the rabbit hole of Arlington’s history on the enforcement of sign ordinances. The most famous example takes us back to 2010, when a mural on the side wall of a business led to a federal case exploring this question: Is a  mural depicting “happy cartoon dogs, bones, and paw prints”  an advertisement subject to zoning ordinance requirements, or is it simply a work of art that could remain in place? Some of you may remember this controversy, which arose when a dog daycare center, Wag More Dogs, opened in the Shirlington area, right next to a dog park along Four Mile Run. The owner of Wag More Dogs commissioned a large full wall mural when she opened for business, but she then received notice from the County that her occupancy permit was in jeopardy because the mural was an impermissible advertising sign.  

The owner had to cover the mural with a tarp, though she then challenged the County on its interpretation of the sign regulations. According to court documents, the zoning administrator stated that, in order for the mural to not be considered an impermissible sign, it could depict anything except something to do with dogs. The controversy escalated with a lawsuit filed by the business over constitutional issues. Was the mural a commercial sign? The legal answer was yes. The court ruled that the mural featuring cartoon canines meant that the owner “had an economic motivation for displaying the painting,” and thus the work fell into the category of commercial speech. 

This week I visited the site of the building and the dog park. The building is now occupied by a business known as Dogtopia, which provides dog daycare and boarding services. As for the wall, I must start by saying, it is always a good idea to go to the scene of the crime, so to speak, when there are issues involving real property. The building is at the end of a dead-end street that runs into the dog park. The only ones who could even view the wall in question would be people (and their dogs) in the dog park. To my surprise, there is a large mural on the wall facing the dog park. On a nice blue background, one can see many animals (birds flying through the sky, a tree with a cat on a limb, deer, and some funny-looking mouses). But no dogs. So, without any dogs on the mural, I guess it would be accurate to call it a work of art, and not an advertisement. The moral of this mural story might be a costly one: when deciding to have a wall painted, perhaps you have to hire an attorney to comb through the sign regulations in the zoning ordinance.  

                      *

Dipping back into this Arlington history has prompted a search for murals that are currently in place in Arlington. I am open to recommendations from you readers as to any murals that you find to be interesting – you can email me at historybillfogs@gmail.com with any suggestions to visit. Meanwhile, let me provide some quick information on one of my favorites: the John Mercer Langston mural on the Sport Fair building at 5510 Langston Boulevard. This mural was created in September 2021 by local artist Kaliq Crosby, who was commissioned to paint this mural to celebrate the renaming of Lee Highway to Langston Boulevard, and to honor the life of John Mercer Langston. The Wikipedia entry for Langston has many details, but the very first sentence says a lot about the man: “John Mercer Langston (December 14, 1829 – November 15, 1897) was an African American abolitionist, attorney, educator, activist, diplomat, and politician.” Langston was the founding dean of the Howard University law school; the first president of what is now Virginia State University; and the first African-American in Virginia elected to Congress. I have more to say about this mural, and about the artist, Kaliq Crosby, but I have used up my allotted space, so I will follow up next week, along with any mural recommendations that I receive. 

The post Our Man In Arlington 5-7-2026 first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

Yes, it looks like Falls Church residents will be provided a very small bit of tax relief with the budget that should be approved next Monday night. A half penny on the real estate tax rate will offer about $50 of relief in a year when assessments are still booming, meaning the average residential taxpayer is still going to be hit with tax bills hundreds higher next fiscal year (the first bill due in December). Overall, though, it must be noted the City’s tax rate has been dropped from $1.355 per $100 of assessed valuation to $1.18 in recent years, even while a new state of the art high school was built and major improvements made to City Hall, the Mary Riley Styles Public Library and other City schools.

But in this season’s budget deliberation process, it was noted repeatedly that things will get tougher next cycle as issues of debt and pressing maintenance matters come to the fore.

It is in the context of this that the City government is getting ready to be mired in another great issue, the prospect for redevelopment of the Virginia Village site of 4.5 acres on S. Maple into a major source of new affordable housing. Both sides, the pro-development and the “Not in My Backyard” folks, are set to do another great battle. Just what we don’t need!

  The developed majority on the City Council has been aching to do something meaningful to  build new affordable housing in recent years. But there is little doubt that NIMBYism is alive and well here, and the result will be a tortured process that may take years. The last time something like this was seriously tried, it took the better part of a decade, and a whittling down of the size of such an effort to barely more than 50 units. 

We say now that it would be fruitless to proceed with the current process unless at least 300 units would come out of it. That would be fine with us if it could be engineered. That member of the current City government who decides to champion such an effort should have the project named for her, or him. We’d support that idea. Honestly, given the lip service in support of affordable housing that’s come out from almost everyone on the City Council, any one of such folk could qualify, even if it meant a great conversion moment for one of them.

However, we should not ignore, as this process gets underway, that economic pressures on the City ought to be compelling our leaders to subject that 4.5 acres, and the 4 acres in the Gordon’s Road area, to a new evaluation from the standpoint of their highest and best use from a revenue-generating standpoint. Maybe not a casino or a data center, but what else? 

The post ‘Highest and Best Use’ Again? first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.