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.
A fire truck leaves Station 2 on Wilson Blvd (file photo by Jay Westcott)
A dog was rescued from an apartment fire in Arlington this morning.
The fire was reported around 8:45 a.m. Thursday on the second floor of a high-rise building in the 4500 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive, just south of Columbia Pike, according to the Arlington County Fire Department.
Arlington County police are looking for suspects in three business robberies reported across the county on Tuesday.
In each incident, suspects allegedly took merchandise from a retail store and either used force or made threats against employees, according to an Arlington County Police Department crime report.
Weenie Beenie on a sunny day (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Bike to Work Day Tomorrow — Tomorrow (Friday) is the regional Bike to Work Day, with BikeArlington hosting morning pit stops in Ballston, Columbia Pike and Rosslyn from 7-9 a.m. Riders who register get a free t-shirt. Additional Arlington pit stops are planned at Met Park, National Landing Water Park, Lyon Village and the National Guard HQ. [BikeArlington]
Rosslyn BID Relocating — “The Rosslyn Business Improvement District is moving its offices a few blocks south ahead of the demolition of its longtime home.” The BID will occupy a new, roughly 7,300 square foot office at 1100/1101 Wilson Blvd by the end of May. Developer Penzance plans to raze the two 12-story Rosslyn Gateway buildings to make way for One Rosslyn — three residential towers totaling some 800 units, rising as high as 29 stories. [WBJ]
ART Earns Energy Award — “The Arlington Transit (ART) Operations and Maintenance Facility has been named a 2026 Better Project Award Winner by the U.S. Department of Energy.” The new facility reduced energy costs by 83% through strategic upgrades, including 817 solar panels that offset annual energy consumption by 67%. The award was presented this week at the Better Buildings & Better Plants Summit in Crystal City. [Arlington County]
Notable Library Events — Among other Arlington Public Library programming this weekend, Courthouse Library will host “Descenes and Discord” on Saturday at 2 p.m. — a lecture on the late 1970s and early ’80s DMV punk scene (registration full, waitlist available). On Sunday at 11 a.m., Columbia Pike Library hosts Native Hawaiian author and journalist Sara Kehaulani Goo for an author talk on her memoir “Kuleana.” [APL, APL]
Airports Authority Names Chief — “The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has selected Police Maj. Joseph Kluh as its new police chief, with his appointment set to take effect Sunday.” The 28-year department veteran is the first chief appointed from within the agency’s ranks. The MWAA police department has more than 230 personnel covering Reagan National, Dulles International and the Dulles Toll Road. [Patch]
Bridge Construction Closures — “The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will implement temporary lane closures on the I-395 NB HOV Bridge for concrete deck replacement work.” Alternating left and right lanes of the bridge over the Potomac will close from 9:30 p.m. Friday to 4:30 a.m. Saturday for barrier relocation. Exit ramps to I-395 NB and 14th Street will also close. [AlertDC]
Spanberger to Veto Union Bill — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger intends to veto a bill that would expand collective bargaining powers for public employees after the proposed law received bipartisan pushback, according to lawmakers.” Some officials worried the bill would significantly increase local government expenses. The governor initially tried to amend the bill to delay its effective date until 2030, but that was rejected by the legislature. [WJLA]
It’s Thursday — Mostly sunny skies and breezy conditions are expected today with a high near 65 and northwest winds at 9–13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 51. [NWS]
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Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 65°F and northwest winds at 11 to 14 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 51°F, featuring northwest winds around 11 mph and gusts up to 18 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine
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:989 S Buchanan Street #416 Neighborhood: Barcroft Type: 1 BR, 1 BA condo – 576 sq. ft. Listed: $349,900
Noteworthy: A contemporary condo that blends style, efficiency and convenience.
Welcome to Trafalgar Flats, where value doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Built in 2019, this one-bedroom, one-bath condo includes contemporary finishes, washer and dryer in-unit, and garage parking. With a low condo fee ($290/Month), that means more financial freedom to enjoy the multiple shopping centers, dining options and entertainment close by.
Greeted by over-sized windows, natural light fills the open concept layout and soaring 10 ft. ceilings. The galley kitchen features updated cabinetry and hardware. The stainless steel appliances include a double-door fridge with ice maker, standard-size stove and dishwasher. The modern aesthetics continue into the full bath with a stand-up shower and plenty of storage.
Trafalgar Flats’ amenities package meets modern creature comforts. The fitness center is equipped with multiple cardio and weight lifting machines, making for no excuse to not work out. The expansive picnic area is a great space to grill-out and host during warm weather.
Situated in the heart of South Arlington, the property is centrally located among multiple retail centers, restaurants and recreation. Step right out the door to enjoy the W&OD Trail, Four Mile Run Trail, and multiple county parks. Take advantage of the plethora of programs at Arlington Mill and Barcroft Community Centers. Just a short drive to Shirlington & Bailey’s Crossroads for all your dining and shopping needs.
A lost pair of glasses over a ParkMobile sign in Shirlington (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Trapped Driver Rescued — “Crews responded to a vehicle that ran off the roadway and down an embankment near the split of the SB GW Pkwy and SB I-395, just before the bridge. One occupant was trapped and extricated by firefighters. The patient was transported to VHC with non-life-threatening injuries.” [ACFD/X]
Unlawful Entry Arrest — A New York man, 38, was arrested May 8 after allegedly trying to enter a home through a secured door in the 2600 block of N. Upshur Street, ACPD said. He “attempted to run from the officers before being taken into custody” and was charged with unlawful entry and obstruction of justice. [ACPD]
Reentry Hearing Delayed — “A federal judge has rescheduled the court appearance for an Alexandria man indicted for illegal reentry into the United States following a felony hit-and-run arrest in Arlington.” The defendant’s arraignment, plea, and sentencing, originally set for May 13, are now scheduled for May 20. [Patch]
Nurse Sweeps Top Honors — Arlington Public Health’s Heather Williams, RN, has been named Virginia’s Nurse of the Year by the Virginia Department of Health, completing a sweep that also includes Northern Virginia Regional and Arlington Public Health Nurse of the Year honors in 2026. Williams works as the public health nurse at Wakefield High School. [Arlington County]
Andy’s Pizza Goes AI — “Behind the counter at Andy’s Pizza, AI now helps direct everything from when mozzarella gets ordered to the moment a pie needs to hit the oven.” Owner Andy Brown has spent the past year building “Andy’s OS,” an AI-powered operating system for the fast-growing D.C.-based chain, which has 14 DMV locations. [Axios]
Spanberger Signs Leave Bill — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed a bill Monday making Virginia “the first Southern state to offer paid family and medical leave.” Up to 12 weeks will be available; paycheck contributions begin April 2028, with benefits available that December. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D). [NBC Washington]
Dulles Overhaul Eyed — “Less than a year after adopting a new master plan for Dulles International Airport, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) is considering an update that would expand the facility’s main terminal, redesign its concourses and eliminate the polarizing mobile lounges.” The proposed $22 billion plan would begin construction this year and finish by 2034 . [FFXnow, WBJ]
It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 76 and southwest winds of 13–16 mph, gusting to 28. A chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms gives way to a wetter night, with showers and storms likely before 3 a.m. and a low around 54. [NWS]
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Expect increasing clouds with a high near 75°F, a 30% chance of showers, and possible thunderstorms after 5 PM, accompanied by southwest winds at 14-16 mph, gusting up to 28 mph. Wednesday night will have showers and thunderstorms until 2 AM, with a slight chance of showers until 3 AM, and a low of around 53°F. Winds will shift from south to northwest, blowing at 5-9 mph, with a precipitation chance of 90% and potential rainfall between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, or more in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead.” – Marjorie Pay Hinckley
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:20031 Oakland Farm Road Neighborhood: Virginia’s Eastern Shore (Cape Charles, Virginia) Type: 5 BR, 5 (+3 half) BA waterfront, restored, historic, estate with main house, carriage house and barn/event space – 5612 sq. ft. Listed: $3,295,000
Noteworthy: 1850 Charm Updated for Modern Luxury/Event Space
Mimosa Farm: A Bespoke Waterfront Legacy
An offering of unparalleled distinction, Mimosa Farm represents a rare opportunity to acquire a meticulously restored and totally renovated historic estate. This 17.1-acre waterfront property, boasting over 1,500 feet of natural shoreline, seamlessly combines the charm of its 1850 heritage with the pinnacle of contemporary luxury and convenience. The estate features a grand main house, a versatile carriage house with a complete apartment, and an expansive restored barn with living quarters currently operating as a high-demand event venue, yet ripe for a multitude of bespoke uses.
*Key Features Include*
-5 Bedrooms (3 in Main House, 1 in Carriage House and 1 in Barn/Event Venue),
-5 Full Bathrooms ( 3 in Main House, 1 in Carriage House and 1 in Barn/Event Venue) and
-3 Half Baths ( 1 in Main House, 1 in Carriage House and in 1 Barn/Event Venue)
-New three-bay garage/carriage house with a second-floor living suite.
-Historic barn built circa 1863, now a five-star rated event venue (“Mimosa Barn”).
2,808 square feet of space with a capacity for 300+ guests plus bedroom with water view, 1 and 1/2 bathrooms, kitchenette, sitting area and flex spaces
-RV electric post next to the garage.
-Irrigation system.
-500-gallon propane tank.
-Private125′ dock with a boat lift.
-Whole-house generator, water filter, and dehumidifier.
FILE - A shopper peruses cheese offerings at a Target store Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Sheridan, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is blaming President Donald Trump for surging consumer prices, after federal data released Tuesday showed inflation climbing at its fastest pace in three years.
The Labor Department’s consumer price index rose 3.8% from April 2025, up from a 3.3% year-over-year gain in March. On a month-to-month basis, April prices rose 0.6% from March as gasoline prices rose 5.4%.
A "Save Cherrydale Library" sign at the intersection of N. Glebe Road and Old Dominion Drive (staff photo)
The response to the proposed closure of the Cherrydale library and the county’s competitive gymnastics program was swift and relentless.
Speakers lined up at County Board meetings, petitions were circulated, signs proliferated on local roadways, and local listservs and social networks lit up with calls to right what defenders saw as the injustice of cutting something beloved from the budget.
In the end, the County Board restored funding, keeping the Cherrydale library, the gymnastics program, and the Barcroft Sports & Fitness center, which was also on the chopping block. Instead, the Board balanced the budget by raising the property tax rate by two cents for commercial and residential properties in Arlington.
Neighboring Fairfax County, meanwhile, lowered the rate by $0.25 for every $100 in property value.
This is how many budget battles go in Arlington. Something people like is proposed for cuts, but then the Arlington Way kicks in, with lots of outcry about saving the thing that might be cut.
The last time Arlington‘s property tax rate was as high as it now will be — $1.053 per $100 assessed valuation — was 1980, when it was $1.12. It has fluctuated over the years since then, reaching a low of $0.765 per $100 in 1990 and 1991.
The process of cutting Arlington County‘s budget is not as easy as some might hope. You can perhaps trim administrative positions and contracts around the margins, but any low-hanging fruit was almost certainly pruned over the past few cycles, each their own “tough budget year.” (And making changes to county contracts with marginal fiscal benefits sometimes leads to undesired results.)
To really make a dent would take cutting something with a constituency, whether it’s a library, infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, nonprofit grants, and so on. And that’s not to mention core services like public safety, where costs have been increasing as recruitment challenges have led to increased pay, or Metro, investment in which continues to weigh heavily on local government budgets.
A budget is, in the end, a math equation. And if inflation continues rising above the annual increase in property values, that’s going to tend to push expenses higher than revenue. Already, county officials have been sounding warnings of another tough budget and additional tax hikes next year.
Meanwhile, the commercial property taxes on office buildings that used to prop up the county’s budget are down amid continued high office vacancy, so the burden for increased tax rates will fall on homeowners, whose property values have continued to rise, with no end in sight.
The need to make hard budgetary choices is nothing new. One of ARLnow’s early articles, from March 2010, noted the tension “between those who think taxes are high enough already and those who take an ‘increase my taxes, please’ approach.”
The article also included a faux graphic of former County Manager Barbara Donnellan in the classic municipal simulation game SimCity, where you often have to make unpopular decisions to balance your city’s budget — or risk disaster. You can underfund the fire department for awhile without public disapproval, but your city will eventually burn down.
SimCity photo illustration, featuring former County Manager Barbara Donnellan (by ARLnow)
Arlington County memorably took one of those budgetary shortcuts in the wake of the Great Recession. In 2009, just 25 lane miles of the county’s 974 miles of roadway were repaved. A few years and some hard winters later, county roads were littered with potholes and the public grumbling grew loud enough that the county bumped up the paving to 72 lane miles per year by 2014.
A return to crumbling streets seems unlikely, so next year’s budget will likely come down to the classic choice: you’ll have to increase taxes, cut services, or some middle-ground combination of the two.
Today we’re making it a binary choice, to see which ARLnow readers prefer. All things considered, and assuming that consequence-free cuts to administrative functions are not feasible, would you rather see the County Board cut services or raise taxes next year?
K9 Cop Wins 5K — “Over the weekend, Corporal Doescher of the K9 Unit was the top finisher in the 20th Annual National Police Week 5K with a finish time of 15:21. The 5K honors law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to their communities.” [ACPD/X]
Local Man Charged in Killing — An Arlington man, 26, was arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing in Laurel, Md., over the weekend. The 48-year-old victim was found with multiple stab wounds Saturday and later died at a hospital. Police said the men knew each other and described the incident as domestic-related. [WJLA]
Abduction Arrest Fallout — A man charged last week with an attempted abduction at a Pentagon City shopping center could face additional jail time for two assaults committed in Reston last year. Koby Berry, 28, pleaded guilty to those incidents in April and received suspended sentences; the Arlington arrest would count as a probation violation, triggering a Fairfax County revocation hearing. [FFXnow]
Bridge Closing Saturday — The Mount Vernon Avenue/Arlington Ridge Road bridge between Arlington and Alexandria will be fully closed in both directions from May 16–23 (excluding Sunday). Construction hours are 9 a.m.–3 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday. Traffic will be detoured to Glebe Road and Richmond Highway (Route 1). [ALXnow]
FedTech Lands Alexandria Gig — “The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership has tapped Arlington business development firm FedTech to run its first startup accelerator as the city seeks a more deliberate approach to retaining high-growth tech companies.” The Ballston-based company has worked with roughly 1,000 startups since its 2015 founding. [WBJ]
Arlington Reading List — “Arlington has shown up in more literary settings than people may realize. These books use the county as more than a backdrop, whether it’s a staycation guide, a neighborhood history, or a crime novel.” The roundup includes works by Charlie Clark, Kim A. O’Connell and Ann Patchett. [N. Va. Magazine]
Voting Rights Concerns — “The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling weakening a key enforcement tool of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is fueling new concerns in Virginia over the future of Black political representation, particularly if Republicans regain full control of state government after the next census.” [Virginia Mercury]
More Rain Still Needed — Recent rains in the D.C. region have been hit-or-miss. The District picked up 0.22 inches, with 0.2–0.4 inches common south of the city, but northern suburbs saw little. D.C. is about 1 inch below average for May and 4 inches down for the year. [CWG/Bluesky]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 72 and light winds out of the northwest at around 5 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 55. Winds will shift to the south at 6 to 11 mph, and gusts could reach up to 21 mph. [NWS]
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