Author: ARLnow.com

Salvage Operation Continues — “Salvage crews have removed a large portion of a commercial jet from the Potomac River near Washington’s Reagan National Airport on Monday, five days after a midair collision last week that killed 67 people. Authorities have said the operation to remove the plane will take several days and they will then work to remove the military helicopter involved in the crash.” [Associated Press]

Airport Employees Charged in Leak — “After video appearing to be from an airport surveillance camera was shown on CNN last week in the wake of the fatal American Airlines jet collision with an Army helicopter, two airport authority employees were arrested and charged with leaking official airport records.” [Washington Post]

County Using AI for Training — “A three-person team from George Mason University worked to improve preparedness via AI-powered games for the Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management in Arlington, Virginia… the team created two interactive games, called Go-Repair and Go-Rescue, which simulated infrastructure maintenance, resource allocation and evacuations.” [CIO Dive]

Kaine Seeks Freeze Answers — “Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a group of his colleagues in issuing a letter… expressing concern about the acute financial impacts and lingering uncertainty faced by Head Start programs in Virginia and across the country as a result of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo that imposed a government-wide hiring freeze.” [Press Release]

Beyer Blasts Gutting of USAID — “Our delegation seeking to do congressional oversight on reports of Elon Musk’s illegal activity at USAID was just barred from entering the building on the orders of Musk and the Trump Administration. Nobody elected Musk — this is illegal and corrupt and we will keep fighting it.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X, WTOP]

Icy Wednesday Possible — “Although highs could climb into the 50s on Tuesday, the weather may take an icy turn late Wednesday. A wintry mix of precipitation could develop Wednesday afternoon or evening as a storm system approaches from the west while, at the same time, cold air seeps south. Precipitation could begin as wet snow or sleet before gradually transitioning to freezing rain and plain rain.” [CWG, NWS/X]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching around 53°F and a northwest wind at 6 to 14 mph, gusting up to 26 mph. During Tuesday night, cloud coverage will increase, and temperatures will drop to about 31°F. Winds will calm to a 5 to 8 mph breeze. [NWS]

DCA Crash Update — “Authorities said Sunday they have recovered the remains of 55 of the 67 people killed in the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001… They spoke hours after families of the victims visited the crash site just outside Washington, D.C., walking along the banks of the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport to memorialize their loved ones.” [Associated Press, Adam Tuss/X]

Vigil at Ballston Iceplex — “MedStar Capitals Iceplex will be hosting a private candlelight skate for local skating clubs affiliated with Washington Figure Skating Club and The Skating Club of Northern Virginia in honor of those who perished in the tragedy. The vigil will feature a remembrance tribute and the placement of flowers at center ice in memoriam of the victims and the incredible presence they brought to the rink.” [Washington Capitals]

Priest Rushed to Comfort Loved Ones — “After he learned of the Jan. 29 midair collision of a passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Reagan National Airport, Father Frederick H. Edlefsen, pastor of nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Arlington, rushed to the airport, accompanied by parishioner Joe Mazel.” [Arlington Catholic Herald, Catholic News Agency]

Bishop Discusses Immigration Actions — “As the United States government revises its immigration policies, and after prayerful discernment and consultation, I offer pastoral encouragement to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Congressional leaders, elected officials, and all Catholics and people of goodwill to consider the common good of our country with the light of faith. The Church teaches, as does our Constitution, that a political community exists to protect the family and human dignity.” [Diocese of Arlington]

County Wants Feedback on Resolution — “The County Board announced that it will consider adopting a Climate Action Resolution at its February 2025 County Board meeting. The Board welcomes feedback on the draft of this resolution via this feedback form. To ensure the Board has ample time to read and review comments, interested residents should submit feedback by February 14, end of day.” [Arlington County]

City Pressed to Support Paper — “Long-time City of Falls Church community activist Keith Thurston delivered an unexpected, passionate appeal to the Falls Church City Council this Monday to support the City’s long-standing community newspaper, the Falls Church News-Press. The newspaper announced earlier this month that due to financial pressures, it was forced to suspend its practice of carrier-delivering the paper to every household in Falls Church for the first time since its founding in 1991.” [FCNP]

Phil: Six More Weeks of Winter — “Early Sunday morning, before a cheering crowd in western Pennsylvania’s Gobbler’s Knob, the famed prognosticating groundhog emerged from his den and saw his shadow, his handlers proclaimed. That means Punxsutawney Phil has declared six more weeks of winter.” [CWG]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures around 57°F and south winds blowing at 3-8 mph. By night, the skies will turn mostly cloudy with the temperature dropping to approximately 46°F, as southwest winds pick up to around 7-10 mph. [NWS]

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