News | ARLnow.com

Suspect eludes police after reported carjacking in Virginia Square

Published November 28, 2022 at 1:00PM | Updated November 28, 2022 at 4:16PM

Reported carjacked vehicle speeding down the HOV lanes of I-395 towards D.C. (via @STATter911)

(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) The brief pursuit of a carjacking suspect in Arlington ended the way many police pursuits do: on a bridge over the Potomac.

The driver of an Audi station wagon was carjacked just before 11 a.m. Sunday near the Staples store in Virginia Square, according to scanner traffic. Later, the stolen vehicle was spotted by an Arlington officer on eastbound Washington Blvd near Columbia Pike, but was able to speed down I-395 and cross the 14th Street Bridge into D.C., after which the chase was called off.

Arlington sells bonds to pay for many projects. But are they the right tool?

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 28, 2022 at 11:55AM

Election Day in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

On Election Day, a majority of Arlingtonians approved six bond measures, worth $510 million, that will fund a variety of projects throughout the county.

The biggest expenses for the next 10 years include upgrades to its Water Pollution Control Plant, where local sewage goes, and funding to build a new Arlington Career Center campus.

UPDATED: Governor comes to Arlington for ‘economic development announcement’

By ARLnow.com

Published November 28, 2022 at 10:50AM | Updated November 29, 2022 at 3:08PM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin at Boeing and Virginia Tech announcement in June 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Update on 11/29/22 — From the announcement:

Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that Technomics, Inc., an employee-owned decision analysis company that specializes in cost analysis, data management, and data analytics, has invested $1.7 million to expand in Arlington County. The company is leasing an additional 10,000 square feet of space at 1225 South Clark Street to increase capacity. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland, DC, and California for the project, which will create 150 new jobs.

Morning Poll: Did you work on Black Friday?

By ARLnow.com

Published November 28, 2022 at 9:55AM

Person working on laptop (Photo by Burst on Unsplash)

More many in Arlington, the Friday after Thanksgiving is an off day, often spent with family and friends (or braving the malls).

For others — including those with jobs that don’t take holidays off and those whose jobs only take official federal holidays or major holidays off — it’s a work day like any other.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 28, 2022 at 7:30AM

Fall colors in Rosslyn (Flickr pool photo by Jeff Vincent)

Robbery at Pentagon City Mall — “1000 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 3:39 p.m. on November 22, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect entered the business, allegedly concealed merchandise and attempted to leave without paying. The suspect was then confronted by two loss prevention officers, during which he attempted to push past them. A brief struggle ensued, and the suspect was detained by the loss prevention officers.” [ACPD]

Arrest in Arlington After D.C. Shooting — “A woman is injured after a man shot at her car on Interstate 295 in D.C. on Sunday, police say. The woman was driving on DC-295 at Exit 5C at about 1 a.m. when a man in a white truck with a California license plate shot at her car… Shortly after the incident, at about 1:15 a.m., a car that matched the suspects car’s description was pulled over in the 2300 block of 24th Road S in Arlington.” [NBC 4]

Arrest made after overnight shooting in Green Valley

By ARLnow.com

Published November 27, 2022 at 10:00PM | Updated November 27, 2022 at 10:18PM

File photo

An Arlington man is behind bars after police say he shot someone in the Green Valley neighborhood.

The shooting happened early Sunday morning following what police described as a dispute between two people who knew each other. The shooting was only brought to the attention of law enforcement after the victim showed up at Virginia Hospital Center with a gunshot wound.

NPS announces plans to improve safety along Mount Vernon Trail through Arlington

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 23, 2022 at 10:30AM

Along the Mount Vernon Trail near Gravelly Point, with the Capitol in the background (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The National Park Service is starting to work on plans to improve safety along the portion of the Mount Vernon Trail that winds through Arlington County.

South of the City of Alexandria, in Fairfax County, it will make similar improvements to the trail and reconstruct that portion of the GW Parkway.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 23, 2022 at 7:30AM

Silver Diner under construction in Ballston, November 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington Man Arrested in Cold Case — “Police have arrested a 61-year-old man from Arlington County who allegedly abducted and raped a Fairfax County woman multiple times over three decades ago. Fingerprint and DNA analyses suggest George Thomas Jr. and his now-deceased brother, Gregory Allen Thomas, were the offenders in the 1988 rape of a 22-year-old woman who got attacked as she was leaving work in Bailey’s Crossroads.” [FFXnow]

Christmas Trees Delayed — “The first batch [of Christmas trees for the annual Optimist Club sale], which was coming in from Canada, got delayed because of that nasty storm that hit late last week and into the weekend.” [Sun Gazette]

Permanent Military Road roundabout still a possibility despite ‘operational confusion’

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 22, 2022 at 3:45PM

The temporary roundabout on Military Road in 2021 (staff photo)

Arlington County has not ruled out the possibility of a permanent roundabout on Military Road despite the confusion a temporary version has caused for the past year.

In October 2021, where there used to be a stop sign for traffic on northbound Military Road, the county added paint lines, bollards and raised temporary curbs, and partially demolished a median. The work was aimed at improving safety where Military Road intersects with Nelly Custis Drive.

Arlington prosecutor Parisa Dehghani-Tafti launches reelection campaign

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 22, 2022 at 2:15PM

Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti at Arlington Democrats election watch party in November 2019, when she was elected to office (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Parisa Dehghani-Tafti announced today (Tuesday) that she is running for reelection as Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church.

Dehghani-Tafti, who campaigned on criminal justice reform, won her first term in 2019, after beating incumbent Theo Stamos (D) in a contentious and expensive primary that saw more than half a million dollars in donations to the challenger from a justice reform group.

JUST IN: Arlington Sheriff Beth Arthur will not seek reelection in 2023

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 22, 2022 at 9:35AM

Sheriff Beth Arthur at Arlington Democrats watch party (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington County Sheriff Beth Arthur says she will not be seeking reelection next year.

The first female sheriff in Arlington and in the state announced her decision in a statement released this morning. She has presided as Arlington County Sheriff for more than two decades.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 22, 2022 at 7:30AM

Overlapping buildings and balconies in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Former County Board Member Dies — “[Al] Eisenberg, who served a lengthy stint on the Arlington County Board, followed by a couple of years in the Clinton administration and then three two-year terms in the House of Delegates, died last week. He was 76 and had, for the past few years, been the victim of cognitive decline.” [Sun Gazette]

Armed Robbery Along Langston Blvd — “5700 block of Langston Boulevard. At approximately 3:10 a.m. on November 19, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined two unknown male suspects entered the business, brandished a firearm and demanded money from the employee. The suspects then stole a cash drawer containing an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene on foot.” [ACPD]