A teen boy and an 18-year-old woman are facing serious charges after a pair of robberies Wednesday afternoon.
The robberies happened near western end of Columbia Pike in Arlington. In the first, around 3:15 p.m., two ski-mask-wearing suspects approached a boy, demanded cash, and seriously injured him when he refused.
A worker taking down signage at the Lyon Village Shopping Center's Giant in March 2024 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
It appears a new grocer has its eyes set on the vacant Giant at the Lyon Village Shopping Center.
A commercial addition permit application filed Monday on behalf of Sprouts Farmers Market calls for “tenant improvement of an existing grocery store into a new grocery store” at 3115 Langston Blvd.
Felix Brandon Lloyd of Zoobean, alongside co-founder Jordan Lloyd Bookey (file photo)
Three Arlington County residents are among the finalists for the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Mid-Atlantic region.
Qu CEO Amir Hudda, Symplicity CEO Matt Small and Zoobean CEO Felix Lloyd have all been recognized by the program that “honors entrepreneurs whose innovations shape the future and pave the way for a thriving economy and hopeful tomorrow.”
Demolition work continues on the former Macy’s building along Wilson Blvd in Ballston (staff photo)
‘Integration Station’ Staying for Now — “In the few months since Arlington Public Schools proposed cutting the program for students with disabilities from its proposed budget, parents of current and prospective students have spoken out about the possible consequences… The program, however, is no longer in jeopardy. In an email to families on April 9, the school system said there won’t be any changes to Integration Station for the 2025-26 school year.” [WTOP]
ACPD Steps Up Recruitment — “Career-seekers are encouraged to “live your story” through the Arlington County Police Department’s new recruitment website, joinarlingtoncountypd.com. The unveiling of the new recruitment website, along with dedicated recruitment social media pages and advertising, supports the Arlington County Police Department’s (ACPD) ongoing efforts to attract, retain and increase the number of police officers.” [ACPD]
Robbers Caught on Camera — “Video shows four people driving to S. Eads Street near S. 12th Street on Monday afternoon and then making their escape after robbing and assaulting a man. A STATter911 camera shows two of the robbers getting out of a car midblock on Eads and walking toward 12th. The robbery is out of view, but @ArlingtonVaPD report (below) the victim’s backpack was stolen and he was pushed to the ground.” [Dave Statter/X]
Airpod Robbery Near Shirlington — “The male victim was walking in the area when the male suspect approached and engaged him in conversation before pushing the victim, stealing his airpod and subsequently fleeing the scene on foot. A lookout was broadcast, and responding officers conducted a canvass of the area for the suspect yielding negative results.” [ACPD]
Va. Arena Regrets — “Leonsis reflected on attempted Caps/Wiz move to Va. in interview with @maxwelltani ‘I misjudged the move of 3.5 miles to Va., the proposed move, how that was emotionally crushing to people. And I’ll never make that mistake again’ ‘I should have known better … I broke trust.'” [Burgess Everett/X, YouTube]
Pope Honored at Mass — “As the Pope lies in state at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, many honored the Pontiff Wednesday with prayers in Arlington. Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington led a memorial Mass for the Holy Father at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More. A photo of Pope Francis was placed by a candle at the altar inside the Cathedral.” [DC News Now]
More Papal Reflections — “On this special episode, Bishop Burbidge and diocesan Chancellor Msgr. Paul deLadurantaye: Share personal memories with the Holy Father in Rome. Discuss his legacy as the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.” [Catholic Diocese of Arlington]
Boeing Talks Tariffs — “Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said Wednesday that he doesn’t expect the U.S. trade war with China to forestall the company’s financial recovery, nor prevent it from reaching aircraft delivery targets with Chinese airlines now refusing to accept Boeing planes. Speaking on CNBC, Ortberg said that Boeing had three airliners in China ready for delivery but brought two of them back to Seattle so far.” [Associated Press]
It’s Thursday — The weather will be sunny, reaching a high near 79 as calm winds shift southward at 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. By Thursday night, expect partly cloudy skies and a low of about 55. [NWS]
A crash at the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Glebe Road in Ballston (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
The driver in a Ballston crash in January that killed a 32-year-old woman will not face any criminal charges, police have announced.
Investigators determined that the driver of the pickup truck that struck and killed a car driven by Xuewei He of McLean “experienced a medical emergency prior to the crash,” the Arlington County Police Department announced in a press release today (Wednesday).
Protesters over I-395 in Fairlington (courtesy of Libby Garvey)
Every weekday for the past seven weeks, a small but determined crew of anti-Trump protesters has gathered on a Fairlington overpass to greet rush hour commuters.
With signs, a banner reading “No Kings!” and flags of the United States, Ukraine and the European Union, the demonstrators on the S. Abingdon Street bridge wave at the crowded lanes of vehicles driving south on I-395.
Renderings of a planned residential tower at 4420 Fairfax Drive (courtesy of Aria)
Another developer is setting its sights on redeveloping a Ballston office building as a residential high-rise.
Aria Development Group filed plans last week to replace a five-story structure at 4420 Fairfax Drive with a 22-story tower. The new building would have 302 residential units, 5,017 square feet of retail and 86 parking spaces.
Signage at site of Febrey-Lothrop estate (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
New interpretive panels have been installed honoring the Rouse estate, a historic home torn down in 2021 to the dismay of many preservationists.
The new signs, a collaborative effort between the Dominion Hills Civic Association, Toll Brothers and county government, highlight the Dominion Hills community and the building also known as the Febrey-Lothrop House. Funding came through the county’s Historic Preservation Fund.
Bank robbery in Clarendon at a Wells Fargo along Washington Blvd. (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The man who robbed a Wells Fargo bank in Clarendon nearly two years ago has entered a guilty plea, leaving him to face a maximum of three years behind bars.
Oscar Gonzalez Alvarenga will only be prosecuted over his abduction of the bank’s manager, who he forced to open a vault while pretending to possess a gun prior to a lengthy standoff with police, according to court documents.