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.
The weekend is here and so is a new episode of the ARLnow podcast.
In the latest episode, Vernon, Dan and Lene — and two special guests, Simon Rathle and David Guas from Bayou Bakery — discuss a few notable local news stories in Arlington from the past week, including:
Screenshot of ARLnow's "Letter to the Editor" forum
Several years ago, ARLnow stopped publishing letters to the editor and opinion columns.
Whereas opinion content in print newspapers was largely confined to its own section, clearly separate from the news, the internet flattens content and makes every post “headline news” somewhere, from social feeds to search results to email newsletters. We heard from many readers who voiced concerns less at the ideas expressed in opinion articles and more so in ARLnow’s decision to “highlight” them.
Given that our primary focus is reporting the news, it wasn’t too hard of a decision to pull back on publishing opinion content. After all, those who want to voice their thoughts on local issues can always do so in our comment section.
But the comment section itself has not been immune to the broader deterioration of online engagement, which has over time resulted it in becoming more of a battleground for political takes than the forum for purely local insights and discourse that many would prefer.
So in an attempt to bring back more longer-form local opinion and analysis, we’re bringing back letters to the editor. But with a twist.
We’ve created our own Letter to the Editor forum, where anyone can submit letters for all to read, upvote and comment on, and for ARLnow to consider for publication. We’ve yet to decide if and how we will publish letters to the editor on the site — that will depend on the volume and quality of the submissions we receive.
We’d appreciate any feedback on this new offering, including bug reports (this is a beta version, after all). Please email us with your thoughts.
Dozens of new restaurants have landed in Arlington over the past few months, adding to the county’s diverse dining scene. New offerings this year range from French-American and Nepalese cuisine to sushi and Italian subs.
Rainbow over football practice at Washington-Liberty High School (courtesy Sophie Collins)
Cuts at Crystal City-Based PBS — “PBS is cutting 100 positions, or roughly 15 percent of its staff, as a result of the major federal funding cuts to public broadcasting. Paula Kerger, the chief executive of PBS, said in an email to station managers on Thursday that the staff reductions were a last resort. The organization had already frozen hiring, restricted travel and paused pay increases.” [NYT]
Weekend Road Closures for D.C. Event — “The course also runs over the Potomac River Freeway, Whitehurst Freeway and the 14th Street Bridge HOV lanes, which will all be closed during the ride. Ramp closures on I-395 near Pentagon City, Maine Avenue SW and the 12th Street Expressway will also be in effect through the morning.” [WTOP]
Vivid Rainbow After Storm — “A low hanging rainbow fading right now over I-395, Boeing Fields at Long Bridge Park, and Gravelly Point in Arlington.” [Dave Statter/X, MyRadar/X]
New CivFed Panel — The Arlington County Civic Federation has established a new Well-Being Subcommittee that will first meet online on Monday, Sept. 29. The subcommittee will serve as “an avenue to sponsor conversation and advocacy,” said its chair, Allan Gajadhar. —Scott McCaffrey
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 88 today, with light southwest winds picking up to 5-10 mph in the morning. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 71 and south winds around 6 mph. [NWS]
Expect sunny skies and a high of 88 today, with light southwest winds picking up to 5-10 mph in the morning. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 71 and south winds at around 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
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.
Top of the Washington-Liberty High School annex building (Flickr pool photo by Emma K. Alexandra)
APS Goes to Court — “Arlington and Fairfax County Public Schools urged a federal judge to block the U.S. Department of Education from placing restrictions on millions of dollars in federal funding, amid an escalating legal battle over the districts’ transgender-inclusive policies. The hearing, held Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, is the latest development in a lawsuit filed in July by the two Northern Virginia school systems.” [WUSA 9, NBC 4]
More Funding for Local Startup — “Arlington cybersecurity startup Shift5 Inc. has landed $75 million in new funding to fuel R&D and marketing for products that monitor and protect transportation and defense systems. Hedosophia — a London-based venture capital firm that was an early backer of Chinese tech giant Alibaba, streaming provider Spotify Technology S.A. and ride-sharing platform Uber Technologies Inc. — led the Series C funding round.” [WBJ]
ACFD Called to Oxon Hill Crash — “The video below shows @ArlingtonVaFD Rescue Squad 109 from S. Walter Reed Drive fighting traffic into DC to get to a crash in Oxon Hill, MD this evening. It’s a 13 mile slow trip during rush hour to the Beltway and I-295… the initial response to this crash had no PGFD units. It was an engine from Alexandria, an ambulance from Fairfax County, and Arlington’s rescue.” [Dave Statter/X]
Lowering Childcare Costs — “William Gormley, university professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy, said he was surprised but not shocked at the cost of child care in Arlington… We asked Gormley the reasons behind rising daycare costs and what policies would help make child care more affordable for families.” [Georgetown University]
Local Teens Helping the Hungry — “Two teenagers are working to put a dent in food scarcity for county residents and this week donated just under 2,000 pounds of cereal to Loudoun Hunger Relief. Fiona Bensten and Arden Peale… decided to start a nonprofit, naming it the Feeding Hope Project, to do even more food drives… Although the two girls live in Arlington, they said they had a connection with Loudoun Hunger Relief through the organization’s President and CEO.” [Loudoun Now]
It’s Thursday — Thunderstorms are possible after 5pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 86. South winds will range from 8-14 mph, gusting up to 26 mph, and a 30% chance of precipitation. On Thursday night, expect showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, followed by a chance of showers until 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 65, southwest winds of 6-10 mph, and a 30% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Thunderstorms are possible after 5pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 86. South winds will range from 8-14 mph, gusting up to 26 mph, and a 30% chance of precipitation. On Thursday night, expect showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, followed by a chance of showers until 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 65, southwest winds of 6-10 mph, and a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The secret of success is to know something nobody else knows.” – Aristotle Onassis
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.
Roslyn Jefferson makes her lottery ticket selections on a self-serve terminal inside a gas station ahead of Saturday's Powerball drawing offering of $1 billion, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Summer is ending but lottery fever is heating up.
The Powerball jackpot is now well above the $1 billion mark, with another drawing set for tonight.
From the Associated Press:
An estimated $1.4 billion lottery jackpot will be up for grabs Wednesday night thanks to dozens of drawings without a big winner.
No one has won the grand prize since May 31, and the 41st drawing on Wednesday will be just one fewer than the record set last year.
All of that losing stems from Powerball’s abysmal odds of 1 in 292.2 million, though lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the game’s many smaller prizes. There are three drawings each week.
The $1.4 billion jackpot is for a winner who opts to receive 30 payments over 29 years through an annuity. Winners almost always choose the game’s cash option, which for this drawing would be an estimated $634.3 million.
Powerball tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ARLnow has conducted (unscientific) polls for previous billion-dollar plus jackpots, finding…
Labor Day protest on an I-66 overpass (courtesy Phil D.)
County Making First Amazon Payment — “Arlington County will pay Amazon more than $81,000 this month, officials said, giving the company its first cut of taxpayer subsidies” for HQ2 in Pentagon City. [Washington Post]
Overturned Vehicle Near Rosslyn — “Units responded to an overturned vehicle at the 66WB exit of Route 110. Crews found a single vehicle on its roof in the woods with one person trapped. Teams quickly gained access and extricated an adult male, who was treated and transported with non-life-threatening injuries.” [ACFD/X, WJLA]
Flyover Planned Today — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct a flyover in the National Capital Region (NCR) over The White House on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 11:10AM.”
ACPD Seeks Knife-Wielding Man — “5200 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 12:39 a.m. on August 31, police were dispatched to the report of a suspect with a weapon… the male victim was outside of a business when the male suspect approached and engaged them in conversation. The victim then briefly walked away when the suspect produced a knife and began chasing the victim.” [ACPD]
It’s Preparedness Month — “September is National Preparedness Month, and Arlington County is urging all residents to take steps now to prepare for emergencies and disasters, whether natural or human-made. The 2025 theme is “Preparedness Starts at Home”, which focuses on getting back to the essentials.” [Arlington County]
Potential Plane Crash Debris — “Alexandria police are investigating if possible wreckage found recently found in the Potomac River could be tied to the deadly midair collision in DC this past January.” [Fox 5]
Covid Vax Changes — “Getting a COVID-19 vaccine shot this fall will take more than a quick trip to the pharmacy. The federal government’s new limits on who is eligible for COVID vaccines — and questions over insurance coverage — are causing confusion over the accessibility of shots once universally recommended.” [Axios]
It’s Wednesday — The dry streak continues, with mostly sunny skies, a high of around 81°F, and a southeast breeze around 5 mph during the afternoon. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of around 63°F and south winds at 6 mph. [NWS]
Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of around 81°F, with calm winds picking up from southeast at around 5 mph during the afternoon. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of around 63°F and south winds at 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr
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.
Fire Station No. 10 in Rosslyn (courtesy George Brazier)
D.C. Retrocession History — “On this date & the following day in 1846–Virginia held a referendum on the retrocession of their former territory—out of then-square DC, seceding back to Virginia Arlington wisely voted no. Alexandria (sadly then home to an intense trade in enslaved people at its port) voted yes.” [DC Council via Maureen Coffey/Bluesky]
Sign Prompts Big Donation — “Robert Johnson, the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, has donated $500,000 to GOP Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ campaign for governor after she was targeted by a racist sign at a recent campaign rally, according to her campaign.” [Politico]
New Airport K-9 — “Welcome to our newest addition, K9 Stone!! Stone is a 6-year-old, Shepherd/Malinois mix, making #MWAAPD his new home from SEPTA. K9 Stone and his handler, Cpl. Latson, are passionate about serving their airport community at IAD and DCA!” [MWAA Police/X]
Future of N. Va. Economy — “Facing imminent severe economic headwinds in the region, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, alongside elected officials from across Northern Virginia this past week, confirmed a unified call to action aimed at safeguarding and reinventing the region’s economy for a more diversified and equitable future.” [FCNP]
It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching a high near 78 degrees and a mild north wind around 6 mph. As for Tuesday night, the skies will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to a low around 58 degrees. [NWS]
Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of approximately 77 degrees and a gentle north wind around 6 mph. As for Saturday night, it will be mostly clear with temperatures dipping to around 57 degrees and a light north breeze. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.” – Charles Kingsleigh
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
