News

Morning Notes for August 11, 2026

Lightning bolt descends from a stormy sky and appears to strike a flat-roofed building near the coast, with trees in the foreground and a hazy, pink-tinted atmosphere.
Lightning seen striking in the distance beyond a telecommunications building near Columbia Pike (staff photo)

Grand Prix to Halt DCA Flights — “FAA says it expects to temporarily pause flight operations at DCA from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Aug. 23 to support the Grand Prix event in DC.” Airlines have already trimmed dozens of departures that day. [Kris Van Cleave/X, David Shepardson/X, Washington Post]

County Fair Turns 50 — The Arlington County Fair, which launched as a community project 50 years ago, returns tomorrow through Sunday at Thomas Jefferson Community Center and Park. New this year are a D.C. Sports Zone, digital ride cards and a free ART bus shuttle from the Ballston Mall Garage. [Arlington County]

Fund Honors Dance Director — A GoFundMe for Susannah Keefe, the Go Bananas Dancing founder found dead in the Potomac River last week, had raised more than $27,000 as of last night. “Contributions will be dedicated to educational opportunities for her sons,” organizers said. [GoFundMe]

Boeing Offloads Flying Taxis — Arlington-based Boeing is handing its Wisk Aero air-taxi venture, software firm SkyGrid and drone maker Insitu to California’s Archer Aviation in exchange for a roughly 20% stake in Archer. [WBJ]

Rosslyn Hotel Taps New Chef — Le Méridien Arlington has named Francecil Ponte its executive chef as the Rosslyn hotel prepares to reveal a renovation. Ponte, previously at The Westin Arlington Gateway, will lead the dining program at the hotel’s new Noble Fox Bar & Terrace. [Patch]

Trail Vies for Hall of Fame — The 18.5-mile Mount Vernon Trail, which starts at Theodore Roosevelt Island, is “vying for the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s 2026 Trail Hall of Fame” and needs public votes. Online voting closes Aug. 16. [ALXnow]

Army Buys Caisson Horse Farm — The U.S. Army has purchased the Middleburg Training Center in Loudoun County for $8.6 million to house the Old Guard’s Caisson Platoon, which “provides horse-drawn funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery.” The Army takes operational control of the 149-acre property Nov. 1. [WBJ]

Home Price Growth Slows — The D.C. metro area’s median sales price rose 0.9% year-over-year from April through June, about half the national rate of 1.5%, according to the National Association of Realtors. Zillow pegged the region’s typical home value at $581,129 in July. [FFXnow]

Governor Seeks Prison Advisers — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) is taking applications through Sept. 4 for an 18-member corrections council of formerly incarcerated people, corrections officers and reform advocates. She said she wants input on “additional steps we can take to improve safety and transparency within VADOC facilities.” [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly sunny morning with a high near 91, then a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms starting mid-afternoon. Storms are likely to continue into the evening, with an overnight low around 72. [NWS]

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