News

Morning Notes for December 18, 2025

Looking up at holiday lights in a tree along N. Glebe Road (staff photo)

Federal Job Loss Tally — “Over the past year, an estimated 41,500 federal jobs in the D.C. region have been eliminated, according to a report released this week by George Mason University’s Stephen Fuller Institute for Research on the Washington Region’s Economic Future. That includes about 15,000 jobs that have been lost since August, either through deferred resignations or layoffs, and had not shown up in previously released data.” [WBJ]

Lower Local Spending — “Consumers are spending less in the DMV — and D.C. is taking the biggest hit, according to a new Brookings report… Four years of regional consumer data show declines across both visitor and local spending. Local spending this year is just 1.1% below 2024.” [Axios]

GW Parkway Speed Camera Bill — “Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced legislation that would allow for revenue generated from speed camera enforcement on roads within the National Park System, such as the George Washington Memorial Parkway, to be reinvested for safety improvements, road maintenance, and related infrastructure needs in the parks where violations occur.” [Press Release]

Arrest After Vape Store Theft — “Two employees of a local business in Arlington CHASED and HELD DOWN a theft suspect at N Barton Street & Ninth Street until police arrived to take the male into custody.” [DMV Live/FB]

Another Theft Arrest — “Police in Arlington, Virginia nabbed a lululemon Grand Theft (FELONY) suspect, who stole over $1,000 worth of clothes from the popular store on King Street in Alexandria.” [DMV Live/X]

Near Starbucks at DCA — “Our coffee game just got bigger with the opening of a new Starbucks near Gate C25. Come and enjoy your favorite seasonal brews and specialty drinks.” [Reagan Airport/X]

Compass Bankruptcy ‘Likely’ — “Compass Coffee has agreed to voluntarily relinquish its Ivy City roasting plant and will likely file for bankruptcy by Dec. 31… It’s unclear whether the homegrown coffee chain with about two dozen locations intends to liquidate or restructure its debts through the bankruptcy process and how those plans could impact its local stores.” [WBJ]

Rain and Wind Tonight — “A strong cold front will cross the area Thursday night through early Friday. As it does so, broken lines of heavy showers and perhaps a couple thunderstorms whip up the potential for gusty winds across the region, especially between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. … Jeff Halverson, Capital Weather Gang’s severe weather expert, notes the potential for gusts as high as around 50 mph.” [CWG]

It’s Thursday — Rain chances increase after 4pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 54. Winds will shift south at 5-8 mph in the morning. Thursday night will see rain as temperatures rise to around 55 by 3am, accompanied by south winds at 8-17 mph and gusts up to 29 mph. New rainfall amounts ranging between half and three-quarters of an inch are expected. [NWS]

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