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.
Raging rapids and minor flooding along Gulf Branch in North Arlington after heavy rain, August 2020 (file photo)
Arlington and most of the D.C. area is now under both a Tornado Watch and a Flood Watch.
The Tornado Watch is in effect until 2 p.m. Friday while the Flood Watch is in effect until 8 p.m. Both were issued Thursday evening while the former Gulf Coast hurricane now labeled as Tropical Depression Debby makes its way north into Virginia.
Meet Burra, a lovely and sweet cat who is ready to snuggle! This adorable girl is up for adoption through the Animal Welfare League of Arlington and currently in foster.
Two teens are facing charges after a series of burglaries in the Virginia Square area led to a police chase and Taser deployment.
The incident started shortly before 1:30 a.m. this morning after police responded to a burglary in progress at the Arlington Tobacco store on the 3400 block of Washington Blvd. Arriving officers searched the area but could not locate the suspects, according to scanner traffic.
Biking in the rain at George Mason Drive and Washington Blvd (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Local Real Estate Still In Demand — “The median time from listing to ratified sales contract across the Washington region for the week ending Aug. 4 was 23 days, according to new figures… Among major jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, Arlington had the lowest median trajectory from listing to ratified contract at 16 days (down from 22 a year before).” [Gazette Leader]
Layoffs for Clarendon Media Firm — “Arlington, Virginia-based Axios is the latest media company to slash jobs — its first significant cuts since Axios was founded in 2016. Axios is laying off 10% of its staff, or around 50 employees, according to an employee memo from CEO Jim VandeHei, who cited a rapidly changing media landscape as reason for the cuts.” [WTOP, New York Times]
Local Senior Program is Growing — “As it continues celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Arlington Neighborhood Village (ANV) program is seeing sustained growth on a number of fronts… Membership has grown from 393 members at the end of 2023 to 426 members as of July 1, an 8-percent increase.” [Gazette Leader]
Controversy Involving F.C. Official — “The deputy director of the D.C. Department of Buildings resigned after being fined $25,000 when she was found to have been secretly holding a second job and serving as an elected official in Falls Church, Virginia, while on D.C. government time.” [NBC 4, Washington Post]
Watching Debby — “Tropical Storm Debby — which has drenched areas from Florida to southeast North Carolina — is readying for its final act. Its remnants are poised to sweep through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast between Thursday and Saturday morning, bringing potential for considerable flooding.” [Capital Weather Gang, Twitter]
VDOT Ready for Storm — “VDOT crews stand ready to respond to road hazards and any damage resulting from the storm. Ahead of the storm, crews have been inspecting drainage facilities and clearing them where necessary, readying trucks and equipment, and coordinating debris and tree removal crews to be on standby.” [Press Release]
It’s Thursday — Expect showers and potential thunderstorms, with a high near 80 and east winds at 10-13 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. There’s an 80% chance of rain, with half to three-quarters of an inch expected. Thursday night, anticipate similar conditions with a low around 75, southeast winds at 11 mph, and three-quarters to one inch of rainfall. [NWS]
Expect showers and potential thunderstorms, with a high near 80 and east winds at 10-13 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. There’s an 80% chance of rain, with half to three-quarters of an inch expected. Thursday night, anticipate similar conditions with a low around 75, southeast winds at 11 mph, and three-quarters to one inch of rainfall. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw
Police on scene of bank robbery at Bank of America in Crystal City (via traffic camera)
A 63-year-old Florida man has been arrested following the robbery of a Crystal City bank Monday morning.
Police say the man, who’s accused of passing a note to a teller and fleeing with stolen cash, was “identified and subsequently taken into custody in Washington, DC on [Tuesday] with the assistance of Metro Transit Police Department.”
Increasingly cloudy over Roosevelt Island and D.C., as seen from Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Flyover Planned Today — From AlertDC: “The US Military will conduct a flyover in the National Capital Region over Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, August 7th, 2024, at 11:21 AM.”
Temporary Closure for Museum — “It’s soon to be last call to visit the Arlington Historical Museum in the one-time Hume School on Arlington Ridge Road, as the museum is slated to close Aug. 17 for an estimated three to four months. The closure is… part of a larger renovation effort.” [Gazette Leader]
Remembering Frank O’Leary — “A celebration-of-life service for long-serving Arlington Treasurer Frank O’Leary will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24 from to 2 to 5 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 5115 Little Falls Road. O’Leary, who died June 7 at age 80, was first elected county treasurer in 1983 and served for more than three decades before retiring.” [Gazette Leader]
Emergency Declaration for Va. — “Today, Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth of Virginia based on National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center forecasts that indicate a tropical storm with significant rainfall and flooding across the entire Commonwealth could cause transportation difficulties and power outages.” [Press Release]
T.S. Debby Rainfall Forecast — “The National Weather Service is predicting about 3 to 5 inches across much of our region, but locally higher and lower amounts are possible. The chance of rain will gradually increase as the workweek progresses… The most substantial slug of rain is probable Friday into Saturday as the center of Debby’s remnant circulation moves through.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Wednesday — Showers and thunderstorms are expected, becoming more likely after 2pm, with a cloudy high of 86°F. The night will remain cloudy, with a low around 72°F, northeast winds around 8 mph, and a continued 70% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Showers and thunderstorms are expected, becoming more likely after 2pm, with a cloudy high of 86°F. Winds will shift from south to east, measuring 5 to 7 mph. Precipitation has a 70% chance, and new rainfall will range between a tenth and quarter of an inch, potentially higher in thunderstorms. The night will remain cloudy, with a low around 72°F, northeast winds around 8 mph, and a continued 70% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)
Three days after three men carjacked a rental car off the lot in the Crystal City area, three men stole two more cars from a nearby lot.
The incident, classified as a robbery, happened around 5:15 p.m. Sunday on the 2700 block of Richmond Highway, which is home to an Enterprise rental lot. One of the men was armed, police said.
