News

Gas Odor Empties Swanson — ACFD responded to a reported gas leak at Swanson Middle School yesterday morning. “Students and staff were evacuated as a precaution while the situation was assessed,” APS told ARLnow. The building was cleared and the school day continued as normal. [ARLnow/X]

Streets Aren’t Loading Docks — The North Rosslyn Civic Association is pushing the county to require new residential and mixed-use buildings to handle rideshares, deliveries and moving trucks on site. “Stop treating public streets as loading docks,” the association told the county, according to columnist Bill Fogarty. [Falls Church News-Press]

Virginia Village Partner Picked — Falls Church City Council members on Tuesday night selected Urban Atlantic from among three applicants seeking to partner with the city on the Virginia Village affordable-housing project. Its proposal had been supported by a working group of city staff and advisory-commission. — Scott McCaffrey

Crash Families Press Congress — Relatives of the 67 people killed in last year’s midair collision near Reagan National urged Congress on Tuesday to pass stalled aviation safety reforms. “We can’t spend another moment looking them in the eye and doing nothing,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said. [Associated Press]

Concerts on Roosevelt Island? — Kennedy Center board member Paolo Zampolli, a Trump ally, wants to add a marina and connect the center to Roosevelt Island, which he would make a “concert hub.” The ideas aren’t part of the renovation plan the board weighed before voting to close the venue. [Axios]

Sea Wall Complicates Golf Plan — Rebuilding the failing sea wall around East Potomac Park could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost of President Donald Trump’s golf course project and push completion years out. The Park Service opened procurement for the work last month. [Washington Post]

Dominion Merger Offer Sweetened — Dominion Energy and Florida-based NextEra have revised their pitch to Virginia customers in the $67 billion merger, stretching a $10 monthly bill credit from two years to four while dropping a credit for data centers. State regulators have until mid-January to decide. [NBC 4]

It’s Wednesday — Sunny and warmer today, with a high near 86 and a light south wind of 2–6 mph. Mostly clear tonight with a low around 67. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, featuring stories from around the region. We just updated the local outlets we monitor, adding the Washington Sun and others.

Ballston Office Price Doubles — Piedmont Realty Trust bought 4075 Wilson Blvd for $56.25 million, double the $27.6 million a joint venture paid for the 189,000-square-foot building in 2024. The seller called it the region’s first “round trip” institutional office sale since the pandemic. [WBJ]

Kennedy Center Closure Vote Today — Trustees meet today to consider closing the main building immediately and adding President Donald Trump’s name to the facade, which officials say may be the only way to avoid “certain fiscal collapse within weeks.” [New York Times, Washington Post]

Bishop Urges ‘No’ Votes — Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge instructed Catholics to vote no on ballot questions 1 and 2, citing “serious legal threats to the sacredness of human life and the sanctity of marriage.” The amendments’ patrons called the bishops’ letter a “scare tactic.” [Arlington Diocese, Cardinal News]

Potomac Yard Rollover Crash — Two people were hospitalized after a two-vehicle rollover crash Sunday at Richmond Highway and E. Reed Avenue in Alexandria. One had life-threatening injuries. First responders extricated the driver of a Honda that landed on its side. [ALXnow]

FCPS Braces for Cuts — “Early indications suggest that fiscal ’28 will be a difficult budget year,” Fairfax County Public Schools finance chief Leigh Burden said. Officials expect to cut closer to $153.9 million next year, more than the $117.6 million trimmed this year. [FFXnow]

Lawmakers Can Stall Court Cases — A century-old statute lets legislators who practice law postpone court proceedings around General Assembly sessions. One Bristol attorney said a litigant can “delay the resolution of a legal dispute by hiring a member of the legislature.” [Virginia Mercury]

More 90-Degree Days Ahead — The District has logged 50 days at or above 90 degrees this year, 10 more than normal. Models give Friday a 56% chance of another and Sunday a 58% chance, though odds are lower in the suburbs. A cooler early-autumn pattern may follow next week. [Capital Weather]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 78 and an east wind around 6 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 59. [NWS]

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