One of the goals of those seeking to revamp Arlington’s governance structure is an end to holding at least one County Board election every year.
Had it not been for a quirk of political fate, that might have happened nearly 60 years ago.
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Those headed to their final resting places at a historic North Arlington church graveyard may benefit from a change in the size of a new pathway.
Walker Chapel United Methodist Church and Cemetery (4102 N. Glebe Road) is seeking approval of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) to widen the proposed path along a portion of its property from the approved 36 inches to 44 inches.
Despite receiving most of what it wanted, Arlington came up short in winning regional funding for some key transportation projects.
Three of the county’s 13 submissions for the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority’s FY2026-31 Six-Year Program failed to be funded. A final vote was taken at the authority’s July 9 board meeting.
A proposal to replace two vacant office buildings in Rosslyn with about 830 residential units and retail has the support of the Arlington Planning Commission.
Planning Commission members on July 6 unanimously backed a Monday Properties plan for two 27-story mixed-use towers on 1400 Key Blvd and 1401 Wilson Blvd, a 2.1-acre site near Turnberry Tower. The plan comes with 29,000 square feet of retail, likely including a grocery store.
The Clarendon Alliance’s new executive director plans to spend the coming months learning about the neighborhood.
“I’m on a listening tour,” Galin Brooks told ARLnow. “I want to understand what the priorities are, the challenges and the opportunities.”
Remembering Larry Wright — “The Arlington County Fire Department is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Firefighter Larry Wright, who died on July 9, 2026, following a medical emergency.” Wright joined the department in 2018 and was most recently assigned to Fire Station 9. [ACFD/X]
Rosslyn Robbery Investigation — Arlington County police obtained warrants for robbery and abduction after a man pulled out a firearm, struck the victim with it and demanded his phone passcode during a dispute inside a home in the 1000 block of Arlington Blvd on Tuesday night, according to a crime report. The two men knew each other, and the victim reported minor injuries. [ACPD]
Crash Caught on Video — Traffic camera video captured a crash yesterday afternoon at the intersection of Shirlington Road and S. Arlington Mill Drive near Shirlington. [Dave Statter/X]
NYT’s Arlington Condo Hunt — The New York Times’ The Hunt column followed Don Schroeder, 77, a retired news anchor who moved to N. Va. after his wife’s death and toured about 20 condos in and around Arlington, looking for a single-level place with room for his dog and 45,000 baseball cards. [New York Times]
SNAP Cuts Hit Region — Federal cuts to food assistance under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are starting to take effect across the region. An Urban Institute analysis estimates more than 230,000 families across D.C., suburban Maryland and N. Va. will lose some or all of their SNAP benefits once the law is fully implemented, with affected households in the Capital Area Food Bank region losing an average of $187 a month. [Washington Informer]
VRE Lands $25M Grant — The Virginia Railway Express won $25 million in federal grant money to add a fourth track at L’Enfant Station, which the commuter rail called “the most significant competitive federal grant” in its 37-year history. The new track will ease congestion where the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines merge as VRE works to boost service more than 63% by 2030. [WBJ]
Cannabis Budget Confusion — New budget language for legal cannabis sales set off days of confusion over whether Virginia’s marijuana penalties still applied, drawing conflicting guidance from prosecutors, lawmakers and State Police. Officials clarified that retail sales won’t begin until July 1, 2027, and that existing criminal laws remain in effect until then, after the Code Commission revised the language to reflect lawmakers’ intent. [Virginia Mercury]
It’s Friday — Expect a mostly sunny start with a high near 90, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Winds will be light out of the west around 7 mph. Overnight lows will drop to around 72, with a chance of storms lingering before 4 a.m. [NWS]
A redevelopment project replacing a Clarendon office tower with an eight-story multifamily building is moving toward its next phase.
Developer Carr Properties is still on track to deliver over 300 units of housing at 3033 Wilson Blvd in early 2028, and demolition is expected to finish in August, a spokesperson told ARLnow.
Virginia has climbed a spot in CNBC’s annual ranking of the best states for business, a year after federal job cuts helped knock it out of the No. 1 position.
The state placed third in the 2026 rankings released today (Thursday), up from fourth last year. Ohio took the top spot for the first time, followed by North Carolina, with Texas and Minnesota rounding out the top five. CNBC scored all 50 states on 138 metrics across 10 categories in the study, now in its 20th year.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s plans to build a skyline-altering arch in the nation’s capital won initial approval Thursday from a key federal commission.
The National Capital Planning Commission voted to approve preliminary site and building plans for the 250-foot (76-meter) arch the Republican president wants to build on a traffic circle at the Virginia end of Memorial Bridge from Washington.
Advocates for the shuttered Lee Community Center are making a last-minute bid to include renovation funding in the county’s updated capital improvement plan.
Jean Henceroth, president of the Leeway Overlee Civic Association, said $10 million in funding would allow for the upgrades needed to reopen the facility.
For those planning on running for county treasurer, the county’s elections staff is ready to assist in completing the special-election paperwork.
“If anyone is interested in running, come see us,” said Gretchen Reinemeyer, the county’s election director, at the July 7 Electoral Board meeting.
Sexual Battery in Pentagon City — A teenage girl was inside a business in the 1100 block of S. Hayes Street around 11 a.m. Tuesday when a man approached her from behind, grabbed her and fled, according to Arlington County police. Officers canvassed the area but did not find the suspect. [ACPD]
APS Phasing Out Toddler Program — For the second time in as many years, parents are urging Arlington Public Schools not to end the Integration Station, which offers toddlers with disabilities early intervention services. In a June email, The Children’s School said the district plans to “phase out the Integration Station partnership over the next few years,” with one grade phased out annually beginning in 2027. [WTOP]
Courthouse Tower Sold — The Commodore, a 423-unit high-rise with ground-floor retail next to the Court House Metro station, has changed hands. Berkadia arranged the sale, in a deal that closed June 30. Completed in 2023, the 20-story building is the tallest residential tower in Courthouse. [Press Release]
Flyover This Morning — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an Aircraft Flyover in the NCR over Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, July 9 at approximately 10 a.m.”
IIHS Wants More Self-Driving Studies — The Arlington-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says driver-assist features and robotaxis are helping prevent crashes but still need far more study. “We’re going to need a lot more data over a more extended period of time to really assess whether those systems are safe or not safe,” David Harkey, the institute’s president, said. [WTOP]
Arch Would Block Va. View — A federal commission is set to review President Trump’s plans today for a 250-foot triumphal arch at Memorial Circle, at the Virginia end of Arlington Memorial Bridge. Critics say the monument — 84 feet taller than columns proposed for the site a century ago — would reshape the skyline and block views of Virginia from the Lincoln Memorial. [Washington Post]
Kennedy Center in Limbo — The Kennedy Center was set to close for two years starting Sunday, but a court order is keeping it open for now. Executives say no new shows or concerts will be scheduled, and the building sat nearly empty this week as staff packed up and volunteers awaited word on the center’s next steps. [Washington Post]
It’s Thursday — Showers and thunderstorms are likely today, with a high near 88 and a 90% chance of rain. Storms should be heaviest in the afternoon, when a half to three-quarters of an inch is possible. They taper off overnight, with a low around 72. [NWS]
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