News

Big Changes to Major Redevelopment — “Kimco Realty Corp. has proposed significant changes to its long-term plan for the mixed-use redevelopment of Costco-anchored Pentagon Centre… pitching in a Monday application to the county’s planning department an increase in density by more than three-quarters — taking the total envisioned square footage from about 2 million square feet to 3.5 million square feet. The mix of uses would change, too, now with substantially more residential and office but less retail than previously approved.” [Washington Business Journal]

Bill With More DCA Flights Passes — “The Senate on Thursday passed legislation to reauthorize federal aviation programs for the next five years.. The most intense regional fight was over a provision in the bill that would add five round-trip long-haul flights out of Ronald Reagan National Airport outside Washington.” [New York Times]

No Israel-Hamas Stance from Board — “Arlington County Board members are opting out of the foreign-policy business. For the moment, at least. In correspondence with the public, County Board Chairman Libby Garvey says board members have decided not to weigh in on the current Mideast situation, despite a press from pro-Palestinian activists to do so.” [Gazette Leader]

Smokecraft Files for Bankruptcy — “Smokecraft Modern Barbecue on April 29 filed for Chapter 11, listing $129,459 in assets and nearly $1.4 million in liabilities. Andrew Darneille, owner and pitmaster of the restaurant at 1051 N. Highland St., told me bankruptcy protection appeared the best option to put the business on firmer financial footing without closing and leaving his nearly 30 employees in the lurch.” [Washington Business Journal]

Focus on Va. Rights Waivers — “Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, the commonwealth attorney for Arlington County, doesn’t use the waivers at all. Dehghani-Tafti, a former public defender who won on a reform platform, said their use makes it harder for people to successfully re-enter society. ‘We shouldn’t be trying to make it easy to convict them again, we should be instead trying to give them the support and the tools that they need to not get in trouble again.'” [Bolts]

Beyer Statement on Speaker Vote — “I voted to table an attempt to remove Speaker Johnson yesterday because I strongly believe the House must govern constructively. Marjorie Taylor Greene sought to punish the Speaker for preventing a government shutdown and allowing a vote to fund assistance to Ukraine, both of which were correct decisions which I support.” [Press Release]

Couric Visits Axios in Arlington — From Mike Allen: “@katiecouric visited @axios in her hometown of Arlington, Va., for a raucous podcast convo with @JimVandeHei & me about his Just the Good Stuff, now a NY Times/USA Today bestseller.” [Twitter, Apple Podcasts]

Police Investigate Brandishing — “2400 block of Shirlington Road. At approximately 5:04 p.m. on May 7, police were dispatched to the report of a brandishing. Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim, driving eastbound on 25th Street S. across Shirlington Road, and the suspect, driving northbound on Shirlington Road, were involved in a near collision. A verbal dispute between the victim and suspect ensued during which the suspect brandished a firearm before fleeing the scene in his vehicle, a white pickup truck.” [ACPD]

High School Theater Award Nods — “High school theater productions that left an impression on audiences and student critics have earned nominations for awards. Nominations were announced for the Cappies of the National Capital Area, a Tony Award-like program for local high school theater.” [Patch]

Local Students in National History Bowl — “Three Arlington students scored success in the 2024 National History Bowl & Bee Championship, held in Arlington April 25-28.” [Gazette Leader]

Geomagnetic Storm Expected — “A severe geomagnetic storm is expected to hit Earth on Friday, triggering colorful nighttime auroras, or the northern lights. People in the United States could see moderate to strong geomagnetic activity starting around 11 p.m. and lasting through Saturday.” [Capital Weather Gang, Twitter]

It’s Friday — Expect showers and thunderstorms with a high near 61 and east wind of 7-9 mph. Precipitation chance is 70%, with rainfall between a tenth and a quarter inch, potentially higher in thunderstorms. For Friday night, showers and storms are likely before 11 pm, followed by a chance of showers between 11 pm and 2 am. It will be mostly cloudy with a low around 49, north wind at 6 mph, and a 60% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

Flickr pool photo by Emma K Alexandra

Courthouse Construction Continues — From Fox 5’s Steve Chenevey: “Can’t believe this now stands on the site of the long-time Arlington @Wendys, the name of the new building? The Wendy.” [Twitter]

Empty Office Building Worries — “What do empty office buildings and over-leveraged commercial developers have to do with Arlington’s parks, libraries and schools? A lot, actually. There’s a storm brewing in the business landscape that has yet to unleash its full fury. In the worst case, fierce economic winds and rain could lash taxpayers and the county services they hold dear.” [Arlington Magazine]

Green Valley Real Estate Profile — “Once known as one of Arlington’s last affordable neighborhoods, the values for Green Valley’s duplexes and single-family brick homes are climbing… Of the homes sold in the last year, the lowest-priced was a snug 1,360-square foot single-family without updates for $582,000; the highest was a 20-year-old mini-mansion near the country club with five-and-a-half bedrooms and more than 5,000 square feet for $1.2 million.” [Washington Post]

Arlington Scholarship Winners — “In the second round of scholarship winners in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program announced Wednesday, students from Arlington were among the winners… Virginia had 65 scholarship winners, six of whom live in Arlington.” [Patch]

DJO Senior to Play for Maryland — “The Bishop O’Connell High School senior football player was pleasantly informed by Knights’ head coach Todd Sabatino and team counselor Tracey Leipold that the University of Maryland’s Division I football team wanted to offer McConnell a preferred walkon position to join the Terrapins’ squad this fall as a long snapper.” [Gazette Leader]

‘Coffee With a Cop’ Returns — “The Arlington County Police Department’s Community Engagement Division is excited to announce ACPD’s spring Coffee with a Cop events will be returning with a new twist. In reaffirming ACPD’s commitment to making engagement accessible for all, we are taking our spring Coffee with a Cop events on the road to Arlington neighborhoods!” [ACPD]

Eden Center Robbery — “Falls Church Police are looking for three suspects involved in an assault and robbery at the Eden Center (6700 Wilson Blvd). On May 7, 2024 at approximately 6:30 PM, the victim was approaching her vehicle in the parking lot when three suspects assaulted her, stole her purse, and fled the scene in a vehicle headed in an unknown direction on Wilson Blvd. The victim sustained minor injuries.” [City of Falls Church]

It’s Thursday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, increasing in likelihood after 8am, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 76. Light east winds will strengthen to 5-9 mph in the morning. Precipitation chances are 70%, with new rain amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, possibly higher in thunderstorms. Thursday night, chances of showers and thunderstorms decrease to 50%, with a low around 58. [NWS]

MU Commencement This Week — “The University is planning in-person, outdoor ceremonies for 2024 graduates during the May 9-12 weekend. Please note that all in-person ceremonies and celebrations described below are tentative and are subject to change.” [Marymount University]

New Healthy Vending at DCA — Farmer’s Fridge, a vending machine for healthy food like salads, wraps and bowls, has opened at Terminal B in National Airport. [PoPville]

New Book of Arlington Activities — “With 100 Things to Do in Arlington before You Die, residents and visitors alike can delve beyond the obvious to discover a multilayered city devoted to dining, history, the arts, sports, shopping, and just plain relaxing.” [Amazon]

Mother’s Day Reminder — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “Mother’s Day is Sunday. Adopt an Arlington street for her. You and the street will legally be siblings.” [Twitter, Arlington County]

Big Police Chase on I-395 — “This is reported to be a carjacked car with the people inside armed with a weapon. I counted 29 cop cars behind it. One officer called it ‘a mile long’ line of police cars. Obviously, many different police departments are involved. It came across the Wilson Bridge from Maryland just before p.m., went through some streets in Alexandria, and then north on I-395.” [Twitter]

Marker for Local Civic Leader — “An early-summer dedication ceremony has been set for a commemorative marker honoring the life and legacy of educator Evelyn Reid Syphax at the Arlington school system’s administrative headquarters that is named in her honor. The event will be held the afternoon of Sunday, June 23.” [Gazette Leader]

Feedback on King Street Plans — “An upcoming meeting will give locals a chance to weigh in on the city’s plans to make changes to King Street where it runs past the Bradlee Shopping Center. The city is considering adding bike lanes and an additional sidewalk.” [ALXnow]

Storms Likely Tomorrow — From the National Weather Service: “Scattered shower and thunderstorm chances look to continue through midweek. Damaging winds, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall are likely to be the primary threats with storms. Greatest concern for severe weather appears to be on Thursday.” [Twitter]

It’s Wednesday — Showers and thunderstorms are possible before 8am and after 2pm, with mostly cloudy skies gradually becoming sunny and a high near 87. Winds will shift from southwest to west between 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon, and the chance of precipitation is 30%. For Wednesday night, there’s a 50% chance of precipitation with slight chances of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, followed by showers between 2-5am, and again after 5am. Expect increasing clouds and a low around 65. [NWS]