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Morning Notes

Published June 3, 2016 at 9:25AM

Arlington Drops in Happiness Rankings — After being ranked 15th last year, Arlington has dropped out of the top 25 of the “happiest counties in America” list. [WTOP, SmartAsset]

Unsettled Weather This Weekend — Expect rain today, Saturday and Sunday, says the National Weather Service. On Sunday there’s a good chance of severe storms. [Twitter]

News

More Details about the Plan for Transit on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published June 2, 2016 at 11:55AM | Updated June 2, 2016 at 12:20PM

More frequent and convenient premium bus service may be in place for Columbia Pike by the summer of 2018.

That’s according to a county staff presentation on Tuesday. The presentation was made during a County Board work session on Arlington’s Transit Development Plan,

Around Town

Video: Flags In at Arlington National Cemetery

By ARLnow.com

Published June 2, 2016 at 10:35AM

One week ago today, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) placed an American flag on every grave in Arlington National Cemetery, as part of the annual Memorial Day weekend tradition of “Flags In.”

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 2, 2016 at 9:30AM

Groundbreaking for Hotel Project — Developer B.F. Saul broke ground yesterday on a new hotel project. A 10-story Homewood Suites hotel will be replacing the former Colony House Furniture store at 1700 Lee Highway near Rosslyn. Demolition of the store is now proceeding, five years after it closed its doors. [Washington Business Journal]

Kojo Controversy Defused — Arlington County Board candidate Erik Gutshall wasn’t happy with the choice of political operative Ben Tribbett as a call-in guest for a Kojo Nnamdi Show segment on the County Board race — and the candidate made his feelings known via Twitter. Tribbett had done some paid polling work for incumbent Libby Garvey earlier this year, Gutshall pointed out. In the end, Gutshall himself joined the segment as a call-in guest, along with Tribbett and ARLnow.com editor Scott Brodbeck. [Storify]

News

Police: Middle School Teaching Assistant Busted for Smoking Pot With Student

By ARLnow.com

Published June 1, 2016 at 4:35PM

Police say Zachary Van Dyke, 32, smoked pot with a 13-year-old student at his home. He also allegedly sold some pot to the teen.

Van Dyke was a teaching assistant at Gunston Middle School and a freshman basketball coach at Washington-Lee High School. He has been suspended by Arlington Public Schools and charged by police with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and distribution of marijuana.

Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Students Shouldn’t Have to Attend High School in Shifts

By ARLnow.com

Published June 1, 2016 at 3:30PM

The following letter to the editor was submitted by 26 Arlington residents, regarding the Arlington Public Schools proposed Capital Improvement Plan.

With an exploding school population leading to hundreds of Arlington students spending their school days in trailers, Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy’s proposed solution falls far short of meeting the needs. The Superintendent’s Proposed Capital Improvement Plan (“CIP”) only funds 53% of the needed seats district-wide. Our school system is facing a 4,600 total seat deficit but the Superintendent’s Proposal is for only 2,445 additional seats.

News

ACFD Responds to Electrical Fire at Thai Square Restaurant

By ARLnow.com

Published June 1, 2016 at 2:35PM | Updated June 1, 2016 at 4:30PM

Electrical fire at Thai Square Restaurant (photo courtesy Andrew Pang)

The Arlington County Fire Department is on scene of a reported electrical fire in the basement of Thai Square Restaurant (3217 Columbia Pike).

Firefighters responded to the restaurant just before 1:30 p.m. for a report of smoke coming from the basement. There were no visible flames when firefighters arrived; the source of the smoke was believed to be electrical in nature.

Feature

Arlington Pet of the Week: Rebel

By ARLnow.com

Published June 1, 2016 at 12:15PM

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Rebel.

The photo above may make Rebel look like a beach bum, but he’s a hard worker who chases bunnies like a champ and is training to be a therapy dog.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 1, 2016 at 9:00AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 2:42PM

County Board Debate Tonight — Democratic County Board candidates Libby Garvey and Erik Gutshall will debate tonight at 8 p.m. at the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s monthly meeting. The meeting is being held at Lubber Run Community Center. [ACDC]

Northside Social Expanding to Falls Church — Clarendon favorite Northside Social will be expanding to the City of Falls Church this fall. The new Northside Social will be located in the historic Blue and Gray American Legion Post building. [Falls Church News-Press]

News

House Fire Near TJ Middle School

By ARLnow.com

Published June 1, 2016 at 7:30AM | Updated June 2, 2016 at 9:09AM

File photo

Firefighters battled a house fire two blocks from Thomas Jefferson Middle School this morning.

The fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. near the intersection of 1st Road S. and S. Glebe Road.

News

Clinton Supporters to Hold Primary Watch Party Next Week

By ARLnow.com

Published May 31, 2016 at 4:25PM

If all goes well, Clinton will mathematically clinch the Democratic nomination following primaries in California and New Jersey.

To celebrate, local Hillary boosters will be holding a watch party in Clarendon.

Around Town

Pancho Villa Restaurant Opening ‘Soon’ in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published May 31, 2016 at 2:55PM

No official opening date has been set yet, but signs are up outside the new Pancho Villa Mexican Cuisine restaurant in Rosslyn.

The eatery is located at 1850 N. Fort Myer Drive, the former home to the short-lived Secret Chopsticks restaurant, at the bottom of the Turnberry Tower luxury condo building.