Author: ARLnow.com

Border Czar Badge Mystery — Arlington police helped return a Culpeper County deputy sheriff’s badge issued to White House border czar Tom Homan after a woman said she found it in a used Cadillac she bought in 2023. Homan was sworn in as a reserve deputy in 2020 under then-Sheriff Scott Jenkins, who was later convicted in a bribes-for-badges scheme and pardoned by President Trump. [NBC 4]

Transit Merger Studied — “Virginia lawmakers want to examine consolidating Northern Virginia’s transit agencies to assess potential cost savings and service improvements.” A study in the new two-year state budget could reshape four systems, including ART Arlington Transit, DASH, Fairfax Connector and CUE. A report is due Dec. 15. [Virginia Mercury]

Ballston’s Buzzing Culprit — Residents near Fairfax Drive and N. Randolph Street spent weeks chasing a relentless buzzing noise, now traced to a rental chiller behind the office building at 4040 Fairfax Drive. “It is louder than a data center and can be heard in a three block radius,” one neighbor wrote, urging others to email Arlington County code enforcement. [Reddit, Reddit]

The Plymouth in the Wall — Ghosts of DC chronicles 2000 Wilson Blvd in Courthouse, once home to Olmstead Oldsmobile, then the brewpub Bardo Rodeo, known for a 1966 Plymouth jutting through its showroom window. It later became the dive bar Dr. Dremo’s Taphouse before giving way to today’s condo tower. [Ghosts of DC]

Crash-Testing Work Trucks — “The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which has a 30-year history of conducting crash tests… is now testing cargo vans and work trucks that many people drive on the job.” The Arlington-based group hopes the ratings will prompt fleet operators and manufacturers to add safety features. [WTOP]

Trump Arch Mockup — “A replica of the Arc de Trump popped up on the National Mall, joining Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair.” The temporary, eagle-topped installation is far smaller than the 250-foot arch President Trump (R) wants built at Memorial Circle, near Arlington National Cemetery. [Axios]

Million-Dollar Starters — “The DMV is home to four cities where the typical starter home costs $1 million or more, according to new Zillow data.” Great Falls leads the region at $1,233,946, ahead of three Maryland communities: Chevy Chase View, Glen Echo and Potomac. The typical U.S. starter home is $198,649. [Axios]

It’s Wednesday — Sunny with a high of 81°F and a northwest wind at 7 mph. For Wednesday night, expect mostly clear skies and a low of 62°F, with calm winds. [NWS]

Support local journalism. Join the ARLnow Press Club to boost our reporting and to get upgraded newsletters.

Arlington Pick Draws Criticism — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has drawn criticism from conservative outlets for appointing Kellen MacBeth, founder and president of the advocacy group Equality Arlington, to Virginia’s 26-member LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. The Washington Free Beacon called the appointment evidence of an “embrace of left-wing gender activism,” as Equality Arlington, which advocates for transgender and nonbinary students, has opposed the Trump administration’s policies on trans youth. [LGBTQ Nation, Free Beacon]

Arlington Native’s Jungle Run — Arlington native Sarah Awad, a 26-year-old former rugby player, competed on Netflix’s “Outlast: The Jungle,” lasting until the season’s penultimate episode in the Panamanian jungle. Among her proudest moments: building a raised bamboo bed and cooking a scorpion, which she said “tasted like beef jerky.” [WTOP]

French Jets Over Arlington — From the French Embassy on Monday: “The Patrouille de France from the French Air and Space Force took to the skies above cherished American sites like the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery, and Mount Vernon. This flyover is part of the #liberté250 commemorating a very special anniversary for America’s independence.” [French Embassy/FB]

Height Law Exemption Argued — The Trump administration says new federal construction, including a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, is not subject to the 1910 Height of Buildings Act that caps most D.C. construction at 130 feet. An Interior Department memo concludes that “federal buildings are not subject to” the act, reversing the longstanding position of the National Capital Planning Commission, which is set to review the arch July 9. [Washington Post]

Crystal City Dronemaker’s Loss Grows — Shares of military dronemaker AeroVironment hit a 52-week low Monday after the Crystal City-based company restated its fiscal third-quarter loss to $268.4 million, up $89 million from what it previously reported. The revision reflects a larger goodwill charge tied to a $1.4 billion Space Force contract that was terminated in March. AeroVironment shares have fallen 63% since mid-January, and several law firms have filed class-action suits alleging executives misled investors. [WBJ]

Warner Lauds Housing Bill — “This landmark legislation will boost the housing supply, bring down costs, and protect renters, veterans, and rural Virginians. I encourage my colleagues in the House to quickly pass this bipartisan housing package and deliver some real relief to Americans across the country.” [Press Release]

E-Bike Safety Push — Police and parks officials across Northern Virginia, including along the W&OD Trail, are stepping up e-bike safety awareness amid a rise in complaints about reckless and illegal riding. “We have certainly received an increase in complaints regarding unsafe behavior on the trail, including e-bikes, scooters and other motorized devices,” a NOVA Parks spokesperson told FFXnow. The agency permits only Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, capped at 20 mph, on the trail. [FFXnow]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly cloudy day with a high near 81, with rain showers likely before 3 p.m. Northwest winds will be 5–10 mph, gusting as high as 20 mph. Skies clear overnight, with a low around 62. [NWS]

Want more local news from around the region? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow.

Pedestrian Killed on Parkway — An adult man died after being struck by a vehicle around 4 a.m. Saturday on the northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway near Columbia Island, U.S. Park Police said. The driver stayed at the scene and called 911. Medics took the victim to a local hospital, where he later died. Northbound lanes were closed at I-395 during the investigation. [WTOP]

Subsidized Housing Snapshot — About 4,600 Arlington residents — 1.9% of the county’s population — lived in subsidized housing in 2025, below the statewide average of 2.2%, according to USAFacts. Those households earned an average of $22,415 a year and paid about $535 a month in rent, with federal subsidies covering the rest. [USAFacts]

New Deputies Graduate — Seven new Arlington County deputy sheriffs graduated June 2 from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy after 10 weeks of training in jail operations, court security and other duties. [Arlington County]

Data Centers Face New Fee — Virginia lawmakers have agreed to tax data centers’ electricity use in a budget deal expected to raise $1.2 billion over the next two years. The fee would charge $0.011 per kilowatt-hour, capped at $600 million annually, and still needs approval from both chambers and Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D). [Virginia Scope]

Fight the Bite — The Virginia Department of Health is marking Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which runs June 21–27, with tips on how residents can prevent mosquito bites. [VDH/X]

Storm Threat Today — “Watching Monday closely: More than one round of strong to severe storms possible, with damaging wind gusts over 57 mph the primary threat. A few tornadoes can’t be ruled out, along with flooding downpours in spots.” Storms are most likely after 2 p.m., with the NWS also warning of possible flash flooding. [Capital Weather/X, NWS/X]

It’s Monday — Expect a high near 92 with showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2 p.m., and south winds gusting up to 25 mph. Storms continue overnight with a low around 67 and up to an inch of rain possible. [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.