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.
Man down in the middle of the intersection of Langston Blvd and Washington Blvd in East Falls Church (courtesy Audrey Brown)
A fender bender and subsequent dispute between drivers ended with one of them down and injured in the middle of a busy intersection at rush hour.
The incident happened around 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Washington Blvd and Langston Blvd in Arlington’s East Falls Church neighborhood.
Shaved ice truck seen in an Arlington neighborhood (courtesy Sylvia Rortvedt)
Super Bowl DUI Reminder — “For Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, 2026, the Arlington County Police Department and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are teaming up to remind drivers: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. No matter who you are rooting for, your best bet for a safe trip home is a sober one.” [ACPD]
Bills Would Cap Fees from Cameras — “S.B. 297 and S.B. 306, authored by state Sen. Mark J. Peake (R-8), would have repealed the authority of localities to install speed-monitoring and red light cameras… Substitute bills introduced by Peake on Monday instead cap the fees that third-party camera vendors can impose, limiting them to collecting only the civil penalty for the traffic infraction.” [FFXnow]
Beltway Bridge Replacement Update — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has found itself aligned with the Trump administration on one issue: the need to update the American Legion Bridge.” [FFXnow]
It’s Friday — Snow is possible after 2 p.m., with increasing clouds and a high near 34. A calm wind will shift to the south at 5 mph. Precipitation chance is 40%. On Friday night, snow may occur before 1am, followed by gradual clearing and a low around 13. Winds will pick up overnight, blowing northwest at 13-18 mph and possibly gusting up to 31 mph. Precipitation chance remains at 40%. [NWS]
Snow is likely after 2pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 34. A calm wind will shift to the south at 5mph. Precipitation chance is 40%. On Friday night, snow may occur before 1am, followed by gradual clearing and a low around 13. Winds will be light, becoming northwest at 13-18 mph and possibly gusting up to 31 mph. Precipitation chance remains at 40%. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson
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.
Apartment fire on N. Henderson Road (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Firefighters are on scene of a fire at a garden style apartment complex in the Buckingham neighborhood, near Ballston.
The fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m. on the 4300 block of N. Henderson Road. Initial reports suggest the fire broke out in the kitchen of an apartment and at least one building occupant is being evaluated for injuries.
Wind and snow at the Marine Corps War Memorial (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
It’s about to get even colder in Arlington this weekend.
An Extreme Cold Watch has been issued for Arlington County and the D.C. area, with “dangerously cold wind chills” as low as -10 expected Saturday, amid windy conditions that could also cause power outages.
A view of Rosslyn over the frozen Potomac River in winter (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Courthouse Market Returns — “Hey, Market-goers! The Arlington Farmers Market is back this weekend with some slight adjustments.” [Arlington DPR/X]
Startup Raises Millions — “GenLogs, an Arlington-based developer of intelligence technology for the trucking and logistics industries, announced that it has closed on a $60 million Series B round.” [Potomac Tech Wire]
Historical Society Puts Articles Online — The Arlington Historical Society has placed articles from its 2024 Arlington Historical Magazine online. The magazine, edited by Jessica Kaplan, traces its history to 1957, with articles typically available in digital format a year after the print edition is published. –Scott McCaffrey
Clearing Fire Hydrants — “Snow and ice accumulation can create serious fire safety hazards, including obstructed fire hydrants. By helping keep hydrants clear, you play a direct role in protecting your neighborhood and supporting your firefighters during emergencies… Remove snow and debris from the hydrant and maintain a 3‑foot clearance on all sides. This space allows firefighters to connect hoses, operate the hydrant efficiently, and minimize kinks that can reduce water flow.” [Arlington County]
Kennedy Center Show to GMU — “A New York dance company that recently nixed scheduled appearances at the Kennedy Center is coming to George Mason University’s Center for the Arts instead. Doug Varone and Dancers will visit the Fairfax performing arts venue (4373 Mason Pond Drive) on Saturday, April 25 for a free show in the concert hall, the Center for the Arts announced today.” [FFXnow]
Fairfax Schools Still on Delay — “Fairfax County Public Schools will start classes two hours late for the rest of this week, as lingering “snowcrete” continues to hinder travel.” Arlington Public Schools are opening on time today. [FFXnow]
Spanberger Ends ICE Agreement — “Gov. Abigail Spanberger has formally ended an agreement with the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement that had allowed Virginia State Police troopers and Virginia Department of Corrections officers to assist ICE.” [Virginia Mercury, Fox News]
Chance of Snow Ahead of Wind Threat — “A powerful cold front, set to arrive Friday afternoon and evening, will bring the possibility of snow showers before frigid air returns to the region. And very strong winds, possibly intense enough to trigger power outages, will surge into the area in its wake.” [CWG/X, CWG]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature of about 31 degrees, accompanied by a north wind blowing at 7 to 9 mph. As night falls, clouds will increase, leading to a low temperature around 16 degrees. [NWS]
Expect sunny skies and a high temperature of about 31 degrees, accompanied by a north wind blowing at 7 to 9 mph. As night falls, clouds will increase, leading to a low temperature around 16 degrees. The northwest wind will be between 3 to 5 mph during the night. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” – Helen Keller
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.
Washington-Liberty High School in the snow in 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
For the first time in nearly two weeks, Arlington’s public schools will be opening on time tomorrow and Friday.
“All schools and offices will open on time Thu, Feb. 5 and Fri, Feb. 6, 2026,” Arlington Public Schools said in a brief announcement Wednesday afternoon.
Arlington County snow plow working to clear a neighborhood street (via Arlington DES/X)
As the snow removal operations from the Jan. 25 snow and sleet storm wind down, we’re wondering how locals would grade the effort.
This winter storm was uniquely challenging, with five inches of snow falling before getting covered by 2-3 inches of icy sleet — what would have otherwise been 1-2 feet of total accumulation should it have kept falling as snow. Then we had nearly 10 straight days of frigid conditions, with temperatures not rising above freezing and allowing the “snowcrete” to soften.
The scale of the removal operation in Arlington alone is notable. From our reporting yesterday:
Crews have hauled more than 5,000 truckloads of snow — weighing roughly 55,000-75,000 tons, in total — from Arlington’s commercial areas since the snowstorm. They’ve deposited these at five locations around Arlington, at 14th Street N., Fairfax Drive, N. Quincy Street, Long Bridge Park and 601 S. Carlin Springs. […]
They’ve cleared more than 1,000 miles of roads, 10 miles of protected bike lanes and 63,000 feet of sidewalk, working 14 consecutive 12-hour shifts beginning on Jan. 24.
For some, the effort did not go far enough, leaving neighborhood streets covered to harden into an impassable icy surface that remained for days. For others, crews worked long hours and did their best despite very challenging conditions.
All things considered, how would you grade Arlington’s snow removal effort?
George Mason University’s FUSE building in Virginia Square at sunrise (photo by Nicole Kelleher/Schar School of Policy and Government)
Black History Month Events — “This February (and all year long) there are countless ways to celebrate Black history and culture in Northern Virginia. Visit a historic site or museum, catch a performance highlighting famous African Americans, witness a traditional “broom-jumping” marriage ceremony and celebrate Black culture as an essential part of the American story.” [Arlington Magazine]
Courthouse Library Still Closed — “Due to a water pipe leak and heating issues at Courthouse Library, the location will remain closed as of Monday, February 2 until further notice as repairs are evaluated. Please continue to check the Library’s website for the Courthouse Library’s status this week.” [APL, APL/X]
Body Found Near Bridge — “[Firefighters] are on the Potomac recovering a body on the ice discovered a short time ago just north of the 14th Street Bridge complex. Only one lane is getting by to the left on the George Mason Bridge, carrying the outbound main lanes.” [Dave Statter/X]
Car Chase in Pentagon City — “@VSPPIO chased a vehicle twice through Pentagon City. The first time, around 1:15 a.m., the driver got away as they passed the Fashion Center. About 15 minutes later, it showed up at S. Joyce and Army Navy, passing an @ArlingtonVaPD officer and making a path to DC via the I-395 express lanes.” [Dave Statter/X]
Gov’t Shutdown Ends — “President Donald Trump signed a roughly $1.2 trillion government funding bill Tuesday that ends the partial federal shutdown that began over the weekend and sets the stage for an intense debate in Congress over Homeland Security funding. The president moved quickly to sign the bill after the House approved it with a 217-214 vote.” [Associated Press]
Indecent Exposure in Rosslyn — “On February 2, police received an online report for a late exposure. It was determined at approximately 5:35 p.m. on January 30, the female victim was walking in the area when she observed the male suspect expose himself.” [ACPD]
County’s New Service Dog — “Arlington County’s public safety agencies are proud to welcome Wellness K9 Dottie, a 15 m/o Black Lab, to the team! Dottie joins our Office of Public Safety Wellness from @HeelingHouse & will provide comfort & support to our first responders. Say hi if you see her out & about!” [ACPD/X]
New Legal Notice — Restaurant applying for on/off-premises wine, beer, and mixed-beverage license. [Public Notices]
It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high of 33 degrees with a north wind at 9 mph. Wednesday night brings a 20% chance of snow before 10 pm, followed by mostly cloudy skies that will gradually clear up. The low temperature will be around 17 degrees. [NWS]
