U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is taking on challenges about his age and the possibility of a dramatically different constituency as he seeks reelection.
Beyer, who turns 76 in June, addressed the age issue at last week’s meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee. He also discussed potential congressional redistricting in a press release on Friday.
Construction on new tennis courts and upgraded facilities at Bluemont Park begins next week, kicking off an expected year-and-a-half of renovations.
The tennis courts and parking lot will be fenced off and closed to the public during construction, as will a small section of the Four Mile Run Trail, the Department of Parks and Recreation said in an advisory. The park’s baseball diamond, soccer field and playground will remain open.
Monks Arrive Today — “On Feb 9 we will welcome the Venerable Monks of the Dhammacetiya as they near the end of their remarkable 2,300-mile Walk for Peace, which began in TX & concludes this week in D.C. Approximately 5:30 p.m.” [Marymount University/X, ARLnow]
Regular Waste Collection Resumes — “Regular curbside collection will return to normal service levels starting Monday, Feb. 9. Please have trash, recycling and organics carts and any special collection materials (brush, scrap metal, e-waste) at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on your regularly scheduled collection day.” [Arlington DES]
Cemetery Aims for Reopening — “ANC plans to reopen with modified access for visitors and family pass holders beginning Feb. 10. However, please be advised that some sites and sections may remain temporarily inaccessible due to snow and ice.” [ANC/X]
Local Murder Mystery — “It’s been 35 years since Suanne Burt Sardi last spoke with her older sister, Sandra. Thirty-five years since the two women hung up the phone on an early morning in January, promising to check in again in the afternoon. Thirty-five years since 41-year-old Sandra Burt Carrera was found shot to death in her Arlington, Virginia, home. And for 35 years, the tragedy has gone unsolved.” [Dateline]
Sewage Spill Setback — “Overnight CCTV inspection of the Potomac Interceptor revealed the blockage inside the collapsed sewer line is far more significant, showing a large rock dam stretching approximately 30 feet downstream of the original failure. The unexpected discovery exposed the severity of the obstruction and prompted an immediate reassessment that will extend the timeline for cleaning and repairs.” [PoPville]
Rent Control Bill Fails — “State lawmakers have blocked legislation that could have given Richmond officials more power to block landlords from imposing big rent increases. The proposals failed to advance out of committees in both the House of Delegates and the state Senate, showing one of the city’s top legislative priorities remains a tough sell in the General Assembly.” [Richmonder]
Medicine Affordability Bill Advances — “Legislation to help rein in the cost of prescription drugs for Virginians passed the Virginia Senate today by an overwhelming 31-8 vote. An identical House bill was recommended for reporting by a House appropriations subcommittee this afternoon with a bipartisan 6-1 vote and should be taken up on the floor next week.” [Press Release]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high temperature around 33 degrees, with northwest winds of 3 to 6 mph. Tonight will bring mostly cloudy skies and a low temperature near 22. [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.
Photo courtesy Vick Fisher
A pre-school age child with measles traveled through Reagan National Airport and on a Yellow Line Metro train last week.
That’s according to an alert from the Virginia Dept. of Health. The child “is a resident of another state and traveled through Ronald Reagan Washington National airport on January 26,” VDH said.
Newly proposed maps would split Arlington into two congressional districts as part of a statewide overhaul heavily favoring Virginia Democrats.
The proposal would keep a southern portion of Arlington in the 8th Congressional District, which currently encompasses all of the county and is represented by Rep. Don Beyer (D). This would extend as far south as York County in the Tidewater region.
A fender bender and subsequent dispute between drivers ended with one of them down and injured in the middle of a busy intersection at rush hour.
The incident happened around 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Washington Blvd and Langston Blvd in Arlington’s East Falls Church neighborhood.
Update at 4:55 p.m. — Arlington County police have released the walk’s expected route and road closure guidance.
A group of Buddhist monks on a 2,300-mile journey on foot is expected to arrive in Arlington next week for one last stop before their final destination.
Super Bowl DUI Reminder — “For Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, 2026, the Arlington County Police Department and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are teaming up to remind drivers: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. No matter who you are rooting for, your best bet for a safe trip home is a sober one.” [ACPD]
Bills Would Cap Fees from Cameras — “S.B. 297 and S.B. 306, authored by state Sen. Mark J. Peake (R-8), would have repealed the authority of localities to install speed-monitoring and red light cameras… Substitute bills introduced by Peake on Monday instead cap the fees that third-party camera vendors can impose, limiting them to collecting only the civil penalty for the traffic infraction.” [FFXnow]
Beltway Bridge Replacement Update — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has found itself aligned with the Trump administration on one issue: the need to update the American Legion Bridge.” [FFXnow]
It’s Friday — Snow is possible after 2 p.m., with increasing clouds and a high near 34. A calm wind will shift to the south at 5 mph. Precipitation chance is 40%. On Friday night, snow may occur before 1am, followed by gradual clearing and a low around 13. Winds will pick up overnight, blowing northwest at 13-18 mph and possibly gusting up to 31 mph. Precipitation chance remains at 40%. [NWS]
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says history is on his side.
He wants to build a towering arch near the Lincoln Memorial and argues that the nation’s capital first clamored for such a monument two centuries ago — even going so far as to erect four eagle statues as part of the project before being derailed by the attack on Fort Sumter.
A Maryland man is facing attempted murder charges after reportedly showing up to the Arlington home of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Russ Vought while armed.
Colin Demarco, 26, was taken into custody Jan. 22, five months after the Aug. 10 incident.
Mass layoffs at The Washington Post yesterday (Wednesday) dealt a punishing blow to the newspaper’s storied history of local journalism after decades of declining emphasis on Arlington and Northern Virginia.
Reminiscent of the demises of the Washington Star in the early 1980s, Journal Newspapers in the early 2000s and Sun Gazettes in 2023, the job cuts entail a dramatic downscaling of reporting on the D.C. area.
Firefighters are on scene of a fire at a garden style apartment complex in the Buckingham neighborhood, near Ballston.
The fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m. on the 4300 block of N. Henderson Road. Initial reports suggest the fire broke out in the kitchen of an apartment and at least one building occupant is being evaluated for injuries.
