ARLnow.com | ARLnow

Still No Construction in Sight for Courthouse Wendy’s Site

Published September 16, 2019 at 12:45PM

Site of former Wendy's in Courthouse in September 2019 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Nearly four years after the Wendy’s in Courthouse closed, the prominent but empty lot at 2026 Wilson Blvd is set to remain an empty lot for the foreseeable future.

Once set to become a 12-story office building, the site — located on a triangle of land a block from the Courthouse Metro station — is now proposed as a “temporary off-site contractor’s storage and staging area” for the condo construction project across the street. The Arlington County Board is set to consider the use permit at its meeting this Saturday.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 16, 2019 at 7:30AM

Crystal City skyline across the Potomac (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Local DJ Competing for World Championship — “Arlington resident Ross Volpe, known professionally as DJ Throdown, won the DMC U.S. Finals DJ Battle and will represent the U.S. on Sept. 28 in London at the DMC World DJ Championships.” [InsideNova]

Friday Fire Call at Ballston Harris Teeter — “ACFD on scene of the Ballston Harris Teeter for reports of flames coming from a seafood display. Firefighters on scene say it’s a malfunctioning refrigerator, per scanner. Expect emergency activity on N. Glebe Road.” [Twitter]

News

JUST IN: No Shooting, Just Panic After False ‘Shooter’ Claim, Police Say

By ARLnow.com

Published September 15, 2019 at 12:25PM

Large groups of pedestrians and emergency responders in Ballston

(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) Arlington County Police say there was no shooting last night in Ballston, just a panic caused by a single juvenile male.

News

BREAKING: Mass Panic in Ballston After Unsubstantiated Report of Active Shooter

By ARLnow.com

Published September 14, 2019 at 9:00PM | Updated December 31, 2019 at 10:02AM

(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) Arlington County Police responded en masse to an incident at the Ballston Quarter mall Saturday night.

In a 8:50 p.m. emergency alert, Arlington County described the incident as a “possible shooting.” Initial reports suggest a panic at the Regal Cinemas movie theater after a group of teens started shouting about an active shooter.

News

Arlington Parks and Rec Employee Accused of Molesting Girl

By ARLnow.com

Published September 14, 2019 at 11:00AM

Arlington County Police are trying to find possible additional victims of Walter Contreras, a 42-year-old Arlington resident, after police say he followed a girl into a room at the Barcroft Recreation Center and touched her sexually.

The incident happened in late August but was reported to police earlier this week, police said. Contreras has been charged with Aggravated Sexual Battery, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Opinion

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

Published September 13, 2019 at 6:00PM

After a brief resurgence of sweltering summer, more fall-like weather is here, ahead of what should be a pretty nice weekend.

Despite a relatively slow second week of September, compared to the usual frenetic pace of things this time of year, there were a number of stories of note over the past five days.

News

Power Outage Prompts Closure of Library Near Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Published September 13, 2019 at 10:00AM | Updated September 13, 2019 at 10:28AM

Update at 10:30 a.m. — Power has been restored.

The power at Aurora Hills Branch Library has been restored.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 13, 2019 at 7:30AM

GMU to Expand Va. Square Campus — “George Mason University wants to transform its Arlington campus into an ‘innovation district’ as it kicks off an Amazon-inspired overhaul… Mason expects to use the expansion to add 3,000 to 4,000 graduate students to the campus by 2024.” [Washington Business Journal]

Man Arrested For Assaulting Police in Ballston — “At approximately 8:32 p.m. on September 11, police were dispatched the report of a disorderly subject inside a restaurant who had allegedly been throwing items and threatening staff. Upon police arrival, the business staff requested the subject be banned from the property. While speaking with the subject, he threatened an officer and took a defensive stance. While placing him under arrest, the subject became combative, kicked and spit at the officers.” [Arlington County]

Around Town

JUST IN: Hula Girl Closing in Shirlington

By ARLnow.com

Published September 12, 2019 at 12:20PM

Hula Girl Bar and Grill in December 2015

Hula Girl Bar and Grill is closing next week in the Village at Shirlington after nearly four years in business.

The Hawaiian restaurant, which opened at 4044 Campbell Avenue in late 2015, is the creation of chef and owner Mikala Brennan, who first operated Hula Girl as a food truck. Since opening the restaurant Brennan has made occasional appearances on the Food Network.

Schools

W-L High School Dismissed Early Due to Air Conditioning Issue

By ARLnow.com

Published September 12, 2019 at 10:45AM

Washington-Liberty High School logo designed by students (photo via @wl_arts/Twitter)

A problem with the air conditioning at Washington Liberty High School is prompting an early dismissal.

With temperatures expected to climb into the mid-90s today, school administrators decided to send students home at 10:40 a.m. rather than have them stay in increasingly warm classrooms.

News

UPDATED: Man Shot on Columbia Pike Early Thursday Morning

By ARLnow.com

Published September 12, 2019 at 9:10AM | Updated September 12, 2019 at 4:38PM

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) A man has been arrested in connection with an overnight shooting along Columbia Pike.

The shooting happened just before 1 a.m., outside a business on the 3100 block of Columbia Pike. Initial reports suggest the man was shot in the abdomen and rushed to the trauma center at George Washington University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. As of 4 p.m. today, police said the victim was in “critical but stable condition.”

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 12, 2019 at 6:00AM

A cyclist heads east on the W&OD Trail (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Ovi Visits Local Elementary School — “In conjunction with the launch of Ovi O’s, Alex Ovechkin’s limited-edition breakfast cereal, the Washington Capitals’ captain surprised Arlington Traditional School, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and a local Giant store with a visit on Sept. 10.” [NHL]

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in Courthouse — “Officials in Northern Virginia held a moment of silence to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Sen Tim Kaine, Rep. Don Beyer, military commanders, local Arlington County officials and members of the Virginia House attended the remembrance ceremony on Arlington County government plaza.” [NBC 4, WUSA 9]