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.
House fire in the Country Club Hills neighborhood on March 23, 2026 (via ACFD/X)
A family safely got out after the attic of their home in the Country Club Hills neighborhood caught fire this morning.
Firefighters were first dispatched to the house on the 4600 block of 35th Street N. around 9:15 a.m. to investigate a burning light fixture and a haze on the second floor, according to scanner traffic. Arriving units reported smoke coming from the roof and asked for the call to be upgraded and additional resources to be dispatched.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) is co-leading a bipartisan bill aimed at giving parents more tools to protect their children on social media.
Warner introduced “Sammy’s Law” today (Monday) alongside Sens. Jon Husted (R-OH) and Katie Britt (R-AL). The legislation would require large social media platforms — those with at least 100 million monthly active users or $1 billion in annual gross revenue — to work with independent safety software providers that can help families monitor children’s accounts, according to the bill text.
Blooming in Lubber Run Park (Flickr pool photo by ksrjghkegkdhgkk)
Beyer Blasts Trump on Iran — Rep. Don Beyer (D) called the president’s handling of the Iran conflict a “clown show,” posting that Trump “was awfully concerned about the ‘pallets of cash’ sent to Iran a decade ago, but is now going to give them nearly 10x that amount in the middle of a war.” In a separate post, Beyer called the president’s behavior “increasingly erratic” and “a clear and growing threat.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X, Rep. Don Beyer/X]
Redistricting Referendum Jitters — “It’s not a done deal by any means,” Rep. Beyer said of the upcoming Virginia redistricting referendum, adding that Democrats will need to persuade voters to “hold their nose on gerrymandering because this is a response to Trump’s gerrymandering.” [NBC 4]
AG Sues Over Tegna Merger — Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (D) and seven other state AGs filed a lawsuit to block Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion takeover of Tysons-based Tegna, arguing the merger would reduce competition in local news. The FCC had approved the deal earlier the same day. [FFXnow]
Courthouse Market Expanding — The Saturday morning Arlington Farmers Market in the Courthouse parking lot is expanding by 4,000 square feet and nearly 20 tents for the season, beginning April 4. The market, contracted out to FRESHFARM, doubles SNAP benefits and accepts SFMNP. [Arlington County]
Remembering ‘Rusty’ Lynn — E. Russell “Rusty” Lynn Jr., 83, of Arlington, died Feb. 22. A Presbyterian pastor turned licensed clinical social worker, he worked at the Whitman-Walker Clinic during the AIDS crisis and married his husband Ed at Clarendon Presbyterian Church in 2015. A memorial service will be held April 18. [Washington Post]
That Loud Boom, Explained — The NWS says the loud “boom” heard Friday evening was a powerful positive cloud-to-ground lightning strike in Frederick County, Md. A temperature inversion near the ground acted “like an echo chamber,” making the already powerful strike seem even louder. [NWS/X]
Cherry Blossom Picks — The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs through April 12, and Axios has a local’s guide to the best events, including the Blossom Kite Festival (March 28), the Oxon Run Pinknic (March 29) and the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival (April 11–12). [Axios]
Guard Deployment Extended — The Pentagon is planning to keep National Guard members deployed in D.C. until 2029, the end of President Trump’s term. “It could be $1.6 million a day,” D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said. “I don’t get the point.” [WJLA]
It’s Monday — Rain showers this morning taper off around 10 a.m., giving way to partly sunny skies with a high near 60. North winds 8–16 mph with gusts up to 29 mph. Tonight clears out with a low around 33. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 66 degrees and a gentle north wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. Saturday night will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 48 degrees, and winds shifting from the east to south at 6 mph after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! 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. 👋
Lane closures are coming to the George Washington Memorial Parkway starting next week, for a resurfacing project.
Crews will remove the top layer of worn asphalt in both directions and repave the road in two sections: between Spout Run Parkway and I-395, and between Reagan National Airport and First Street in Alexandria, according to NPS. The work is expected to continue through mid-June, weather permitting.
The arrival of spring brings flowers, sunshine, warm weather and — for some — spring cleaning.
For Arlingtonians looking for some help getting their homes sparkling clean this season or any time of year, a wide range of services can tackle everything from routine maintenance to thorough deep cleans.
Here are the nominees for “Best Cleaning Service in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite service? Write it in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Home Renovation Firm is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Blooms emerging on a tree in North Arlington (staff photo)
Firefighters Warn on Cuts — The local firefighters union pointed to a call in which Rescue 102 was dispatched to a second alarm in Fairfax County: “If the proposed budget passes and Rescue 102 is cut… this would have left Arlington County with ZERO Rescue units available for our own residents.” [IAFF Arlington/FB]
Pentagon City Robbery — A man entered a store in the 1200 block of S. Hayes Street on Tuesday afternoon, asked to view merchandise and then shoved an employee when a display case was unlocked, stole merchandise and fled on foot, according to police. No injuries were reported. [ACPD]
Snowcrete Pile Finally Gone — Crews removed the last remnants of the “snowcrete” pile on 14th Street N. near N. Courthouse Road, nearly two months after January’s winter storm. The block had served as a dump site for snow removed from other roadways. [DC News Now]
Cape Raises $100M — Cape, an Arlington-based privacy-focused mobile carrier, raised $100 million in a Series C round co-led by Bain Capital Ventures and IVP. The company says it has “redesigned a telco from scratch” for government agencies and individuals concerned about surveillance. [Potomac Tech Wire]
Opower Alum Scales Carecubes — Carecubes, an Arlington-based startup founded by former Opower president Alex Laskey, raised $6.5 million in Series A funding for its pop-up isolation units designed to contain airborne infections in hospitals. The company has backing from DARPA and the CDC and customers across 13 states. [WBJ, Potomac Tech Wire]
School Traffic Enforcement — ACPD conducted “high-visibility enforcement and education in response to community complaints regarding traffic safety” around Yorktown High School and Dorothy Hamm Middle School on Thursday. [ACPD/X]
APS Employees of the Year — Arlington Public Schools named its 2026 employees of the year, including Kenmore’s Robin Stewart as Teacher of the Year, Jamestown’s Michelle McCarthy as Principal of the Year and Williamsburg’s Engelberto Zamora as Support Employee of the Year. [APS]
ACPD Community Meetings — Arlington police are hosting spring quarterly community meetings on March 24 at Macedonia Baptist Church (3412 22nd Street S.) and March 25 at Grace Community Church in Ballston Quarter. Topics include scam prevention and spring transportation safety. [Arlington County]
Dulles Mideast Flights Slashed — About two-thirds of flights from Dulles to the broader Middle East have been cancelled since U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran began Feb. 28, according to MWAA. Middle East traffic accounts for about 10% of international travel through the airport. [FFXnow]
Shutdown Hits TSA Workers — A month into the DHS shutdown, TSA workers have missed paychecks, more than 300 airport security officers have quit and food banks across the region are stepping in to help. House Democrats are pushing to fund most of DHS while excluding immigration enforcement agencies. [Fox 5, Fox 5]
Winter Is (Finally) Over — The Capital Weather Gang has officially declared the winter of 2025–2026 over, after a season that was the coldest since 2002–2003. Highs are expected to surge into the 60s today and reach the 70s by Sunday. [CWG/X, Washington Post]
Drought Stabilizing — Most of the D.C. region remains in moderate drought, an improvement from the severe drought that covered much of the area from late December through mid-February, according to the Capital Weather Gang. About 2–2.5 inches of precipitation since March 1 has helped, but below-normal rainfall is expected through the rest of the month. [CWG/X]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 68, a big jump from the recent chill, but scattered rain showers are possible after 2 p.m. with south winds gusting up to 25 mph. Rain chances increase Friday night, with a low around 49. [NWS]
Expect scattered showers after 2 PM with increasing clouds and a high near 68°F. Winds will shift from light south to southwest at 8–13 mph, with gusts up to 24 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. Showers are likely Friday night, mainly between 8 PM and 2 AM, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 49°F. Southwest winds will be 7–10 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph, and a 60% chance of precipitation, with expected rainfall between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
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.
Address:1805 N Calvert Street Neighborhood: Lyon Village Type: 3 BR, 3 (+1 half) BA single-family detached – 3526 sq. ft. Listed: $1,795,000
Noteworthy: Charming Lyon Village bungalow with modern updates and energy efficiency
Tucked away on a quiet street in Arlington’s sought-after Lyon Village, this classic bungalow blends timeless charm with thoughtful updates and exceptional energy efficiency. A welcoming wraparound front porch sets the tone for this inviting home.
The open-concept main level is designed for both everyday living and entertaining, featuring custom solid maple hardwood floors and a beautifully appointed kitchen with solid teak cabinetry, gas cooking, and a farmhouse sink. The main living area includes a cozy window seat and custom built-ins, adding warmth, character, and functional storage. Elegant mahogany French doors fill the home with natural light and open to a spacious wood deck, seamlessly extending the living area outdoors and overlooking a private, fully fenced backyard. A charming sitting room with a fireplace provides an additional inviting space and connects to the front porch.
Upstairs, the expansive primary suite features cathedral ceilings, a spacious walk-in closet, charming Juliet balconies, and a spa-inspired bath with dual vanities, a frameless glass shower, and a freestanding soaking tub. Two additional bedrooms share a well-appointed hall bath, while a versatile fourth room offers flexibility for a home office or nursery.
The lower level includes a large recreation room, an in-law suite with a full bath and kitchen, and an oversized laundry area. A geothermal system with three deep wells ensures quiet, efficient heating and cooling. Just blocks to Clarendon’s shops, dining, and Metro, this exceptional home combines timeless design, modern efficiency, and an unbeatable location.
Spring blooms at Arlington National Cemetery (via ANC/YouTube)
Spring is here, and so are the blooms across Arlington National Cemetery’s 639 acres.
The cemetery just released a video showcasing its grounds in full spring splendor: flowering trees, rolling green hills and quiet moments among the headstones.
