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Arlington can help county residents pay utility bills

By Jeff Clabaugh
Arlington residents having trouble paying their water and sewer bills due to pandemic-related economic hardship may be eligible to have their bills paid through the county’s Utility Relief program. (Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Arlington County, Virginia, residents who are struggling to pay their utility bills because of income lost due to the pandemic have until Jan. 15 to apply for county assistance under its new Utility Relief program.

The program is funded with a $383,000 grant from the state.

Arlington estimates more than 3,000 utility accounts are currently in arrears and could qualify. The county will send out letters and emails to customers with qualifying outstanding balances that are 30 days or more past due.

Those who think they may be eligible, but have not received notice by Jan. 1, can call the Utility Relief Hotline at 703-228-5080 or fill out an online application.

It applies to utility customers whose water and sewer bills have an outstanding balance accrued since March 1. Funds will go first to those customers with outstanding balances of 60 days or more. Any remaining funds would go to customers with outstanding balances at least 30 days late.

As of Nov. 11, water and sewer bills at least 60 days delinquent in Arlington County totaled $443,000.

Arlington County has until Jan. 29 to spend the grant money, or return the balance to the state.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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