National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy presides over the NTSB fact-finding hearing on the DCA midair collision accident, at the National Transportation and Safety Board boardroom in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
WASHINGTON (AP) — National Transportation Safety Board members were deeply troubled Tuesday over years of ignored warnings about helicopter traffic dangers and other problems, long before an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk collided a year ago, killing 67 people near Washington, D.C.
The placement of a helicopter route in the approach path of Reagan National Airport’s secondary runway created a dangerous airspace and a lack of regular safety risk reviews made it worse, the board said. That was a key factor in the crash along with air traffic controllers’ over reliance on asking helicopter pilots to avoid other aircraft.
FILE - The state and U.S. flags fly over the Virginia State Capitol as the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly gets underway, Jan. 10, 2024, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia judge ruled Tuesday that a proposed constitutional amendment letting Democrats redraw the state’s Congressional maps was illegal, setting back the party’s efforts to pick up seats in the U.S. House in November. In Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore testified for a new map that could enable Democrats to defeat the state’s only House Republican.
The latest developments are part of a national battle over unusual mid-decade redistricting attempts, launched last summer by President Donald Trump who urged Republican officials in Texas to redraw maps to help the GOP win more seats. He did so in hopes of holding on to a narrow House majority in the face of political headwinds that typically favor the party out of power in midterms.
A snowplow at N. Woodstock Street and N. Glebe Road (staff photo)
Arlington’s snowplows have progressed through about three-quarters of the county’s residential roadways, though frigid temperatures after the heavy snowfall continue to pose challenges.
County Manager Mark Schwartz asked for residents’ patience and understanding as the county continues to plow streets, noting the unusual difficulties crews are facing.
An Arlington Public Schools bus in the snow (file photo)
Arlington Public Schools students will have a third consecutive snow day tomorrow (Wednesday) and no waste collection will take place as icy conditions continue.
“Freezing temperatures and icy roads, parking lots and sidewalks continue to make travel unsafe,” APS said in an announcement this afternoon. “Student and staff safety remains our top priority.”
David Pearson discusses Arlington’s 1961 General Land Use Plan and proposed roadways (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
Arlington would be a very different place today if all the road plans of the county’s first General Land Use Plan (GLUP) — enacted in 1961 — had been constructed.
A massive arterial named Bluemont Drive would have cut east to southwest across the county. S. Four Mile Run Drive would have been much larger than its current configuration. A freeway in the Donaldson Run area would have connected to the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
The entrance to Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (staff photo by Jared Serre)
The Arlington County Police Department is investigating after a person was found dead at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City today (Tuesday).
Police were dispatched to 1100 S. Hayes Street for a report of a cardiac arrest shortly before noon, ACPD spokesperson Ashley Savage told ARLnow. Mall security reported “an obviously deceased person” in a third-floor storage room, according to scanner traffic.
Del. Josh Thomas speaks at a Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee meeting on Jan. 23, 2026 (courtesy of Virginia General Assembly)
New legislation advancing in the General Assembly seeks to address overlooked challenges for men and boys amid growing concerns about educational, career and mental health outcomes.
The House of Delegates Rules Studies Subcommittee has recommended a bill from Del. Josh Thomas (D-21) to create a permanent Boys and Men Advisory Commission that would issue annual reports with legislative recommendations. Thomas says it would be the nation’s first commission with this focus.
Water samples are taken from the Potomac River, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 in Glen Echo, Md. A massive pipe that moves millions of gallons of sewage has ruptured and sent wastewater flowing into the Potomac River northwest of Washington, polluting it ahead of a major winter storm that has repair crews scrambling. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)
Tests of water samples from the Potomac River are reporting dangerously high levels of E. coli following a rupture in a sewage pipe upstream from Arlington.
The Potomac Riverkeeper Network recorded bacteria levels 60 times higher than what is considered safe for human contact in a sample taken at Fletchers Cove on Friday, the organization announced in a press release yesterday (Monday). This is in D.C., across the river from Potomac Overlook Regional Park.
A pro-Palestinian protest targeted a North Arlington home in August 2025 (courtesy of Palestine Youth Movement DMV)
Arlington leaders say they are trying to lower the temperature in their sometimes-heated relationship with pro-Palestinian activists who appear at monthly County Board meetings.
In recent months, activists have held private meetings with individual Board members, which Board Chair Matt de Ferranti and County Board member Julius “J.D.” Spain, Sr. said have been constructive.
An airplane takes off from Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Reagan National Airport has seen a significant decline in the loudest aircraft types over the past decade, but some advocates say it’s not enough to mitigate the impacts of increased flight operations.
Stage 3 commercial aircraft — the noisiest in current fleets — have declined from 21% of all operations in 2015 to 2% in 2025 at Reagan National, while Stage 4 and Stage 5 aircraft have increased from 79% to 98% of the total, according to Michael Jeck, the noise office manager at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
Neighbors in Waycroft-Woodlawn held a candlelight vigil Tuesday at Woodlawn Park in memory of Alex Pretti (courtesy anonymous)
Rosslyn Water Main Break — “Crews are repairing a 12-inch water main break at 18th St N & N Oak St. Some 50 customers in a high-rise building could be affected. N Oak St is closed to traffic between 18th St N & Wilson Blvd.” [Arlington DES/X]
Crash on I-395 — “It’s lucky this one stayed upright this morning or it could have been a lot worse. Northbound I-395 at Boundary Channel. No injuries reported.” [Dave Statter/X]
Beyer Supports Noem Impeachment — “Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today… called for the removal of ICE, CBP, and other DHS personnel from Minneapolis, a full, independent investigation of the killings of [Alex] Pretti and [Renee] Good, and the impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.” [Press Release]
Bummer for Booz — “The U.S. Treasury Department has canceled $21 million in contracts with Tysons-based consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, claiming that the firm failed to protect sensitive taxpayer data.” [FFXnow]
Arlingtonians Have Shortest Commute — Arlington workers have an average one-way commute time of 31.04 minutes, lowest in the metro area, according to new data from the 2025 State of the Commute report. The District of Columbia (33.01 minutes) and Fairfax County (35.57 minutes) were second and third in the report, with Charles County, Md., recording the longest commute at 64.38 minutes. —Scott McCaffrey
Local Theaters Get Award Nods — The Arlington Players have received 15 nominations and Dominion Stage nine in the 24th annual Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) awards program for community theaters across the D.C. region. The awards will be presented at a March 22 ceremony at the Birchmere in Alexandria. —Scott McCaffrey
Another Winter Storm? — “Potential is increasing for another significant winter storm to impact the eastern United States this coming weekend. It is too early to know the details, but please keep updated with the latest forecasts this week!” [NWS/X, WWG/X]
It’s Tuesday — After the wind chill dips to -6, expect sunshine and a high of 26 degrees. The west wind at 5 to 8 mph will shift south in the afternoon. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy and cool with a low of 8 degrees. Wind chill values may reach -1 as the northwest wind blows at 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]
A Metrobus navigates snowy Crystal City streets under a severe snow service plan (staff photo by James Jarvis)
For the second straight day following Sunday’s winter storm, Arlington County facilities will be closed on Tuesday.
“Due to inclement weather, Arlington County Government will shift to virtual operations on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026,” the county announced around 7:30 p.m. Monday. “Programs are canceled. All County facilities are closed.”
