News

JUST IN: Arlington police charge two with stealing Pride flags from Penrose home

By Jo DeVoe
Security camera footage of a Pride flag being stolen on Jan. 27, 2024 (via Michelle Logan/X)

Two men — including one with an apparent military connection — have been arrested in connection with a series of Pride flags stolen from an Arlington couple, police announced Friday evening.

Twenty-year-old Matthew Henshaw was arrested and charged with three counts of bias-motivated unlawful entry and three counts of petit larceny for incidents occurring on Sept. 16 and Sept. 30 and Jan. 27. ACPD said he resides at Fort Myer, suggesting he has military ties. Henshaw was released on a secured bond.

Go to JUST IN: Arlington police charge two with stealing Pride flags from Penrose home Read more

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Commuters in cars and on bikes along Langston Blvd in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington’s AI 911 System — “Arlington County decided to go high tech to take some of that stress off employees. Arlington County is one of the first 911 call centers in the country, and the first in the northeast, to use artificial intelligence to handle non-emergency calls using a system called Amazon Connect.” [WUSA 9]

‘Women of Vision’ Nominations Open — “Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 16 for the 2024 Women of Vision Awards, sponsored by the Arlington Commission on the Status of Women. ‘These awards honor women for their accomplishments and contributions to improving the lives and opportunities for Arlington residents especially women,’ the county-government advisory body said in putting out a call for nominees.” [Gazette Leader]

Go to Morning Notes Read more

Study: Many Arlington hiking trails are unsustainable and harmful to the environment

By Dan Egitto
A hiker crosses a stream in Arlington (via Arlington County)

Going for a hike in Arlington? The trail you use might cause harm to the environment.

That’s according to a study on unpaved hiking trails released earlier this month. The Natural Surface Trail Condition Assessment, a first-of-its-kind project for the county, aims to be a comprehensive survey of Arlington’s 20+ miles of trails free from surfacing materials such as pavement or asphalt.

Go to Study: Many Arlington hiking trails are unsustainable and harmful to the environment Read more

Police looking for two suspects after carjacking in Ballston leads to chase into D.C.

By ARLnow.com
Flight path of the Fairfax County police helicopter during Wednesday night's pursuit of a carjacked vehicle (courtesy Paul W., via FlightAware)

A man was carjacked in Ballston last night, leading to a police chase — but no arrests yet.

The carjacking happened around 10:30 p.m. on the 4000 block of Wilson Blvd, when two male suspects forced the victim out of his parked car and drove off.

Go to Police looking for two suspects after carjacking in Ballston leads to chase into D.C. Read more

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Entrance to the Virginia Square Metro station (staff photo)

Reminder: ACFD Helicopter Drill — “On Feb 1, the ACFD will host a joint training exercise beginning at 8 am in the 2800 BLK of S. Taylor St. The exercise will include the landing of 2 helicopters as part of a mobility drill. The drill is expected to last 15 – 20 minutes.” [Twitter]

Forums on ‘Deer Management’ — “The Arlington County government will host two online forums on the controversial topic of deer management. The programs, which will follow the same format, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8 at noon and on Monday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m.” [Gazette Leader]

Go to Morning Notes Read more

Young political activists in Arlington prepare for potential Trump-Biden rematch

By James Jarvis
Victoria Churchill speaks at Arlington-Falls Church Young Republicans event (courtesy of Victoria Churchill)

Young Arlington politicos across the partisan divide are closely watching Donald Trump’s presidential bid and its potential effect on voter turnout this cycle.

Whereas Arlington Young Democrats (AYD) is using the prospect of a second Trump presidency to mobilize the party’s base, Arlington-Falls Church Young Republicans (AFCYR) is threading the needle of supporting the likely GOP frontrunner without estranging members of their party.

Go to Young political activists in Arlington prepare for potential Trump-Biden rematch Read more

NEW: Long-time local grocery store to close next month

By ARLnow.com
The Giant store in the Lyon Village Shopping Center (staff photo)

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) The anchor of the Lyon Village Shopping Center will close in a month.

The Giant supermarket at 3115 Langston Blvd will close on Thursday, Feb. 29, the regional grocery chain confirmed today in a statement to ARLnow.

Go to NEW: Long-time local grocery store to close next month Read more

W&OD Trail to close next month as Sparrow Pond restoration work continues

By Jo DeVoe
A trail user amid signs of construction at Sparrow Pond (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

As restoration work continues at Sparrow Pond, one trail will close as another opens.

The Washington & Old Dominion Trail will be closed for six to seven weeks starting in mid-to-late February, per an Arlington County webpage.

Go to W&OD Trail to close next month as Sparrow Pond restoration work continues Read more

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Remnants of snow in Westover (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fire Department Exercise Tomorrow — “On Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, the Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD) will host a joint training exercise in the 2800 block of South Taylor St… One of the key components of this exercise will be a mobility drill involving the landing of two helicopters in the area of the Arlington County Fire Training Academy.” [ACFD]

Secretary of State Protest Arrest — “At approximately 8:05 a.m. on January 28, an officer in the 400 block of Chain Bridge Road conducted a traffic stop after observing the suspect travel in the area three times while continuously activating her vehicle’s horn.” [Twitter]

Go to Morning Notes Read more

How nonprofits and the county say they are keeping teens out of court for offenses and drug use

By Jo DeVoe
Arlington police officers (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A new program diverting teens from the criminal justice system has seen 27 referrals for a variety of criminal offenses, largely related to theft, assault and drug and alcohol violations.

Shoplifting and physical disagreements with peers are exactly the kinds of crimes Devanshi Patel expects to see go through the program, run by the nonprofit she leads called the Center for Youth and Family Advocacy (CYFA).

Go to How nonprofits and the county say they are keeping teens out of court for offenses and drug use Read more

McDonald’s to get second drive-thru lane to reduce backups onto N. Glebe Road

By Dan Egitto
The McDonald's at 40 N. Glebe Road (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 11 a.m.) The McDonald’s on N. Glebe Road in the Buckingham neighborhood is on track to get a second drive-thru lane.

The fast food restaurant at 40 N. Glebe Road plans to add another queuing lane leading up to the existing drive-thru window, increasing how many customers can place orders at the same time. The change is expected to bring shorter lines, cutting down on the amount of cars that back up onto the road, according to a county report.

Go to McDonald’s to get second drive-thru lane to reduce backups onto N. Glebe Road Read more

County boasts progress in Green Valley but public intoxication hasn’t gone away, residents say

By Dan Egitto
The "FREED" Sculpture in the John Robinson, Jr. Town Square (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Arlington County Police Department has ramped up efforts to curb public intoxication and other illegal behavior near a Green Valley elementary school.

Despite these efforts, however, some of that behavior persists, according to some community members and ARLnow’s observations.

Go to County boasts progress in Green Valley but public intoxication hasn’t gone away, residents say Read more
View More Stories