Author: ARLnow.com

Local Minister Accused of Sex Abuse — “The alumnus was one of three Falls Church Episcopal youth group members who an independent investigation revealed in April were allegedly sexually abused by Taylor in the 1990s or the early 2000s when they attended the church. The report found that Taylor’s behavior during his employment there constituted ‘sexual grooming or sexual abuse.'” [Washington Post]

Suspicious Package Investigation — From ARLnow yesterday: “Arlington’s bomb squad responded to a suspicious package today on N. Sycamore Street near Tuckahoe Park. Initial reports suggest it was a parcel addressed to the White House with odd labeling. ‘Nothing was found and the incident was cleared with good intent,’ ACFD spokesman tells ARLnow.” [Twitter]

Beyer on Israel-Gaza Ceasefire — From Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.): “I am glad that this agreement has finally been reached, and that the hostages who have endured horrific captivity will be coming home. All parties must implement this ceasefire and abide by its terms to prevent any resumption of bloodshed.” [Press Release]

Federal Prosecutor Stepping Down — “Jessica D. Aber said she will resign as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia upon President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, capping a term leading a high-profile office that was shaped by prosecutions of terrorism cases, violent gang crimes and leaks of classified documents.” [Washington Post]

Record Gun Haul for TSA — “Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport were two of the four airports in Virginia to set new records for detecting firearms at security checkpoints, according to the Transportation Security Administration… TSA officers at Washington National detected 41 in 2024, which was two more than the 39 stopped in 2023.” [Patch]

Expect Crowds at Local Airports — “Passengers at Reagan National and Dulles International Airports should be prepared for additional crowds and congestion from Friday, January 17, through Tuesday, January 21. The 2025 presidential inauguration is expected to bring an influx of passengers to both Washington, D.C., airports.” [MWAA]

Pike Spot Makes ‘Hand Pie’ List — “Ask the Mpanadas crew about their favorite handhelds, and fissures suddenly appear within the tight-knit co-founders of the Latin American restaurant. Husband and wife Jesse Correa and Paola Herbas prefer feasting on tangy barbecue pork and pico de gallo-zapped sausage, egg and cheese, respectively, while marketing whiz Gabriela Rojas remains firmly entrenched in the cheeseburger camp.” [Washington Post]

More Cold and Possible Snow — “Next week, a lobe of the polar vortex will plunge into the Lower 48 states, delivering a brutal blast of Arctic air. The chill will arrive in the District on Sunday, setting the stage for the coldest presidential inauguration since President Ronald Reagan’s in 1985. Some snow is possible Sunday as the cold air moves in, and there may be more opportunities for frozen precipitation next week.” [Capital Weather Gang]

It’s Thursday — There’s a 30% chance of snow showers after 1pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 34 degrees. Expect a south wind of 3 to 8 mph. In the evening, it’ll be cloudy before gradually clearing, and the temperature will drop to around 25 degrees. A calm wind will become northwest at 5 to 8 mph later in the night. [NWS]

Arlington Still Has Highest Rent — “The Zumper Washington, DC Metro Report analyzed active listings last month across metro cities… Arlington, VA ranked as the most expensive city with one-bedrooms priced at $2,390. Washington, DC was the second priciest with rent at $2,330. Alexandria, VA ranked third with rent at $2,080.” [Zumper]

County Preps for Inauguration — “Arlington County Government Office and Facilities will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/Inauguration Day… The Arlington County Police Department will deploy increased police resources in Arlington County, to include both visible and non-visible assets, leading up to and during Inauguration Day.” [ACPD]

Pentagon Station to Close Monday — “Pentagon Station and Pentagon Transit Center have been added to the list of closures for Inauguration Day, January 20.” [Twitter, WMATA]

No Arlington Eateries on This List — “We’ve scoured the region to compile a list of the hottest new restaurants opening soon in a town near you. Here are 10 newcomers we’re excited for in 2025.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Biden Parties in Falls Church — From NBC’s Gary Grumbach on Monday: “Jimmy Buffett, the Gin Blossoms, and now Joe Biden… Tonight, the President is attending a celebration of a historic four years with his staff at the historic State Theater in Falls Church, the White House says.” [Twitter]

Wanted Suspect Arrested –From Dave Statter: “The scene a little while ago after @ArlingtonVaPD
go after a man reported wanted for felonies in another jurisdiction. Other people in the red car were detained. This was at the Shelton on S. 24th St. in Green Valley.” [Bluesky]

Coworking Provider Acquired — “Real estate-services firm CBRE Group is taking control of the co-working firm Industrious, a sign of the property market’s renewed interest in shared workspace as more employees return to the office.” [WSJ, BusinessWire]

Compass Coffee Feud — “The co-founders of the popular Compass Coffee chain in Washington have severed ties, with the company’s former chief executive accusing its owner of fraudulently misusing pandemic relief funds in a lawsuit filed Monday.” [Washington Post]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies with highs near 30 and northwest winds of 14 to 16 mph, gusting up to 31 mph. The night will be mostly clear with lows around 17, as northwest winds decrease to 6 to 11 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]

Endangered Missing Person — “ACPD is seeking the public’s assistance locating 76 y/o Heather… last seen in the 2400 block of S. Queen St. She is considered critically missing due to mental &/or physical health concerns.” [Facebook]

Odd Crash on Camera — From Dave Statter: “There’s a lot going on here. A blue and a white SUV were driving side-by-side on the I-395N express lanes by the Pentagon. The white SUV then drove through the gates and went northbound in the southbound lanes. The blue SUV -on the correct side of the Jersey barrier – stopped in the left lane. Was he warning the other driver they were on the wrong side? Don’t know.” [Twitter]

Architect Profiled for DCA Work — “Erica Donnelly can breeze through security at Reagan National Airport … Donnelly is an architect with design firm PGAL, which has a branch in Alexandria, Virginia. The branch has a focus on aviation architecture, and for more than 35 years, has been part of many design projects at Reagan National and Dulles International airports. She’s most proud of the work she did at Reagan National’s new North Concourse, which opened in 2021.” [WTOP]

Nominees Sought for Wakefield HOF — Nominations are being accepted through Saturday, Feb. 1 for the Wakefield High School Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. The Hall of Fame recognizes alumni and staff who have made significant contributions to society and who have brought recognition to the school. Nomination forms can be found online. –Scott McCaffrey

List of Local News Outlets — As a public service, we have compiled a list of D.C. area local news publications. Did we forget any? Contact us or let us know in the comments. [ARLnow]

It’s Tuesday — Scattered flurries are expected after 4pm, accompanied by increasing clouds and a high near 32. Winds will be from the northwest at 9 to 11 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. For Tuesday night, expect scattered flurries to stop before 9pm, leading to partly cloudy skies and a low around 19. Northwest winds will be stronger, at 13 to 16 mph, and may gust as high as 30 mph. [NWS]

New Speed Camera Turned On — “Due to the recent inclement weather and school closings, the 30-day warning period for the new PhotoSPEED program speed safety cameras will begin on Monday, January 13. Speed camera installation at NB 1600 block of N. Glebe Road is postponed pending VDOT permitting, and a speed camera has been installed at WB 5800 block of Little Falls Road.” [ACPD]

Beyer Again to Take on Robert E. Lee — Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) will again in 2024 introduce legislation removing Robert E. Lee’s name from Arlington House, despite an admitted very little chance of success. “While he recognizes that the current Congressional climate might not favor passage, he’s committed to building support and preparing for a time when the environment might be more receptive,” a spokesman tells ARLnow. –Scott McCaffrey

Unusual Traffic Stop — From Dave Statter: “Here’s the video as the driver first refused to stop for @ArlingtonVaPD and made a U-Turn on 50 at Irving. Two minutes later they returned to the intersection and stopped. Police soon arrived and blocked in the car. Traffic now gets by using one lane to the left.” [Twitter]

Arlington Jobless Rate Up Slightly — Arlington’s unemployment rate of 2.3% in November was up from 2.2% a year before, according to new data. In Falls Church, the unemployment rate of 2.5% was up from 2.3%. [Virginia Employment Commission]

Sens. Want Deficit Reduction — “U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Mike Crapo (R-ID) urging Senate Republicans to work in a bipartisan way to reduce the deficit and protect the middle class from tax hikes.” [Press Release]

Demolition of Former F.C. Hotel — “The one remaining eyesore along W. Broad Street between the N. Washington intersection and Founders Row in the otherwise lovely downtown Falls Church will be disappearing not a minute too soon. One of the two buildings of the vacated and fenced in old Stratford Motor Lodge site in the 300 block of West Broad is slated to be demolished and removed within two weeks.” [FCNP]

It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day with a high around 40°F and calm winds shifting to the west at about 5 mph in the afternoon. The night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 20°F and a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]

Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. Industrious offers a warm, welcoming workspace where everything is handled for you. ARLnow has called Industrious home for years, enjoying fresh coffee, quiet offices and a friendly front desk staff. With several Metro-accessible Arlington locations, Industrious lets you focus on what you do best.