A Late Fourth — D.C.’s July 4 fireworks keep slipping later, in part because President Trump is slated to give a 45-minute speech on the National Mall starting around 9:50 p.m. Mayor Muriel Bowser says the show won’t begin until 11 p.m., though Freedom 250 still advertises 10:30 p.m. as it tries to set a world record with 850,000 shells over 40 minutes. “The timeline is subject to change right up until the start of the event,” a Secret Service official said. [Axios, Washington Post]
County Closed Friday — Arlington County government offices will be closed Friday (July 3) for the Independence Day holiday, including the courts, DMV Select and the treasurer’s and commonwealth’s attorney’s offices. Curbside trash, recycling and organics collection will run on the regular schedule, though the recycling center and Earth Products yard will be closed until Monday (July 6). Parking meters won’t be enforced. [Arlington County]
Man Tries to Disarm Officer — A man, 27, was arrested in Rosslyn on Monday morning after he allegedly became combative and tried to disarm an officer who was taking him into custody, according to police. Officers had responded to a trespassing report in the 1800 block of N. Kent Street, where the man was allegedly inside a parking garage he had been banned from. He was charged with attempting to disarm an officer and four other offenses and held without bond. [ACPD]
Arlington Man Charged in Hit-and-Run — An Arlington man, 63, has been charged with felony hit-and-run in the death of a Falls Church pedestrian in Seven Corners last month, Fairfax County police said. Jose Jimenez, 60, was crossing Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) at Patrick Henry Drive against the signal early on May 26 when he was struck by a silver Honda Civic that fled the scene. The driver turned himself in Sunday and is being held without bond. [FFXnow]
VRE Buys Alexandria Rail Yard — Virginia Railway Express has bought the former Seminary Yard, near Duke Street and I-495, for $35.8 million as part of a five-year, $155 million deal to take over four properties from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. The site will be used for midday train storage. “Midday storage is critical for VRE operations,” CEO Katie Choe said. [VRE, ALXnow]
East Potomac Golf Overhaul — President Trump says a sweeping overhaul of the century-old East Potomac Golf Links, the public course just south of the National Mall, will begin Sept. 1, with architect Tom Fazio redesigning it to potentially host major tournaments. Officials haven’t said how that squares with environmental reviews or a pending lawsuit in which a judge warned against major changes without notifying the court. Critics worry the affordable course will become pricier. [Washington Post]
Beyer Wary of Impeachment — Rep. Don Beyer (D), whose district includes Arlington, told ALXnow that President Trump deserves to be impeached a third time but that Democrats shouldn’t pursue it as a doomed messaging exercise. “He certainly has done enough stuff to deserve impeachment. I think we’ll wait,” Beyer said, noting that a Senate conviction would be out of reach even if Democrats retake Congress. [ALXnow]
Trump’s 250th Takeover — A bipartisan commission Congress created a decade ago to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary has been overshadowed by President Trump’s own Freedom 250 group, which is staging rally-style events on the National Mall and is set to receive $68 million in taxpayer funds this year. “If the celebration of the miracle of democracy… becomes partisan, shame on us,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R) said. [NOTUS]
Hemp Businesses in Limbo — Virginia hemp farmers and retailers are scrambling as state and federal rules shift, with federal changes set to make many hemp products illegal by November and a legal cannabis market not arriving until July 2027. “We are left with zero pathway and will not survive until July 2027 without a grace period,” said Caroline County farmer Graham Redfern. [Virginia Mercury]
It’s Wednesday — Expect a hot, mostly sunny day with a high near 100 and a heat index as high as 107, plus a slight chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Southwest winds will be 6–9 mph with gusts up to 18 mph. It stays warm overnight, with a low around 77. [NWS]
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