From comic book controversies to a historic vote to a celebrity courtship, here are stories about Arlington and its residents that made national and international headlines this week:  

"Heavy Ink" Owner Produces Just That

 In the past week, Arlington-based comic store founder Travis Corcoran saw the hits on his website rise from a few hundred to more than 10,000 overnight. The reason for the increased activity on his site was not a new product from Heavy Ink, his online comic business, but rather the title of a recent post on his blog: "1 down, 534 to go." 

Corcoran inked the post in response to last weekend's shooting in Tucson, Arizona, which left state Representative Gabrielle Gifford in a coma and six others dead.

"It is absolutely, absolutely unacceptable to shoot ‘indiscriminately,'" Corcoran wrote. "Target only politicians and their staff, and leave regular citizens alone."

Several online media outlets immediately picked up and linked to Corcoran's story, and readers pummeled the business owner's Twitter account with commentary. 

Cocoran did offer an explanation on his politics, but did not remove the original incendiary post. In a later post, he deemed the shootings "a tragedy."

South Sudanese Make Their Voices Heard

Arlington's  South Sudanese Community Center made headlines  after hosting a historic vote for Sudanese immigrants. South Sudanese refugees descended upon Arlington throughout the week to cast their votes in a weeklong referendum that will determine if their war-torn motherland will become an independent nation.

The northern and southern regions of Sudan have been marred in civil war for decades, battling for resources and clashing over religious differences. This week several media outlets reported that violence broke out around polling locations on the border between northern and southern Sudan, but voting in the United States continued smoothly throughout the week.  

The Arlington community center is one of eight polling places nationwide and the only location in the Northeast. Results from the referendum will be released in early February, pending any appeals. 

Arlington To Get a New Hockey Mom? 

Actress and model Jenny McCarthy appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show this week and revealed that she has a new beau: Arlington native Paul Krepelka. McCarthy told DeGeneres that she met sports agent Krepelka on a blind date last month and is "really happy" with how their relationship is progressing. Despite their five-week courtship, McCarthy could become Mrs. Krepelka sooner than she thinks. 

"His accent is so strong, it's like 'Good Will Hunting' strong, that I really can't understand anything he says to me," McCarthy told DeGeneres on her show. "He could've proposed to me, and I could've said yes by now and I have no idea."