News

Beyer Blasts GOP on War Powers — Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said he and other House Democrats went to the floor to defend Congress’s constitutional war powers but Republicans refused to recognize their resolution. “They’re choosing this war, and Trump’s violence and chaos,” Beyer said, separately criticizing the president for boasting about the military’s “next conquest.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X, X]

Underground Pipe Flash Fire — “Engine 109, Rescue 109, and BC101 responded to an underground pipe flash fire at the intersection of S Glebe Road and Walter Reed Drive. The situation has been brought under control, and crews have secured the scene while checking for any remaining hazards.” [ACFD/X]

Route 1 Theft Arrest — Arlington police arrested a man on Route 1 at S. 23rd Street yesterday afternoon who was suspected of stealing from a nearby 7-Eleven. [Dave Statter/X]

Arlington Home Prices Dip — Arlington saw the D.C. region’s steepest drop in median home sale price, declining 7.9% to $692,500, according to Bright MLS data. The broader market continues to feel the effects of January’s “snowcrete” storm and uncertainty from the Iran conflict. [Washington Post]

Local Clubs Among Region’s Largest — Two Arlington country clubs rank among the D.C. area’s largest nonprofits by revenue. Army Navy Country Club (1700 Army Navy Drive) placed second with $50.75 million in revenue, while Washington Golf and Country Club (3017 N. Glebe Road) ranked sixth at $23.98 million. [WBJ]

Peace Officers Memorial Day — ACPD and the Sheriff’s Office will hold a ceremony on Friday, May 8 at 8 a.m. at the Justice Center Plaza (1425 N. Courthouse Road) to honor the seven Arlington law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. N. Courthouse Road will be closed between 14th and 15th streets N. from approximately 7–9 a.m. [Arlington County]

Va. Minimum Wage Rising to $15 — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed legislation raising Virginia’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2028. The wage will rise from the current $12.77 to $13.75 on Jan. 1, 2027, and then to $15 on Jan. 1, 2028, with annual adjustments tied to the consumer price index beginning in 2029. [Virginia Mercury]

Contraception Bill Signed — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed the Right to Contraception Act, barring state and local governments from restricting access to contraceptives including emergency contraceptives and IUDs. Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin had vetoed similar legislation. [WJLA]

Fairfax Casino Vetoed — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has rejected legislation that would’ve opened the door for a casino in Fairfax County… In her explanation, Spanberger argued that the bill would’ve set a new precedent reducing local authority over gambling after many residents and Fairfax County leaders expressed opposition to the possibility of a casino.” [FFXnow, Scott Surovell/X]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 75 degrees and south winds at 2–10 mph. Overnight lows will drop to around 56 under partly cloudy skies. [NWS]

Favola Endorses McAuliffe — “State Sen. Barbara Favola — who represents most of Arlington County — has endorsed Dorothy McAuliffe in the race for #VA07. ‘She will be a strong, steady voice for public education and for the families who depend on it.'” [Jared Serre/X]

Medical Debt Lawsuits — “Virginia hospitals and medical providers filed more than 1.15 million lawsuits between 2010 and 2024, seeking to collect $1.4 billion in medical debt from patients, a report co-authored by a GW Law professor found.” [GW Hatchet]

Bipartisan Housing Bills in Va. — “In contrast to highly partisan debates over many other issues, state lawmakers of all political stripes are joining forces to pass legislation to increase the supply of housing. The policies attracting support range from requiring cities to allow manufactured homes in areas with single-family homes to easing regulations for accessory dwelling units to allowing housing on church-owned land and strip malls.” [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Thursday — Expect areas of frost early in the morning, but the day will be mostly sunny with a high of around 62°F. Winds will be calm initially, becoming southeast at about 6 mph in the afternoon. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 42°F and southeast winds between 3 and 6 mph. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.

Fed Child Exploitation Cases — Two Arlington men pled guilty last month to federal child sexual abuse charges under the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. One defendant, 26, urinated on his laptop during an FBI search to prevent agents from accessing evidence. A second man, 35, was found with hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material on his devices. [Patch, U.S. Attorney’s Office]

RNC Sues Over Va. Voting — The Republican National Committee filed a lawsuit challenging Virginia’s voting system, alleging the state allows some people who have never been residents to cast ballots. The suit targets a provision letting children of overseas Virginians vote without ever having lived in the state. Matthew Hurtt, head of the Arlington GOP, joined the suit. [Washington Times]

Long Bridge Work Delays — Drivers should expect periodic traffic impacts on Boundary Channel Drive and surrounding loop ramps through April 13 as the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority continues work on the Long Bridge Project. Lane narrowing and equipment storage will be in place during weekday off-peak hours, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. [Patch]

Infrastructure Input Sought — Arlington County is asking residents where to prioritize maintenance and funding for streets, parks, technology, stormwater systems and county buildings. Feedback is due by April 23. [Arlington County/X]

MCM Registration Opens — Registration for the 51st Marine Corps Marathon opened Monday, and organizers expect it to sell out. “Last year it took us about a month,” said marketing manager Amber Traunero. The race will be held Oct. 25 with new corral starts and a four-day expo at the National Building Museum. [WTOP]

Art of Pink This Friday — The National Landing BID’s Pink in the Park series wraps up Friday with Art of Pink, a free after-hours event at Metropolitan Park from 5–10 p.m. featuring a cherry blossom art exhibition with 60-plus local artists, a live paint battle, food vendors and live music. [National Landing BID]

Corvex Touts Public Edge — Arlington-based AI cloud computing firm Corvex Inc. is leveraging its new public company status to recruit talent, offering stock options tied to tradeable shares. “It absolutely is an advantage for us,” CEO Jay Crystal said. The company, which went public via an all-stock merger last month, has 38 employees at Fuse at Mason Square in Virginia Square. [WBJ]

Speed Camera Bill Advances — A bill that would expand speed camera locations to high-risk “safety red zones” designated by the state is awaiting Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D) signature. The bill, crafted in memory of two Oakton High School students killed on Blake Lane in 2022, would apply to N. Va. localities including Arlington. [FFXnow]

Spanberger Signs School Bills — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed a package of education bills today targeting school construction planning and classroom cellphone restrictions. The laws make the Commission on School Construction and Modernization permanent and set “bell to bell” limits on student device use during the school day. [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 55 degrees and light east winds around 6 mph. Tonight’s low drops to around 35 degrees with areas of frost possible after 3 a.m. [NWS]

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