Firefighters from Arlington and neighboring jurisdictions battled a house fire in the Country Club Hills neighborhood Sunday afternoon.
The blaze was reported just after 1 p.m. amid heavy rain and at least one nearby lightning strike, though the cause of the fire is not currently known. Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a house set well back from the street.
Two people suffered critical injuries after a fiery two-vehicle crash on the GW Parkway early Sunday morning.
The crash happened around 1 a.m. in Arlington County, reportedly near the Parkway’s second overlook. Initial reports suggest that one driver was pulled from their burning vehicle by a U.S. Park Police officer, while the other was trapped and extricated by firefighters after a rescue operation.
Nearly 20 years after its founding, the Columbia Pike Documentary Project has never run out of people, places and events to chronicle.
“The community is still in transition,” Lloyd Wolf, one of the initiative’s founders, said during a July 26 presentation at the Arlington Historical Society.
Arlington County is just a few years out from realizing its dream of turning residents’ solid waste into natural gas and consumer-grade fertilizer.
Arlington Re-Gen, a long-awaited upgrade to the county’s wastewater treatment process, is expected to begin producing a product known as “Class A biosolids” by late 2030 or early 2031 — providing more opportunities for the second life of Arlington residents’ No. 2.
Beyer’s Challengers, Party Changes — Four Democrats are challenging Rep. Don Beyer (D-Arlington) in Tuesday’s primary. “If the challengers can even come close to knocking Beyer off… this will still send a message about how the party is shifting,” Virginia Commonwealth University professor Alex Keena said. [Virginia Mercury]
AvalonBay to Become Vivmark — “Two months after announcing their blockbuster merger, real estate investment trust giants AvalonBay Communities Inc. and Equity Residential have unveiled the new name for the combined company: Vivmark Residential.” The $71 billion firm will have dual headquarters in Arlington and Chicago. [WBJ]
Lawmakers Press on Golf Plans — “We write with strong objections to your rushed ‘redevelopment’ of East Potomac Park,” Beyer and 46 colleagues wrote to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, seeking answers by Aug. 14 on the project’s cost and the fate of its cherry trees and bike trails. [Axios, Press Release]
Former Falls Church Councilman Dies — Samuel Albert Mabry, 84, died July 4. First elected to City Council in 1996 and later vice mayor, he “spearheaded efforts at limiting growth in Falls Church during the period of its most significant economic progress,” including a failed 2006 referendum. [Falls Church News-Press]
Disability Services Gap Persists — “When people with certain disabilities graduate or reach age 22, they face a ‘services cliff,’ as they lose school support but do not automatically transfer to adult services.” Virginia’s Medicaid waiver waiting list has dropped from about 15,500 to 14,300. [Virginia Mercury]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 90 and a light northwest wind around 5 mph. Skies turn mostly cloudy overnight with a low around 71. [NWS]
New Legal Notice — An 80-foot monopole communication tower is proposed on a military base. [Public Notices]
New Legal Notice — Divorce order of publication; respondent must appear by 9/11/2026. [Public Notices]
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Arlington Democrats appear to have their nominee for the upcoming special election for treasurer, while Republicans are seeking to recruit a challenger.
Kim Rucker, who became treasurer upon incumbent Carla de la Pava’s retirement earlier this month, was the only candidate to file for the Democratic endorsement, Democratic officials told ARLnow.
The median cost of renting an apartment in Arlington has likely hit its high point for 2026 after increasing 3.5% since the start of the year.
The county’s $2,611 median rent in July — $2,459 for one-bedroom units, $2,975 for two-bedroom units — was down 1.1% year-over-year but remains among the priciest in the nation.
Unemployment in Arlington is stabilizing but remains greatly elevated compared to the end of 2024, according to new data.
With 146,571 county residents employed in the civilian workforce and 4,622 looking for jobs, June’s unemployment rate was 3.1%, according to data reported July 29 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.
County Board candidates say economic uncertainties make it unlikely a new branch library for Columbia Pike is on the horizon.
“I would love to see a [new] library on Columbia Pike,” Julie Farnam said at a July 20 candidate forum sponsored by the Douglas Park Civic Association. “But right now, I think that’s not feasible.”
Hand-Pulled Noodles Hit Clarendon — Xi’an Famous Foods will open its first D.C.-area storefront (2800 Clarendon Blvd) on Friday, Aug. 7. The New York chain’s 66-seat, quick-service location is one of its largest yet, with a no-tipping policy and opening discounts putting many dishes around $10. [Washingtonian]
Ballston Construction Site Break-In — Officers responding to a burglary alarm in the 600 block of N. Glebe Road around 9:32 p.m. Tuesday “observed the male suspect inside the secured construction site,” according to ACPD. The suspect ran deeper into the site and a search turned up nothing. [ACPD]
Fairlington Shed Fire — “The fire was contained to a shed, and there was no fire or smoke damage to the occupied residential structures,” Taylor King of the Alexandria Fire Department told ALXnow. No one was injured in the Tuesday night fire in the 4100 block of 36th Street S. Arlington’s fire marshal is investigating. [ALXnow]
‘Burst of Joy’ POW Laid to Rest — Retired Air Force Col. Robert Stirm, the returning prisoner of war embraced by his daughter in the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1973 photo “Burst of Joy,” was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday (Wednesday). Stirm spent 1,966 days in captivity and died at 92. [Arlington National Cemetery]
Summer School All Stars — “This month, we are proud to recognize five employees whose dedication, leadership and care helped make the 2026 Summer School program a success.” The honorees work at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Program, Glebe Elementary, Wakefield High School and the Syphax Education Center. [APS]
Dulles Overhaul Unveiled — President Donald Trump unveiled a roughly $22 billion plan to remake Dulles International Airport, scrapping its mobile lounges for a U-shaped passenger train, a central walking tunnel, new concourses and a 32,000-space parking garage. Airlines and the airports authority say they will fund it without federal dollars. [FFXnow]
Falls Church Project Scrapped — Stewart Investment Partners has abandoned plans for a seven-story, roughly 200-unit residential building at 419 W. Annandale Road in Falls Church and listed the just-under-an-acre lot for sale through JLL. The Bethesda firm paid $4.6 million for the site in 2022. [WBJ]
It’s Thursday — Mostly sunny today with a high near 87 and northwest winds around 12 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph. Rain chances are near zero. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 69. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti says he is providing steady leadership in uncertain times, while primary challengers say he has much to answer for.
Julie Farnam and James DeVita are attempting to unseat de Ferranti in the primary next Tuesday, Aug. 4. The winner becomes the odds-on favorite in the Nov. 3 general election against independents Audrey Clement and David Sisson.
A statewide environmental advocacy group has praised Arlington’s recent decision to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers.
The Quiet Clean Virginia Foundation sees the County Board’s vote on July 18 as a model for other localities across the state.
