A 78-year-old man has pleaded guilty to keeping explosives inside his Westover apartment.
Charles Wallace Peters faces a maximum of 10 years in prison following his Tuesday plea, according to Virginia statute.
News
Arlington County police are urging residents to remain alert to a variety of commonly reported scams this holiday season.
Residents are encouraged to be suspicious of unsolicited communications, avoid clicking suspicious links and regularly monitor their bank accounts for unauthorized activity.
County Manager Mark Schwartz has been directed to consider both program cuts and tax increases as he works to fill a fiscal 2026 budget gap currently estimated at $30 million to $40 million.
County Board members on Tuesday night (Dec. 17) voted unanimously to approve budget guidance providing Schwartz the ability to propose tax increases he deems necessary. That could include another increase to the real-estate tax rate.
Lawmakers who represent Arlington in Congress are speaking out against the collapse of a bipartisan plan to avert a government shutdown.
The stopgap budget deal was derailed Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump called on House Republicans to renegotiate, following sharp criticism of the deal by Elon Musk. House Speaker Mike Johnson is now scrambling to devise a new strategy before Friday’s funding deadline, while Musk — who is to head a government efficiency effort under the new administration — has said that “no bills should be passed” before Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
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Local Businessman Admits Fraud — Arlington business owner Kiel Brendan Brandt, 34, has pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud after defrauding eight companies of over $2 million through his firm, Epsilon Acquisition Services, between 2020 and 2022. Brandt faces up to 20 years in prison and must pay nearly $2 million in restitution. [DOJ]
Advocates: Missing Middle ‘Is a Win’ — “Missing Middle zoning reform was delivering more mid-sized homes throughout Arlington. It was on track to create more starter homes and more places to downsize within neighborhoods that had limited options. In short, the policy was delivering on its promises, until it was invalidated by a judge on September 27, 2024. Notably, none of the hyperbolic concerns of the policy’s critics seem to have been happening.” [YIMBYs of Northern Virginia]
Stormwater Credit Applications Open — “Arlington’s Stormwater Utility credit application period is now open and ready for submissions. In Dec. 2023, the Arlington County Board formally adopted a new, fairer way to fund the stormwater management program by approving the County’s first-ever Stormwater Utility fee. The County Board took further action at its Dec. 2024 meeting to enhance the program by approving two new voluntary credit opportunities for single-family residential properties.” [Arlington County]
It’s Thursday — Expect a mix of clouds and sun with highs around 45 degrees and a northwest wind at 6 to 10 mph. As night falls, clouds increase and the temperature will drop to around 31 degrees. [NWS]
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Long-delayed plans to redevelop aging Rosslyn office buildings and a parking garage notably involved in the Watergate scandal could be getting a fresh start.
Developer Monday Properties has recapitalized the development site at 1400 Key Blvd and 1401 Wilson Blvd, home to two 12-story office buildings.
The median sales price of Arlington single-family homes in 2025 could peak at around $1.4 million in early summer before retreating slightly, according to a new forecast.
The prediction, which also anticipates a year-over-year decline in county home sales next year, comes from the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) and the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis.
As the Arlington NAACP approaches its first leadership change in two years, the organization aims to build on its advocacy efforts.
On issues ranging from housing and education to voting rights and criminal-justice reform, “our branch has been leading the way,” outgoing president Michael Hemminger said at the body’s last meeting of the year, held Monday (Dec. 16).
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Distilling the essence of Libby Garvey’s 28 years in Arlington public life would have required far longer than the 75 minutes allotted at the Tuesday (Dec. 17) County Board meeting.
But a number of local civic and political leaders gave it their best shot.
A 15-year veteran of Arlington’s public defender’s office is now tasked with leading it.
Allison Carpenter has been named the new chief public defender for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, she confirmed to ARLnow on Tuesday.
Pentagon Gun Arrest — “A man with a loaded gun in his car and a device in his underwear that would enable the firearm to act like a machine gun was arrested outside the Pentagon last week after attempting to speed off with Pentagon police officers clinging to his vehicle, according to court documents reviewed by CBS News. Prosecutors allege Kaleel Nagbe had a loaded firearm with 16 rounds, including one in the chamber, when he was stopped for a traffic infraction — holding a phone while driving — at the Pentagon complex.” [CBS News]
Big Crash in East Falls Church — From Dave Statter: “Langston Boulevard at N. Westmoreland Street near I-66 – just outside the City of Falls Church – is shut down. A two car crash took down power lines beside the restaurant La Cote D’or Cafe.” [Twitter]
Police Lieutenant Retires — “After 34 years of dedicated service to the Arlington community, friends and colleagues gathered this afternoon to celebrate the retirement of Lt. D. Mathews. Throughout his career, Lt. Mathews served with exceptional passion for the policing profession in various assignments including Patrol, Organized Crime, Vice, Digital Forensics and the Special Operations Section.” [Facebook]
Fish Taco Spot Coming to F.C. — “The team behind the Fish Taco restaurant chain, which started out more than a decade ago with a single spot in Potomac, has inked a deal to open a new outpost in Falls Church — and it’s not stopping there. The eatery’s second spot in Northern Virginia, following one at the Boro District in Tysons, adds to a host of new tenants at Founders Row including Ellie Bird, Kyu Ramen, Seoul Prime and Semicolon Café.” [WBJ]
It’s Wednesday — After a clear start to the morning, expect rain to begin by midday, with a high of 53 degrees and mild southeast winds at 6 mph. Rain will likely continue into the night, cooling to a low of 36 degrees. Southwest winds of 6-13 mph are expected, shifting northwest and potentially gusting up to 20 mph. Nighttime precipitation chances remain at 80%, with an additional tenth to a quarter inch of rainfall. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
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Arlington’s police union and top prosecutor are in a war of words over a previous case involving the Pentagon City stabbing suspect.
Leonardo Reyes, the man accused of sending a mother and her toddler to the hospital with life-threatening stab wounds in a Saturday night attack, was out on probation for the attempted robbery of a drug store in 2021.