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Video shows drivers reversing on I-395 to access Express Lanes and avoid minor backups

Published November 4, 2021 at 3:45PM

Two cars back up and turn left on I-395 to get to the Express Lanes, circles and arrows added by ARLnow (via Dave Statter/Twitter)

Reckless drivers are regularly backing up on I-395 to get to the Express Lanes, despite bollards placed to prevent it.

Video has captured a number of drivers getting onto northbound I-395 from the Route 110 ramp, near the Pentagon, then driving in reverse to get around bollards that block access to the high-occupancy toll lanes. In return for driving the wrong way on a major highway, the drivers get to save a couple of minutes by avoiding minor traffic backups in the main lanes of the 14th Street Bridge.

NEW: Get ready for the first freeze of the season tonight

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2021 at 12:00PM

Frost on a fallen leaf (staff photo)

The first freeze of the season is expected to happen tonight in Arlington.

With overnight temperatures expected to dip as low as 30 degrees, now is the time to protect sensitive plants and to turn off the valves leading to outdoor water pipes and hose bibbs, allowing them to drain.

Man convicted on charges linked to 20-year-old woman’s overdose death in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2021 at 10:40AM

Gavel (Flickr photo by Joe Gratz)

The Alexandria man whose drugs led to a local woman’s death is expected to spend at least a decade in prison.

Prosecutors announced this morning that 29-year-old Kibruysday Degefa, accused of distributing the fentanyl-laced drugs that caused the overdose death of a 20-year-old woman in Arlington, was convicted on an array of charges by a jury in Alexandria federal court.

NEW: Amazon announces first local businesses to sign leases at HQ2

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2021 at 9:55AM

District Dogs owner Jacob Hensley poses outside a District Dogs location with a poodle (courtesy photo)

Two small local businesses, a dog daycare and a coffee shop, are the first two retailers to be announced for Amazon’s HQ2.

The massive office complex in Pentagon City is still under construction, but District Dogs and RĀKO Coffee recently signed leases for the retail space, Amazon announced this morning.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2021 at 7:30AM

The sun shines through a tree showing fall colors in the Ballston area (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

DCA Changes Next Week — From NBC 4’s Adam Tuss: “Major change coming to @Reagan_Airport next Tuesday – these new security checkpoints open, changing the feel of the airport. The main hall (Ben’s Chili Bowl, Legal Seafood) now goes BEHIND security.” [Twitter, Twitter, NBC 4]

Chilly Weather Poses Lunch Challenge — “Having tried where possible to provide school-lunch service outdoors since August, Arlington school leaders are now faced with the task of trying to figure out a plan to accommodate students inside while meeting their own social-distancing guidelines. And it looks like it’s being left up to the individual schools to thrash out their own approach.” [Sun Gazette]

Arlington remains Democratic stronghold, but GOP celebrates education-driven inroads

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 3, 2021 at 3:55PM | Updated November 3, 2021 at 4:44PM

Voting underway at Swanson Middle School in Westover (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 4:40 p.m.) Last night’s election gave Arlington’s local Republican and Democratic parties both reason to celebrate, while at the state level, Democrats ceded ground to the GOP.

Arlington maintained its reputation as a solidly blue county Tuesday night, with a majority of voters supporting every Democrat-endorsed or supported candidate and bond referenda on the ballot.

County to begin offering Covid vax shots for 5-11 year-olds this weekend

By ARLnow.com

Published November 3, 2021 at 3:25PM

A vaccine shot (via Arlington County/YouTube)

Elementary-school-aged children will soon be able to get the Covid vaccine from Arlington County.

The county’s public health division says it will start offering free jabs to 5-11 year-old children on Saturday. That follows the FDA’s emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for the age group last week.

Police investigate gunshots near military base entrance

By ARLnow.com

Published November 3, 2021 at 3:00PM

File photo

Shots were fired early this morning near an entrance to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

The gunfire was reported around 2:30 a.m. at Washington Blvd and S. Walter Reed Drive. That’s near the Hatfield gate to Fort Myer, some apartment buildings, ramps to and from Route 50, and the Sequoia Plaza complex, which houses Arlington County and Arlington Public Schools offices.

Construction underway on Coptic Orthodox church in Green Valley

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 3, 2021 at 2:00PM

Construction is underway for St. Timothy and St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church in Green Valley (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Construction is advancing on a permanent home for Saint Timothy and Saint Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church in Green Valley.

The Arlington-based church — which goes by the abbreviated STSA Church — currently rents space at George Mason University’s Virginia Square campus at 3351 Fairfax Drive.

Amazon HQ2 construction still on schedule, as work starts on revamped Metropolitan Park

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 3, 2021 at 11:10AM | Updated November 3, 2021 at 11:59AM

Construction on phase one of Amazon's HQ2 in Pentagon City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Construction on the first phase of Amazon’s HQ2 in Pentagon City has reached a new milestone, as crews turn to revamping the adjacent green space.

Work on the office complex, located at the corner of 13th Street S. and S. Eads Street, remains on schedule, according to an Amazon spokesperson. The site is comprised of two, 22-story office buildings dubbed Met Park 6 and 7/8 and the forthcoming park area.

BREAKING: Driver killed in crash near East Falls Church Metro

By ARLnow.com

Published November 3, 2021 at 9:50AM | Updated November 4, 2021 at 10:50AM

Police investigate fatal crash with vehicle overturned on N. Sycamore Street (photo courtesy Charlie Clark)

Update at 5:05 p.m. — The driver who was critically injured has died, police confirmed Wednesday evening. From a press release:

The Arlington County Police Department is investigating a fatal vehicle crash that occurred on the morning of November 3, 2021.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 3, 2021 at 8:45AM | Updated November 3, 2021 at 10:04AM

Power Payment Scam — “Arlington County is warning the public about a phone scam of unsolicited calls claiming to be representatives of Dominion Energy. Dominion Energy will not call you to pressure you to pay. If you have issues, contact the customer service line (1-866-366-4357) immediately.” [Twitter]

Youngkin Voters Cite Schools — From WAMU’s Rachel Kurzius: “I cannot stress enough how much the issue of education has motivated Youngkin supporters. It comes up in every convo. Charmaine and Jack Yoest of Arlington say that ‘what’s going on in our schools today’ cuts across party lines and that helps explain Youngkin’s success tonight… One thing I keep hearing is that parents didn’t like what they overheard on Zoom classes.” [Twitter]