Author: ARLnow.com

Arlington-Backed Gun Bills Signed — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed four bills closing loopholes that allowed domestic abusers to keep firearms, including the “boyfriend loophole” covering unmarried partners. The laws, effective July 1, were championed by Arlington’s Sen. Barbara Favola (D) and Del. Adele McClure (D) and praised by Doorways, the county’s sole shelter for abuse survivors. [Press Release]

ACPD Adds 18 Officers — Arlington County’s 18 newest police officers graduated from Session 154 of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy. The class of 12 men and six women, from 10 states, will now complete a 12-week field training program before starting solo patrol. [Arlington County]

River Place’s 2052 Deadline — Owners at River Place, the four brick towers in Rosslyn, don’t own the ground beneath them. A 99-year ground lease signed in 1953 runs out in 2052, when the land and buildings revert to the land owner — the quirk that lets a Potomac-view condo in the roughly 1,720-unit complex sell for under $200,000. [Ghosts of DC]

Arlington Classics Make the List — Two Arlington mainstays made Washingtonian’s roundup of 25 D.C.-area restaurants still thriving after a quarter-century or more: Carlyle in Shirlington and Nam-Viet in Clarendon. Carlyle, the Great American Restaurants flagship, opened with the Village at Shirlington 40 years ago, while Nam-Viet has served Vietnamese fare since 1986 and is still known for its spring rolls. [Washingtonian]

Historical Society President Re-Elected — Peter Vaselopulos was reelected president of the Arlington Historical Society at the organization’s June 11 annual meeting. Sean Denniston was re-elected vice president, while Richard Samp will serve as treasurer and Harry Evans as secretary. —Scott McCaffrey

Parkway Speed Cameras Cleared — A new state law taking effect July 1 clears the way for speed cameras and added police enforcement on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, where a National Park Service study found speeding is a major crash factor. The cameras still need federal sign-off; the law lets Virginia State Police and Fairfax County police help U.S. Park Police, who now patrol the federally owned road alone. [Fox 5]

Squash Lanternflies Now — The invasive spotted lanternflies are back in their young “nymph” stage, and Fairfax County is urging residents to kill them before they mature into winged adults in July. “Vacuuming or squashing nymphs are the easiest ways to reduce the population,” the county said. Soapy water also works. [FFXnow]

Retail Weed Deal Reached — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) and legislators announced a compromise to open Virginia’s recreational marijuana market on July 1, 2027, reviving a plan she had vetoed. Sales would carry a 6% state tax, rising to 8% in 2029, with up to 350 retailers licensed in a phased rollout. The deal hinges on a state budget lawmakers must pass by June 30 to avert a first-ever shutdown. [NBC 4, WTOP, Virginia Mercury]

Microsoft Backpedals on Clean Energy — As the data center boom strains Virginia’s power grid, Microsoft is considering abandoning its goal of running on carbon-free electricity around the clock by 2030. The reversal collides with the state’s own climate targets. Virginia, the world’s data center capital, hosts Microsoft facilities in Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax counties. [Inside Climate News]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 88 and a light southwest wind. Skies turn partly cloudy overnight with a low around 69. [NWS]

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Spatula Attack — An Arlington man, 27, is charged with malicious wounding after police say he struck a woman with a spatula during a verbal dispute on the 1800 block of N. Scott Street Saturday, causing a laceration. The victim suffered minor injuries and was treated on scene. The man briefly fled before officers took him into custody. [ACPD]

Arlington’s Private Jet Brokers — Advanced Aviation Team, an Arlington brokerage founded by a former White House Travel Office staffer, arranges private jets for political figures, executives and security-sensitive travelers, securing aircraft and crew without owning planes. Demand is growing, but founder Gregg Brunson-Pitts said he’s keeping the firm small, hoping to be “the best at what we do for the most discerning client.” [WBJ]

Hardy Returns to FCCPS — The Falls Church City School Board approved Valerie Hardy as the division’s new executive principal, effective July 1. Hardy previously led Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and the district’s secondary schools before leaving for Prince William County. “Valerie knows our students, our families, and our IB mission,” Superintendent Terry Dade said. [Falls Church News-Press]

Neighbors Save Barber Shop — Chesterbrook Barber Shop, a McLean fixture since 1967, reopened Sunday at 6262-F Old Dominion Drive after the new owner of its longtime shopping center declined to renew its lease. More than 200 customers rallied behind owner Peggy Ngo, signing a letter and helping her find the new space. “When one window closes, the other one would be open,” Ngo said. [FFXnow]

Local Police on GW Parkway — Starting July 1, state and local police can cite drivers for speeding and other traffic violations on the federally managed George Washington Memorial Parkway, under a law signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The U.S. Park Police remain the primary agency. Sen. Scott Surovell (D) sponsored the measure over speeding concerns south of Alexandria. [FFXnow]

Power Plant Site Greenlit — Alexandria City Council unanimously approved plans and a $135 million financing deal to redevelop the shuttered Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town North. Owner HRP Group says the project will draw more than $2 billion in private investment, with mixed-use buildings and more than 10 acres of public open space. Deconstruction could begin next year. [ALXnow]

FCPS Device Opt-Out — After a contentious debate, the Fairfax County School Board will let parents of preschool and elementary students opt out of take-home laptops and tablets next school year, and will study tighter screen restrictions. [FFXnow]

Va. Budget Standoff — Six months into her term, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) is navigating a budget impasse and unrest within her own party over a string of vetoes. Lawmakers face a June 30 deadline to pass a spending plan or risk an unprecedented state government shutdown, with the fight centered on data center tax incentives. “I think it’s outrageous that we are where we are,” she said. [Virginia Mercury]

Urgent Sewer Line Repairs — DC Water began emergency repairs Monday on a corroding section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line in Potomac, Maryland, before it could fail and leak wastewater into the river. The pipe carries about 6 million gallons of wastewater daily and sits upstream of major regional drinking water intakes. [WJLA]

It’s Tuesday — Sunny, basically perfect weather today with a high near 80 and light northeast winds. Skies turn partly cloudy overnight with a low around 63. [NWS]

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Beyer Targets Trump Arch — Rep. Don Beyer (D) is cosponsoring a bill to block President Trump’s proposed 250-foot “Triumphal Arch” between Arlington National Cemetery and the Memorial Bridge. “Everyone I’ve talked to in Virginia and D.C. is horrified by it, partly because it is so tasteless,” Beyer said. “It begins with reverence for the people that are buried here.” [NBC 4]

APS Adds Bus Tracking — Arlington families will soon be able to track their kids’ school buses in real time. Arlington Public Schools is partnering with Transfinder, whose Stopfinder app uses GPS to follow buses and can alert parents when one is 10 or 15 minutes from a stop. The switch follows complaints that the district’s previous software, in place over a decade, was slow and inefficient. [WTOP]

A Hero’s Farewell — Family, officers and public safety personnel gathered Friday to honor Auxiliary Lt. Charlie Neal, who served ACPD for 40 years and died May 13 at age 80. “Whether riding with pride in the Motor Unit or greeting others with his ever-present smile, he had a remarkable gift for making people feel welcomed,” the department said. Neal was also a pioneering broadcaster in HBCU sports. [WUSA9, ACPD/X]

New False-Alarm Vendor — The Arlington County Fire Department will begin using a third-party vendor, Alarm Program Systems, to administer its false fire alarm program starting July 1, with a new website for billing and appeals. Businesses face fees for repeated false alarms caused by malfunctions or unintentional activations; single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes are exempt. [Arlington County]

Off-Ramp Mishap — Traffic-camera video shows a car turning off the I-395 ramp into Shirlington and onto the center median around 2:45 a.m. Saturday. “When your aim is just a little off,” local public safety watcher Dave Statter wrote in sharing the footage. [Dave Statter/X]

Hit the Trails — Arlington Magazine rounded up 10 scenic hikes within driving distance, from flat loops at Theodore Roosevelt Island and Scott’s Run in McLean to the overlooks at Great Falls and longer waterfall treks in Shenandoah. [Arlington Magazine]

Arlington Man Charged in Crash — An Arlington man, 23, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving in a fatal December crash on King Street in Alexandria. Police say surveillance footage showed his Toyota Camry was traveling at an excessive speed when it struck an Acura, killing the other driver, Craig Taylor, 78. He was arrested May 19 and is due in court June 18. [ALXnow]

House Dems Pitch Budget — House Democrats released a budget proposal Friday, with data center tax breaks the main sticking point in talks with Senate Democrats. The House plan would keep the breaks through 2035 and create a commission to study them; Senate Democrats want them ended. Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) backs the House plan. Lawmakers have until June 30 to reach a deal or risk a state government shutdown. [Virginia Scope]

Securing Backup Water — The region’s three water utilities — WSSC Water, the Washington Aqueduct and Fairfax Water — are launching a $25 million, two-year study to find a large-scale backup supply for a D.C. area of more than 5 million people that relies almost entirely on the Potomac River. “We rely primarily on a single source, and that’s the Potomac River,” said WSSC Water’s Priscilla To. Quarries and treated wastewater are among the options being weighed. [WTOP]

New State Internship Role — Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed bipartisan legislation creating Virginia’s first State Internship Coordinator, a new role focused on expanding internship opportunities across state agencies. “One of the most powerful tools we have is making sure talented students stay and grow right here in Virginia,” she said. [Press Release]

D.C. Hits 100 Degrees — Friday’s heat pushed D.C. to 100 degrees — its first 100-degree day since August 2024, according to Capital Weather. The reading topped the date’s record of 95, while BWI Marshall Airport set a record at 97. [Capital Weather/X]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 81 and breezy northwest winds around 16 mph, gusting to 23 mph. That’s a sharp drop from the weekend’s near-100-degree heat. Overnight lows fall to around 60. [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.