Author: ARLnow.com

Flyover This Morning — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an aircraft flyover in the NCR over Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, May 29, at approximately 11:03AM.”

More on Waymo’s Plans — Waymo has begun mapping Alexandria and will soon bring its self-driving cars to Arlington, the company told Virginia officials — though it said it does “not currently have plans for a commercial service there.” Drivers operate the mapping vehicles for now. Self-driving cars aren’t yet permitted in Virginia, and a state senator behind an autonomous-vehicle bill doesn’t expect robotaxis before 2028. [Wired]

DHS Weighs in on Local Case — A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the stairwell of a Columbia Pike parking garage is in the country illegally and had prior charges including rape, according to the Department of Homeland Security. ICE recently lodged a detainer for the 25-year-old, according to DHS, which criticized state policies limiting cooperation with immigration agents. ACPD is seeking additional victims. [WJLA]

Truck Blocks Army Navy Drive — A car carrier sat in the middle of Army Navy Drive for nearly 12 hours, blocking turn lanes in both directions, according to Dave Statter. The driver appeared to sleep in the rig overnight and began off-loading cars near the end of Thursday’s morning rush — despite open space on the closed Fashion Centre mall property where the cars were headed. [Dave Statter/X]

Top Meetings Destination — Arlington landed at No. 44 on Cvent’s list of top meeting destinations in North America, the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service announced. It’s the county’s fifth straight year on the venue-sourcing platform’s top-destinations list, which ranks cities by group-business activity. [Arlington County]

Bus Fare Crackdown — Metro has issued nearly 400 citations and made 21 arrests since launching a Metrobus fare-evasion crackdown this week, with about 7 in 10 bus riders skipping the $2.25 fare — roughly twice the national average. “People will pay the fare, or they will be taken off the bus,” General Manager Randy Clarke said. Officers are monitoring live bus-camera feeds to flag non-payers, a method Clarke believes is a national first. [Fox 5, NBC 4, WTOP]

Affordable Housing ‘Lost’ — Falls Church’s longtime commitment to truly affordable housing has been “lost,” Hal Lippman, a former vice mayor who now leads the Citizens for a Better City, told the City Council. He argued the city’s efforts have failed to reach lower-income households and have left it an “economic gated community.” [FCNP]

NDAs for Federal Workers — The Trump administration is proposing a government-wide nondisclosure agreement barring federal workers from sharing a broad range of confidential government information. Signing would be voluntary, but the draft warns that refusing “may result in removal from federal service.” Civil-liberties groups call it an unconstitutional gag order; the rule includes a whistleblower carve-out. [Washington Post]

Forever Chemicals Targeted — Virginia has adopted new testing rules aimed at keeping PFAS, so-called forever chemicals, out of the food supply, targeting the sewage sludge that’s converted into farm fertilizer. The law requires treatment plants and state regulators to test for PFAS and share results with anyone spreading the sludge. Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington), who chairs the House Agriculture committee, called it a “farmer’s right to know” measure. [WAMU]

Disability Emergency Drills — A new state law will require certain health care providers to run regular emergency drills so staff are better prepared when people with disabilities face medical crises. The measure, signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger, followed a 2025 report that found staff delayed or failed to perform CPR or call 911 in nearly half of reviewed sudden-death cases. Backers estimate it could save about seven lives a month. [Virginia Mercury]

Rain Eases the Drought — A nine-day stretch of rain — among the longest the area has seen since 2000 — dropped nearly two inches on the D.C. area since May 19 and finally eased the region’s drought, forecasters say. Much of the area has improved to moderate drought, though spots to the south remain in severe drought, NBC4 meteorologist Doug Kammerer said. [CWG/X, Doug Kammerer/X]

It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of 78°F. Winds will shift from north to west at 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, the weather will be mostly clear with a low of around 60°F. [NWS]

Waymo Eyes Arlington — Driverless car company Waymo is now mapping parts of N. Va. as it prepares for possible autonomous ride-hailing in the commonwealth. Policy adviser Rich Harrington said the company’s vehicles are already operating on Alexandria roads with safety drivers and will soon begin operating in Arlington as well. [Fox 5]

Cathedral Rector on Leave — “The Very Reverend Patrick L. Posey, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation of an allegation of sexual misconduct with minors. The alleged incidents occurred between 1992 and 1993 outside the Diocese of Arlington.” Posey, rector at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, denies the accusation. [Arlington Diocese]

Shoplifter Strikes Officer — Police say a larceny call near Ballston on Tuesday afternoon ended with an Arlington man, 35, charged with assault on police, obstruction and robbery. The suspect allegedly grabbed merchandise from a business on the 4200 block of Fairfax Drive, made threatening statements to an employee and struck an officer near N. Stuart Street while resisting arrest. [ACPD]

Sweetgreen’s First Local Drive-Thru — The McLean Sweetgreen at 6220 Old Dominion Drive in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center will be the chain’s first D.C. area location to add a “sweetlane” pickup window, per permits filed this week. Customers order online and pick up curbside; the concept was first piloted in Illinois in 2022. [WBJ]

Tick Boom — “This year has started off with a bang. Wet and warm certainly makes ticks really happy. So they are up and active and ready to find some food,” Old Dominion University biological sciences professor Holly Gaff said. She added that booming deer, raccoon and rodent populations are also fueling the surge. [WJLA]

It’s Thursday — Sunny skies and a high near 78 are expected today, with a breezy north wind 6–13 mph and gusts up to 22 mph. Skies should remain mostly clear overnight with a cool low around 54. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.

Suspect Linked to 2nd Case — Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn said the man charged in the May 7 attempted abduction in Pentagon City has now been charged in a second incident reported earlier in May. “We’ve actually charged him in both instances,” Penn told ABC 7. Detectives are asking additional victims or witnesses to contact police. [WJLA]

W-L Drops AI Grad Plan — Washington-Liberty High School has scrapped its recently announced plan to use AI to read graduates’ names at next month’s commencement, citing negative feedback from students. “So, this year’s commencement at Washington-Liberty High will look just like the 99 that have come before it, with faculty members reading the names of each of the roughly 700 graduates who cross the stage,” the Washington Post reported as part of a larger article on graduation tech. [Washington Post]

Strangers Honor Fallen Soldier — A viral X post from Sharrell Shaw, widow of Staff Sgt. Alan Shaw, drew strangers to her husband’s grave in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery over Memorial Day weekend after she couldn’t make the trip from Arkansas. “Watching Americans from every political spectrum coming together on Memorial Day weekend to honor just one soldier is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen as an American in a long time,” she said. [Fox 5]

Fresh Market Near Fairlington Stays — “As another Fresh Market store in the Northern Virginia region prepares to close, the Alexandria location isn’t going anywhere. A Fresh Market spokesperson told ALXnow no changes are planned for the Alexandria store at Bradlee Shopping Center (3680 King Street).” The chain’s Vienna store closes May 31. [ALXnow]

Arch Protest Wraps — A multi-day demonstration against President Donald Trump’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch ran from Sunday through Tuesday near the Lincoln Memorial. “Democracies do not build memorials to living presidents,” said organizers with Third Act DMV. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the arch’s design last week. [NBC 4]

It’s Wednesday — Showers and thunderstorms are expected throughout the day, with a high near 80 and a 90% chance of precipitation. Rainfall amounts between a quarter and a half inch are possible. Showers and storms remain possible overnight, with a low around 64. [NWS]

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Ex-Arlington Officer Charged — A former Arlington County police officer has been charged with three counts of solicitation of a minor following a Fairfax County police investigation. Lawrence Lofzewski, 37, of Springfield served with ACPD from 2022 to 2025 and previously with D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, FCPD said. He was working as a mental health associate at Rivermont Schools in Lorton at the time of his arrest. [WJLA]

Trump Speaks at ANC — President Donald Trump honored the nation’s fallen service members Monday during a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, speaking before veterans, active-duty military personnel and Gold Star families near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. “From 1776 to 2026, America has always stood as a great and moral cause,” Trump said. [The National Desk]

Mini Grant Applications Open — Arlington County’s Neighborhood Mini Grant Program is accepting applications through July 17 for projects that promote community building, racial equity and inclusion. Up to $25,000 in total funding is available, with grants capped at $1,000 per applicant. Eligible projects include block parties, neighborhood clean-ups and small beautification efforts. [Arlington County]

Recycle Right Rollout — The County is rolling out a new “Recycle Right” initiative aimed at reducing contamination in curbside recycling. Key reminders: keep recyclables empty, clean and dry; leave out plastic bags; and flatten cardboard boxes. The County’s “Where Does It Go?” tool offers item-by-item disposal guidance. [Arlington County]

Holiday Travelers at DCA — At Reagan National, travelers told WTOP about their Memorial Day plans. “I’m here to celebrate my brother’s 80th birthday,” said Marcel, who flew in from Atlanta. “He has no idea and it’s been a secret for two months.” AAA expected 45 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles over the holiday weekend. [WTOP]

Diploma 60 Years Later — Arlington resident Ken Grundborg twice missed his Georgia Tech commencement ceremonies — in 1960, when the Army sent him to Korea after he finished undergrad, and again in 1966, when graduate work was followed by a posting to Vietnam. Six decades later, the school welcomed the 88-year-old retired Army colonel back to receive both diplomas. “It was the most memorable day of my life,” Grundborg said. [Kiwanis Club of South Arlington]

Arlington 1958 Flashback — Falls Church News-Press columnist Bill Fogarty looks back at May 1958 in Arlington, when the County considered an $8 million bond referendum that would help build a new Central Library on Quincy Street and a new Courthouse, while the School Board narrowly defeated a motion to require sitting teachers to sign a “non-Communist oath.” New hires, however, would have to. [FCNP]

Spanberger Defends Veto — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), speaking at the Center for American Progress’ Ideas conference in Washington, defended her veto of public sector collective bargaining legislation passed by the Virginia legislature. “I continue to support public sector collective bargaining. And I continue to look forward to a place where we’ll have a bill that I’ll sign into law,” she said, citing implementation concerns. [FNCP]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly cloudy skies today with patchy fog and a 40% chance of rain showers. High near 77 with an east wind around 1–5 mph. Showers and thunderstorms become more likely overnight, with a low around 66. [NWS]

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