Falls Church has formally opened its doors to e-scooters. Now it just needs to find some takers.
City Council members voted 7-0 on Monday night for a one-year pilot program, hoping to entice companies to deploy up to 100 e-scooters and e-bicycles within the community’s 2.2 square miles.
County leaders know there is a parking problem for users of Central Library. What they don’t have yet is a plan to address it.
“We get lots of feedback from users about the inadequacy of parking,” library director Diane Kresh said during a March 5 work session focused on library operations.
Beyer Hosting Resource Fair — Rep. Don Beyer (D) is hosting a resource fair for federal workers, contractors and economically impacted individuals on March 21 at Wakefield High School. “Come meet with local partners who can connect you with housing assistance, food banks, resources for small businesses, and more,” Beyer said. [Rep. Don Beyer/X]
Rowers Return to Potomac — “Rowers have returned to the Potomac River after the lifting of restrictions that were put in place due to a sewage spill in Maryland two months ago.” The Virginia Department of Health lifted its recreational water advisory last week, though it continues to advise against contact with a 4.7-mile stretch between the American Legion Bridge and Chain Bridge. [Andrew Leyden/X]
School Choice Celebration — More than 100 people gathered at the Leadership Institute in Clarendon on Saturday for EdReform Virginia’s 4th Annual School Choice Celebration. Former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears headlined the event, offering “a robust defense of educational freedom.” [EdNews Virginia]
SER Makes Eater List — SER Restaurant (1110 N. Glebe Road), which has served tapas in Ballston for 10 years, was included on DC Eater’s 38 Best Restaurants Around D.C. list. “It’s hard to go wrong with any of the 12-plus tapas on the list, but the tomato bread, croquetas, and deep-fried eggplant are not to miss,” according to Eater. [Patch]
Boater Sues Over Sewage Spill — A Great Falls resident has filed a class action lawsuit against DC Water over the January sewer collapse that dumped more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. The plaintiff’s boat is moored at Columbia Island Marina on the Pentagon Lagoon, where waters were “directly contaminated” by the spill. Meanwhile, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network says sewage may still be leaking into the river. [FFXnow]
Five Guys BOGO Take Two — “We screwed the first one up so bad, we’re trying to redo it,” Five Guys CEO Jerry Murrell told WTOP. The Alexandria-based burger chain is rolling out another buy-one, get-one free offer this week after its initial 40th anniversary BOGO led to long lines and stores running out of stock. The chain is also giving $1.5 million in bonuses to employees who bore the brunt. [WTOP]
FCPD Encrypting Radios — The Fairfax County Police Department is moving forward with plans to encrypt its main dispatch radio channels. Once in effect, FCPD will join numerous regional agencies — including ACPD, Prince William County Police, Virginia State Police and D.C.’s Metropolitan Police — that have partially or fully encrypted their transmissions. [FFXnow]
Assault Weapons Ban Advances — A bill that would ban the import, sale, manufacture, purchase or transfer of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines (more than 15 rounds) in Virginia is heading to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D). The bill does not make it illegal to possess assault weapons or magazines already owned. If signed, it takes effect July 1. [Tyler Englander/X, DC News Now]
Lucas Grades Spanberger B– — Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) gave Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) a B– for her work with the Senate. Lucas is pushing to eliminate an estimated $1.6 billion-a-year tax break for data centers, an idea opposed by business groups. Spanberger and House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) have been tepid on changing the tax provision. [Radio IQ, Virginia Scope, WBJ]
Lawmakers Slam Deceptive Mailers —Members of Virginia’s congressional delegation, including Rep. Don Beyer (D), are condemning mailers from a PAC that invoke Jim Crow imagery to oppose the April 21 redistricting referendum. The PAC is linked to a former Hampton GOP delegate, according to the Virginian-Pilot. [Press Release, Virginian-Pilot]
W&OD Rail Line Eyed — Transit advocates have revived a 60-year-old proposal to add rail service along the W&OD Trail right-of-way from Purcellville to the East Falls Church Metro station. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission has received more than 60 requests to study the concept. [FFXnow]
March Warmth — “Temperatures climbed into the mid-80s in the D.C. area Tuesday afternoon, the warmest weather for March 10 since 2016. WTOP Meteorologist Mike Stinneford reported high temperatures climbed to 84 degrees at all three airports in the D.C. region by 3 p.m.” [WTOP]
It’s Wednesday — Partly sunny skies tomorrow with a high near 82 and a chance of rain after 9 a.m. Strong storms are possible in the afternoon and evening as a cold front clashes with unseasonably warm air — the Storm Prediction Center has the region at a Level 2 (of 5) severe risk, with potential for downpours, gusty winds and hail. Overnight lows drop to around 51 with rain likely. [NWS, CWG/X]
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Making ranked-choice voting permanent and potentially banning campaign signage on local rights-of-way top the agenda for County Board members’ meeting this weekend.
Other items scheduled for discussion at the Saturday meeting include an $8 million contract for Wilson Blvd street improvements, a $5 million contract for a culvert replacement on N. Dumbarton Street and a hearing on relocating the Madison Community Center’s early voting site during renovations there.
Local leaders may consider imposing a small fee on out-of-county residents who want an Arlington library card.
County Board member Maureen Coffey brought up the idea at a budget work session with library officials on March 5. She said that a “very low fee model” would provide some cash for “greater investment in the collection.”
The Arlington Housing Commission has gotten its first look at a redevelopment proposal expected to bring nearly 400 apartment units to a site across the street from Courthouse Plaza.
Trammell Crow Residential will seek County Board approval later this spring for “Alexan at Courthouse,” a 15-story residential building proposed to replace a 40-year-office building at 2000 15th Street N. As currently planned, the project calls for 394 units totaling about 412,000 square feet of interior space.
They have done it before, and supporters of the Cherrydale branch library say they will again fend off efforts to close the branch.
The advocacy group Citizens for Cherrydale Library is once again mobilizing to save the facility, this time from County Manager Mark Schwartz’s proposal to shutter the branch in order to save about $450,000 in the coming fiscal year.
One Arlington leader wants localities to be more aggressive in seeking transportation and transit funding along the I-66 corridor.
County Board member Takis Karantonis lamented that nearly $40 million in available funding will be left on the table in the latest round of “I-66 Commuter Choice” grants.
Another Assault Arrest After Arraignment — Bryan Betancur, a pardoned Jan. 6 Capitol rioter, was arraigned in Arlington County court on an assault and battery charge for allegedly touching a woman’s hair on a Metro train. He was then arrested again in the courthouse parking lot by Metro Transit Police on an outstanding D.C. warrant related to a series of similar incidents on Metro. [NBC 4, Tisha Lewis/X]
Mob Assault Near Pentagon City — Two D.C. women, ages 23 and 24, were arrested and charged with malicious wounding by mob after allegedly assaulting an acquaintance outside a building on the 1100 block of Army Navy Drive early Friday. The victim sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital. One suspect was additionally charged with DUI and breath test refusal. [ACPD]
MPD Frets About ACPD Raise — D.C.’s police force has dropped to 3,144 officers, with attrition outpacing hiring for seven consecutive years, according to the Washington Post. Interim chief Jeffery W. Carroll told the D.C. Council that federal agencies offering signing bonuses of up to $70,000 are “drawing not only recruits, but also MPD officers who resign.” Carroll also cited Arlington’s forthcoming pay hike to $90,000 as a recruiting challenge. [Washington Post]
Condo Project for Langston Blvd — Taicoon Property Partners will take plans for a seven-story, 88-unit condominium project at 1501 Langston Blvd before the county Site Plan Review Committee in the coming weeks. The building would replace a vacant office that housed the Air & Space Forces Association for 40 years and include a 1,300-square-foot Air Force Heritage Gallery on the ground floor. [UrbanTurf]
Board Visits Fire Training — “Today, several County Board members attended a live burn training at the Fire Training Academy and saw firsthand the discipline, teamwork and preparation required of Arlington’s fire recruits. We’re grateful for their commitment to serving the community.” [Arlington County Board/X]
County Survey Is Real — Arlington County is reminding residents that a survey about county services and programs — distributed via direct mail, email, social media and in person — is legitimate. [Arlington County/X]
Dems Challenge Trump Arch — Congressional Democrats have joined a legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch, arguing in U.S. District Court that the project at Memorial Circle near Arlington National Cemetery must receive congressional approval. “This is not Pyongyang,” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said. “Most Americans want to be able to appreciate the view of Arlington Cemetery without a massive eyesore.” [Washington Post]
D.C. Water Still at Risk — The Potomac River remains the sole source of drinking water for D.C. and surrounding N. Va. communities, and the region has narrowly avoided a contamination crisis three times in the past six years, according to NOTUS. The Army Corps of Engineers is studying backup supply options but has so far identified only a modest reservoir expansion that would add about 12 hours of supply. [NOTUS]
Cristol Leaving Tysons Alliance — Former Arlington County Board chair Katie Cristol will resign Friday as CEO of the Tysons Community Alliance after leading the organization for less than three years. Cristol told FFXnow she is “departing to pursue other opportunities.” [FFXnow]
Taco Bell 50K Returns — The Taco Bell DC 50K, a 32.4-mile race to eight Taco Bell locations through Alexandria, Arlington and D.C., is returning Nov. 27. About 500 people participated in last year’s Tex-Mex-fueled race, which requires runners to eat at least one menu item at every stop. [ALXnow]
Super El Niño Possible — New climate data suggests a strong or even historically intense El Niño could develop by fall or winter, according to the Washington Post. The Capital Weather Gang notes big El Niño winters tend to be “feast or famine for snow in DC,” bringing either a massive snowstorm or a too-warm, mostly-rain season. [Washington Post, CWG/X]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 77, accompanied by calm winds that will shift to the south at 5 to 7 mph later in the afternoon. The night will remain mostly clear, with a low around 61 and a gentle south wind of 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]
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Frequent local candidate Audrey Clement was attacked over the weekend while gathering signatures for another Arlington County Board run, ARLnow has learned.
The incident happened just before 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, outside of Arlington Central Library in Virginia Square.
Five suspects have been arrested after two men were allegedly beaten with a baseball bat while soliciting sex workers in Pentagon City last month.
Two male suspects have been charged with malicious wounding, abduction and robbery-related crimes in the Feb. 15 incident on the 1400 block of S. Eads Street.
County staff are defending a controversial cost-saving proposal to eliminate gymnastics programming and shutter Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center for up to a year.
“We need to make sure that we’re using our funding and resources to serve the most people and those in need,” County Manager Mark Schwartz told County Board members in a March 5 budget work session focused on the Department of Parks and Recreation.
