Author: ARLnow.com

Restaurant Files for Bankruptcy — “An affiliate of Epic Smokehouse has filed for bankruptcy petition, more than a decade after Wayne Halleran and Joon Yang, former staffers at The Palm in Tysons, teamed up open the barbecue restaurant across from the Costco in Pentagon City.” [WBJ]

Busboys and Poets to DCA — “Busboys and Poets is planning a new outpost at Reagan National Airport as part of a first-ever licensing agreement… The roughly 90-seat restaurant, slated to open as soon as next spring, will be a scaled-down version of the restaurant and cultural hub.” [WBJ]

Chick-fil-A Renovating at DCA — “Big news, Chick-fil-A fans! Our location will be TEMPORARILY closed starting today, April 30, for a fresh new remodel. Don’t worry—we’ll be back soon and better than ever, ready to serve your favorites with an upgraded look!” [Reagan Airport/X]

Local Teacher Charged in Fairfax — “A now-retired Fairfax County Public Schools teacher is facing criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a student and a colleague. Detectives began investigating Mary Simons, 63, of Arlington after Child Protective Services received a tip on March 28 alleging that she had assaulted a student while teaching at Parklawn Elementary School.” [FFXnow]

Robbery in Ballston — ” At approximately 12:09 p.m. on April 29, police were dispatched to the report of a robbery by force. Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim was inside a stairwell of a parking garage when two male suspects entered the stairwell, assaulted him, stole clothing items and subsequently fled the scene on foot. The victim sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital.” [ACPD]

ID Change for ANC Drivers — “Beginning May 7, 2025, all individuals over the age of 18 who are authorized to drive onto Arlington National Cemetery in a vehicle should be prepared to present a REAL ID at the security checkpoint… Visitors who arrive by vehicle and park in the Welcome Center parking garage, walk, take the Metro or use a ride share service to ANC will not be required to present a REAL ID” [Arlington National Cemetery]

Home Listings Up — “The number of newly listed homes for sale in Northern Virginia in March was up 25.7% compared to March of last year, indicating more existing homeowners are deciding it is time to sell, whether by choice or need.” [WTOP]

Gov. Visits DEA in Arlington — “At @DEAHQ, Suzanne and I stood before the Faces of Fentanyl: sons and daughters, friends and neighbors, lives cut short by a single pill. Operation FREE has seized nearly 800 lbs of fentanyl to date—enough to kill every Virginian 10x over. We’ll never stop fighting to save lives.” [Gov. Glenn Youngkin/X]

It’s Thursday — Expect a partly sunny day with a high around 80 and a southeast wind of 6 to 10 mph. There’s a chance of showers and storms starting in the afternoon. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 66 and a 40% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

Fmr. Assistant Fire Chief Dies — “It is with deep sorrow that the Arlington County Fire Department announces the passing of former Assistant Fire Chief, Benjamin M. Barksdale Jr., after a courageous battle against occupational cancer. Chief Barksdale served our community and this department with honor and devotion for twenty-four years, rising through the ranks from Firefighter to Assistant Fire Chief.” [ACFD/Facebook]

GOP Warns Against MAGA Event — “This is an event being run by a verified grifter. The event advertises “no refunds” and your money does not go to an organized political entity. If you have already purchased a ticket, it will not be refunded. Attendees beware.” [Arlington GOP/X]

Fentanyl Deaths Down in Va. — “Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced new data from the Virginia Department of Health Office of the Chief Medical Examiner show fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Virginia declined 44 percent year over year and are down over 46 percent from its peak in 2021.” [Press Release]

Another Assault at Metro Station — “At approximately 6:04 p.m. on April 28, an officer on patrol in the Pentagon City Metro Station stopped the juvenile female suspect for fare evasion. While in custody, the suspect began acting disorderly, ignored commands and assaulted three officers. The officers did not report any injuries.” [ACPD]

ACPD Camps Filling Up — “ACPD’s Safety Patrol Camp application is now CLOSED! The last few spots for ACPD’s 2025 Summer Camps are going fast! Applications for the below camps will be open until Sunday, May 4 at 11:59 p.m. OR until all spots are filled!” [ACPD]

Group Adding Asian Representation — “Just days before the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Very Asian Foundation brought its powerful literacy initiative, The May Book Project, to Carlin Springs Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia. The project’s mission: to ensure students can see themselves and their classmates reflected in the books they read.” [WUSA 9]

Looking Back on ‘Little Saigon’ — “By car, on foot, by boat and several planes, they made their way to Northern Virginia, in the shadow of the Pentagon, where a tiny Vietnamese enclave had been growing since the 1960s — the manifestation of decades of U.S. intervention in Southeast Asia. Within a few years, that strip of shops anchored by the Nguyens’ store became known as ‘Little Saigon.'” [Washington Post]

Lt. Gov. Candidate Spat Continues — “A lawyer for John Reid, the GOP’s nominee for Virginia lieutenant governor, sent a cease-and-desist notice to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s top political adviser Monday, escalating a political spectacle that began last week when the governor asked that Reid abandon his bid over racy social media posts that Reid says are not his.” [Washington Post]

It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly cloudy skies that eventually turn sunny, with temperatures reaching around 80°F and a 20% chance of precipitation. The night will be partly cloudy with lows near 60°F. [NWS]

Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar

Arlington GOP Stands With Reid — “The Governor called John Reid after allegations were brought to his attention about a concerning web presence. It is appropriate for the Governor to make that call and to have a frank conversation with a candidate about an issue — any issue — he sees as potentially problematic on the campaign trail. What is not appropriate is an unelected, unaccountable consultant leaking the details of that call to the press to gin up a scandal.” [Arlington GOP, Daily Mail]

‘Kids on Bikes’ Cause Mayhem — “It’s kids on bikes time: With the warmer weather, @ArlingtonVaPD officers are dealing with groups of young teens on bicycles connected to some low-level criminal activity. ACPD chased a group on Friday along S. Hayes and S. 12th (video 1) after a man who apparently tried to stop some harassment was pepper sprayed.” [Dave Statter/X]

Video: Smoking School Bus — “Along Route 50 from Rosslyn to Arlington Forest a private school bus belching smoke caught the attention of a lot of drivers and police a short time ago. Many were concerned because there were children on the bus. @ArlingtonVaPD caught up with it at N. Park and got the kids off the bus. @ArlingtonVaFD confirmed it was a mechanical issue with no fire.” [Dave Statter/X]

Connelly’s Cancer Has Returned — “Rep. Gerry Connolly, who has represented Virginia’s 11th district for nearly 20 years, will not seek another term in Congress, he announced today (Monday). The 75-year-old congressman, who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer late last year, has seen a re-emergence of the illness, according to a statement.” [FFXnow, Rep. Don Beyer/X]

ACPD Announces Awards — “On Friday, the Arlington County Police Department came together to celebrate the extraordinary dedication, service and achievements of our sworn and professional staff at our annual Departmental Awards Ceremony. Award recipients, nominated by their peers for exceptional acts of service, were recognized in the categories of Purple Star, Lifesaving, Meritorious Action, Police Service and Leadership.” [ACPD/Facebook]

Nearby: Pricy Starter Homes — “Great Falls is one of 233 communities nationwide where the value of a typical “starter home” now tops $1 million, according to a new Zillow analysis. At just over $1.2 million, the typical value of a Great Falls starter home is six times the national average. Great Falls is the lone Virginia community to make the 2025 list.” [FFXnow]

Debanking Task Force Formed — “The Task Force will investigate allegations of “debanking,” when banks refuse customers access to credit and other financial services based on impermissible factors under current federal and state law. This initiative will address allegations of debanking in the Commonwealth of Virginia by investigating allegations of debanking actions taken against Virginians, and if appropriate, seeking civil relief against banking institutions in federal or state court.” [DOJ]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny weather and a high near 85 with a south wind at 9-14 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. On Tuesday night, there’s a 20% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms. The night will otherwise be mostly cloudy with a low around 67. [NWS]