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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
The amount that the City of Falls Church pays Arlington County for fire and ambulance services could be about to surge.
Under a proposed new agreement, the projected cost of these services would increase by 20% — from an anticipated $3.24 million to $3.89 million.
Robbery in Pentagon City — “At approximately 2:47 p.m. on April 21, police were dispatched to the report of a robbery by force. Upon arrival, it was determined a witness observed Suspects One and Two approach the male victim, steal his backpack and push him to the ground. Suspect Three then approached and assaulted the victim before the three suspects fled the scene in a white sedan. No injuries were reported.” [ACPD]
Local Tree Preservation Efforts — “In Arlington, new construction projects—particularly those of 2,500 square feet or more—require landscape plans that include tree planting and protection measures. That’s where a volunteer army of tree lovers comes in.” [Arlington Magazine]
Diocese Official Remembers Pope — “Monsignor Paul deLadurantaye, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Arlington, served as an interpreter at the English section of the Vatican Secretariat of State for the late Pope Francis when he would meet with English-speaking pilgrims and guests. From late 2018 to 2024, deLadurantaye had a window into Francis’ life, whom he recalls was ‘very warm, he was very gracious.'” [WTOP]
Warner Calls for Hegseth Resignation — “U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) is calling for the resignation or removal of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following reports that Hegseth shared classified military information with family members on his personal phone.” [ALXnow]
More on SecDef Turmoil — “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is locked in open warfare with his own Pentagon, a hotbed of distrust and dysfunction that commands the most powerful military on the face of the Earth… inside the Pentagon, the knives are out — testing Trump’s tolerance for chaos when it’s not his own.” [Axios]
Va. Student Loan Stats — “The Department of Education plans to begin collection next month on federal student loans that are in default, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of borrowers in Virginia… Federal student loan debt in Virginia totals $43.4 billion or about $40,137 per student, according to Education Department data. About 12.4 percent of Virginia residents have student loans.” [Patch]
It’s Wednesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching around 76 degrees, accompanied by a northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph. The night will be mostly clear, with lows down to 55 degrees. [NWS]
Over a dozen officers are leaving the Arlington County Police Department under a new program incentivizing county employees to retire.
The Voluntary Retirement Incentive program, included in the newly adopted Fiscal Year 2026 budget, encourages retirement for late-career county employees. So far, 32 employees have opted into the program, which is billed as a money-saving strategy.
Fees for Arlington ambulance trips are going up in July, with baseline costs increasing to between $1,000 and $1,500.
The newly approved Fiscal Year 2026 budget will raise fees for transport to $1,000 for basic life support and $1,500 for advanced life support, plus $18 per mile. Current rates are $750 and $1,000, depending on the level of service, plus $15 per mile.
Pedestrian Struck in Clarendon — “BE CAREFUL!! Every day since Friday, there has been at least one pedestrian struck in a crosswalk in Arlington County. This is the latest. Wilson Blvd and N. Edgewood Street across from the Whole Foods.” [Dave Statter/X]
Police Nab Alleged Package Thief — “At approximately 8:46 p.m. on April 17, the male suspect forced entry into a secured residential building in the 2300 block of Columbia Pike and its package room before fleeing the scene. During the course of the investigation, detectives identified the suspect. On the evening of April 18, officers located the suspect’s vehicle, conducted a traffic stop in the area of the 1600 block of S. Joyce Street and took the suspect into custody.” [ACPD]
Pentagon City Crash on Camera — “This is the reverse of the usual crash at Army Navy & S. Hayes in Pentagon City. In this one, the car coming from the I-395 ramp was going straight and the SUV on northbound Hayes Street made the left turn. But basically the same result.” [Dave Statter/X]
Drug Dropoff Day Is Back — “The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) spring National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will be held on Saturday, April 26. The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) is encouraging the community to take advantage of this designated day to add your medicine cabinet to your spring cleaning list and help prevent the risk of prescription drugs falling into the wrong hands.” [ACPD]
Resources for Former Feds — “Roughly 175,000 Northern Virginia residents—more than 107,000 of them in Arlington and Fairfax counties—hold federal civilian jobs, Northern Virginia Regional Commission numbers show. The following local businesses, nonprofits, public schools and municipal governments are offering help in the form of job fairs, discounts and deals.” [Arlington Magazine]
Beyer Seeks Hegseth Resignation — “As he has previously stated himself: Any security professional ‘would be fired on the spot for this type of conduct and criminally prosecuted for being so reckless with this kind of information.’ The Secretary of Defense is not above the law. He is not exempt from the standards every servicemember serving in the Department of Defense is held to. At minimum, Hegseth must resign immediately. If he refuses, President Trump must remove him without delay.” [Press Release]
Youngkin Touts Immigration Arrests — “The Virginia Homeland Security Task Force (VHSTF), a federal-state partnership established by the U.S. Department of Justice… passed 500 arrests this week, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. Of those 521 total arrests made since the operation started on February 25, 132 individuals are affiliated with gangs such as MS-13, Tren de Aragua, other transnational organized crime (TOC) organizations and criminal gangs.” [Press Release]
It’s Tuesday — Expect a partly sunny day with temperatures reaching around 78 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. On Tuesday night the skies will be mostly cloudy and the temperature will drop to approximately 56 degrees. [NWS]
Arlington Catholics are honoring the late Pope Francis as a bridge builder who sought to care for society’s most vulnerable people.
Hours after the pontiff died at the age of 88 this morning (Monday) in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge issued a statement remembering the pope’s commitment to “the infinite dignity of every human person.”
If you’re relying on social media, apps or search engines to surface local news, you’re missing key Arlington headlines.
Only a fraction of the local news we publish gets through the algorithms to you, and it’s often important but less click-y headlines that fail to break through.
So what to do? Subscribe (below) to our free Afternoon Update email newsletter today for the full range of Arlington news and never miss a headline.
