Author: ARLnow.com

Virginia Lands Meta Millions — “Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction.” The settlement guarantees $353 million for Virginia, Attorney General Jay Jones (D) said. [FFXnow]

Wonder Blankets the DMV — “The food tech company says the DMV is one of its fastest growing markets, with more than 30 locations planned by year’s end.” Wonder, which has a Rosslyn location, last week launched robot delivery from its Potomac Yard kitchen. [Axios]

Alexandria Joins Dominion Merger Case — The city has filed as a participant in State Corporation Commission proceedings on Dominion Energy’s proposed $67 billion merger with NextEra Energy. “Many Alexandrians are already struggling and finding it difficult to pay their utility bills because of rising energy costs,” Mayor Alyia Gaskins (D) said. [ALXnow]

Crossing Guard Cuts Draw Fire — Fairfax County high schools opened without dedicated crossing guards this year, a cut expected to save about $1.89 million. Supervisors this week directed staff to identify fixes after a school board member said of traffic at one school, “What I saw was danger.” [FFXnow]

Severe Storms Possible — “A dip in the jet stream and approaching cold front will encounter a steamy air mass in the Mid-Atlantic on Thursday. The result could be scattered strong to severe storms that are mainly capable of isolated damaging wind and large hail. Heavy rain and some flooding may also occur.” [Capital Weather]

It’s Thursday — Mostly sunny with a high near 90 and a chance of showers and thunderstorms, some of which could be severe. Chance of precipitation is 40%, with south winds at 6–9 mph. Storms could linger into the evening before an overnight low around 70. [NWS]

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

Cybercab Spotted in Rosslyn — D.C. reporter Martin Austermuhle said he spotted a Tesla Cybercab, the automaker’s purpose-built robotaxi, in Rosslyn yesterday morning. There was someone in the driver’s seat, he said. [Martin Austermuhle/X]

Flags Lowered for Parton — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) ordered flags at state and local buildings across Virginia lowered to half-staff for Dolly Parton — who died yesterday at 80 — until sunset Sept. 1, citing her Imagination Library. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Arlington) called her “a great artist, a great American, and a great person.” [Press Release, Rep. Don Beyer/X]

Spanberger Shields Medicaid, SNAP — The governor also signed Executive Order 20, directing the state to prevent gaps in Medicaid and SNAP coverage as federal cuts take effect. More than 1.8 million Virginians are enrolled in Medicaid and nearly 800,000 receive SNAP. [Fox 5]

CoStar Antitrust Suits Combined — A federal judicial panel consolidated four lawsuits accusing Arlington-based CoStar Group of operating as a monopoly, sending the combined case to Virginia’s Eastern District. CoStar General Counsel Gene Boxer said the suits recycle “already debunked claims.” [WBJ]

Beyer Targets Tariff Powers — Rep. Don Beyer (D-Arlington) said he has introduced legislation to block President Trump’s “abuses of tariff powers” and restore trade authority to Congress. The post came a day after Beyer blasted the Canada trade war. [Rep. Don Beyer/X]

Leaf Blower End Run — After the General Assembly repeatedly refused to give localities express authority, Arlington and Alexandria banned gas-powered leaf blowers by amending their noise ordinances instead, columnist Ivy Main writes. Arlington’s ban takes effect Jan. 1, 2029, and no other localities have followed. [Virginia Mercury]

Kennedy Center Revenue Nosedive — Ticket sales and donations collapsed after President Trump’s name went on the Kennedy Center, internal documents show, leaving a projected $23 million deficit. The Justice Department separately warned the building may have to be “taken down” if it can’t close for two years. [Washington Post, NBC 4]

Young Buyers Stuck at Home — About 4.9% of DMV households include a “shadow buyer” — an employed adult aged 25 to 39 living with parents, according to a Bright MLS report. Their median wage is $41,000, while a median-priced home here requires $181,000. Arlington’s share, 1.9%, is among the region’s lowest. [Axios]

Test Scores Inch Up — Virginia students’ proficiency in reading and math rose 0.4% last school year, continuing a five-year climb toward pre-pandemic levels. Statewide, 72% of students in grades 3 to 8 passed their reading SOLs and 69% passed math. Tougher benchmarks took effect this year. [Virginia Mercury]

‘Space Jellyfish’ Tuesday AM — A pre-dawn SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral streaked across the sky just before 5:40 a.m. yesterday, its sunlit exhaust plume forming a glowing “space jellyfish” against the dark. Readers sent photos from Lorton and the Old Town Alexandria waterfront. [Capital Weather]

It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 89 and a southeast wind of up to 9 mph. Skies turn mostly cloudy tonight, with a low around 72 and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. [NWS]

New Legal Notice — Restaurant seeks ABC wine/beer on- and off-premises license. [Public Notices]

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