Author: ARLnow.com

Home Built for Hangouts — Yuri and Michelle Sagatov tore down a ranch house they bought for $870,000 in 2019 and built a $2.8 million, 7,000-square-foot home with four connected pavilions, a sunken conversation pit and a basement sports room — because they didn’t want their kids “just disappearing into their rooms.” [WSJ]

Pentagon City High-Rise Sold — An affiliate of Pantzer Property Management paid $211.5 million on Aug. 14 for the 440-unit Witmer apartment building at 710 12th Street S., about $480,680 per unit — below its $252.46 million assessed value. Pantzer has renamed the building The Point National Landing. [WBJ]

Flyover This Afternoon — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an aircraft flyover in the National Capital Region (NCR) over Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 1:15PM.”

Remembrance Ride Reaches Pentagon — About two dozen veterans on a multi-state motorcycle ride that began at the 9/11 Memorial in New York arrived at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial on Tuesday. The ride benefits Wounded Warrior Project’s Project Odyssey, a trauma recovery program. Riders visit Arlington National Cemetery next. [WUSA9]

Beyer Announces ICE Investigation — “Democratic congressmen from Northern Virginia announced an investigation into recent encounters people had with Immigration and Customs Enforcement that the lawmakers call “ICE brutality.” U.S. Rep. Don Beyer said his office confirmed at least four of what he calls unjustified, violent encounters with ICE agents just within the past two weeks.” [NBC 4, C-SPAN]

Bus Crash Victim Had Signal — A 59-year-old man killed by a Metrobus in Bailey’s Crossroads on Sunday had a walk signal and was in the crosswalk when the bus, turning right from Columbia Pike onto Carlin Springs Road, struck him, Fairfax County police say. He was the 13th pedestrian killed in Fairfax County this year. [FFXnow]

Carjacking Spree Guilty Plea — A D.C. man, 21, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy, carjacking and firearms charges tied to a 2024 spree across D.C., Maryland and Virginia, including two Bailey’s Crossroads holdups near the Arlington line. The plea agreement calls for 16 to 24 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Jan. 29. [FFXnow]

Spanberger Signs Readiness Order — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed an executive order Tuesday creating what she called a “unified readiness framework” for disasters and other crises. Agencies handling emergency management, public safety and public health will each name a Unified Readiness Coordinator and share data for statewide planning. [Virginia Mercury]

Summerween Comes Early — “Something wicked this way comes. Yes, we’re referring to Summerween. It may be hotter than an apple crisp oat milk macchiato outside, but Washington is busy romanticizing sweater weather.” [Axios]

Storm Chances Return Today — Scattered strong to severe storms are expected this afternoon into early evening, with the best chance near and east of I-95. Storms could bring damaging winds, hail and an isolated tornado. NWS has placed the area from D.C. eastward in a level 2 out of 5 severe risk. [Capital Weather]

It’s Thursday — Expect a partly sunny day with a high near 87 and light southeast winds. Rain showers arrive around midday and showers and thunderstorms become likely by midafternoon, with an 80% chance of precipitation and a quarter to a half inch of rain possible. Storms taper off after 8 p.m., with an overnight low around 69. [NWS]

New Legal Notice — ABC port-of-entry restaurant license: on/off-premises wine, beer, mixed beverages. [Public Notices]

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

Drive Sober Patrols Start — ACPD’s Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign starts today, with saturation patrols targeting impaired drivers through Sept. 7. Drunk drivers were involved in 34% of the 505 U.S. traffic deaths over the 2024 Labor Day holiday, according to NHTSA. [ACPD]

Exposure Reports Pile Up — Police logged five indecent exposure or attempted exposure incidents in their Monday and Tuesday crime reports, at locations including Wilson Blvd, S. Hayes Street, S. Glebe Road and 8th Road S. Two men were arrested and three investigations remain open. [ACPD]

Free Washes for Teachers — Mr Wash is offering free exterior Extra Shine car washes to teachers, faculty and school staff Thursday and Friday at all 11 of its locations, including two in Arlington. A valid school ID is required. [Press Release]

New Nonstops From Dulles — Airlines have added about a dozen nonstop routes at Dulles this year, including Taipei, Seoul, Reykjavik and Toronto, with Cabo San Lucas, Liberia and Cartagena arriving this fall and winter. Slot-controlled Reagan National added none. [Axios]

NSO Lands in Alexandria — The National Symphony Orchestra will split its 2026-27 season among six venues as the Kennedy Center closes for a two-year renovation, including nine concerts at Northern Virginia Community College’s Schlesinger Center in Alexandria. Tickets go on sale Aug. 28. [ALXnow]

Spanberger Enters Merger Fight — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) filed to intervene in the state review of Dominion Energy’s $67 billion merger with NextEra Energy, saying she remains “skeptical of the benefits this merger would deliver to Virginia.” Her office says she’s the first Virginia governor to intervene in such a case. [FFXnow]

THC Cap Hits Hemp Shops — Virginia’s cap of 2 milligrams of THC per hemp product took effect Saturday with no sell-through period, making inventory that shops legally sold for three years illegal. Seven businesses sued to block it, telling a federal judge they’re sitting on millions in unsellable product. [Axios]

Last 8 p.m. Sunset — Monday delivered the season’s last sunset at or after 8 p.m., and storms earlier in the evening left behind high clouds that lit it up. The next 8 p.m. sunset won’t come until May. [Capital Weather, Doug Kammerer/X]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 90 and a northwest wind of 2–6 mph. Overnight lows dip to around 73, with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. [NWS]

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Treasurer Race Field Set at Two — The Aug. 14 filing deadline passed with Democrat Kim Rucker and independent Aasim Rawoot as the lone candidates for the Nov. 3 special election for county treasurer, Arlington election officials confirmed on Monday. Rucker became treasurer after the July retirement of Carla de la Pava. —Scott McCaffrey

I-395 Bridge Work Snarls Commutes — “Drivers paying tolls to travel north on I-395 have lost access to the exit that normally allows them to continue toward Capitol Hill and I-695. Instead, they’re being forced onto 14th Street.” Work on the Rochambeau Bridge is set to wrap up in October. [WJLA]

AvalonBay Merger Creates Vivmark — “Arlington’s AvalonBay Communities Inc. and Chicago’s Equity Residential announced Monday that they have combined to create Vivmark Residential, the nation’s largest multifamily REIT with an enterprise value of $69 billion.” The company is expected to have dual headquarters in Arlington and Chicago. [WBJ]

Meet Beyer’s GOP Challenger — Republican Tony Sabio, a Navy veteran and former Secret Service and CIA officer, is challenging Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) in the Nov. 3 election. Sabio ran unopposed in the Aug. 4 primary, while Beyer defeated four challengers with roughly 68% of the vote.  [Washington Examiner]

Students Build AI Startup Tool — Chase Rosen, Leo Fall and Carter Eckle built LaunchBridge.ai, which registers a Virginia LLC, applies for an IRS employer ID number and creates a basic website within 72 hours for a flat $350. The trio is competing for a Gemini XPrize. [Arlington Magazine]

Still No Pull-Ups at DCA — “Nearly one year and $1 billion later, you still can’t do pull-ups at Reagan National Airport à la RFK Jr.” The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said no renovations are planned at DCA or Dulles under the Trump administration’s family-friendly airport initiative. [Axios]

Capital One Lounge Draws Crowds — “The 90-seat space in Terminal 2 at Reagan National Airport seems to always have a wait.” The Capital One Landing, a partnership with chef José Andrés, is open to Venture X cardholders with a same-day boarding pass. Guest passes now cost $45. [Axios]

Falls Church Restaurant Week Debuts — The City of Falls Church is holding its first Summer Restaurant Week Aug. 21–30, with prix-fixe menus and seasonal plates at restaurants from West Broad Street to Founders Row. A sip-and-stroll event, Little City Sips, runs 5–10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. [Falls Church News-Press]

D.C. Condo Sales Slump — “The condo market in D.C. is bottoming out. Sales this year are on track to plummet about 40% from pre-pandemic levels…” Studios and one-bedrooms are hardest to sell, and 41.6% of listings had a price cut in June, according to Bright MLS. [City Cast DC]

Localities Weigh Data Center Pauses — “The community has basically been begging us to do something about the unchecked growth of data centers,” Loudoun County Supervisor Juli Briskman (D) said. Loudoun’s board votes Sept. 15 on pausing new applications, and Suffolk, Front Royal and Chesapeake are weighing similar limits. [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 88 and a north wind of 5–8 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 70. [NWS]

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

Arlington Businesses Aid Colombia — Inca Social and Dov & Company have been collecting donations for victims of the Aug. 10 earthquake in Colombia, which killed more than 270 people. Through Aug. 21, Inca Social is donating all sales of its Colombian ceviche and arepas to relief efforts. [DC News Now]

Pedestrian Dodges Runaway SUV — Video posted by Dave Statter shows a driver losing control of an SUV on the south side of the Pentagon last Thursday night as a man ran to get out of the way. Arlington County firefighters responded and the injured man was sitting up when they arrived. [Dave Statter/X]

Arlington House Intruder Indicted — A federal grand jury indicted a man accused of assaulting a U.S. Army police officer inside Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery. Park Police found him lying in a second-floor bed on July 14, a day after citing him for trespassing there. He remains held without bond. [Patch]

Spanberger Tours Rosslyn Apartments — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) visited Wholey Legacy Homes, a 234-unit income-restricted building at 1300 N. Pierce Street in Rosslyn, while highlighting nearly $100 million for housing programs in the state budget. She toured with state Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington). [Patch]

DCA Safety Fixes Lag — Six months after the NTSB issued its final recommendations on the January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National Airport, 51 of the 52 remain open. Chair Jennifer Homendy said the country is “no closer today to addressing many of the serious safety gaps” behind the crash. [Washington Post]

Community Foundation Honorees — The Arlington Community Foundation has announced Devanshi Patel will receive the Spirit of Leadership Award and Alejandra Underwood the Spirit of the Rise Award at the 33rd annual William T. Newman, Jr., Spirit of Community Awards, to be held Nov. 12 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View. The event also will honor the legacy of Judge William Newman, Jr., who died earlier this year and who in 1991 founded the foundation. [Arlington Community Foundation]

Police vs. Sheriff, Explained — Arlington law enforcement was once handled by a sheriff, one deputy and about a dozen special officers who were paid per arrest and supplemented their income by inspecting the county’s outhouses, Bill Fogarty writes. A separate police department formed with nine officers on Feb. 1, 1940. [Falls Church News-Press]

Ulta Theft Suspect Held in Arlington — A D.C. man, 28, faces a petit larceny warrant after an Aug. 13 theft at an Ulta Beauty store in Springfield, police said. Arlington County police located the man and his car in Pentagon City and took him into custody on unrelated charges. [WUSA9]

Virginia Lands Leap Day Primary — The Democratic National Committee approved its 2028 presidential primary calendar Saturday, giving Virginia the last of six early slots on Feb. 29, leap day, as ARLnow reported last month. South Carolina votes first, on Jan. 22. [New York Times]

MOM’s Bans Employee Masks — Employees are demanding answers after the Rockville, Maryland-based grocery chain barred masks and face coverings on the clock, effective Aug. 10, citing customer experience. Workers with medical needs are exempt with a doctor’s note. MOM’s has an Arlington store on N. Veitch Street. [WTOP]

Colorful Kicks Rule the Track — Shoe-color options used to be limited for local high school and collegiate track-and-field participants, but these days, runners have a rainbow to choose from — and often take great care in deciding which colors to pick. [RunWashington]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 90 and a west wind of 5–8 mph. There’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 72. [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.