News

Morning Notes for June 25, 2026

Dining al fresco in Virginia Square (courtesy George Brazier)

Flyover Showcase Today — Following last night’s flyovers, eight military aircraft are set to fly in formation over the National Mall today, including the B-52 Stratofortress, F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-35C Lightning II. The flyover opens the second night of the Great American State Fair’s celebrations for the nation’s 250th and will bring added air traffic noise to Arlington. [ARLnow]

Longtime Recovery CEO Stepping Down — Arlington-based National Capital Treatment and Recovery has announced a search for a successor to Debby Taylor, who has served as president/CEO for 37 years. “This is not a moment of abrupt change, but rather a carefully planned and strategic transition,” Taylor said in an email to supporters of the organization, founded in 1962. — Scott McCaffrey

LibraryFest Marks the 250th — Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) will host LibraryFest, a free all-ages celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, on Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The day includes a U.S. Marine Band brass quintet, a large-scale LEGO sculpture of the Constitution, live music, food trucks and historical demonstrations. [Arlington County]

W-L Hosting Stop on ‘Relay for America’ — Washington-Liberty High School will be a stop on the 20-day, 3,000-mile Relay for America as it moves across the nation, with hundreds of runners carrying the U.S. flag a portion of the way. The high school will host the event on Saturday, July 4 from midnight to 9 a.m., before it completes the cross-country journey finishing in front of the U.S. Capitol. [RunWashington]

Pole Down Since January — A concrete light pole knocked down during snowstorm cleanup on Jan. 26 is still lying at 3829 N. Stafford Street five months later, a resident says, tagging Dominion Energy in a plea for removal: “Concrete base is not repairable.” [Jay Hoffman/X]

Better Than New York? — A local creator’s Instagram reel, set to “Empire State of Mind” and featuring Rosslyn skyscrapers, makes a tongue-in-cheek case that the area beats New York. The clip has drawn more than 4,400 likes. [Instagram]

Region Asked to Save Water — With the D.C. region under a drought watch, Spanberger has asked Virginians to voluntarily conserve water amid the state’s driest stretch since 1941. The Potomac River hit its lowest level in 130 years this spring. Maryland and a regional council are also urging cutbacks, though restrictions remain voluntary for now. [Axios]

Hope Backs Prison Reforms — Gov. Spanberger has created a new Community Partnership Council on Corrections and touted early results, including a 39% drop in use of force across state prisons since January. Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) welcomed the moves, calling them “a strong step toward reform” while urging that improvements also reach local jails. [Virginia Mercury, Patrick Hope/X]

Ex-Felon Voting in Limbo — The ACLU of Virginia filed a motion to enforce a court order it won this year, accusing officials of leaving thousands of Virginians with past felony convictions in voter-registration limbo. Registrars have been told since June not to fully process such registrations. This fall, voters will weigh a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to those who’ve served their sentences. [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 88 and winds out of the south at 2–9 mph. It turns partly cloudy overnight, with a low around 69. [NWS]

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

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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.