Author: ARLnow.com

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.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Mar 27, 2026

By ARLnow.com

Good Friday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 27, 2026.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Boy robbed of shoes, backpack by gun-wielding teens (12214 views)
  2. Arlington once again ranked No. 4 best ‘city’ to live in America (9868 views)
  3. UPDATED: ‘All clear’ after road closed near Courthouse due to suspicious package (9791 views)
  4. Arrest made after person stabbed in Ballston group home (8200 views)
  5. Big ‘No Kings’ protests planned along Glebe Road and I-66 overpasses this weekend (7882 views)
  6. ACPD raids six vape stores as part of regional drug trafficking investigation (7354 views)
  7. The latest twist in Virginia’s redistricting battle: a ‘pink slime’ newspaper in Arlington (6839 views)
  8. Mellow Mushroom pizzeria eyes Arlington for new D.C.-area expansion (6029 views)
  9. Arlington fast casual spots make strong appearance in RAMMY Awards semifinalists (5935 views)
  10. ‘Snowcrete’ lingers at Va. Square site, almost two months after storm (5222 views)
  11. Westbound Wilson Blvd could drop to one lane near Seven Corners (5134 views)
  12. Fire chief offers to ‘reevaluate’ controversial plan to consolidate rescue units (4473 views)
  13. ACFD quickly extinguishes attic fire in Country Club Hills (4450 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

☀️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies with a high near 49°F and northwest winds blowing at 11 to 13 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. Saturday night will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 32°F and light, variable winds. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“It’s always too soon to quit.”
– Norman Vincent Peale

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

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. 👋

Sports

Arlington native Azzi Fudd’s March Madness takeover appearing in commercials and social media spots

By The Associated Press and ARLnow.com
UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) slaps hands with students at the end of a game against Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

It’s nearly impossible to miss seeing UConn star Azzi Fudd when tuning in for March Madness, as she’s all over TV commercials and social media.

“Really fortunate to have done some really amazing and fun deals and have some great partnerships,” Fudd said in a Zoom interview with The Associated Press. “I’m super excited to see everything just start to roll out. It’s going to be crazy to see everything I’ve done. I feel like a lot of things are being posted now.”

Go to Arlington native Azzi Fudd’s March Madness takeover appearing in commercials and social media spots Read more

The reporting that keeps Arlington informed — and how you can help keep it going

By ARLnow.com
Cherry blossoms near the Memorial Bridge, with the Rosslyn skyline in the background (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Here’s a snapshot of what ARLnow reporters covered in just the past two weeks…

Dan Egitto reported that a House committee subpoenaed Arlington’s Commonwealth’s Attorney in a bias investigation — a story with national implications unfolding in our own courthouse. He also reported that Arlington County is withholding nearly $1 million from its trash contractor over more than 8,500 missed collections since August, and covered how a partisan “pink slime” newspaper showed up in Arlington mailboxes ahead of the redistricting vote.

Dan also brought us the story of a police officer who ordered pizza for stranded middle schoolers after their charter bus got stuck in the mud, and reported that Ireland’s Four Courts was named America’s Best Soccer Bar in a nationwide contest.

Scott McCaffrey reported that service cutbacks and staff furloughs may be coming if tax revenue stays below expectations, dug into the county treasurer’s shift to short-term investments as the fiscal picture worsens, and broke down a county proposal to withhold extra tax revenue from Arlington Public Schools. This week, he reported that the fire chief offered to reevaluate the controversial plan to consolidate rescue units and that the police chief is seeking funding to unfreeze 20 officer positions.

McCaffrey also found that Arlington unemployment jumped 23% in 2025, and covered a neighborhood plan update for Arlington View — its first since 1965.

Emily Leayman reported on how a proposed $25 minimum wage in D.C. could shift business to Northern Virginia and covered Virginia’s return to the multistate voter roll system — state-level policy stories with direct local impact.

Katie Taranto reported that a local restaurateur is buying out Westover Taco to open Northern Virginia’s first women’s sports bar — one of our most-read stories of the month — and that Xi’an Famous Foods is planning a new location in Clarendon.

Then there’s our reporting on police raiding six Arlington vape stores as part of a regional drug trafficking investigation that seized over $2 million in narcotics. Regional outlets focused on the raids in Fairfax County, while we kept you informed about what happened in our community.

That’s two weeks. Accountability reporting on government spending, public safety, and contracts. Data-driven stories on the local economy and public services. New restaurants, neighborhood plans, and the hyperlocal stories that make Arlington feel like Arlington. Many of these stories aren’t being covered by anyone else — and without ARLnow, they simply wouldn’t get told.

ARLnow is free to read, and it will stay that way. But the reporting behind it isn’t free to produce.

ARLnow Press Club members help make it possible — and get upgraded newsletters in return, with article summaries, previews of upcoming coverage, and fewer ads.

If you read ARLnow every day, Press Club is the way to help us keep you, and everyone else in Arlington, informed.

Join the Press Club

Poll: The best exterior painter serving Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington residents preparing for home improvements this spring have no shortage of exterior painters to choose from.

Professionals known for their thoughtful preparation, clean workmanship and consistent results can transform the look of a home and protect its exterior for years to come.

Here are the nominees for “Best Exterior Painter Serving Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite painting service? Write it in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for Best Cleaning Service is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Home Renovation Firm Serving Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Cook Bros. Design Build Remodeling
  2. TriVistaUSA Design + Build
  3. Arlington Designer Homes

Morning Notes for March 27, 2026

By ARLnow.com
White tree blossoms against a gray early spring sky (staff photo)

Clement Qualifies for Ballot — Independent Audrey Clement has qualified to be on the Nov. 3 Arlington County Board ballot, election officials confirmed to ARLnow. Clement has been running for local office as a protest candidate since 2011, typically for County Board but on two occasions for School Board. Last November, she finished second in the five-candidate County Board race, receiving 15% of the vote to 65% for Democrat Takis Karantonis. —Scott McCaffrey

Nvidia Backs Clarendon Startup — Arlington software startup ORAN Development Co. (2300 Clarendon Blvd) has raised $45 million in a round led by Nvidia and Booz Allen Hamilton’s venture arm to develop software that turns cell towers into mini data centers. AT&T, Nokia and Cisco also invested. [WBJ]

AeroVironment Buys ESAero — Arlington-based defense tech company AeroVironment has acquired California-based Empirical Systems Aerospace for approximately $200 million, its second major deal following the $4.1 billion purchase of BlueHalo in 2025. [Potomac Tech Wire]

Caffè Nero’s Compass Makeover — Caffè Nero, the European coffee chain that won Compass Coffee’s assets at auction for $4.76 million, is taking a slow approach to rebranding the local shops. The company plans to close the Rosslyn location (1201 Wilson Blvd) briefly next week to repair plumbing damage from before the sale. [WBJ]

Vision Zero’s Cautionary Snail — Arlington County is offering free Vision Zero lawn signs featuring a “Cautionary Snail” mascot to remind drivers to slow down. Supplies are limited. [Arlington County]

Pentagon City Skating Ends — “Time to garage the zamboni and put the ice skates away for the winter. Spring is here!” [CartChaos22202/X]

Restaurant Burglary Arrest — An Arlington man, 27, has been charged with burglarizing Pupatella Pizza in Merrifield’s Mosaic District last August and Churasuko in Tysons in March, stealing alcohol and cash, according to FCPD. [FFXnow]

Peak Bloom Declared — “PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! It’s official! The cherry blossoms are opening & putting on a splendid spring spectacle.” [National Mall NPS/X]

Warner: Moratorium ‘Idiocy’ — Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) called a proposed national moratorium on AI data center construction “idiocy,” saying it would give China an edge in the AI race. The moratorium was proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). [Axios]

D.C. Federal Task Force Extended — The House voted 218-206 to extend Trump’s D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force through 2029. The bill, sponsored by Rep. John McGuire (R-Va.), seeks to codify the executive order that ramped up federal law enforcement and immigration arrests in D.C. [Washington Post]

Helicopter Flight Stats — Military, air medical and law enforcement helicopters average about 91 flights per day in the D.C. area, according to a new GAO report that recommends military operators improve community outreach about noise impacts. [PoPville, Martin Austermuhle/X]

It’s Friday — Expect rain throughout the day with a high near 64 degrees, though temperatures will fall to around 50 by the afternoon. Winds out of the north at 9–13 mph with gusts up to 22 mph. A dramatic cooldown follows overnight, with a low around 33 and rain likely before 2 a.m. [NWS]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Mar 26, 2026

By ARLnow.com

Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 26, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌦️ Friday’s forecast

Expect rain throughout the day with temperatures dropping to 49°F by 5 PM and north winds up to 23 mph. There’s an 80% chance of rain, with 0.1 to 0.25 inches expected. Rain is likely in the evening, mainly before 7 PM, with skies turning partly cloudy overnight and a low of 33°F. Winds will decrease slightly to 18 mph, with a 60% chance of additional light rain. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“When you choose to forgive those who have hurt you, you take away their power.”
– Oprah Winfrey

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

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.

Events

Mister Days ‘Rally in the Alley’ returning to Clarendon this Saturday

By ARLnow.com
Mister Days "Rally in the Alley" event in Clarendon on St. Patrick's Day weekend 2025 (Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar)

Mister Days is bringing its “Rally in the Alley” fundraiser back to Clarendon this weekend, with barbecue, a DJ and thousands of expected revelers.

The event is scheduled for this Saturday (March 28) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1101 N. Highland Street, with a portion of 11th Street closing to make room for the festivities. Admission is $10, with proceeds going to the Mister Days Reach Out Foundation, which supports Arlingtonians in need.

Go to Mister Days ‘Rally in the Alley’ returning to Clarendon this Saturday Read more
News

ACPD raids six vape stores as part of regional drug trafficking investigation

By ARLnow.com
Marijuana recovered by Fairfax County Police (photo via FCPD/Flickr)

Six Arlington vape stores were raided by local, state and federal law enforcement last week as part of a regional investigation.

The Arlington County Police Department, with the assistance of Virginia State Police and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, executed search warrants at six tobacco shops on March 18, ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage told ARLnow.

Go to ACPD raids six vape stores as part of regional drug trafficking investigation Read more
Around Town

Nationals place baseballs on veterans’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery ahead of Opening Day

By ARLnow.com
Gravesite of U.S. Army Cpl. Ernest "Jud" Wilson in Section 43 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, March 24, 2026. A baseball player and manager in the Negro Leagues, "Jud" Wilson played for the Baltimore Black Sox, the Homestead Grays and the Philadelphia Stars between 1922 and 1945. Known for his powerful hitting style, Wilson finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .351, the fifth highest in Negro League history. Wilson was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during World War I. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery)

The Washington Nationals placed official MLB baseballs on six graves at Arlington National Cemetery this week, honoring servicemembers with ties to the game.

The tradition, now in its third year, recognizes individuals buried at the cemetery who played, led or shaped the game of baseball.

Go to Nationals place baseballs on veterans’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery ahead of Opening Day Read more

Morning Notes for March 26, 2026

By ARLnow.com
Early spring tree blossoms in a local backyard (staff photo)

Arlington’s Fudd Lights Up Tourney — Arlington native Azzi Fudd tied her career high with 34 points and hit 8 three-pointers as top-seeded UConn routed Syracuse 98-45 in the second round of the NCAA women’s tournament. The undefeated Huskies (36-0) face North Carolina in the Sweet 16 on Friday. [ESPN, Yahoo Sports]

Grenade Report at Eden Center — Falls Church police and bomb units from ACPD and ACFD responded to Eden Center Wednesday afternoon after a report of a grenade in the parking lot. The scene was cleared and businesses and roads reopened by 3 p.m. [Fox 5]

Bullet Found in Home — A woman in the 800 block of S. Greenbrier Street heard a loud noise Monday afternoon and found damage to her ceiling and a bullet on the floor, according to police. No injuries were reported and the investigation is ongoing. [ACPD]

DCA: Get There Early — Reagan National is urging spring break travelers to arrive early and check live TSA wait times at flyreagan.com. TSA staffing gaps from the DHS shutdown have made conditions unpredictable at area airports, with lanes suddenly closing and triggering major backups. [Reagan Airport/X, Axios]

Custis Trail Repaving Ahead — Sections of the Custis Trail will be repaved starting March 30, with work running through mid-April. The project covers the stretch from N. Oak Street to Langston Blvd, including through Hayes Park and Lyon Village. [Arlington Infrastructure/Bluesky]

N. Va. 40 Under 40 Announced — The Leadership Center of Arlington and Leadership Fairfax have named 40 honorees for 2026, including leaders from Arlington County government, ACFD, VHC Health, the Rosslyn BID and more. A virtual celebration is set for April 14 with an in-person reception at Caboose Commons in Fairfax. [Leadership Center]

Spanberger Rejoins ERIC — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has started the process of reentering the Electronic Registration Information Center, the voter roll data-sharing program that Virginia left under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). Virginia was a founding member of ERIC under Gov. Bob McDonnell (R). [Virginia Scope]

Redistricting Reshapes Spanberger — The fight over Virginia’s congressional redistricting referendum has overshadowed Gov. Spanberger’s affordability agenda, according to the Washington Post, and recast her moderate image just two months into her term. [Washington Post]

Peak Bloom Approaches — “Despite a sunny afternoon and patches of blue sky, the cherry blossoms remain at Stage 5: Puffy White. Peak Bloom can’t be far away.” [NPS/X]

Blossoms Blooming Locally — Cherry blossoms bloom throughout Arlington, too — not just at the Tidal Basin. Here’s where to find them.

New Legal Notice — A 117.1-foot antenna collocation is proposed; comments on potential impact to historic properties are due in 30 days. [Public Notices]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 75 degrees and southwest winds at 9–13 mph, gusting up to 25. Clouds increase overnight with a 50% chance of light rain and a low around 57. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Mar 25, 2026

By ARLnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 25, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny weather with temperatures reaching a high of around 75°F. Winds will be from the southwest at 10 to 13 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. Thursday night will bring increasing clouds and a low of about 57°F, along with a slight chance of rain before 7 p.m. and a more significant chance after 2 a.m., with a 50% chance of precipitation. Southwest winds will continue at 10 to 13 mph, with gusts reaching up to 22 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born.”
– Nikola Tesla

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

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.

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