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.
The Arlington Public Schools Syphax Education Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington Public Schools officials are urging school families to take extra care in the wake of a series of cyberattacks against a key online resource used by the school system.
The school system uses Canvas, a learning-management system for teachers and students that parents can access on a limited, opt-in basis.
A crumbling sidewalk in Rosslyn (courtesy George Brazier)
Dems Eye Court Overhaul — Virginia Democrats are exploring an “audacious and possibly far-fetched” proposal to replace the entire state Supreme Court by lowering judges’ mandatory retirement age, the New York Times reported, in response to Friday’s ruling that struck down their redistricting map. Former Rep. Jim Moran, who represented Arlington for 24 years, called the idea “just a bridge too far.” [NYT]
Pentagon City 5K Closures — Sections of S. Joyce Street and Army Navy Drive in Pentagon City will be closed from 8–10:30 a.m. this Sunday (May 17) for the Girls on the Run 5K. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. [Arlington County]
D.C. Golf Course Deal — D.C.’s three public golf courses will remain open after the Interior Department and the National Links Trust reached an agreement Friday night. The deal gives the nonprofit a new long-term lease, with the federal government overseeing renovations — though key details about the proposed East Potomac overhaul remain unresolved. [NBC 4, Washington Post, WJLA]
Health Officials on Alert — Virginia has reported 20 measles cases so far this year, with public health officials warning of an expected uptick as summer travel season begins. Separately, a Virginia traveler who was aboard a cruise ship with a deadly hantavirus outbreak has returned home and is being monitored by state health officials. [Virginia Mercury]
Push for Braille Ballots — Tate Jordan, a legally blind Prince William County voter, is pushing for Braille ballots in Virginia after struggling to cast a provisional ballot in last month’s special election. “Every person has a right to vote, and it was a loss of my independence as a person,” he told NBC Washington. He’s working with state Sen. Danica Roem (D) on the change. [NBC 4]
It’s Monday — Expect a 30% chance of rain through the early afternoon, otherwise mostly cloudy skies with a high near 67 and a north wind around 10 mph. Skies clear overnight, with a low around 45. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)
A stabbing in the Arlington Heights neighborhood sent a man to the hospital with serious injuries Saturday night.
It happened around 8 p.m. on the 300 block of S. Fillmore Street, between Columbia Pike and Route 50. A man was stabbed in the neck during a fight inside a house, according to scanner traffic. Police, already on scene after being dispatched there an hour-and-a-half earlier for another fight, reportedly encountered blood-splattered walls and found the injured man.
Police confront Shawn Valn along Columbia Pike before he barricaded himself in the 7-Eleven on May 8, 2026 (courtesy Dave Statter/X)
A police standoff inside a Columbia Pike 7-Eleven ended with gunfire.
Around 9 p.m. several ambulances were dispatched to the standoff on the 3600 block of Columbia Pike, after reports of shots being fired. One person — the wanted man who barricaded himself in the store — was reported to be shot multiple times by police and critically wounded. Medics were also sent to treat at least several officers for unspecified injuries.
Today, expect a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. It will be cloudy in the morning, turning mostly sunny by afternoon, with a high of 74°F. Southwest winds will reach around 11 mph, with gusts up to 21 mph. On Saturday night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m. The sky will then be mostly clear, with a low of 56°F and a light southwest wind. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Difficulties in life are intended to make us better, not bitter.” – Dan Reeves
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum. 👋
Police on scene at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in June 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
A threat that turned out to not be credible prompted a lockdown at two Arlington schools Friday morning.
It happened shortly before noon at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and nearby Alice West Fleet Elementary, after a caller threatened imminent violence, according to scanner traffic.
Whether you’re relocating across town or leaving Arlington for the first time, a reliable moving company can make all the difference—from the first call to the last box.
Signature Theatre in Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Signature Theatre will try to top its own record-breaking year with a 2026-2027 season featuring a world premiere musical, two Stephen Sondheim productions and the Shirlington theater’s first co-production with Shakespeare Theatre Company.
The lineup, unveiled Tuesday by Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner and Managing Director Maggie Boland, follows a 2025 in which Signature broke sales records alongside fellow Arlington stage Synetic, amid turmoil at the Kennedy Center across the river. The Kennedy Center is set to close for two years of renovations starting in July.
Demolition of office building continuing along Columbia Pike, near Penrose Square (courtesy John Antonelli)
College Degrees Galore — A viral social post ranked U.S. counties by share of white adults age 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree, putting Arlington (88%), Falls Church (86%) and Alexandria (83%) in the top five nationally, behind only Washington, D.C. (93%) and New York (86%). [Siddharth Khurana/X]
Police Memorial Today — The Arlington County Police Department and Sheriff’s Office will hold a ceremony this morning at 8 a.m. honoring the seven Arlington law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. The event will take place at the Justice Center Plaza (1425 N. Courthouse Road), with a road closure on N. Courthouse Road between 14th Street N. and 15th Street N. from 7–9 a.m. [Arlington County]
New 7th District Contender — Adam Dunigan, a former Marine and CIA case officer, has submitted more than 1,400 petition signatures to compete in the primary for Virginia’s newly redrawn 7th Congressional District. Dunigan’s campaign says it has raised $144,676 from individual donors without accepting money from corporate PACs, special interests or party committees. [Press Release]
Highway Shopping Cart — “Quite the scene on I-395N around 3:00 this morning. A woman pushed a shopping cart right in the middle of the highway from Route 1 up to Boundary Channel. Others driving by tried to intervene until @VSPPIO arrived. A trooper quickly disrupted her journey.” [Dave Statter/X]
Good Company Wins SBA Award — The U.S. Small Business Administration will recognize Ballston-based Good Company Doughnuts & Café as the 2026 Small Business Person of the Year for N. Va. during a ceremony today. The award recognizes co-founders Charles Kachadoorian and Kate Murphy, whose company has expanded from a single Arlington café in 2019 to multiple locations across D.C. and N. Va. [Press Release]
Arlington Foster Parents Honored — Arlington’s Sara Kirwin and Joseph Calizo were named among the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ 2026 Foster Parents of the Year. The couple has fostered 15 children in 10 years and currently cares for two teens. [MWCOG]
Falls Church Tax Cut Likely — The Falls Church City Council reached a consensus at Monday’s work session to drop the real estate tax rate by a half-penny, slightly below the recommendation of City Manager Wyatt Shields, who advocated for no change. The largely symbolic reduction will save taxpayers just over $50 on average. The Council is expected to formally adopt the budget Monday night. [Falls Church News-Press]
Spanberger Open to Service Taxes — Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) said she’ll consider taxing everyday services in the state, including gym memberships, dog walking and streaming services, to raise “revenue that’s necessary.” Proposals to tax such services failed to pass the General Assembly this year, but Spanberger told Richmond’s ABC News affiliate she might sign similar measures in the future. [Washington Times]
Va. Resident on Virus Ship — “The Virginia Department of Health says one Virginia traveler who was aboard a cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak has returned home and is under public health monitoring… The traveler “is currently in good health, not showing any signs of infection,” the department said.” [Fox 5]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 71 and west winds of 2–10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Overnight will be mostly cloudy with a low around 54. [NWS]
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Expect increasing clouds with temperatures reaching a high of around 70°F. Light winds from the northwest will shift to the southwest at 5 to 10 mph in the morning, with possible gusts up to 20 mph. Overnight, the weather will be mostly cloudy with a low of approximately 54°F and south winds of 3 to 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” -Arthur Ashe
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.
Address:2820 Franklin Road Neighborhood: Lyon Village Type: 4 BR, 3 BA single-family detached – 2922 sq. ft. Listed: $2,295,000
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A man who last month entered pleas in connection with a series of assaults in Reston is facing new charges after an abduction attempt in Pentagon City last night.
The latest incident happened just before 8 p.m. Wednesday on the 1400 block of S. Hayes Street.
