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Morning Notes

Published November 9, 2020 at 6:00AM | Updated November 9, 2020 at 8:53AM

Arlington, MoCo Hire Consultant — “Montgomery and Arlington counties have hired a consultant to develop alternatives to the flight paths at Reagan National Airport that have led to dramatic increases in noise complaints from residents across the region. ‘This will be a game changer,; said Ken Hartman… Montgomery County’s point person on the airplane noise issue.” [Washington Post]

Biden Breaks 100K Mark in Arlington — “It likely won’t be the highlight of his political career, but Joe Biden will go down in history as the first presidential candidate to win more than 100,000 votes in Arlington. Biden garnered 102,510 of them, according to unofficial tallies reported immediately after the election… Trump’s performance, both in total votes and in percentage of the vote, slightly outperformed his 2016 tally in Arlington.” [InsideNova]

News

Delays on 14th Street Bridge Due to Road Closures as Biden Named President-Elect

By ARLnow.com

Published November 7, 2020 at 2:30PM

Traffic on the 14th Street Bridge around 2 p.m.

With former Vice President Joe Biden being named president-elect this morning by the Associated Press and others, celebrations in D.C. area leading to traffic on the 14th Street Bridge.

“Expect traffic delays around [northbound I-395] at the 14th Street Bridge due to street closures in DC around the White House,” said an Arlington Alert. The closures were prompted by impromptu celebrations around D.C., including large gatherings outside the White House.

Opinion

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

Published November 6, 2020 at 5:00PM

This afternoon was a gorgeous introduction to the weekend — we hope you were able to take a break from work and/or cable news watching and doomscrolling to enjoy it.

While the primary focus of the past few days was on national issues rather than local news, there were still some big Arlington stories this week.

Around Town

Pentagon Row Ice Rink Now Open for the Season

By ARLnow.com

Published November 6, 2020 at 10:30AM

In a place of American power, a surefire sign of the dawning of a new era is here.

Yes, in the metaphorical shadow of the Pentagon, the Pentagon Row ice rink is now open, kicking off the 2020-2021 winter season.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 6, 2020 at 8:00AM | Updated November 6, 2020 at 9:23AM

County Video Highlights Contact Tracing — A video recently released by the county discusses the contact tracing process that Arlington’s health department uses to “control and prevent the spread of COVID-19.” [YouTube]

Woman, 62, Accused of Fighting Police — “Upon arrival, the parties involved in the physical altercation had been separated, however, when officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, she walked away and disregarded lawful commands to stop. The officer attempted to gain control of the suspect and detain her, however, she freed herself from their grasp and swung her arm at them. With the assistance of additional officers arriving on scene, the suspect was taken into custody.” [ACPD]

News

BREAKING: Police Investigating Razor Blades Taped to Political Sign

By ARLnow.com

Published November 5, 2020 at 5:00PM | Updated November 5, 2020 at 10:19PM

Arlington County police are investigating a case of razor blades taped to the bottom of a political sign.

A victim was cut after she removed a sign from along George Mason Drive on Wednesday afternoon, suffering minor injuries, police said today. A photo released by police show several razor blades attached to the bottom of the sign.

News

Aurora Highlands Playing Hardball in Push Against Softball Fields

By ARLnow.com

Published November 5, 2020 at 3:45PM | Updated November 5, 2020 at 11:01PM

Community use of a softball field at Virginia Highlands Park during the pandemic (photo courtesy Aurora Highlands Civic Association)

(Updated at 9:45 p.m.) A neighborhood group’s years-long battle against softball fields at Virginia Highlands Park in the Pentagon City area is continuing.

The Aurora Highlands Civic Association doesn’t have anything against the sport itself, but asserts that the permit-priority fields on the west side of the park at 1600 S. Hayes Street could be better used as unprogrammed open space.

News

Arlington’s Test Positivity Rate Ticks Up, While New Cases Stay Elevated But Hold Steady

By ARLnow.com

Published November 5, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated November 5, 2020 at 10:47AM

Has the rate of new coronavirus cases in Arlington plateaued? Or just paused its upwards trajectory?

It’s unclear, but for the past five days the trailing seven-day average of new daily cases has remained within a tight range, between 30 and 33.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Thanksgiving Plans Amid the Pandemic

By ARLnow.com

Published November 5, 2020 at 9:30AM | Updated November 5, 2020 at 9:52AM

(Updated at 9:50 a.m.) Thanksgiving is only three weeks away, and with coronavirus on the rise in much of the country, plans for the holiday are in flux.

The usual gatherings of family and friends are now subject to a calculation: is a big turkey dinner worth the risk of contracting a potentially deadly or debilitating disease?

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 5, 2020 at 6:00AM

Frederick-to-Arlington Transit Proposal — “Proposed transit service connecting Arlington to Frederick (Md.) and points in between remains on the table, but barely, after scoring low in a recent cost-benefit analysis conducted by the Virginia and Maryland state governments… As envisioned, the transit route would start at Frederick six times each workday morning and terminate an hour later at the Pentagon, with intermediate stops at Monocacy, Urbana, Germantown, Gaithersburg, Montgomery Mall and Rosslyn.” [InsideNova]

Women Groped in Aurora Highlands — “At approximately 7:18 p.m. on November 3, police were dispatched to the late report of an assault. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 6:30 p.m., the victim was running in the area when the suspect approached her from behind and grabbed her buttocks. The victim yelled, and the suspect fled on foot, then entered the passenger side of a vehicle and left the area.” [ACPD]

News

‘Protect the Results’ Rally Held in Courthouse

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2020 at 5:20PM | Updated November 4, 2020 at 10:48PM

Scenes from the “Protect the Results" rally in Courthouse Wednesday evening (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 10:45 p.m.) Dozens gathered in front of Arlington County government headquarters in Courthouse for a rally calling for every vote from Tuesday’s election to be counted.

The “Protect the Results” rally, which kicked off at 5 p.m., was organized and promoted by a variety of local Democratic and progressive groups. It was held as the 2020 presidential race hangs in the balance, still too close to call in a number of key states.

News

VDOT Holding Hearing About Boundary Channel Drive Changes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2020 at 2:30PM

Changes are coming to the Boundary Channel Drive and I-395 interchange, and with a public hearing on the plans set for Thursday.

VDOT is set to hold the virtual design public hearing at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Nov. 5) via Cisco Webex. It will discuss the agency’s plans “to upgrade the Boundary Channel Drive interchange at I-395 to improve safety, traffic flow and enhance accessibility and connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians.”