Author: ARLnow.com

Day Camp’s Growth Spurt — Camp Sarraka has more than quadrupled enrollment in three years, from 40 to 50 campers a week at its 2023 launch to about 210 this summer across three Arlington churches, with dozens more on a waiting list. About 10% of slots go to campers who can’t afford the $475 weekly fee. [WBJ]

E-Bike Robbery — Two e-bike riders were robbed in the 200 block of Oakland Street around 8:57 p.m. Wednesday, police said. The suspects asked one rider to borrow his bike and, when he refused, implied a firearm before taking the bike and fleeing. No one was injured. [ACPD]

Driver Gets 29 Years — A D.C. woman, 46, was sentenced to 29 years in prison for a 2023 crash that killed three men, including two passengers headed home to Arlington. She was driving 100 mph after fleeing a Rock Creek Parkway traffic stop when she hit their Lyft, and was convicted in April of three counts of involuntary manslaughter. [NBC 4]

Jets Roar Over Arlington — Military aircraft thundered over the area Thursday as Freedom 250 celebrations ramped up. B-52s and fighter jets crossed over Reagan National around 11:30 a.m., and the British military’s Red Arrows trailed red, white and blue smoke over D.C. and Nationals Park. The flyovers, marking America’s 250th birthday, run through July 10. [T-Byrd/X, Breaking911/X, Airshow News/X]

DES Earns Accreditation — “Years in the making, DES has achieved top accreditation as an American public works agency. A different department member is now rocking our shiny new medal each day like NHL champions spending a day with the Cup.” [Arlington DES]

Assault Weapons Ban Blocked — A Lancaster County judge has temporarily blocked Virginia’s new assault weapons ban from taking effect July 1, when buying or selling the firearms would have become a Class 1 misdemeanor. Attorney General Jay Jones (D) said he will appeal, calling the law “compliant with the Constitution of Virginia.” Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed the ban in May. [WJLA]

It’s Friday — Expect a partly sunny day with a high near 93 and a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Winds will be out of the southwest around 8 mph, and showers and storms become likely overnight, with a low around 70. [NWS]

New Legal Notice — Hotel restaurant seeks ABC license for on/off-premise wine and beer. [Public Notices]

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.