Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. The ARLnow staff byline is used for the Morning Notes and reporting done by an editor or other member of our full-time staff.
It’s going to be a breezy start to 2025 in Arlington and the D.C. area.
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for much of the region, starting at 7 a.m. on Wednesday (Jan 1). That follows a threat of storms tonight.
Following yesterday’s roundup of #11-22, we’ve reached the top 10 most-read ARLnow stories of 2024.
The year’s biggest stories ran the gamut from crime and public safety to major business changes to articles about Arlington-related rankings.
The Washington Commanders are officially in the playoffs and enjoying the team’s best season in years.
Led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Dan Quinn, in his first year as the team’s head coach, the Commanders have undergone a renaissance few would have dreamed possible when former owner Dan Snyder sold the team to Josh Harris last year.
Given the excitement over the team, after years of futility, we’re wondering just how big the fanbase is in Arlington. How many residents are jumping on the bandwagon — or have never stopped rooting for the team? And how does that compare to those who still support other NFL teams?
Let’s find out.
New Year’s County Closures — Arlington County offices, community centers, libraries and other facilities will be closed Wednesday for New Year’s Day. Libraries are also closing early today (Tuesday). Parking meters will not be enforced on Wednesday. [Arlington County]
Attempted Robbery in Pentagon City — “At approximately 7:10 p.m., the female victim was in the bathroom of a commercial property when she was approached by four female suspects who physically assaulted her and attempted to steal the victim’s shopping bags and jewelry. The victim ran out of the bathroom and the suspects followed. A security guard intervened, and all four suspects fled the scene on foot.” [ACPD]
Year of Record Warmth — “With 2024 mostly in the rearview, another year enters the weather books — one that will be remembered for persistent and record-breaking warmth, recurrent drought and several significant weather events… And it’s now official: Cooler December weather couldn’t keep the year from becoming the city’s warmest on record.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and possible thunderstorms from 1pm to 4pm, intensifying after 4pm with a high of 58°F and southeast winds at 5-11 mph, gusting to 20 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with rainfall amounts ranging between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. On Tuesday night, showers mainly before 7pm with a low around 42°F, and a west wind at 9 mph. New Year’s Day will be mostly sunny, breezy, and with a high near 48°F, accompanied by a west wind at 11-20 mph, gusting up to 34 mph. [NWS]
Good Monday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 30, 2024.
Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect showers and thunderstorms from 1pm to 4pm, intensifying after 4pm with a high of 58°F and southeast winds at 5-11 mph, gusting to 20 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with rainfall amounts ranging between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. On Tuesday night, showers mainly before 7pm with a low around 42°F, and a west wind at 9 mph. New Year’s Day will be mostly sunny, breezy, and with a high near 48°F, accompanied by a west wind at 11-20 mph, gusting up to 34 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
– Edith Wharton
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
An Arlington woman has died after a double stabbing in Pentagon City the night of Dec. 14.
Iman Gaye, 26, died at the hospital early this morning, according to Arlington County police. A young child who was also stabbed and seriously injured that night, near an entrance to the Target store, was released from the hospital on Dec. 23, according to ACPD.
As 2024 draws to a close, we’re taking a look back at ARLnow’s most-read stories of the year.
Bears, both alive and tragically deceased, made multiple appearances in our top stories. Police investigations, development changes and restaurant news also drew significant reader interest.
Two largely vacant office buildings in Crystal City are set to become a hotel and an apartment building.
Property owner JBG Smith announced today that it has filed an application under a new Arlington County “adaptive reuse” policy that would re-purpose 550,000 square feet of empty office space.
Meet Gummy Bear, the newest Adoptable Pet of the Week!
This sweet black and white dog is currently in foster through the Animal Welfare League of Arlington while he waits for his forever home.
Va. Reactions to Carter’s Passing — From Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.): “Jimmy Carter lived a life of kindness, compassion, and decency. He never forgot his roots as a Navy veteran and peanut farmer, never stopped fighting racism and oppression, and never stopped helping others or working to make the world a better place. A great human being.” [Twitter, Twitter, Twitter]
Carter’s Arlington Electoral History — “Former President Jimmy Carter… compiled a 1-for-2 record with the Arlington electorate. The former Georgia governor in his successful 1976 bid for the White House defeated Republican Gerald Ford in the county tally, 32,536 to 30,872, according to data from the county government’s elections office.” [ARLnow]
Station Presses Prosecutor — “7News will continue to press the Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney for answers on whether she plans to hold shoplifters accountable amid a massive surge in shoplifting reports in the county. The Arlington County Police told 7News the department will conduct a review and determine the full impact of their holiday theft detail, but so far, ACPD believes their detail has been a success.” [WJLA]
Women Arrested for Slashing — “On December 23, police were dispatched to the report of a fight. Upon arrival, it was determined the female suspect and Victim One, who are known to each other, were outside when they became involved in a verbal dispute that escalated to a physical altercation during which the suspect brandished a knife. The suspect attempted to assault Victim One with the knife when Victim Two, intervened and was struck by the knife, causing a laceration.” [ACPD]
Ex-Soldier’s Restorative Justice — “Michelle Logan and Jenna Burnett said they sat in chairs set up in a circle inside the Arlington Mill Community Center in late September and began explaining to Matthew Henshaw how hurtful it was for them to see their Pride flag forcibly removed after they finally came out and moved in together. They said they told him that his actions made them feel unsafe in their own home — and that they wanted him to understand why.” [Washington Post]
Ballston Area Building Bought — “A Florida-based commercial real estate investor continues to make a splash in Greater Washington, acquiring a Class A office in Ballston less than a year after buying a downtown Bethesda office tower. In-Rel Properties is the new owner of 3865 Wilson Blvd., a 145,672-square-foot office known as Ballston Gateway that is currently 71% leased to the likes of Founders Bank, ECS Federal and General Dynamics Applied Physical Services Corp.” [WBJ]
F.C. Firm’s SPAC Struggles — “Falls Church telecommunications satellite firm Lynk Global Inc. is once again getting more time to complete its merger with Slam Corp., a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) founded by former professional baseball star Alex Rodriguez. The extension comes a month after Lynk made its second CEO appointment in the past two months.” [WBJ]
Bloodmobile Today in Courthouse — “This holiday season blood product supplies are at a critical shortage with Inova Blood Donor Services asking for donors to please give ‘the gift of life’ … An Inova Blood Donor Services Bloodmobile will be parked in front of Fire Works, near Clarendon Boulevard and North Adams Street, this upcoming Monday, December 30, 2024, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.” [Press Release]
Va. AG Supports TikTok Ban — “Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares today filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court supporting a federal statute addressing the national security and data privacy threats posed by TikTok. The Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the case on January 10, 2025.” [Press Release]
It’s Monday — Expect a mostly cloudy morning followed by gradual clearing and a high around 57°F. There will be west winds blowing at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. As for Monday night, the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures dipping to around 38°F. A southwest wind of around 5 mph will become calm in the evening. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. Start the new year with an office resolution that sticks! ARLnow has called Industrious home for years, enjoying perks like craft coffee, wellness rooms, and best-in-class office support. With Metro-accessible Arlington locations and flexible terms, Industrious helps you focus on crushing your organization’s 2025 goals instead of office maintenance.
Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
Good Friday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 27, 2024.
Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.
Here is what’s going on Saturday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Here are the events planned for Sunday:
Expect rain and patchy fog with a high near 49, accompanied by a south wind at 3 to 6 mph. There is a 90% chance of precipitation, with new amounts ranging between a quarter and half of an inch. Overnight, rain will continue, with a low hovering around 48 and a south wind at 5 to 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%, and new precipitation amounts are likely to be less than a tenth of an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
As 2024 draws to a close, let us celebrate the animal companions who have captured our hearts and made our community a bit more special with their adventures.
We’ve gone back and reviewed the adorable pets of Arlingtonians to compile the top picks for “Pet of the Year” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Read more about our top picks: Lilith, Leo, Miso, Dottie, Buddy, Louie, Fresa, Trifecta, Zuzu and Jasper.
Did we miss your favorite furry companion? Write them in! And don’t forget to vote — polls will close in two weeks.
Voting for Commenter of the Year 2024 is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on Arlington’s best hill to go sledding on. The results are now official:
