News

New Police Cameras — “In the fall, 25 Flock Safety License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras and six Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras were installed across Arlington County. Officers are expected to be trained on the technology around late January when the program will be fully operational.” [ACPD]

JetBlue Resumes Flights to NYC — “JetBlue Airways Corp. will resume a suspended route at Reagan National Airport amid a broader expansion effort announced Wednesday. Once-daily flights between DCA and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York will begin on March 30. JetBlue stopped the route in January 2024; it previously flew three daily flights between the two airports.” [WBJ]

POTUS Farewell Event at Ft. Myer — From the Dept. of Defense: “@SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of @thejointstaff Air Force @GenCQBrownJr, host an Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of @POTUS Joe Biden at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va.” [Twitter]

MLK Day County Closures — “Arlington County Government offices and services are operating on modified schedules for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and Inauguration Day on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025… Trash/Recycling/Yard Waste Curbside Routes – Regular collection. Parking – Permit parking is always in effect unless specifically noted on the sign. Meters are not enforced on holidays.” [Arlington County]

Inauguration Closures Along I-395 — “The Virginia Department of Transportation will support Virginia State Police for bridge and ramp closures from Virginia into Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20… From 12:01 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20 through the conclusion of Presidential Inaugural events, the following will be in effect.” [VDOT]

Tribute Event This Weekend — “Arlington will honor the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a special tribute on Sunday, Jan. 19, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Wakefield High School. This celebration will feature an inspiring blend of storytelling, music, dance.” [Arlington County]

No Publishing Monday — Besides potential breaking news coverage, ARLnow will not be publishing on Monday due to the federal holiday.

Long Bridge Project Latest — “The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) today announced the selection of the Long Bridge Rail Partners… as construction partner for the Long Bridge Project-South Package. VPRA separated the Long Bridge Project, a new two-track bridge across the Potomac River, into two procurements, a North Package and a South Package.” [Press Release]

Meridian HS to Play in Tysons — “The baseball diamond on the campus of the new Meridian High School in Falls Church will not be ready for the start of the Mustangs’ baseball season… [Coach P.J. Anderson] has secured the Capital One turf field in McLean for the first six of our home games for the varsity team.” [FCNP]

Snow Chances Rising for Sunday — From the National Weather Service: “Confidence is increasing for the potential of accumulating snow Sunday across the area. If this threat materializes, it may cause travel disruptions.” [Twitter]

It’s Friday — Expect sunshine and a high around 40 degrees, with west winds at 5 to 9 mph shifting to southern winds in the afternoon. By Friday night, clouds will increase and temperatures will drop to around 30 degrees. [NWS]

Local Minister Accused of Sex Abuse — “The alumnus was one of three Falls Church Episcopal youth group members who an independent investigation revealed in April were allegedly sexually abused by Taylor in the 1990s or the early 2000s when they attended the church. The report found that Taylor’s behavior during his employment there constituted ‘sexual grooming or sexual abuse.'” [Washington Post]

Suspicious Package Investigation — From ARLnow yesterday: “Arlington’s bomb squad responded to a suspicious package today on N. Sycamore Street near Tuckahoe Park. Initial reports suggest it was a parcel addressed to the White House with odd labeling. ‘Nothing was found and the incident was cleared with good intent,’ ACFD spokesman tells ARLnow.” [Twitter]

Beyer on Israel-Gaza Ceasefire — From Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.): “I am glad that this agreement has finally been reached, and that the hostages who have endured horrific captivity will be coming home. All parties must implement this ceasefire and abide by its terms to prevent any resumption of bloodshed.” [Press Release]

Federal Prosecutor Stepping Down — “Jessica D. Aber said she will resign as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia upon President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, capping a term leading a high-profile office that was shaped by prosecutions of terrorism cases, violent gang crimes and leaks of classified documents.” [Washington Post]

Record Gun Haul for TSA — “Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport were two of the four airports in Virginia to set new records for detecting firearms at security checkpoints, according to the Transportation Security Administration… TSA officers at Washington National detected 41 in 2024, which was two more than the 39 stopped in 2023.” [Patch]

Expect Crowds at Local Airports — “Passengers at Reagan National and Dulles International Airports should be prepared for additional crowds and congestion from Friday, January 17, through Tuesday, January 21. The 2025 presidential inauguration is expected to bring an influx of passengers to both Washington, D.C., airports.” [MWAA]

Pike Spot Makes ‘Hand Pie’ List — “Ask the Mpanadas crew about their favorite handhelds, and fissures suddenly appear within the tight-knit co-founders of the Latin American restaurant. Husband and wife Jesse Correa and Paola Herbas prefer feasting on tangy barbecue pork and pico de gallo-zapped sausage, egg and cheese, respectively, while marketing whiz Gabriela Rojas remains firmly entrenched in the cheeseburger camp.” [Washington Post]

More Cold and Possible Snow — “Next week, a lobe of the polar vortex will plunge into the Lower 48 states, delivering a brutal blast of Arctic air. The chill will arrive in the District on Sunday, setting the stage for the coldest presidential inauguration since President Ronald Reagan’s in 1985. Some snow is possible Sunday as the cold air moves in, and there may be more opportunities for frozen precipitation next week.” [Capital Weather Gang]

It’s Thursday — There’s a 30% chance of snow showers after 1pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 34 degrees. Expect a south wind of 3 to 8 mph. In the evening, it’ll be cloudy before gradually clearing, and the temperature will drop to around 25 degrees. A calm wind will become northwest at 5 to 8 mph later in the night. [NWS]

Arlington Still Has Highest Rent — “The Zumper Washington, DC Metro Report analyzed active listings last month across metro cities… Arlington, VA ranked as the most expensive city with one-bedrooms priced at $2,390. Washington, DC was the second priciest with rent at $2,330. Alexandria, VA ranked third with rent at $2,080.” [Zumper]

County Preps for Inauguration — “Arlington County Government Office and Facilities will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/Inauguration Day… The Arlington County Police Department will deploy increased police resources in Arlington County, to include both visible and non-visible assets, leading up to and during Inauguration Day.” [ACPD]

Pentagon Station to Close Monday — “Pentagon Station and Pentagon Transit Center have been added to the list of closures for Inauguration Day, January 20.” [Twitter, WMATA]

No Arlington Eateries on This List — “We’ve scoured the region to compile a list of the hottest new restaurants opening soon in a town near you. Here are 10 newcomers we’re excited for in 2025.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Biden Parties in Falls Church — From NBC’s Gary Grumbach on Monday: “Jimmy Buffett, the Gin Blossoms, and now Joe Biden… Tonight, the President is attending a celebration of a historic four years with his staff at the historic State Theater in Falls Church, the White House says.” [Twitter]

Wanted Suspect Arrested –From Dave Statter: “The scene a little while ago after @ArlingtonVaPD
go after a man reported wanted for felonies in another jurisdiction. Other people in the red car were detained. This was at the Shelton on S. 24th St. in Green Valley.” [Bluesky]

Coworking Provider Acquired — “Real estate-services firm CBRE Group is taking control of the co-working firm Industrious, a sign of the property market’s renewed interest in shared workspace as more employees return to the office.” [WSJ, BusinessWire]

Compass Coffee Feud — “The co-founders of the popular Compass Coffee chain in Washington have severed ties, with the company’s former chief executive accusing its owner of fraudulently misusing pandemic relief funds in a lawsuit filed Monday.” [Washington Post]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies with highs near 30 and northwest winds of 14 to 16 mph, gusting up to 31 mph. The night will be mostly clear with lows around 17, as northwest winds decrease to 6 to 11 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]