Dan Egitto | ARLnow

Long Bridge builder and designer named, completing $2.3B project’s team

Published January 22, 2025 at 9:45AM

Renderings of the planned Long Bridge project over the Potomac (via Virginia Passenger Rail/Flickr)

Plans for two new bridges over the Potomac River have moved “to the next level” with the announcement of a contractor to design and build the structures.

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) last week named Long Bridge Rail Partners — a joint venture between three general contractors — as the organization responsible for finalizing designs and beginning construction on the “South Package” of the Long Bridge Project.

News

Stomach bug cases surge in Arlington as experts warn of norovirus

By Dan Egitto

Published January 21, 2025 at 1:15PM

Doctor on a computer (Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash)

A notoriously contagious stomach bug’s spread through Arlington has public health experts urging extra precautions.

An alert about a wave of suspected norovirus cases went out to Arlington Public Schools families last week as reported “norovirus-like outbreaks” have surged in Northern Virginia since late 2024.

News

Five years after unsolved Ballston homicide, police renew requests for tips

By Dan Egitto

Published January 17, 2025 at 1:15PM

The person of interest in the January 2020 death of Scott Ratigan (via ACPD/YouTube)

On the fifth anniversary of an unsolved Ballston homicide, police are renewing requests for tips as the victim’s family continues to offer a $50,000 reward.

Today (Friday) marks five years since police were dispatched to an apartment building on the 800 block of N. Randolph Street in early 2020. They found 24-year-old Scott Ratigan inside his bedroom, “suffering from trauma to the upper body.”

News

Bill to detain more undocumented suspects opposed by Arlington prosecutor

By Dan Egitto

Published January 16, 2025 at 4:05PM | Updated January 17, 2025 at 8:58AM

Anti-ICE protesters outside of county government headquarters in 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington’s top prosecutor is voicing opposition to a bill that would broaden requirements for federal law enforcement to detain undocumented suspects.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti issued a statement today (Thursday) arguing that mandating detention of people charged, arrested or convicted for theft-related crimes under the Laken Riley Act would run contrary to public safety interests.

Schools

Arlington Tech math teacher earns national teaching award

By Dan Egitto

Published January 16, 2025 at 2:30PM

Geraldine Maskelony (via Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching)

An Arlington educator has received the nation’s highest honor for teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Geraldine “Gerri” Maskelony, a statistics teacher at Arlington Tech, has earned the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the White House announced this week. With the award, she received $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and a certificate signed by President Joe Biden.

News

Winter weather drives dozens of water main breaks in Arlington

By Dan Egitto

Published January 16, 2025 at 1:15PM

A crew responds to a water main break on 26th Street N. on Jan. 15, 2025 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Fluctuating temperatures in recent weeks have led to a spate of water main breaks in Arlington.

Between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15 alone, the county saw 33 breaks, county spokesperson Katie O’Brien told ARLnow. The county’s water main break map shows issues scattered across numerous neighborhoods, some affecting well over 100 people.

News

Lower speed limits, wider sidewalks planned for $261M redesign of Route 1

By Dan Egitto

Published January 15, 2025 at 3:30PM

Plans for a redesign of Route 1 in Crystal City (via VDOT)

A study on turning Route 1 into a bike- and pedestrian-friendly “urban boulevard” through Crystal City has concluded, teeing up big-ticket changes in years to come.

Last night (Tuesday), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) presented the Phase 2 findings of a study on plans to bring the commuter route — which is currently elevated between 20th Street S. and 12th Street S. — down to street level.

News

JUST IN: Big jump in plans for RiverHouse as 1,200+ more homes proposed

By Dan Egitto

Published January 15, 2025 at 9:45AM | Updated January 15, 2025 at 10:51AM

Development plans for the RiverHouse neighborhood (via Arlington County)

Plans for over 1,200 additional homes have been added to an already sizeable proposal to expand Pentagon City’s RiverHouse development.

JBG Smith now proposes to add a whopping 2,785 housing units to the apartment complex on S. Joyce Street — a hefty increase to a recent proposal draft that called for 1,515 more units.

News

No snow citations issued yet despite widespread complaints

By Dan Egitto

Published January 14, 2025 at 3:45PM

Snow on a sidewalk in East Falls Church on Tuesday, Jan. 14 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Arlington County still hasn’t issued any citations for slippery sidewalks following last week’s snowstorm, despite widespread complaints and lingering ice.

Limited staff and logistical challenges have limited the county’s efforts to answer more than 600 resident complaints after the snowfall, Rachel LaPiana, a spokesperson for the Dept. of Community Planning, Housing and Development, told ARLnow.

News

Snow and ice plague Arlington sidewalks three days after storm

By Dan Egitto

Published January 9, 2025 at 3:45PM

Snow on a sidewalk Wednesday, Jan. 8 at Lacey Woods Park along Washington Blvd (staff photo)

Three days after the last snowflakes fell on Arlington, significant stretches of walkways around the county remain encased in ice.

Along sidewalks and crosswalks in front of businesses, single-family homes, townhouse developments and at least one county park, ARLnow braved the ice and snow yesterday and today (Thursday) to document numerous failures to comply with the county’s snow removal ordinance.

News

UPDATED: Early morning fire at Crystal City Sports Pub deemed suspicious

By Dan Egitto

Published January 9, 2025 at 11:20AM | Updated January 10, 2025 at 2:31PM

Crystal City Sports Pub at 529 23rd Street S. (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Authorities responded to a fire at Crystal City Sports Pub early this morning.

The fire was reported at 5:34 a.m. Thursday at 529 23rd Street S. Initial reports indicated flames and smoke were seen coming from the building and the restaurant’s sprinkler system was activated.

News

Thousands to help remove wreaths from Arlington National Cemetery

By Dan Egitto

Published January 9, 2025 at 8:15AM

Wreaths on graves at Arlington National Cemetery in January 2024 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Traffic and delays are expected around Arlington National Cemetery this weekend as thousands of visitors remove holiday wreaths from graves.

The annual “wreaths out” event will take place beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Volunteers are expected to remove approximately 257,000 wreaths from the National Cemetery, along with about 14,000 from the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery in D.C.