Arlington County police are looking for a man who brandished a gun at a woman whose car he broke into.
The incident happened Monday afternoon in a Ballston area parking garage. Police say the victim confronted the man and grabbed her wallet back from him after finding the suspect rummaging through her car.
Lightning Strikes Monuments — The brief New Year’s Eve thunderstorm produced lightning strikes that could be seen striking the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. [Bluesky, Bluesky]
Metro Steps Up Security — “On behalf of the Metro Transit Police Department, we are deeply saddened by the devastating events in New Orleans, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this senseless tragedy. While there are no known threats to Metro, MTPD has heightened security across the system out of an abundance of caution. Customers may notice an increased police presence as a result.” [Twitter]
Group Raises $30k for Nonprofits — The Arlington chapter of The Links, Incorporated, presented $30,000 in grants to support nonprofit organizations at its “Holiday Jingle & Mingle” celebration. “This is about more than grants — it’s about building relationships and creating pathways for change,” said Lavern Chatman, the organization’s community-partnerships chair. [Arlington Links]
D.C. Office Vacancy Ticks Down — “D.C.’s office vacancy rate is on track to decline — ever so slightly — for the first time in years, according to fresh quarterly numbers from real estate services firm JLL, though whether this about-face evolves into a trend is still to be determined. The District’s vacancy rate fell to 19.9% in the fourth quarter, down from 20% last quarter.” [WBJ]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 40 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 11 to 16 mph and gusts up to 28 mph. For Thursday night, the conditions will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 29 degrees and a west wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
Two people were shot in a Ballston apartment building early New Year’s Day amid a chaotic night in parts of Arlington.
Police were dispatched to the Rixey building at the Marymount University Ballston campus just after 1 a.m. for a report of a person with a gun on an upper floor of the building. That floor is used for short-term rentals by an “apartment hotel” service, according to scanner traffic.
Its leadership may be changing, but the role of Arlington’s Economic Development Commission will remain vital in 2025, its members believe.
The body is “filled with professionals … that can offer guidance and perspective,” said Bill Dunn, the commission’s outgoing chair, at its December meeting.
New Year’s County Closures — Arlington County offices, community centers, libraries and other facilities will be closed Wednesday for New Year’s Day. Libraries are also closing early today (Tuesday). Parking meters will not be enforced on Wednesday. [Arlington County]
Attempted Robbery in Pentagon City — “At approximately 7:10 p.m., the female victim was in the bathroom of a commercial property when she was approached by four female suspects who physically assaulted her and attempted to steal the victim’s shopping bags and jewelry. The victim ran out of the bathroom and the suspects followed. A security guard intervened, and all four suspects fled the scene on foot.” [ACPD]
Year of Record Warmth — “With 2024 mostly in the rearview, another year enters the weather books — one that will be remembered for persistent and record-breaking warmth, recurrent drought and several significant weather events… And it’s now official: Cooler December weather couldn’t keep the year from becoming the city’s warmest on record.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and possible thunderstorms from 1pm to 4pm, intensifying after 4pm with a high of 58°F and southeast winds at 5-11 mph, gusting to 20 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with rainfall amounts ranging between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. On Tuesday night, showers mainly before 7pm with a low around 42°F, and a west wind at 9 mph. New Year’s Day will be mostly sunny, breezy, and with a high near 48°F, accompanied by a west wind at 11-20 mph, gusting up to 34 mph. [NWS]
An Arlington woman has died after a double stabbing in Pentagon City the night of Dec. 14.
Iman Gaye, 26, died at the hospital early this morning, according to Arlington County police. A young child who was also stabbed and seriously injured that night, near an entrance to the Target store, was released from the hospital on Dec. 23, according to ACPD.
Two largely vacant office buildings in Crystal City are set to become a hotel and an apartment building.
Property owner JBG Smith announced today that it has filed an application under a new Arlington County “adaptive reuse” policy that would re-purpose 550,000 square feet of empty office space.
Some Falls Church officials are hoping 2025 will be a year of moving from conversation to concrete decisions in addressing affordable-housing goals.
“It’s the action side of things that has always been the problem — not the aspirational nature of what we want,” City Council member Erin Flynn said during a discussion of how city leaders will move forward on housing issues in the new year.
Users of a future trail to connect the Arlington View neighborhood across I-395 to Crystal City may find themselves huffing and puffing unless they take it easy.
The route will require pedestrians and bicyclists to go “over the mountain range” to get from one end to the other, noted David Patton, a transportation planner for the Department of Environmental Services, during a Dec. 16 presentation to the county’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Could a boardwalk for visitors one day encircle the Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary adjacent to Gravelly Point?
And could there be better accessibility to the site, which today is effectively restricted to vehicular traffic?
Va. Reactions to Carter’s Passing — From Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.): “Jimmy Carter lived a life of kindness, compassion, and decency. He never forgot his roots as a Navy veteran and peanut farmer, never stopped fighting racism and oppression, and never stopped helping others or working to make the world a better place. A great human being.” [Twitter, Twitter, Twitter]
Carter’s Arlington Electoral History — “Former President Jimmy Carter… compiled a 1-for-2 record with the Arlington electorate. The former Georgia governor in his successful 1976 bid for the White House defeated Republican Gerald Ford in the county tally, 32,536 to 30,872, according to data from the county government’s elections office.” [ARLnow]
Station Presses Prosecutor — “7News will continue to press the Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney for answers on whether she plans to hold shoplifters accountable amid a massive surge in shoplifting reports in the county. The Arlington County Police told 7News the department will conduct a review and determine the full impact of their holiday theft detail, but so far, ACPD believes their detail has been a success.” [WJLA]
Women Arrested for Slashing — “On December 23, police were dispatched to the report of a fight. Upon arrival, it was determined the female suspect and Victim One, who are known to each other, were outside when they became involved in a verbal dispute that escalated to a physical altercation during which the suspect brandished a knife. The suspect attempted to assault Victim One with the knife when Victim Two, intervened and was struck by the knife, causing a laceration.” [ACPD]
Ex-Soldier’s Restorative Justice — “Michelle Logan and Jenna Burnett said they sat in chairs set up in a circle inside the Arlington Mill Community Center in late September and began explaining to Matthew Henshaw how hurtful it was for them to see their Pride flag forcibly removed after they finally came out and moved in together. They said they told him that his actions made them feel unsafe in their own home — and that they wanted him to understand why.” [Washington Post]
Ballston Area Building Bought — “A Florida-based commercial real estate investor continues to make a splash in Greater Washington, acquiring a Class A office in Ballston less than a year after buying a downtown Bethesda office tower. In-Rel Properties is the new owner of 3865 Wilson Blvd., a 145,672-square-foot office known as Ballston Gateway that is currently 71% leased to the likes of Founders Bank, ECS Federal and General Dynamics Applied Physical Services Corp.” [WBJ]
F.C. Firm’s SPAC Struggles — “Falls Church telecommunications satellite firm Lynk Global Inc. is once again getting more time to complete its merger with Slam Corp., a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) founded by former professional baseball star Alex Rodriguez. The extension comes a month after Lynk made its second CEO appointment in the past two months.” [WBJ]
Bloodmobile Today in Courthouse — “This holiday season blood product supplies are at a critical shortage with Inova Blood Donor Services asking for donors to please give ‘the gift of life’ … An Inova Blood Donor Services Bloodmobile will be parked in front of Fire Works, near Clarendon Boulevard and North Adams Street, this upcoming Monday, December 30, 2024, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.” [Press Release]
Va. AG Supports TikTok Ban — “Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares today filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court supporting a federal statute addressing the national security and data privacy threats posed by TikTok. The Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the case on January 10, 2025.” [Press Release]
It’s Monday — Expect a mostly cloudy morning followed by gradual clearing and a high around 57°F. There will be west winds blowing at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. As for Monday night, the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures dipping to around 38°F. A southwest wind of around 5 mph will become calm in the evening. [NWS]
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Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
Two initiatives to meet the needs of at-risk Arlington seniors are facing troubled times.
An end to Covid-era funding is hitting operations of the nonprofit Meals on Wheels program hard, while there remains a backlogged waiting list for those wanting to be a part of the Arlington Department of Human Services’ Adult Day program.
