News

Morning Notes for September 14, 2026

Curved Pottery Barn storefront with large glass windows, warm interior lights, and a tree on the right at sunset.
A towering cloud reflecting the sunset, as seen above Clarendon (courtesy George Brazier)

Pentagon Marks 25 Years — “Here at the Pentagon, we feel the presence of 184 souls who were lost,” former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at Friday’s anniversary ceremony. An American flag was unfurled on the side of the building where the plane hit. [NBC 4]

Ceremony at Fire Station 5 — “Just south of the Pentagon, a ceremony took place at Fire Station Number Five, one of the closest to the Pentagon. Hundreds of first responders who were there 25 years ago reconnected to remember and reflect.” [WUSA 9]

Remembering ACPD’s 9/11 Losses — ACPD remembered Cpl. Barry Foust and Cpl. Harvey Snook III, who died of cancer linked to their recovery work at the Pentagon. Foust was on patrol at S. Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike when Flight 77 hit and relayed the report that began Arlington’s response. [DC News Now]

Sheriff’s Second Day on Job — Arlington County Sheriff Jose Quiroz had just joined the department when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. “We were in a training class. It was literally my second day,” he said. Quiroz was honored Thursday at the Yorktown-Centreville football game. [WUSA9]

Teaching 9/11 as History — Arlington Public Schools students today weren’t born when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon, leaving teachers to reframe a day many of them lived through. “Now this is history. 25 years makes it history,” Gunston Middle School teacher Caitlin Wittig said. [WAMU]

Survivor’s First Visit — Joan Platz, a Navy commander assigned to the Pentagon five months before the attack, visited the memorial for the first time this past week. “I just compartmentalized it, put it in the back of my head,” she said. [Washington Post]

Cemetery’s Pentagon Marker — The Pentagon Group Burial Marker in Section 64 of Arlington National Cemetery honors the 184 people killed there, with a star beside the names of those whose remains were never identified. “These were budget analysts. These were accountants,” cemetery historian Allison Finkelstein said. [NBC 4]

Chapel Built Where Flight Hit — The Pentagon Memorial Chapel, built into the section struck by Flight 77, opened on the attack’s first anniversary and draws 25 to 35 people to daily Mass. The site now has a tabernacle and “the Eucharist is present 24/7,” volunteer coordinator Steven Jarvis said. [Catholic Herald]

Office Space Getting Tight — Anna Nissinen, Arlington’s new chief economic development officer, said the county is seeing rising interest in commercial office space, “especially trophy and Class A, which we’re running out of.” She also cited National IQ, a $10 million innovation district launched with Alexandria. [WBJ]

Police Union Questions Flock — D.C.’s police union is raising concerns about Flock license plate readers after internal affairs used the technology to investigate officers, and wants the D.C. Council to regulate its use. “I do not think there’s a role for Flock in this community,” Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins said. [Washington Post, ALXnow]

Shields Needed to Quote Fare — Metro’s largest union said it reached an agreement with WMATA so drivers are only required to quote the fare “when operating a bus equipped with a fully enclosed operator workstation.” Metro expects its full fleet to have enclosed stations by May 31, 2027. [NBC 4]

Sales Taxes Lift Revenues — Virginia general fund revenues grew 5.4% through the first two months of Fiscal Year 2027, driven by sales tax receipts, and are running 1.8% ahead of forecast. “Revenue remains generally in line with our forecast,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) said. [Press Release]

Foliage Still Far Off — Capital Weather says peak fall color in the region typically arrives in late October and early November, and a first hard freeze can wait until November near I-95. Axios reports the area may see a warmer-than-average fall overall. [Axios, Capital Weather]

It’s Monday — Sunny today with a high near 80 and a north wind around 13 mph, gusting as high as 24 mph. Skies stay clear overnight with a low around 57. [NWS]

New Legal Notice — Creditors must submit written claims under Va. Code § 64.2-508.1. [Public Notices]

Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.

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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.