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.
Items allegedly recovered from bike theft suspect (via ACPD/X)
A D.C. man is facing several charges after the alleged theft of an electric bike in Crystal City.
Police were dispatched to the neighborhood shortly after 4:30 p.m. this past Thursday after a caller reported seeing a man stealing a locked e-bike and then walking away with it while an alarm sounded.
Small early spring flowers growing from a local lawn (staff photo)
Public Company Moves to Arlington — “Argan, Inc. (NYSE: AGX) today announced that it has moved its corporate headquarters to Arlington, Virginia. The new location at Two Liberty Center, 4075 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 440, is just minutes from the nation’s capital, and provides convenient access for customers, investors and employees, as well as proximity to a variety of restaurants, hotels and other amenities, most within walking distance from the new office.” [BusinessWire]
Drones to Count Deer — “Arlington County will conduct its second aerial drone deer population survey from March 17-21, 2025 (weather permitting), to document the number and distribution of white-tailed deer. This effort builds on the initial drone study conducted in 2021.” [Arlington County]
Reminder: ARLnow Event Today — “Should you build new or renovate your existing home? If you’ve been debating that very question, or expect to down the road, you won’t want to miss a free event at the Arlington Central Library… Taking place on Tuesday, March 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the event will feature a panel discussion and podcast recording, followed by an off-the-record audience Q&A.” [ARLnow]
Measles Exposure in N. Va. — “The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) was notified of a confirmed case of measles at Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday, March 5. The confirmed case was an individual who was returning from international travel.” [VDH, ALXnow]
Events and Deals for Feds — “The following local businesses, nonprofits, public schools and municipal governments are offering help in the form of job fairs, discounts and deals.” [Arlington Magainze]
D.C. May Face Major Budget Cuts — “A federal spending bill introduced Saturday by House Republicans could have a drastic impact on D.C.’s budget, potentially leading to about $1 billion in overnight cuts impacting everything from the city’s law enforcement to schools, according to D.C. officials.” [Washington Post, PoPville]
Beyer Blasts GOP Budget Bill — “Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today announced that he will oppose the Republican appropriations bill scheduled for a vote in the House later this week.” [Press Release]
Here’s Why Your Car is Dirty –“We received multiple reports of “muddy rain” in portions of the D.C. region Friday night, including Loudoun, Montgomery and Fairfax counties, and reports of long lines at car washes on Saturday. We researched the cause and found out dust from New Mexico and Texas had traveled all this way!” [CWG]
Spring Takes Hold — “The tide is turning after D.C. experienced its chilliest winter in a decade — and a springlike weather pattern is taking hold. With little sign of any sustained cold in either short-or-long-range forecasts, we declare winter over in the D.C. area.” [CWG]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high of around 72 degrees, with calm winds shifting to the south at around 6 mph in the afternoon. As for Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of approximately 44 degrees. [NWS]
Expect sunshine and a high of around 72 degrees, with calm winds shifting to the south at around 6 mph in the afternoon. As for Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of approximately 44 degrees. South winds at 5 to 7 mph will transition to northwest after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The book to read is not the one that thinks for you, but the one which makes you think.” – Harper Lee
One person being arrested in Clarendon early Monday morning (via Dave Statter/YouTube)
Three people were arrested in Clarendon early this morning after a bar fight prompted a large police response.
An officer was flagged down by security at Don Tito shortly before 2 a.m. Monday, according to scanner traffic. The officer then requested backup to help “separate a couple of females inside.” That was soon followed by a more urgent request for more officers.
A St. Patrick’s Day flag blowing in the breeze, with buds on a tree in the background (staff photo)
Spotlight on Big Arlington Homes — “As I’ve visited other cities in recent years, I’ve noticed that Arlington is far from alone. This style is becoming the dominant mode in well-off neighborhoods everywhere, from Atlanta to Nashville to Austin to Boulder. If you drive through the Arlington of wherever you live, you’ll surely see Giant White Houses sprouting on every cleared lot.” [Slate]
Perplexing Crash on Camera — “Driver sees that the right lane is blocked by a big sign just a little too late and his car ends up wearing the sign. Witnesses say the person/people in the car walked away. At least one person was stopped by police.” [Dave Statter/X]
ACPD Nabs Fleeing Suspect — “At approximately 11:50 p.m. on March 6, a patrol officer observed a vehicle which had previously fled from officers and conducted a traffic stop. The suspect, who was the driver of the vehicle, disregarded the officer’s activated emergency equipment and attempted to flee the scene during which he twice struck the officer’s cruiser causing damage.” [ACPD]
Anti-DUI Event This Saturday — “As part of the department’s anti-drunk driving educational efforts, the Arlington County Police Department is hosting an interactive event highlighting the impacts alcohol has on motor skills — because even one drink is one too many to get behind the wheel. This event is free and open to the public.” [ACPD]
Buckingham Burger Joint Lauded — “Safa Farighi’s passion for Jon’s Joint, the smashburger restaurant he opened in November with his best friend, Amaan Jan, matches the thrill I felt with my first bite of their OKC—two patties heaped with onions and melty American cheese on a buttered, toasted potato bun that does this Oklahoma City specialty proud.” [Arlington Magazine]
Outreach to Arlington Immigrants — “Activists took to their neighborhood streets Saturday in a show of support for the local immigrant community… “We’re here as a show of solidarity, reminding folks that we have rights to protect ourselves against police agencies like ICE,” Danny Cendejas, an organizer with La ColectiVA, said.” [WJLA]
Beyer Blasts Musk and Trump — “Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) criticized Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s efficiency efforts as “cruel” and “inefficient” during a roundtable on potential Medicaid cuts on Friday.” [ALXnow]
Women in Tech Fair in Ballston — “Hundreds poured into the Women in Technology Career Fair in Arlington, Virginia’s Ballston neighborhood Thursday afternoon.” [WJLA]
Fmr. Fort Myer Soldier Sentenced — “Former Army soldier Stephan Smerk was given the maximum sentence — 70 years in prison — today (Friday) for the murder of West Springfield woman Robin Lawrence… According to prosecutors, Smerk was stationed at the Army facility now known as Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington in November 1994 when he ‘left his barracks with [the] intent to kill someone.'” [FFXnow]
Flood Awareness Week — “Virginia Flood Awareness Week, March 9 – 15, 2025, encourages Virginians to learn about their flood risk and protect the life they’ve built with flood insurance. Just an inch of water entering a home can result in as much as $25,000 in damages, yet only 3% of Virginians have flood insurance.” [Arlington County]
It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day with a high temperature around 65 accompanied by a light southwest breeze. Tonight, it will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 40. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. With spring in the air, it’s a great time for a fresh start — especially at work. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and loves the convenience. With coffee, supplies, and Metro-accessible locations in Arlington, Industrious lets you focus on what matters.
Expect a gradual transition from partly sunny to fully sunny conditions with a high temperature near 51 degrees. The northwest wind will range from 11 to 18 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. For Saturday night, the skies will be mostly clear and will reach a low temperature around 30 degrees. The northwest wind will blow at 8 to 14 mph, gusting as high as 22 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Rescue of man stuck in mud along Mount Vernon Trail (via ACFD/X)
Police and firefighters rescued a man precariously stuck in the mud near Roosevelt Island this morning.
Initial reports suggest that a man in his 70s became stuck in the mud while trying to retrieve a walking stick between the Mount Vernon Trail and the Potomac River. Per scanner traffic, he sank in the mud until he was nearly neck-deep, prompting a large rescue response.
March Madness is around the corner and Arlington is filled with local game-day destinations to cheer on your favorite team.
Here are the top picks for “Best Sports Bar in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards. Your favorite spot not listed? Feel free to write it in.
Voting will close in two weeks so don’t wait!
Voting for Best Breakfast Spot in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on Best Italian restaurant in Arlington. The results are now official:
Buildings overlap in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
More on Local ICE Raids — “FBI agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers took 32 people into custody in Arlington and Falls Church on Tuesday morning, according to a social media post by FBI Director Kash Patel. Three of those arrested were identified as members of the MS-13 and 18th Street gangs, officials said.” [Patch, Kash Patel/X]
Beyer Statement on Raids — “I am deeply concerned about the chilling effect these raids are having on law-abiding contributors to our society, particularly on children. I have always opposed and condemned family separation, but there is also great harm done when families are afraid to send their children to school or to seek basic medical care at a clinic or hospital because they fear these locations will be targets of ICE raids.” [Press Release]
Windy Day at DCA — “Heavy winds today made for some wild landings at Reagan National Airport. Watch as this pilot decides to go around and try again rather than continue this landing attempt.” [Tom Roussey/X]
Air Traffic Safety Concerns — “Following a midair collision that killed 67 people near D.C., aviation officials are raising concerns to Congress about not only the busy airspace around Reagan National Airport, but the state of the nation’s aviation system. At a hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, members of Congress heard testimony from several aviation experts, who said progress to upgrade the air traffic control system is moving painfully slow.” [WTOP]
Time Change This Weekend — “Daylight saving time is almost here. For the past four months, we’ve been on standard time. But overnight Saturday, we’ll turn our clocks ahead one hour at 2 a.m., effectively making it 3 a.m.” [Washington Post]
No Changes Likely for DST — “President Trump on Thursday indicated he would not push for an end to daylight saving time, or to make daylight saving time permanent, suggesting the public was too evenly split on the issue.” [The Hill]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies today and a high of around 57 degrees. The west wind will reach speeds of 11 to 18 mph, gusting up to 31 mph. Tonight, there is a slight chance of showers before 1am, with mostly cloudy conditions and a low temperature near 40 degrees. Winds will remain westerly, at 7 to 9 mph. [NWS]
