Two key public safety leaders openly raised concerns last night (Tuesday) about a County Board vote to end the use of Flock license-plate readers.
“There are some crimes that, without this, will not be solved,” Police Chief Andy Penn told Board members, responding to a Sept. 15 vote to discontinue the use of 41 Flock Safety cameras around the county.
A successful advocacy effort to keep Cherrydale Library open earlier this year has received honors from the Virginia Library Association.
The organization gave the Citizens for Cherrydale Library its 2026 Advocacy Award for lobbying county leaders to turn back from plans to shutter the library during the local government’s fiscal year 2027 budget process.
A K9 specialized in detecting electronic storage devices is coming to the Arlington County Police Department through a unique partnership.
Board members on Sept. 19 authorized the county manager to accept the donation of a Labrador retriever from OUR Rescue, which has sponsored more than 150 placements worldwide.
Arlington’s tax-delinquency rate ticked up slightly over the past year, but remains at a level the county’s new treasurer says is not cause for worry.
The county’s 0.2% delinquency rate for fiscal year 2026 was up just a hair from 0.18% in 2025 and 0.17% in 2024, Treasurer Kim Rucker told ARLnow on Sept. 21.
County Board candidates tackled questions on immigration, residential parking and housing during a Sept. 21 forum sponsored by the Lyon Village Citizens’ Association.
County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti acknowledged there’s next to nothing Arlington officials can do to intervene in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweeps across Northern Virginia.
County Could Still Over Arch — County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti (D) called President Trump’s plan, announced Sunday, to add drones, snipers and ammunition to the arch “deeply unsettling.” “The Board previously authorized the County Attorney to file a lawsuit regarding the proposed construction,” he said. [Washington Times]
Arch Drones Raise DCA Concerns — “Even not knowing how often these things are going to be used, it would certainly increase the risk of a collision with a commercial airliner,” a former FAA and NTSB accident investigator said of drones at Memorial Circle. Preservationists also say a required federal review can’t move forward. [Washington Post]
Pentagon City Robbery Arrest — A suspect who allegedly left a store in the 1100 block of S. Hayes Street without paying “physically assaulted the employee until police arrived” after being confronted Monday evening, police say. A man, 29, from Capitol Heights, Md., was arrested and charged with robbery and drug possession. [ACPD]
New Signal Pole Knocked Down — “The brand new traffic signal infrastructure took a hit when a pole came down in the latest upper Columbia Pike crash… This one was at S. Rolfe Street.” The crash happened yesterday morning, and the signal switched to flashing red afterward. [Dave Statter/X]
Marymount Tops Virginia Privates — Marymount University ranked No. 1 among Virginia private institutions in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings, according to the university. Its nursing program “jumped 42 spots and retained the best mark among Virginia’s private institutions.” [Press Release]
White House Flyover Today — From AlertDC: “The US Military will conduct an Aircraft Flyover in the NCR over the White House on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at approximately 5PM.”
Tribes Quit Bay Partnership Bid — “Seven federally recognized Native American tribes are ending their bid to formally join the Chesapeake Bay cleanup, saying they have been disappointed by the response from Bay Program leaders.” Tribal leaders say they were denied signatory status, a voting seat held by the bay states and D.C. [Virginia Mercury]
Frost Squeezes Va. Wineries — “April’s devastating freeze, which walloped the local apple season, is now reshaping what Virginia wineries make — and what wine lovers will eventually find in tasting rooms, shops and restaurants.” Middleburg’s Boxwood Estate Winery lost more than 90% of its white varietals. [Axios]
It’s Wednesday — Rain is likely before 5 p.m. today, with cloudy skies, a high near 65 and northeast winds of 10–14 mph gusting as high as 25 mph. Skies stay mostly cloudy tonight with a low around 54. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
County Board members on Saturday acknowledged community concerns about public safety in the shadow of their own headquarters.
“It is deeply concerning to us,” County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said after a member of the public pressed the issue at the Sept. 19 Board meeting.
The Arlington Historical Society has modernized its operations and outreach, but challenges remain for the nearly 70-year-old organization, leaders said.
Five former Historical Society presidents gathered Sept. 10 to assess the state of the organization. Their verdict was mixed.
A new marker in Penrose honors 5,000 Black U.S. Army troops who trained in Arlington during the Civil War.
From 1863-64, two military regiments trained at Camp Casey: the 2nd and 23rd U.S. Colored Infantries. A historic marker adjacent to Towers Park at 801 S. Scott Street, two blocks north of Columbia Pike, was dedicated on Saturday.
Beyer: Halt AI Air Traffic System — “The FAA should not use my constituents as guinea pigs for an unproven AI air traffic control system,” Rep. Don Beyer (D) said, calling for the suspension of a new AI system managing flights at DCA and other Washington-area airports. [Press Release]
Track Vehicle Derails — “A track vehicle, not a train, derailed amid weekend bridge and track rehabilitation on the Yellow Line,” according to Metro. Trains ran only between Huntington and Arlington Cemetery yesterday, and the line will be suspended again this weekend. [ALXnow]
Marymount Seeks New Funds — Virginia and Maryland colleges designated Hispanic-serving institutions are looking for new money after the Trump administration canceled a $350 million grant program. “Three in 10 of our undergraduates are Hispanic,” Marymount University President Irma Becerra said. [WTOP]
Lyon Park Tree Down — A large tree fell at N. Highland Street and 5th Street N. just after 10 a.m. yesterday, blocking the road, taking down wires and prompting a fire department response. [ARLnow/X]
Alexandria Flock Pushback — One speaker peered at City Council through binoculars at Saturday’s public hearing on license plate readers. “You guys feeling super safe yet?” Nikki Enfield asked. The Arlington County Board voted last week to end the county’s use of Flock cameras. [ALXnow]
Senior Olympics Record — “A total of 1,356 residents aged 50 and older from across the local area are competing in 96 events at 34 locations during the 22 days of competition.” Fairfax County has the largest contingent, with Arlington second. [FFXnow]
Rare September Nor’easter — “A rare September nor’easter is forecast to intensify off the Mid-Atlantic coast this week and could bring heavy rain, gusty winds and rough sea conditions to millions of people along the Eastern Seaboard.” Its track remains uncertain. [Washington Post]
It’s Tuesday — Expect rain much of the day with patchy fog, a high near 66 and a northeast wind around 13 mph gusting to 24 mph. Rainfall totals of three quarters of an inch to an inch are possible. Rain continues tonight, with a low around 56. [NWS]
New Legal Notice — Hearing on telecom, taxes, penalties zoning amendments Oct. 5–7, 2026. [Public Notices]
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The House Judiciary Committee continued a war of words with many of Arlington’s local leaders in a new report slamming attempts to shield undocumented immigrants.
Building on aggressive letters to several local agencies earlier this year and an ongoing public dispute with Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, the committee took aim at policies at the Arlington County Police Department, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in a 23-page interim staff report reviewed by ARLnow.
Police used a Taser to subdue a man who allegedly advanced on an officer with a broken bottle outside a Clarendon business Saturday morning.
Officers were called to a reported assault in the 2700 block of Wilson Blvd around 11 a.m. They determined that a man had walked into the business, broken a glass bottle and begun waving it around, according to the Arlington County Police Department.
