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.
Teens ‘Ding Dong Ditch’ — “A northern Virginia man says he’s frustrated by a group of teens who did a version of “ding-dong ditch,” banging on his door while dressed in ski masks and running away. He says he’s also worried that something could happen to the kids if they keep this up—and bang on the wrong door. According to a report, officers responded to the man’s home in the 5000 block of 38th Street, North, just before 11 p.m. on Memorial Day.” [Fox 5]
Wheels Stolen in Pentagon City — “Between 6:00 p.m. on May 29 and 3:00 a.m. on May 30, the suspect(s) stole tires and rims from the victim’s parked, unoccupied vehicle and subsequently fled the scene. During the course of the investigation, officers located three additional parked, unoccupied victim vehicles in the area with their tires and rims stolen, two of which had their passenger windows smashed.” [ACPD]
Ray’s the Steaks Pop Up — “It’s been six years since Ray’s the Steaks—the beloved steakhouse from chef-owner Michael Landrum known for its affordable prices and unfussy vibe—closed in Arlington. But the place still looms large for Paul Taylor, co-owner of Shaw cocktail-and-sandwich shop Your Only Friend… with Landrum’s blessing and recipes, Taylor and co-owner Sherra Kurtz plan to pay homage to Ray’s the Steaks with a two-night pop-up on June 2 and 9.” [Washingtonian]
Congressional Gold Medal Nod — Rep. Don Beyer has introduced legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Arlington resident and civil-rights activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. The measure picked up five initial cosponsors and has been referred to the Committee on Financial Services. –Scott McCaffrey
Seven Corners Redevelopment — “Two development proposals in the Seven Corners area ran into community opposition at a recent Fairfax County Planning Commission meeting, but they’re likely to clear initial procedural hurdles in June. In contrast, a plan to put more than 1,300 apartments augmented by retail use on the Food Star site further east on Route 7 drew no community pushback.” [FFXnow]
Speeding Hiring After Firing — “The idea here that has widespread support is to speed up and improve the hiring process to take less time — under 80 days is the goal. Instead of evaluating applicants merely on education, hiring managers are meant to look at skills.” [Axios]
Hurricane Season Underway — “The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and now is the best time to ensure you and your loved ones are prepared. Forecasters within the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. The impacts of hurricanes can reach far beyond coastal communities.” [Arlington County]
Coldest June 1 in Decades — “The temperatures outside may feel cold, and that’s because they are — the colder weather this spring has broken records. This June 1 marks the coldest on the books since 1972.” [WTOP]
Hot Summer on Tap — “The D.C. area is accustomed to punishing summer heat and humidity. But this year, we expect that combination to be particularly oppressive and on par with some of our steamiest summers on record. The heat may come as a shock considering how cool late May has been. Every day since May 20 has been chillier than normal.” [CWG]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine during the day with temperatures reaching around 75°F and a northwest wind at 7 mph. As evening approaches, minimal clouds are anticipated, with the temperature dropping to a cool 56°F and calm winds. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Leadership is changing but the focus remains the same for Arlington’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3150.
Those efforts include service to military veterans coupled with initiatives benefiting youth and the county as a whole.
