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UPDATED: Massive fire at former Va. governor’s Chain Bridge Road mansion

Published December 22, 2021 at 1:10AM | Updated December 22, 2021 at 1:27PM

Massive house fire on Chain Bridge Road, as seen from D.C. (via @jlilley626/Twitter)

(Updated at 1:25 p.m.) The long-time mansion of former Virginia Senator Chuck Robb is ablaze just over the Arlington border.

Firefighters from Arlington and Fairfax counties were dispatched to the home on the 600 block of Chain Bridge Road just after 11:30 p.m. Arriving firefighters reported fire throughout the first floor of the home, which quickly spread to upper floors and the roof.

Opinion

This month’s cartoon: Arlington’s split personality

By ARLnow.com

Published December 21, 2021 at 11:00AM

Cartoon by Mike Mount

Arlington is, in some ways at least, a place of contradictions. That’s the subject of this month’s local editorial cartoon.

Want to see all of Mike Mount’s weekly cartoons? Join the ARLnow Press Club.

News

Police: Man who tried to enter gym without membership fights two officers, tries to take their guns

By ARLnow.com

Published December 21, 2021 at 9:00AM

File photo

A Fairfax County man is facing numerous charges after an incident at the Planet Fitness in Pentagon City.

Police say the man was stopped by an off-duty military police officer when he tried to walk into the gym without a membership Friday afternoon. A physical altercation ensued, during which the 28-year-old suspect allegedly tried to take the officer’s gun.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 21, 2021 at 7:30AM

Ballston Quarter's outdoor Christmas tree (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Shot Fired in Buckingham — “At approximately 3:04 p.m., police were dispatched to the report of shots heard in the 4200 block of 2nd Road N. Upon arrival, it was determined that the male victim exited an apartment, encountered the two suspects in the hallway and confronted them. A physical altercation ensued, and one suspect produced a firearm. During the struggle, a shot was fired, causing damage to the door of an apartment. The suspects then fled the scene. Responding officers recovered the firearm.” [ACPD]

Driver Strikes Child in Falls Church — “At approximately 4:15 p.m., Falls Church Police and Arlington County Fire and Medical units were dispatched for a report of vehicular crash with injuries involving a pedestrian, approximately 3 to 4 years old. The victim was taken to Fairfax Hospital and is currently listed in critical condition. The driver of the striking vehicle remained on scene. The preliminary investigation is still underway with no additional details at this time.” [City of Falls Church, Twitter]

News

BREAKING: Covid cases rocket upward, shattering record, with hospitalizations low but growing

By ARLnow.com

Published December 20, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated December 20, 2021 at 12:00PM

Covid cases in Arlington on 12/20/21 (via Virginia Dept. of Health)

(Updated at noon) It’s a tale of two Covids: the rate of new cases has shattered the previous record in Arlington, but so far there has been no significant increase in reported hospitalizations.

The Virginia Dept. of Health reported 286, 193, and 232 new daily cases over the past three days, respectively. Arlington’s previous single-day case record was 193 on Jan. 9.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 20, 2021 at 7:30AM | Updated December 20, 2021 at 10:30AM

Fisheye view of construction in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Photos from ANC Wreath Event — “Wreaths Across America returned to Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 18, 2021. People from across the country turned out to lay memorial wreaths in honor of American servicemen and servicewomen. See photos of the 2021 event below.” [WTOP]

DCA to Stay at Pre-Covid Levels for Years — “Passenger totals at Northern Virginia’s two main airports are expected to be back to more than 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2022, but are not currently anticipated to exceed the pre-COVID level before 2027.” [Sun Gazette]

Opinion

Most-read Arlington stories of the week: Dec. 13-17

By ARLnow.com

Published December 17, 2021 at 3:55PM

Along Columbia Pike at sunset (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

You would be forgiven for feeling that the end of this week has March 2020 vibes.

It’s of course different, given that most people are vaccinated and the health implications are not as nearly dire as the outset of the pandemic. But the continued drip of news about rapidly rising rates of new Covid cases and well-known people contracting the virus — whether the CEO of Southwest Airlines or any number of NFL players and coaches — definitely stirs up memories of the NBA, Tom Hanks and that fateful day.

News

Police investigating mob assault outside Yorktown High School

By ARLnow.com

Published December 17, 2021 at 2:45PM | Updated December 17, 2021 at 3:47PM

Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) Some 8-9 teens beat up another teen outside Yorktown High School last night.

The incident happened around 9 p.m., as the victim was walking from the school to a car.

Around Town

Open houses in Arlington this weekend

By ARLnow.com

Published December 17, 2021 at 12:45PM

6101 35th Street N.

With roughly a week until Christmas, there are still open houses to see this weekend. So, if you’re looking for a new home grab an umbrella and check out a few open houses across Arlington.

According to Homesnap, there are currently 492 homes for sale. The median list price of $579,949 and the median sales price is $664,750. There have been 116 new listings in the last 4 weeks.

News

BREAKING: Covid case count in Arlington spikes amid Omicron worries

By ARLnow.com

Published December 17, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated December 17, 2021 at 4:13PM

Covid cases in Arlington as of 12/17/21 (via Virginia Dept. of Health)

(Updated at 4 p.m.) Arlington County just recorded the second- and third-highest single-day Covid case totals of the pandemic.

The 168 cases reported on Thursday was the county’s second-highest daily case total for 24 hours, before being supplanted by the 185 cases reported today. The local single-day record remains the 193 cases recorded on Jan. 9, 2021, according to Virginia Dept. of Health data.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 17, 2021 at 7:30AM

The Netherlands Carillon is illuminated, with D.C. monuments in the background (Photo courtesy Stefanie Johnson)

Arlington Has Been ‘Abnormally Dry’ — From the National Weather Service: “The latest Drought Monitor released shows an expansion of drought conditions across Virginia, the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, District of Columbia, and parts of Maryland. Abnormal dryness now encompasses most of the region.” [Twitter]

Introducing Commenter Badges — We’re giving the comment section an early Christmas present by rolling out new commenter badges. Earn badges by — among other things — accumulating 50 or more upvote on a comment, by posting useful corrections on an article, or by joining the ARLnow Press Club (members should reply to the morning email with your Disqus user name to request this). In all, there are a total of eight badges. [Disqus]

News

Two men arrested after assaults on police in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Published December 16, 2021 at 2:10PM | Updated December 16, 2021 at 2:37PM

File photo

(Updated at 2:35 p.m.) Arlington police had their hands full in Clarendon early this morning.

First, a rowdy bar patron allegedly started an altercation with police after getting kicked out of a venue on the 3100 block of Wilson Blvd, Clarendon’s busiest stretch of bars. shortly after midnight. The man, a 33-year-old D.C. real estate agent, tried to flee and was arrested after a brief foot chase, according to Arlington County police.