News

Mass for New Pope — “As Bishop of Arlington, I invite all the faithful to join me for a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV, which will take place at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More on Monday, May 12 at 12:05PM. This Mass of Thanksgiving will also be available via livestream, for those unable to attend in person.” [Diocese of Arlington, Northern Virginia Magazine]

Arrests in Front of Mall — “Police with guns drawn in the driveway at the main entrance to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City during this morning’s rush hour. Two people were cuffed and taken away by @ArlingtonVaPD. This started when an officer spotted the car. Early word is that it was stolen from Prince George’s County.” [Dave Statter/X]

Water Worries for Area — “Fairfax and Prince William counties have a backup supply in Occoquan Reservoir, and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties draw a large portion of their water from the Patuxent River. These reservoirs can — and do — release their water into the Potomac River during drought conditions. However, if the Potomac River were to become contaminated, there is no backup water supply for D.C., Arlington County and the City of Falls Church.” [WTOP]

Tariff Woes for Local Company — “Shares in Fluence are down more than 73% year to date. Its share price took a steep dive in February after Trump announced plans to hike steel and aluminum tariffs as well as reciprocal tariffs to match the tax rates other countries charge on imports… It went public later that year. It’s headquartered at 4601 Fairfax Drive in Ballston with 18 other offices worldwide.” [WBJ]

Remembering ‘Nature Boy’ — “What’s in a name? I enjoy walking along the wooded trail in the Zachary Taylor Nature Area (which runs from Military Road, up to the Marymount campus). On a recent stroll, passing the sign into the trail, I asked myself this question: why the heck is a nature area named for Zachary Taylor? … I hereby suggest that it would be wonderful to call it the Tom Richards Nature Area.” [FCNP]

Townhouse Proposal in F.C. — “A proposal to rezone the properties at 106 and 108 South Lee Street is currently under consideration by the City of Falls Church, and it’s generating significant discussion within the community… The core of Madison Homes’ proposal is to replace the two existing single-family detached dwellings with a twelve (12) unit townhome development.” [Falls Church Pulse, Falls Church Pulse]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly cloudy skies and a high near 76, accompanied by a south wind at 5 to 8 mph, and showers starting in the afternoon. For Monday night, showers are predicted with possible thunderstorms overnight. Low temperature will be around 64, and southeast wind around 7 mph. Precipitation likelihood rises to 90%. [NWS]

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Arlington Bishop on American Pope — From Bishop Michael F. Burbidge: “With profound gratitude to Almighty God, I join the universal Church in thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV. As the Bishop of Rome and Successor of Saint Peter, our Holy Father is for the entire world the visible principle of Christian unity. I encourage everyone in our families, parishes and schools to offer prayers, sacrifices, and works of charity for Pope Leo XIV and his intentions.” [Diocese of Arlington]

Car Fire on I-395 — “Units have extinguished a fully involved car fire on 395 north by exit 8A. Expect delays on 395 NB. Fire Marshals will be investigating the cause.” [ACFD/X]

Car Fire at Gravelly Point — “Units are on scene of a fully involved vehicle fire at gravely point. Expect a large fire department response and possible delays on GW pkwy. FM’s office will be investigating the cause.” [ACFD/X, ARLnow/X]

Tariffs Hit Roses — “Mother’s Day bouquet orders keep coming at Company Flowers in Arlington for their busiest holiday of the year. “Before the tariffs, Ecuador, which is where we get most of our roses, had a 6.8% tariff on all the roses, and now you add that 10% tariff to it, so you’re talking about a 16.8% tariff on roses coming out of Ecuador,” said Nicholson. Nicholson worries she will have to pass the higher costs onto consumers.” [DC News Now]

Beyer Watching Tariff Impact — “This morning I was in a hearing with small business owners, including Northern Virginians I represent, who were talking about the existential threat Trump’s tariffs pose to their businesses. Higher prices. Layoffs. The threat of closure.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X]

Cheap Eats Around Arlington — “Food costs are rising and economic conditions are tenuous, leaving many of us in a budget-conscious state of mind. But there’s more to life than eating in. Our restaurant critic hit up 10 casual eateries for terrific meals that come in around $25 or less.” [Arlington Magazine]

AI Recommends Arlington Cocktails — “For gazing at the Arlington skyline at Rooftop Recess, try an Aperol Spritz—light, bubbly, and perfect for a warm May evening. A classic Margarita, on the rocks or frozen, would also suit the vibe.” [Grok/X]

Tesla Protest This Saturday — “As millions of families around the country prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, Tesla Takedown will shine a spotlight on DOGE’s war on mothers and children. Since February, Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency have slashed billions in funding for pregnant and nursing mothers and their children.” [Action Network]

LGBT Priorities in Budget — “Equality Arlington, an LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit, applauds the Arlington County Board for reaffirming its commitment to LGBTQ+ residents through key investments in public health and fair housing protections in the FY 2026 budget.” [Press Release]

It’s Friday — Expect showers and possibly a thunderstorm through early evening. The day will otherwise be cool and mostly cloudy with a high near 64, accompanied by a northwest wind at 6-10 mph. There is a 70% chance of precipitation. Mostly clear skies are on tap for Friday night, with a low around 50, and northwest wind around 9 mph. [NWS]