News

Morning Notes for April 8, 2026

Pink blooms on a local tree (staff photo)

Fed Child Exploitation Cases — Two Arlington men pled guilty last month to federal child sexual abuse charges under the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. One defendant, 26, urinated on his laptop during an FBI search to prevent agents from accessing evidence. A second man, 35, was found with hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material on his devices. [Patch, U.S. Attorney’s Office]

RNC Sues Over Va. Voting — The Republican National Committee filed a lawsuit challenging Virginia’s voting system, alleging the state allows some people who have never been residents to cast ballots. The suit targets a provision letting children of overseas Virginians vote without ever having lived in the state. Matthew Hurtt, head of the Arlington GOP, joined the suit. [Washington Times]

Long Bridge Work Delays — Drivers should expect periodic traffic impacts on Boundary Channel Drive and surrounding loop ramps through April 13 as the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority continues work on the Long Bridge Project. Lane narrowing and equipment storage will be in place during weekday off-peak hours, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. [Patch]

Infrastructure Input Sought — Arlington County is asking residents where to prioritize maintenance and funding for streets, parks, technology, stormwater systems and county buildings. Feedback is due by April 23. [Arlington County/X]

MCM Registration Opens — Registration for the 51st Marine Corps Marathon opened Monday, and organizers expect it to sell out. “Last year it took us about a month,” said marketing manager Amber Traunero. The race will be held Oct. 25 with new corral starts and a four-day expo at the National Building Museum. [WTOP]

Art of Pink This Friday — The National Landing BID’s Pink in the Park series wraps up Friday with Art of Pink, a free after-hours event at Metropolitan Park from 5–10 p.m. featuring a cherry blossom art exhibition with 60-plus local artists, a live paint battle, food vendors and live music. [National Landing BID]

Corvex Touts Public Edge — Arlington-based AI cloud computing firm Corvex Inc. is leveraging its new public company status to recruit talent, offering stock options tied to tradeable shares. “It absolutely is an advantage for us,” CEO Jay Crystal said. The company, which went public via an all-stock merger last month, has 38 employees at Fuse at Mason Square in Virginia Square. [WBJ]

Speed Camera Bill Advances — A bill that would expand speed camera locations to high-risk “safety red zones” designated by the state is awaiting Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D) signature. The bill, crafted in memory of two Oakton High School students killed on Blake Lane in 2022, would apply to N. Va. localities including Arlington. [FFXnow]

Spanberger Signs School Bills — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed a package of education bills today targeting school construction planning and classroom cellphone restrictions. The laws make the Commission on School Construction and Modernization permanent and set “bell to bell” limits on student device use during the school day. [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 55 degrees and light east winds around 6 mph. Tonight’s low drops to around 35 degrees with areas of frost possible after 3 a.m. [NWS]

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  • Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. The ARLnow staff byline is used for the Morning Notes and reporting done by an editor or other member of our full-time staff.