A year-round ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, with a three-year phase-out period, is likely to be considered by County Board members later this year.
A county staff recommendation to that effect received no significant pushback from any Board members during a Feb. 24 meeting.
An Arlington County Board candidate is threatening legal action if the county government places new limits on people’s ability to put campaign signs in public medians.
“I guarantee you that if they try to pass legislation to ban median signs, I will file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law as a violation of my First Amendment rights,” James DeVita told ARLnow. “I will also seek an injunction to prevent any such law from going into effect.”
Another Wardian Wow — “Fresh off setting a seven-continent 50K record, 51-year-old Michael Wardian has reportedly run the fastest known time for the double Arlington trail loop.” [ARLnow/X]
Potomac Bacteria Levels Dropping — “D.C.’s Health Director Ayanna Bennett said regular bacteria testing shows levels are dropping and in the District section of the river restrictions will be relaxed so boaters, rowers and others can go back onto the water. “In the D.C. waters we consider it safe for you to have contact with the Potomac and that advisory will be announced as lifted on March 2,” she told the audience.” [WTOP, WJLA]
Acquisition for Legal Startup — “Arlington startup BriefCatch has completed its first acquisition, securing patents for writing and editing tools tailored to the legal field. BriefCatch founder and CEO Ross Guberman declined to share the price the company paid for the Seattle area’s WordRake LLC. He indicated the deal could be a precursor to other acquisitions as part of the company’s strategy to build “a one-stop legal writing platform” for its law firm customers.” [WBJ]
Crash on Camera — “A red-light running, hit and run just before midnight on S. George Mason at S. Columbus. The pickup appears to have hit a pole after the intersection collision. It was found abandoned a few minutes later at a nearby apartment complex by @ArlingtonVaPD.” [Dave Statter/X]
Budget Sessions Start Tomorrow — “The public is invited to attend any of the Budget work sessions, either in person or via the county’s livestream. The public will also have the opportunity to provide testimony at the Budget (3/24) and Tax Rate (3/26) Public Hearings. ” [Arlington County]
Blood Drive Today — “An emergency community blood drive is scheduled for Monday, March 2, in Arlington. The drive aims to address a sharp reduction in the blood supply caused by widespread winter storm cancellations across the Washington region… Fire Works American Pizzeria & Bar, located at 2350 Clarendon Blvd. near the Courthouse Metro station, will host the event. The blood drive will run from 12 to 4 p.m.” [Patch]
Rehab Services at Culpepper Garden — “Culpepper Garden, the largest low-income retirement community in the National Capital Region… announced that it has selected Goodwin Rehabilitation to establish a therapy and exercise program on-site at its Arlington, VA, retirement community.” [Goodwin Living]
Coldest Winter in Awhile — “The data is in. Washington, D.C. just had its coldest meteorological winter in 23 years. However, with only 9.6” of snow, it was not a snowy one. Impressive temperatures for a massive urban heat island!” [Chris Martz/X]
Winter Weather Update — “Some freezing rain is looking increasingly likely early Tuesday morning across areas along & west of the I-95 Corridor. Any ice accumulation looks to be minimal. However it could lead to slick spots on elevated surface like bridges and overpasses.” [WWG/X, CWG/X]
New Legal Notice — Restaurant seeks ABC license for on/off-premises wine, beer, mixed beverages. [Public Notices]
It’s Monday — Snow may fall starting from 1pm with a high near 36, and 50% chance of precipitation. A cloudy day is expected with northeast winds of 6 mph, shifting southeast in the afternoon. Monday night, snow could turn into rain or freezing rain between 1am and 4am, and continue past 4am with a low around 30 and 80% chance of precipitation. Accumulations of ice and snow are expected to be minimal. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
A 25-year-old Arlington woman has been arrested and charged with felony hit and run in connection with an early-morning crash on Route 50 that left a pedestrian critically injured.
Valeria Galdo Camacho turned herself in to police at the Magistrate’s Office at approximately 11 a.m. today (Sunday), the Arlington County Police Department said in a press release.
Update on 3/1/26 — The striking driver has been arrested, Arlington County police announced Sunday evening. The victim remains in critical condition.
Earlier: The westbound lanes of Route 50 are closed after a reported hit and run.
Arlington’s congressman and both of Virginia’s U.S. senators condemned today’s military strikes on Iran, calling the attack unconstitutional and demanding that Congress reconvene.
The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on Iran overnight, with strikes hitting areas across the country including around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. President Donald Trump, in a video announcing “major combat operations,” called on Iranians to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against their government.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A crowd gathered at a commuter gate at Reagan National Airport on Friday as fog-laden Washington skies caused an hourlong ground stop that backed up passengers hoping to head out from American Airlines’ Terminal D.
But soon the already densely packed area swelled even more, as word spread across nearby gates that, of the hundreds of air travelers coming and going, only one among them was accompanied by a U.S. Secret Service detail, along with uniformed local police officers: former President Joe Biden.
Local residents will be roasting under the midsummer sun when county staff bring forward plans to improve snow response in the 2026-27 winter season.
County Manager Mark Schwartz told County Board members on Feb. 24 that he would be back in July with new plans. And he wasn’t kidding about the timing.
Virginia’s two U.S. senators have endorsed Rep. Don Beyer (D) in his bid for reelection in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District.
Senators Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D) both announced their support for Beyer yesterday (Wednesday), according to a press release from Beyer’s campaign.
High-than-usual electric bills in Virginia this winter have prompted discussion about the role data centers could play in driving up costs.
Dominion Energy, the commonwealth’s largest electric utility company, has said that new rates in 2026 and unusually cold weather could be responsible for many customers’ higher bills.
More outreach to Latino, older and younger voters is needed if Arlington wants the community to more fully embrace ranked-choice voting, new survey data suggests.
The majority of respondents — 66% — said they either strongly or somewhat supported the voting format in a government-funded voter survey conducted immediately after the November general election. Only 26% were strongly or somewhat opposed, and the remainder were undecided.
An updated partnership with Uber will provide more transportation options for senior citizens living in True Ground Housing Partners’ apartment communities.
The expanded program will offer free Uber trips subsidized by the transportation company. Eligible residents will be able to request rides by connecting with True Ground’s resident-service coordinators at each property.
