Arlington’s parks are still among the best in the country — but they don’t rank quite as high as they used to.
For the first time since 2017, Arlington County’s parks failed to rank among the top five in the nationwide “ParkScore” rankings. They fell from No. 5 last year to No. 7, in between San Francisco and Seattle.
Board Worried About Loss of Workers — “While Youngkin has said the federal job cuts are necessary for fiscal responsibility, and that the state will hire many displaced workers, Karantonis said that may not preserve Arlington’s highly trained workforce… ‘We’re losing the crème of the crème. These are not people who I can send to the community college to be retrained,’ Karantonis said. ‘If they go, they go from Virginia, not only from Arlington or Northern Virginia, they go from the Commonwealth.'” [WTOP]
Feds Face Mental Health Issues — “In interviews, more than 30 former and current federal workers told The Washington Post that the chaos and mass firings had left them feeling devalued, demoralized and scared for themselves and the country. Many described problems they’d never experienced before: insomnia, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts.” [Washington Post]
Call for Tighter Helo Rules — “In a May 16 letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Norton urged the Federal Aviation Administration to place new limits on helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport specifically, allowing them only for the president, vice president and ‘in the case of a national security emergency.'” [WTOP]
Video: Erratic Man Detained — “A man running along S. Crystal Drive near S. 26th Street confronted people in a parked white SUV and then unsuccessfully tried to get into a car that was driving down the street. A few minutes later, the same man got into a fight with someone. The original white SUV pulled down and the driver helped out, restraining the man until @ArlingtonVaPD arrived.” [Dave Statter/X]
Fracas Near Four Mile — “The three male victims were outside when the male suspect approached, engaged them in conversation and briefly walked away before returning and allegedly striking one of the victims. A physical altercation between the suspect and victims ensued before separating. Responding officers located the suspect in the 4800 block of Columbia Pike and detained him. The suspect and one victim sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to an area hospital.” [ACPD]
JBG Dips Toe in Tysons — “JBG Smith Properties has acquired a 1980s-era office campus in Tysons… It’s a curious move for a company that for years has sold off “non-core” assets to concentrate its placemaking efforts in National Landing — a stretch along Metro in Arlington in Alexandria home to Amazon’s HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s graduate campus — and to shift the balance of its assets from office into multifamily.” [WBJ]
It’s Wednesday — Expect showers with a high near 60°F, accompanied by a southeast wind of 11 to 13 mph gusting up to 23 mph and 100% chance of precipitation, potentially accumulating between a quarter and half an inch. For Wednesday night, showers and possible thunderstorms are likely before 2 am, followed by a chance of showers. The low will be around 56°F, and an east wind of 5 to 10 mph, with a 70% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
The Arlington County Police Department is disbanding its Gang Unit amid a shift in tools available to officers investigating gang-related crime.
Personnel within the Gang Unit, which investigates gangs and provides street-level gang enforcement, will be reassigned elsewhere in the Criminal Investigations Division, ACPD spokesperson Alli Shorb told ARLnow.
Behind Arlington’s public safety employees and first responders are a pair of social workers supporting them through therapy and mental health services.
Donna Young and Leslie Geer joined the county as public safety wellness coordinators in 2023. Equipped with backgrounds in clinical social work, the duo spearheads employee wellness trainings, ensures agencies have adequate wellness policies and offers short-term therapy and mental health services.
A man was carjacked in Courthouse over the weekend, by a pair of pistol-packing suspects.
It happened around 3 a.m. Saturday near the Taco Bell Cantina, on the 2000 block of Wilson Blvd. The man was inside his parked Toyota Corolla with the windows down when a male and a female suspect approached, drew guns, punched him in the face, and stole his car, according to police and scanner traffic.
What could be Falls Church’s next major redevelopment project has taken a small but key step forward.
At a meeting last week, members of Fairfax County’s Planning Commission signaled that they will recommend that the Board of Supervisors authorize further study of a 2.4-acre parcel fronting Route 7.
Arlington’s representative on a panel studying D.C. Metro funding is opposing a region-wide sales tax to support the transit system.
Instead, County Board member Matt de Ferranti believes Virginia, D.C. and Maryland should each determine how they will pay for the extra regional costs now estimated at $500 million to $600 million a year.
Dump Truck Crash — “Multiple people sustained minor injuries in a collision involving three vehicles in Arlington on Monday morning. Minutes before 8 a.m., the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) responded to the report of a crash at S. Walter Reed Drive and S. Four Mile Run Drive. Investigators said a vehicle was traveling south in the northbound lanes of S. Walter Reed Drive when it struck a dump truck — causing the dump truck to hit another truck.” [DC News Now]
Beyer Welcomes Khan Suri — “Thrilled to welcome Dr. Badar Khan Suri back following his prolonged, unjust detention in Texas. The Trump Administration persecuted him and others to spread fear on American campuses, tearing him away from his family in the process, until a judge halted it. So glad he’s home.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X, ACLU]
New Mural at Mall — “Fashion Centre at Pentagon City… is slated to reveal a new community mural that brings art, culture and vibrancy to the heart of Arlington. Created in collaboration with celebrated artist Sabrina Rupprecht, this bold installation is a visual love letter to the region’s diverse heritage and dynamic future, offering a local interpretation of the center’s offerings mixed with iconic D.C. elements.” [Press Release]
It’s Tuesday — Expect clouds to increase throughout the day, accompanied by a high temperature of around 72 and a gentle north wind at 6 mph. During Tuesday night, anticipate showers mainly after 2 am, with the low temperature dropping to approximately 56. A calm wind will shift and become southeast at roughly 6 mph after midnight. The chance of precipitation stands at 90%. [NWS]
A Washington Capitals player was pepper sprayed and arrested in Clarendon early Saturday, ARLnow has learned.
The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. Saturday on the 3100 block of Clarendon Blvd, amid Clarendon’s bar district but well after closing time. According to scanner traffic, it took place in front of Big Tony’s Pizzeria, across from the Metro station.
Firefighters are on scene of a significant gas line rupture in Arlington’s Glencarlyn neighborhood.
The leak was reported shortly before 4 p.m. on the 5500 block of 3rd Street S., between the Glencarlyn Library and Glencarlyn Park. Initial reports suggest that a county crew using an excavator punctured a gas main.
After an Arlington firefighter lost his home in a fire last week, a fundraiser to support his family has raised over $35,000.
Fire Capt. David Zuniga became aware of the blaze around 5:30 a.m. on Friday when his 18-year-old daughter got up to prepare for a friend’s graduation.
An Arlington County police officer is recovering from serious injuries suffered during a traffic stop early Saturday.
The officer had stopped a car on the 1600 block of S. Eads Street in Crystal City when he was struck by a passing driver who then fled the scene, according to ACPD.
