Author: ARLnow.com

Video: Police Response at Mall — Video posted on social media shows heavily armed police officers in the Pentagon City mall after a smash-and-grab robbery that some 911 callers initially mistook for an active shooter incident. [Twitter]

Another Pentagon City Incident — From Dave Statter: “[Arlington police] officers believe a person in the blue car had just escaped from security at Target two blocks back on Army-Navy Drive. One of many shoplifters who frequent the store. The goods were left behind but not before the suspect apparently claimed he had a gun. The driver took off when officers approached. With no verified weapon or robbery the pursuit was ended as the car sped into DC.” [Twitter]

Trump Response to Cemetery Controversy — “Donald Trump’s campaign issued a statement Sunday from the Gold Star military families who invited him to Arlington National Cemetery as they defended the Republican presidential nominee and insisted that Vice President Kamala Harris is the candidate politicizing fallen U.S. service members.” [Associated Press]

Road Closures for Upcoming 5K — “The 22nd Annual Arlington Police, Fire, Sheriff, & ECC 9/11 Memorial 5k race will take place on the evening of Saturday, September 7, 2024. The Arlington County Police Department will close the following roadways around the Pentagon and in Crystal City to accommodate the event.” [ACPD]

New CEO for Arlington Company — “Matt Hulett, the former president of language learning mainstay Rosetta Stone Inc., has been tapped as the new CEO of Arlington online education firm StraighterLine Inc. Hulett replaces Heather Combs as StraighterLine’s chief exec. Combs left StraighterLine in January, according to her LinkedIn profile, and is today the CEO of Ripple, a crew optimization platform for the maritime industry.” [Washington Business Journal]

High School Football Kicks Off — “It took an extra day – because storms postponed their opening game – but the Yorktown Patriots began the 2024 varsity football season Aug. 30 with a lopsided victory. Yorktown won comfortably on the road, defeating the Woodson Cavaliers, 44-27, in a non-district contest in Fairfax.” [Gazette Leader]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high near 75, accompanied by a gentle 6-8 mph northeast wind. As nighttime falls on Tuesday, watch for increasing clouds and a low around 56. [NWS]

Labor Day Holiday Closures — County government offices, courts, community centers, schools and other facilities will be closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday. Parking meters will not be enforced. But trash and recycling will be collected as usual. [Arlington County]

Survey Supports Deer Sharpshooting — “Maybe there has been a major change of opinion. Or maybe it was just a different group of people responding. But a new survey of residents by the Arlington County government, focused on the best ways to control the deer population in the county, has come out strongly in favor of the government’s preferred option.” [Gazette Leader]

More Trump Cemetery Fallout — From Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.): “Our local community knows the Arlington National Cemetery is a place of respect, and attacking people here who are just doing their jobs to protect the dignity of one our most hallowed sites is beyond the pale.” [Twitter, Axios]

Police Investigating Armed Robbery — “At approximately 10:45 p.m. on August 28, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival it was determined that the two female victims were each at their parked vehicles when the male suspect approached Victim One, brandished a firearm and stole her cash. The suspect then approached Victim Two, brandished a firearm and demanded cash. Victim Two yelled and the suspect fled the scene on foot. No injuries were reported.” [ACPD]

Change in Ordinance Wording — “One outgrowth of the Arlington County Board’s Aug. 27 rewrite of its human-rights ordinance was to exorcise the word ‘handicapped’ and replace it with ‘disabled’ throughout the text. The latter word is seen as more appropriate today than the former, County Board member Matt de Ferranti said.” [Gazette Leader]

Airport Catering Layoffs — “LSG Sky Chefs Americas, a caterer and retail provider operating in the aviation industry, plans to lay off 100 workers based out of its office near Reagan National Airport in Arlington. According to a WARN notice filed with the Virginia Employment Commission, Sky Chefs Inc. will terminate the jobs by the end of September.” [Washington Business Journal]

New Owner for Local Restaurant — “Panagiotis Fotopoulos, the new owner of the region’s storied Anthony’s Restaurant on Annandale Road just outside the City of Falls Church, has been running the establishment since June 1 while the long-time previous owners, Tony and Fay Yannionakis, after 52 years running the restaurant, have been taking their first-ever extended visit to their Greek place of birth.” [Falls Church News-Press]

It’s Friday — Showers and possible thunderstorms are expected after 2pm, with otherwise cloudy skies and a high temperature near 78 degrees, accompanied by an east wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. As for Friday night, there is another 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly before 8pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a low of around 70 degrees. [NWS]