Crime continued to increase in Arlington last year, according to police department stats, with notable upticks in reported assaults and shoplifting incidents.
The overall number of more serious “Group A” offenses increased 11% between 2023 and 2024, according to the Arlington County Police Department’s annual report released today (Tuesday).
Arlington’s slow process for approving and permitting new development came under fire from County Board candidates, including the incumbent, at a recent forum.
“It’s a problem, no question about it,” incumbent Board Chair Takis Karantonis said at the event hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.
A 28-year-old reportedly trying to pass classified documents to a foreign government last week is the latest episode in a long history of espionage-related cases in Arlington.
Nathan Vilas Laatsch, an IT specialist for the Defense Intelligence Agency, was arrested on Thursday after allegedly arranging to hand sensitive records to an undercover FBI agent in an Arlington park.
A former substitute teacher at Washington-Liberty High School was indicted last week for allegedly engaging in a two-year sexual relationship with one of his students.
An Arlington grand jury indicted Timothy Thomas McGhee, 47, on a charge of taking indecent liberties with a minor.
Arlington’s unemployment figures remained high in April after a surge the previous month, new data shows.
Preliminary jobless figures for April, released last week, indicate a sizeable 64% year-over-year increase in Arlington’s jobless claims. A total of 4,862 residents were looking for work that month, compared to 2,972 in April 2024.
Stepped Up Patrols at Synagogues — From an Arlington County police spokesperson, in response to an ARLnow inquiry: “Our officers are on duty conducting proactive patrols throughout Arlington and have been conducting increased patrols near synagogues in the County since last month’s shooting at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC… There are currently no known threats in Arlington County.”
Fed Cuts Impact Local Nonprofit — “Aspire’s story provides a glimpse of the actual impact of such cuts. On Monday, April 28th, Aspire was notified that its funding was cut, and that it needed to cease its AmeriCorps program effective immediately (yes, immediately).This required the immediate termination of the 17 AmeriCorps members who served their students every day — students and their families who rely on Aspire for a safe place to be after school, with academic support.” [FCNP]
‘Shipwreck on the Potomac’ — “This “Shipwreck” has been next to Reagan Airport for months. Who is responsible for its removal and disposal?” [Reddit]
Stabbing in Pentagon City — “A stabbing [Friday] afternoon at the Pentagon City Metro Station. It was a leg wound that is not reported to be serious. Police described it as a fight between two people who may have known each other.” [Dave Statter/X]
Va. DMV Warns of Scam — “Did you get a text about an overdue traffic ticket charge? It’s likely a scam. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is alerting customers about a new text scam where fraudsters pose as Virginia DMV and falsely claim you owe money for unpaid fines.” [Press Release]
Rosslyn Office Swap — “A century-old trade association has signed for a full floor at Beacon Capital’s recently acquired The Towers in Rosslyn, paving the way to move from one tower to the other and a chance to custom design a new space. The Aerospace Industries Association, a tax-exempt industry advocacy group, inked a 15-year lease for the 26th floor, about 20,500 square feet, at 1100 Wilson Blvd., the western tower.” [WBJ]
It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies today, with highs reaching near 83 degrees and winds turning west at around 5 mph in the afternoon. Tonight, the skies will remain mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 62 degrees and a gentle south wind blowing at about 6 mph. [NWS]
A slowdown in new restaurant openings could be on the horizon in Arlington.
While dozens of new eateries remain on track to open over the next few months, one data source suggests that some restaurateurs could be tapping the brakes on new projects.
Someone called in a bomb threat to an elementary school in Arlington today.
Police were dispatched to Jamestown Elementary School around 2:15 p.m. for a report of an anonymous threat received by phone. The person making the threat was described as a “younger male.”
A 42-year-old Arlington man is facing a number of charges, including DUI, after a crash that shut down a busy on-ramp Friday afternoon.
It started around 4:45 p.m., police say, when a driver veered off the road and struck another car at the Route 50 and Washington Blvd interchange. That driver then allegedly tried to climb a fence before returning to his car.
Falls Church City Council members are considering a potentially hefty increase to their own salaries.
The Council voted 6-1 last week to set a public hearing on increasing members’ salaries from $11,000 per year to $16,000. The mayor’s salary would increase from $11,500 to $17,000.
Former critics of abandoned plans to build a streetcar on Columbia Pike are seeing vindication in the looming demise of a similar piece of infrastructure in D.C.
After D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced plans last week to phase out the District’s 2.2-mile H Street streetcar line, some Arlington commentators are drawing parallels to former plans for a 5-mile system between Pentagon City and Skyline.
Arlington residents who want to compost their food waste instead of sending it to the landfill will soon have even more options.
The current 14 food disposal bins located in high-density areas of the county will expand to 24 by the end of the year — in part due to “a lot of positive feedback” since the initiative began last summer.
