ARLnow.com | ARLnow

Walk-Up Testing Hours Expanded As County Caseload Remains High

Published December 2, 2020 at 11:35AM

Eighty-three new coronavirus cases and four additional hospitalizations were reported in Arlington overnight.

Despite the dozens of new cases, Arlington’s trailing seven-day case average actually dipped slightly, to just over 60 cases per day. That’s down from the peak of around 75 average daily cases four days ago.

News

JUST IN: Man Arrested for 30-Year-Old Rape Cold Cases

By ARLnow.com

Published December 2, 2020 at 10:40AM

Arlington County Police say Michael F. Thompson, who is now 63 and a resident of Virginia’s Northern Neck region, used a gun to rape at least two women near the East Falls Church Metro station. He was linked to the cases after a reexamination of evidence, including DNA evidence, that ACPD’s Cold Case Unit initiated in 2017.

Thompson was identified as the suspect due to “forensic evidence combined with thorough investigative efforts,” and was arrested at his home on Tuesday morning, according to police.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 2, 2020 at 7:30AM | Updated December 2, 2020 at 8:59AM

Day Laborer Site Now Closed — “Although not unexpected, mid-November nonetheless brought something of an end of an era to the Shirlington Employment and Education Center, better known as SEEC. The pavilion area in Shirlington that the organization had used since 2003 to connect day-laborers with contractors and homeowners who sought their services has been fenced off in preparation for changes to Jennie Dean Park, where it is located.” [InsideNova]

Tonight: Outdoor Art in Crystal City — “Walk along Crystal Drive on December 2nd from 6-9PM to see the words of Luisa A. Igloria, Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia projected onto the facade of 2011 Crystal Drive as the opening installation of Arlington Art’s Visual Verse. Their work will be brought to life by noted artist Robin Bell.” [National Landing BID]

News

Court Docs: Metro Station Manager Beat Coworker for Helping Customer

By ARLnow.com

Published December 1, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated December 1, 2020 at 2:31PM

Metro Transit Police SUV (file photo)

A Metro employee beat a coworker unconscious at the Pentagon station in 2017, after becoming enraged because the victim helped a rider, according to recent court filings about a previously-reported incident.

The day after the March 8, 2017 incident, it was reported by the Washington Post and other local outlets that a station manager assaulted a fare technician, who was “taken to the hospital and evaluated, but was not admitted and did not have visible injuries.” The station manager was arrested, though few other details were released and no motive given.

Around Town

Those To-Go Coffee Cups Are Not Recyclable in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published December 1, 2020 at 9:40AM | Updated December 1, 2020 at 9:59AM

Starbucks holiday cup (Photo by Jasmin Schuler on Unsplash)

(Updated at 9:50 a.m.) The following may ruin an important part of your holiday experience by revealing that a long-held belief held by many is, in fact, fiction.

But here’s the truth: the festive red paper cup containing your peppermint mocha is not recyclable, at least not in Arlington.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 1, 2020 at 6:00AM | Updated December 1, 2020 at 9:15AM

Major Metro Cuts Proposed — “With sharply reduced ridership and lacking fresh federal relief, Metro is proposing a new operating budget with a nearly $500 million deficit. Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said Monday the proposed 2021 budget includes closing Metro rail at 9 p.m., ending weekend service, closing 19 stations and reducing the number of trains, which would result in longer wait times.” Among the stations that would close under the proposal are the Arlington Cemetery, Clarendon, East Falls Church and Virginia Square stations. [WTOP, Washington Post]

County Working on New Payment System — “Arlington officials continue to work on developing a one-stop online presence so the public can pay for a wide array of local-government services from their computers or smartphones. The initiative, being worked on by the treasurer’s office and Department of Technology Services, would go beyond the current CAPP [Customer Assessment and Payment Portal], which allows local residents to pay certain taxes, utility bills and parking tickets online.” [InsideNova]

News

Minivan-Driving Felon Facing Charges After Dramatic Traffic Stop

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2020 at 3:35PM

File photo

A felon driving a minivan with allegedly stolen plates was pulled over Saturday night along northbound I-395.

The traffic stop just before the 14th Street Bridge involved a small fleet of Arlington County Police and Virginia State Police cruisers and was caught on video. The highway was blocked while the incident played out.

Feature

It’s Cyber Monday… Consider These Local Options

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2020 at 3:30PM

People on smartphones (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

At this point, your inbox is probably flooded with Cyber Monday deals from stores you haven’t ordered from in at least three years — 30% off here, 50% off there.

But instead of getting distracted by the *best* and *lowest* prices from these national chains, we want to highlight a few local businesses that we love, and happen to be current advertisers or partners.

News

Soldiers, Not Volunteers, to Lay Wreaths at Cemetery This Year

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2020 at 2:00PM

The annual Wreaths Across America holiday wreath-laying is back on at Arlington National Cemetery, but with some big changes.

Due to the pandemic, the legions of volunteers that usually participate will not be able to do so this year. Instead, most of the nearly quarter-million wreaths will be placed — and removed, after Christmas — by soldiers based at Fort Myer.

Around Town

Spotted: A Couple on an Elaborate Date at Gravelly Point

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2020 at 11:45AM

A pandemic is raging, the country is sharply divided, and many people and businesses are struggling.

Despite the gloom and doom, however, every once in awhile a glimmer of hope, joy and humanity manages to shine through. Such was the case on Friday, when a couple enjoyed a white tablecloth dinner, complete with wine and flowers, outdoors… at Gravelly Point.

News

Cases Dip After Reaching New Record, But Hospitalizations Are Up

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2020 at 11:00AM

The level of new coronavirus cases in Arlington has receded a bit after reaching a new record over the weekend.

As of Sunday, the trailing seven-day average of daily coronavirus cases reached 75.7 — or 530 cases over the course of a week — a new local record. As of Monday, it’s now 63.3 daily cases, or 443 over a seven-day period, the lowest point since Nov. 21.

News

Postal Service: Send Packages Early to Arrive by Christmas

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2020 at 9:45AM

Send your holiday packages early this year.

That’s the message from the U.S. Postal Service, which says that the pandemic leading to both operational challenges and a big increase in shipping volumes. That, in turn, may cause delays as Americans rush to ship gifts to friends and family.