Firefighters battled a large house fire in the Woodmont neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.
The fire scene is the 2900 block of 24th Road N., south of the YMCA gymnastics center. Black smoke could be seen rising from a distance as a result of the blaze.
An immigration operation at a cluster of Ashton Heights apartments last week left many residents on edge and concerned for themselves and their neighbors.
On Thursday morning, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempted to enter several apartment buildings as part of an investigation. An ARLnow reporter witnessed agents loudly banging on doors in one building before leaving the building to interview several passersby.
An outdoor fire just north of Washington-Liberty High School prompted a large emergency response and shut down some roads Wednesday afternoon.
The fire, in a backyard along the 1500 block of N. Stafford Street, was reported around 2:30 p.m. The blaze started in a shed and spread to nearby trees and brush, according to scanner traffic.
Several Arlington County programs may be canceled or significantly reduced as officials face a restricted budget this year.
The budget calls for rolling back an eviction prevention program, cutting positions in the county’s planning department and canceling a preschool program and a traveling art truck.
A middle school student is facing charges after police say he threatened another student with a knife.
Police were dispatched to Swanson Middle School in the Westover area around lunchtime Tuesday for a report of a 14-year-old student making threats. They subsequently seized two knives that had been brought into the school.
Arlington summer camp programs are offering more flexible cancelation and payment options this year to help families dealing with job losses.
The Department of Parks and Recreation is offering more generous refund options and cancelation fees and has pushed back the date for final payment deductions from May 1 to June 2.
One of the few remaining pieces of an abandoned railroad in East Falls Church is about to receive public recognition.
The Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) on March 19 approved the design of a commemorative marker to be located adjacent to remnants of a train trestle next to Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has vetoed legislation that would have allowed Arlington County to change the structure of its government for the first time in 93 years.
Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington), who sponsored the bill, has vowed to continue fighting for the change that passed both chambers of the General Assembly. Locally, the legislation has the backing of the Arlington County Civic Federation but lacks support from the Arlington County Board.
Layoffs Slowing Va. Home Sales? — Turmoil in the federal workforce may have impacted last month’s home sales across Virginia, which were down 9% year-over-year to 6,129. “February’s slowdown in sales could be an early signal that there is some hesitancy in some of our regional markets due to growing concerns around federal employment,” Virginia Realtors chief economist Ryan Price said. –Scott McCaffrey
Fire Weather Watch Today — “The combination of dry conditions, low humidity, and strong gusty winds may result in favorable conditions for the rapid spread of fires.” [ARLnow]
Plant Tours at Cemetery — “Arlington National Cemetery’s annual series of Spring Horticulture Tours kicks off this Friday!” [ANC/X, Arlington National Cemetery]
NAACP to Honor Late Leader — The Arlington NAACP will establish a scholarship fund to honor its first vice president, Rosa Dunkley, who died March 5 at the age of 81. Dunkley was “a fierce advocate for justice and a faithful friend to many, a pillar of strength and love” NAACP president Rev. DeLishia Davis said at the organization’s March 24 meeting. –Scott McCaffrey
‘Glamping’ Spots Nearby — “Looking for a getaway where you can touch grass and unplug, but still feel like you’re in the lap of luxury? Glamping—a combo of “glamour” and “camping”—may be the Goldilocks solution for you. We’re talking tents and cabins with climate control, comfy furnishings and private hot showers (or better yet, hot tubs), all within about a four-hour drive of Arlington.” [Arlington Magazine]
AG Warns About 23andMe Data — “Attorney General Jason Miyares today issued a consumer alert regarding 23andMe’s bankruptcy filing and the rights Virginians have concerning their genetic data.” [Press Release]
It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high temperature of around 56 degrees. The day will be breezy as a northwest wind of 6 to 11 mph increases to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon, with gusts reaching up to 36 mph. The night will be mostly clear with a low of approximately 35 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
Substantial increases to planning, zoning and inspection fees may be coming to Arlington.
County Manager Mark Schwartz says the proposed fee increases will ensure that developers, not taxpayers, bear the full cost of staff time involved in commercial and residential development projects. However, critics argue that the change could hinder attempts to build Arlington’s reputation as a business-friendly environment.
Damages from a burst pipe at Arlington County’s government headquarters have caused several public meetings to relocate and reduced hours at Courthouse Library.
Flooding at 2100 Clarendon Blvd resulted in “extensive water damage to portions of multiple floors of the Bozman Government Center, including the Arlington County Board Room,” county spokesperson Ryan Hudson told ARLnow.
By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Monday that he hoped to bolster Virginia’s rainy-day fund by $300 million in light of economic uncertainty surrounding the White House’s overhaul of federal jobs and its impact on the state’s workforce.
