News | ARLnow.com

As Vaccinations Continue, County Officials Are Trying To Find Ways To Move Quicker

Published January 13, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated January 13, 2021 at 12:01PM

(Updated at 11:45 a.m.) Arlington County Board members are asking why vaccinations are not going faster, amid a pace that would take more than two years to dose the county’s adult population.

This past weekend the county got the go-ahead from the state to start vaccinating those in the Phase 1b priority group. But questions remain about how exactly the county will push forward and why less than 2% of the county’s adult population has received a vaccine dose so far, one month after the first vaccine was authorized for use.

JUST IN: Airbnb Cancelling D.C. Area Reservations Next Week

By ARLnow.com

Published January 13, 2021 at 10:10AM

Airbnb says it is cancelling bookings for next week in the D.C. area, in response to threats of violence during the Inauguration week.

Following the pro-Trump storming of the U.S. Capitol last week, there have been reports that armed groups are planning protests around the Inauguration, raising the specter of more potential violence.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 13, 2021 at 7:30AM | Updated January 13, 2021 at 10:46AM

Arlington Enters N. Va. Police Pact –“The Northern Virginia Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Committee is pleased to announce the creation of the Northern Virginia Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). The purpose of this team is to investigate critical incidents involving law enforcement officers within the cooperating jurisdictions.” [ACPD, DCist]

Dems Staying in Arlington for Inauguration — “Since most won’t be traveling into the District of Columbia due to public-health restrictions, members of the Arlington County Democratic Committee are being asked to take part in special events in Arlington to mark the Jan. 20 inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.” [InsideNova]

Two Injured After Cars Careen into Potomac River

By ARLnow.com

Published January 12, 2021 at 10:30PM | Updated January 12, 2021 at 11:00PM

(Updated at 11 p.m.) Two vehicles careened off the GW Parkway and into the Potomac River near I-395 earlier tonight.

The incident happened shortly before 8:30 p.m. First responders on the ground and in boats rushed to the scene and rescued at least of the victims. Two men were brought to local hospitals in stable condition, according to the Arlington and D.C. fire departments.

Proposal for Two New Residential Towers in Crystal City Enters Home Stretch

By Jo DeVoe

Published January 12, 2021 at 3:45PM

JBG Smith's renderings of its proposed mixed-use, multifamily towers (via Arlington County)

JBG Smith is proposing to replace the Crystal Plaza One office building with two multifamily towers in Crystal City.

As part of the project, the Bethesda-based developer will be shifting S. Clark Street to the east to create a new S. Clark-Bell Street and “create greater connectivity” in the area, according to a recent JBG Smith presentation.

County Launching Free COVID-19 Testing at Kiosks

By ARLnow.com

Published January 12, 2021 at 1:00PM

Through a partnership with a California company, Arlington County will be offering no-charge, walk-up COVID-19 testing starting Wednesday.

The county announced the partnership this morning, in a press release (below). Los Angeles-based startup Curative has placed testing kiosks in two county-owned parking lots in south Arlington; both are set to open tomorrow, operating from 12-8 p.m. seven days per week.

Dog Park Inside Rosslyn’s Gateway Park Could Be Completed By Spring

By Jo DeVoe

Published January 12, 2021 at 9:30AM

A new dog park will be installed in Gateway Park (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Starting today (Tuesday), fencing is set to be installed for an interim dog park in Rosslyn’s Gateway Park.

Work on the dog park, including the installation of lighting and a water fountain, started in 2020. It is slated to finish in the first quarter of 2021, said Mary Ann Elliott, the director of R-Dogs, which is one of the main forces behind the project.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 12, 2021 at 6:00AM

Rent Falling in Arlington — “The median rental price in Arlington for a two-bedroom apartment of $2,032 at the end of the year was down 14.8 percent from March, when the pandemic hit, according to the analysis. Arlington is among of 12 major urban communities that have seen rents fall by more than 10 percent since COVID’s arrival.” [InsideNova, WTOP]

Hotel Guest Arrested for Punching Cop — “Hotel management requested police stand by while they removed individuals from a room for violation of hotel policies. Management advised the guests they would need to leave, and while two of the occupants began to collect their belongings, an argument ensued between them. The dispute continued outside of the room and began to escalate, at which point officers separated the parties. The suspect then allegedly threw an unknown object into the elevator and rushed towards an officer, striking them with a closed fist.” [ACPD]

Arlington is Prepared for Presidential Inauguration, County Board Chair Says

By Matt Blitz

Published January 11, 2021 at 3:45PM | Updated January 11, 2021 at 4:28PM

Arlington police officers defend the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 (photo via Tyler Merbler/Flickr)

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Arlington County says it is “taking all necessary steps to ensure public safety” ahead of the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration.

In a statement issued this afternoon, County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti thanked the county police officers and firefighters dispatched into D.C. as mutual aid during last week’s pro-Trump storming of the U.S. Capitol, and assured residents that the county will “protect our community and help keep the peace in the coming days.”

JUST IN: Coronavirus Cases Pass 10,000 Mark in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published January 11, 2021 at 10:35AM

A vial of the COVID-19 vaccine (DoD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)

More than 10,000 coronavirus cases have been diagnosed in Arlington since the start of the pandemic.

The county passed that milestone this morning, as 120 new cases were reported, bringing the cumulative total to 10,117.

Arlington Ranks Among Top Cities for Working from Home

By ARLnow.com

Published January 11, 2021 at 9:45AM

Office buildings in Crystal City (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington ranks No. 21 on a new 2021 list of top places for working from home.

The list, compiled by the website SmartAsset, takes into account factors like “estimated percentage of the workforce who can work from home,” “percentage of the workforce who worked from home in 2019,” and “housing costs as a percentage of earnings.”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 11, 2021 at 6:00AM

ACPD Salutes Fallen Officer — “ACPD Officers honored fallen @CapitolPolice Officer Brian Sicknick as his procession traveled through Arlington County. In Valor, There is Hope.” [Twitter, Twitter]

M.J. Stewart Makes Splash in Upset Win — “Former Yorktown HS standout M.J. Stewart was one of NBC’s players of the game in the Cleveland Browns’ playoff upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers tonight.” [Twitter]