A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Arlington and the D.C. area.
The watch is in effect for the entire D.C. region until 10 p.m. Severe storms with damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph are expected later today. Hail and tornadoes are also possible, forecasters say.
Two suspects, one of them a former Prince George’s County police officer, have been arrested following an Arlington auto fraud investigation.
The investigation spanned over a year, the Arlington County Police Department said in a press release today (Tuesday). Officers allege that both suspects, former police officer Sierra Alston and Renaldo Gaines, “conspired to steal vehicles, acquire stolen vehicles and subsequently alter those vehicles’ VINs to disguise them from detection.”
Advance Your Career. Explore Graduate Programs Near D.C.
Are you looking to make a real impact in government or public service? Advanced education can be the key, and it’s closer than you think.
The Schar School offers master’s degrees and graduate certificates designed to help students build expertise, advance their careers, and make an impact in their communities and professions. Located just minutes from Washington, D.C., the Schar School combines rigorous academics with access to the institutions, organizations, and networks shaping policy and public service today.
Students benefit from:
• Renowned faculty with academic and real-world experience
• Hands-on learning through applied research and policy simulations
• Connections to government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations
• Access to one of the nation’s most dynamic professional environments
Graduate programs are available in areas including:
• Public Policy
• International Affairs
• Public Administration
• National Security and Defense
• Government and Public Management
Explore programs, connect with admissions, and discover the graduate pathway that’s right for you.
A veteran-owned bagel shop with hearty breakfast options opened its second location today (Tuesday) in Ballston.
Alexandria-based Bagel Uprising has opened its doors at 901 N. Glebe Road, on the heels of another bagel shop, Call Your Mother, opening at nearby 4000 Wilson Blvd earlier this month. Bagel Uprising seeks to distinguish itself with simple, consistent results on classic bagel and sandwich offerings.
Looking to get the pollen all off your car? We bring premium mobile detailing straight to your home or office. Skip the wait and drive something that feels brand new again. We provide interior deep cleans, exterior washes, paint shine, stain removal, and attention to every detail. Reliable, convenient, and built around your schedule.
Book your detail today and let us do all the work!
A potential partnership between an Arlington bicycle race and one of the world’s largest cycling event organizers received a shoutout during weekend coverage of the Tour de France.
NBC sideline reporter Steve Porino referred to negotiations between the Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic and the Amaury Sports Organization, which owns and operates the Tour de France.
*Mamistad Groups meet IN PERSON-only the introductory Zoom call is virtual. :)
Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for.
A local FM radio station is preparing to come back on the air following a lengthy break.
WERA 96.7 has been seeking to resume broadcasting today (Tuesday) after going dark in July 2025. A new licensee, Radio Arlington, took the reins from now-defunct Arlington Independent Media and has been resolving some final logistics and technical issues to meet an imminent deadline.
The grounds of Cherry Hill Park played host to Falls Church’s first “Civic Jam” on Friday evening.
The event, postponed from July 3 due to severe heat, featured civic engagement activities along with fun for all ages.
Arlington is a county, not a city — a technicality that surprises plenty of newcomers who assume a place this dense and urban must be one.
Whether it should stay that way is now an open question. As part of a broader review of its form of government, some advocates have floated dropping the county label and becoming Virginia’s newest independent city.
In Virginia, independent cities aren’t part of any county — they run their own courts, schools, roads and tax collection. Arlington already does nearly all of that. It maintains its own streets (one of the few Virginia counties that does), runs its own buses and provides a full slate of urban services, so the practical differences may be smaller than the label suggests.
There are catches. County Attorney Ryan Samuel cautioned the County Board that Arlington’s county manager plan — a form of government unique to Arlington, in place since 1932 — grants it powers other localities don’t have, and that some could be lost in a switch to a city or another structure. His 33-page report flagged both seen and hidden risks in making the leap.
There’s also a timing problem: a longstanding state moratorium on creating new Virginia cities runs through at least 2032, so the switch couldn’t happen before then even if Arlington wanted it.
Cityhood is only one option on the table. The governance review is also weighing changes like expanding the five-member County Board, electing its chair separately, adding district-based seats and ending Arlington’s practice of electing a board member every year. A preliminary report is due by the end of October — and the debate has surfaced before, including a near-overhaul back in 1970.
Despite the moratorium — and with any real change years off regardless — it’s a question that seems to resonate with locals, as one of last week’s most-read stories. So today we’re asking: should Arlington become a city?
Teens Charged in Mob Assault — Two teens were charged with malicious wounding by mob after a group riding e-scooters allegedly attacked someone on S. Joyce Street in Pentagon City on July 24. “The victim sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital,” police said. [ACPD]
Crystal City Startup Raises $22.6M — “Istari Digital Inc., an Arlington defense tech startup developing software that unifies complex engineering tools, is nearly halfway toward its goal of raising $40 million from outside investors.” The company, founded in 2022, has raised $62.7 million to date. [WBJ]
Arlington’s Homegrown Chains — Six Arlington-based restaurant chains made the Washington Business Journal’s ranking of the region’s 30 largest locally based food and beverage chains. South Block placed highest at No. 6, with 21 D.C.-area locations, followed by District Taco, Lebanese Taverna, Pupatella, Big Buns and Pho 75. [WBJ]
Slug Lines Coming to I-66 — “I-66 connects residential communities throughout Northern Virginia with major employment centers in Rosslyn and Washington, D.C.,” a spokesperson for the I-66 Slugging Network told FFXnow. The carpool network launches in September, with Rosslyn among four drop-off points. [FFXnow]
Smoky Skies Return — “Yep, the wildfire smoke is back… Partly because the origin is further away, air quality concerns at the ground are much lower than 10 days ago.” The plume is drifting in from fires in Oregon and British Columbia. [Capital Weather]
Severe Storms Possible Today — “A strong cold front will approach and move through the area on Tuesday… Some storms during the afternoon and evening could be severe.” The area is at a Level 2 out of 5 severe risk, with damaging wind gusts the main threat. [Capital Weather]
It’s Tuesday — Expect a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms today with a high near 85 and south winds of 6–14 mph, gusting to 20. Rainfall of three quarters to one inch is possible. Storms should taper off after midnight, with a low around 69. [NWS]
New Legal Notice — ABC permit application for on-premises caterer: wine, beer, mixed beverages. [Public Notices]
Want more local news from around the region? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow.
Good Monday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Jul 27, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 a.m. and again after 2 p.m., with partly sunny skies and a high of 85°F. South winds will be 7 to 14 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. There’s a 70% chance of rain, with new rainfall between half and three-quarters of an inch possible. On Tuesday night, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 11 p.m., followed by isolated showers until 2 a.m. The sky will be mostly cloudy, clearing gradually, with a low near 68°F. Winds will shift from southwest to northwest at 6 to 8 mph after midnight, and there is a 60% chance of precipitation, with new amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, higher in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.
“Success is not in what you have, but who you are.”
– Bo Bennett
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to discuss it on our new Disqus-powered community message board.
