News

Preparedness Month Begins — “Arlington Preparedness Month, held every April, highlights the importance of preparing for disasters, emergencies, and the unexpected.” The county encourages residents to sign up for Arlington Alert and build an emergency kit. Weekly themes cover flooding, family preparedness, volunteer training and low-cost preparedness. [Arlington County]

WWII Ace Laid to Rest — Brig. Gen. Clarence “Bud” Anderson, the last surviving triple-ace pilot from World War II, received full military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday. Anderson died in May 2024 at 102 after flying 116 combat missions in his P-51 Mustang “Old Crow.” [U.S. Air Force]

Beyer on DHS Funding — “I’m glad to see Speaker Johnson and House Republican leadership accept reality and decide to bring the Senate-passed bill to fund the law-abiding parts of DHS and pay our public servants to the floor. They should bring it up for a vote without delay.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X]

Warner on Iran — “President Trump’s address tonight did little to answer the most basic questions the American people deserve when our nation is engaged in a costly and dangerous conflict with Iran,” U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D) said. [Press Release]

Spanberger Signs First Bills — “No Virginian should ever have to choose between seeing their doctor, paying their rent or mortgage, or keeping their lights on,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) said in signing the first set of bills from the 2026 General Assembly. The bills address housing, health care and energy affordability. [ALXnow]

Vape Crackdown Begins — “Vape shops have been allowed to get away with selling unregulated products, with documented negative health impacts not only to adults, but to minors without penalty,” Attorney General Jay Jones (D) said as enforcement of Virginia’s vape product directory begins today. Retailers selling unlisted products face a $1,000 fine per product per day. [Virginia Scope]

It’s Thursday — Patchy fog this morning gives way to mostly cloudy skies with a chance of rain showers and a high near 63 degrees. East winds at 2–9 mph. Tonight, a chance of showers continues with a low around 50. [NWS]

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Lucky Lockbox Find — An Arlington woman claimed the final $1 million prize in Virginia’s New Year’s Millionaire Raffle after discovering a forgotten ticket in her lock box. The ticket, purchased at the 7-Eleven on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, was a Christmas gift from a friend. [Patch]

Driver Flees Into Pentagon Lot — A minor crash on S. Fern Street at Army Navy Drive in Pentagon City reportedly became a hit-and-run after the driver fled north on Fern, onto the Pentagon reservation. [Dave Statter/X]

Warner Sounds Election Alarm — Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) argued in a New York Times op-ed that the greatest threat to American elections now comes from inside the federal government, citing a reported draft executive order that would invoke emergency powers to override state election authority. [New York Times]

It’s Wednesday — Mostly sunny this morning with a high near 86 degrees, but showers and thunderstorms become likely by mid-afternoon with a 50% chance of precipitation. Overnight lows drop to around 59 as storms continue, with a 70% chance of rain. [NWS]

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Mob Assault Near Columbia Pike — A man was assaulted by a group of juveniles outside a residential building in the 1200 block of S. Courthouse Road around 10:26 p.m. on Saturday, police say. Three of the approximately six juveniles attacked the victim before fleeing. The victim sustained minor injuries and did not require medical attention. [ACPD]

Close Calls Preceded DCA Crash — Internal safety reports obtained by 60 Minutes show that the day before the January 2025 midair collision at Reagan National that killed 67 people, there were two close calls between passenger jets and military helicopters, both triggering cockpit collision alarms. A former DCA air traffic controller told the program there had been warning signs for years. [CBS News]

Pike’s Deep Roots — FCNP columnist Bill Fogarty traces the history of Columbia Pike, which served as a trail for Indigenous people centuries before the Columbia Turnpike Co. was chartered in 1808 to build a toll road. Fogarty spotlights the Columbia Pike Partnership’s documentary project, which chronicles the corridor’s diverse community. [FCNP]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 82 degrees and southwest winds of 10–15 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. Overnight lows settle around 64. [NWS]

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