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.
Two D.C. Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons fly over Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., May 18, 2026 (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Logan Carlson)
More low-flying aircraft and loud noises are coming to the D.C. area — this time overnight.
NORAD will conduct an air-defense exercise over the National Capital Region between midnight and 5:30 a.m. each day from tonight (Tuesday) through Thursday, July 2, according to an AlertDC notice. Some aircraft could fly as low as 1,000 feet and may be visible from the ground.
There is a slight chance of showers between 1pm and 2pm, followed by a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Expect sunny and hot conditions, with temperatures reaching near 99 degrees and heat index values as high as 106. A southwest wind will blow at 6 to 8 mph, with a 20% chance of precipitation. Wednesday night will be mostly clear with a low of around 77, and the south wind will range from 6 to 9 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
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3601 Wilson Blvd set for residential conversion, on June 30, 2026 (staff photo)
Construction is starting on the conversion of a vacant Virginia Square office building into 94 apartments — a project now named Renley.
Gilbane Development announced the start of work on Monday. The developer acquired the six-story, 121,200-square-foot building at 3601 Wilson Blvd, a block from the Virginia Square Metro station, in March 2025 and proposed the conversion soon after.
Design of visitor-education center at 9/11 Pentagon Memorial (courtesy Pentagon Memorial Fund)
The long-planned 9/11 education center near the Pentagon is getting a boost from Virginia’s new state budget.
The Pentagon Memorial Fund said the two-year spending plan — approved by the General Assembly on Monday and set to take effect July 1 — includes money for the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Visitor Education Center. A budget amendment provides $1 million to Arlington County to support the center’s construction.
Duke's Burgers at the National Landing Water Park (courtesy photo)
The award-winning burgers from D.C. gastropub Duke’s Grocery are coming to Arlington this week.
Duke’s Burgers, a fast-casual spinoff of the East London-inspired restaurant, opens this Wednesday (July 1) at Water Park, the outdoor venue in Crystal City, at 1621 Crystal Drive. It will be the brand’s first Virginia location.
The sun shines down above a tree on a hot summer day with a heat advisory (staff photo by James Jarvis)
The hottest stretch of the year is almost here.
A heatwave with temperatures near and into the triple digits kicks off Wednesday and it has already prompted a Heat Advisory and an Extreme Heat Watch from the National Weather Service.
An Avride food delivery robot navigates a sidewalk in Virginia Square (staff photo)
July 4 Road Closures — ACPD and other agencies will close multiple roads on Saturday to handle crowds for the Independence Day fireworks on the National Mall, expected around 11 p.m. Memorial Bridge and the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge close as early as 5 a.m., and the Air Force Memorial is closed all day. Drivers should expect significant delays. [Arlington County]
Ballston Brandishing Incident — A driver in the 600 block of N. Quincy Street exchanged words with a man walking in the area Friday evening and drove off, but the man later pulled alongside him in a vehicle and brandished what appeared to be a firearm before fleeing, according to police. No injuries were reported. [ACPD]
County Lands Innovation Grant — Arlington Economic Development secured approximately $3.9 million in GO Virginia funding for the National Innovation Quarter, a regional initiative with Alexandria focused on cybersecurity, AI, robotics and national security innovation. The agency also won a $250,000 grant to lead a study of future office demand across N. Va., Greater Richmond and Hampton Roads. [Arlington County]
Pentagon City Event for 250th — Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is marking America’s 250th with a “star-spangled weekend” from July 3–5. Friday’s lineup includes a Polo Ralph Lauren fashion show, kids’ activities and free Häagen-Dazs ice cream from 3-4 p.m., with retailer perks and promotions throughout the weekend. [Simon]
Beyond District Elections — In a letter to the editor, County Board candidate David Sisson argues the county’s debate over at-large versus district County Board elections is too narrow. He writes that districts can’t create a majority-minority district in Arlington, and instead calls for a nonpartisan “jungle” primary, caps on political donations and publicly financed campaigns. [Letter to the Editor]
Free Metro on July 4 — Metro will be free systemwide from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on July 4, with rail service increasing at 5 p.m. and free parking at all Metro facilities. Riders should plan ahead for enhanced security around the National Mall, including fencing and airport-style checkpoints. [WMATA]
Clarendon-Born Bakeshop Expands — Bakeshop, the dessert shop that launched in Clarendon in 2010, has opened its largest location yet in Vienna — its third in Virginia. “Vienna was always the next spot for a Bakeshop,” founder Justin Stegall told FFXnow. “I really love the community vibe there.” [FFXnow]
Reagan National Falls to 28th — Reagan National Airport was the 28th busiest in the nation last year with just over 12 million enplanements, according to preliminary federal data. Its passenger count dropped 5.9% from 2024, when the airport had been ranked 26th busiest nationally. From 2024 to 2025, Dulles rose from 24th to 22nd busiest, while BWI fell from 23rd to 26th. — Scott McCaffrey
Beat the Holiday Traffic — The worst July 4 holiday traffic is expected between D.C. and Annapolis on Friday at 12:45 p.m., according to AAA, which advises driving before 11 a.m. that day. About 77.2 million Americans are expected to travel for the holiday, with 85% driving. The worst time to be on the road July 4 is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. [Axios]
Fireworks Rattle Wildlife — This year’s record-setting July 4 fireworks — set to run twice their usual length — are raising concerns for animals, including ospreys nesting along the Potomac during breeding season and pets prone to noise anxiety. Searches for pet-friendly July 4 Airbnbs within 300 miles of D.C. have risen 51% since 2024. [Axios]
Big Little League Win — “Congratulations to the Arlington National Intermediate team on winning the District 4 Championship last night. The boys bested Alexandria 7-5 and advance to the state tournament July 9 in Woodstock, Va.” [Facebook]
UVA Closing Email Accounts — “Former University of Virginia students and other alumni might lose their UVA email accounts this week. UVA Information Technology Services says UVA Google accounts will be retired on June 30, with all Gmail and Drive data being deleted.” [CBS 19]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 91 and a south wind of 2–10 mph. It will stay mostly clear overnight with a low around 71. [NWS]
Want more local news from around the region? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow.
Expect sunny weather with temperatures reaching a high of around 90°F. Winds will be light, initially from the southwest, shifting to a southward direction at 5 to 9 mph. During the night, anticipate mostly clear skies with a low of about 71°F. Winds from the south will persist at 7 to 9 mph, with possible gusts up to 18 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
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.
Fireworks go off as Justin Gaethje celebrates after defeating Ilia Topuria in a lightweight title bout during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)
The Arlington County Board says a UFC fight at the White House that featured two of the County’s uniformed police officers “exploited good faith efforts to honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11.”
The two officers, both first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon, escorted a fighter to the Octagon at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, the event President Trump hosted on the White House South Lawn to mark his 80th birthday and the country’s 250th anniversary. They were among the 9/11 first responders invited by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a non-profit established in memory of an FDNY firefighter who died in the attacks.
Fireworks over the National Mall, viewed near the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
There’s no need to cross the Potomac River — Arlington will provide plenty of options for those seeking to view the supersized Independence Day fireworks on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
“Favorite viewing spots have perches for savvy photographers, plenty of green space for picnickers, and many unobstructed views of iconic monuments to get your patriotic heart beating,” notes Visit Arlington, the tourism wing of the county government.
Fifty shades of green, Colonial Village (courtesy George Brazier)
More on Window-Smashing Spree — About 35 cars have had their windows smashed across three incidents in roughly a week in Arlington Mill, mostly near 7th Road S. and S. Florida Street, as previously reported by ARLnow. “In these cases, we have not had significant property being stolen, only windows being damaged,” ACPD’s Ashley Savage said. Police have increased patrols in the neighborhood. [Fox 5, NBC 4]
Rosslyn Hit-and-Run — A cyclist “zoomed around” a stopped car and struck a woman crossing Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn before fleeing, according to a Reddit post seeking witnesses. The woman lost consciousness and faces orthopedic surgery. The post said Arlington police initially declined to take a report but later filed one. [Reddit]
