News

Hotel Nixed at Key Bridge Site — “Now, the hotel is out of the picture and the team is eyeing office and ground-floor retail potentially incorporated in addition to residential, Quadrangle President Chris Gladstone told me.” The county’s Long Range Planning Committee was scheduled to discuss the expansive Rosslyn site, vacant since the Key Bridge Marriott closed in 2021, last night. [WBJ]

County Board Money Race — Incumbent Matt de Ferranti (D) reported $31,800.51 in 2026 contributions through Aug. 31 but just $603.12 cash on hand after his primary win. Audrey Clement reported $10,098.37, about 93% self-funded, while David Sisson reported $2,923.70. [Patch]

Arlington Dems Knock Ohio Doors — “This week, three fellow Arlingtonians and I… drove to Columbus, Ohio to knock doors for Don Leonard, who is challenging Rep. Mike Carey (R)… We covered 650 doors in a neighborhood where the dogs may outnumber the people.” [Blue Virginia]

State Hospital Whistleblowers — Former Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute staff allege its director of psychology overruled clinicians to grant unescorted privileges to high-risk patients, and are urging prosecutors in Arlington and elsewhere to review his recommendations “with extreme caution.” The state says he lacks unilateral authority over privileges. [Fox 5]

Hains Point Loop in Jeopardy — President Donald Trump wants to eliminate Ohio Drive, the Hains Point loop popular with cyclists and runners, so the golf course can reach the water’s edge, people familiar with his discussions say. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said that in D.C., “we’ve learned not to trust what’s coming next.” [Washington Post]

Asian Retailer Eyes Seven Corners — Teso Life, an Asian-inspired department store chain, plans four more N. Va. stores, including in a former CVS (6164 Arlington Blvd) in Seven Corners. Others are planned for Springfield, Sterling and Woodbridge, joining an existing Centreville store. [WBJ]

Trump Targets D.C. Mosquitoes — “Trump’s order directs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and other federal officials to ‘develop and implement a campaign’ within 60 days that would cut certain invasive mosquito species by 90 percent and the tick population by 50 percent in two years.” [Washington Post]

Medicaid Changes Loom — “Virginia officials have said more than 500,000 Medicaid enrollees will face new requirements and additional verification” under federal changes taking effect Jan. 1. State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington) said the state can cushion some federal losses but can’t replace them entirely. [Virginia Mercury]

Camera Fines Go Unpaid — “Just counting school zone and work zone cameras statewide last year, there were roughly 350,000 unpaid citations, according to a state police report.” A Virginia law taking effect Jan. 1 blocks license plate renewals for nonpayers, but paper-based courts could struggle with the workload. [WHRO]

Pentagon’s Spending Spree — The Pentagon obligated an estimated $60 billion in reconciliation funds since late July, rushing to spend the money before the fiscal year ended yesterday. Unobligated funds face an 8.3% sequester. [Roll Call]

Fall Chill Ahead — After a possible run at 90 tomorrow, “a cooler pattern arrives this weekend, bringing fall-like temperatures for much of next week… DC could see its first morning lows in the 40s of the season next Tuesday and Wednesday.” [Capital Weather]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies today, the first day of October, with a summer-like high near 85 and a south wind around 6 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 65. [NWS]

No time to read? Now you can listen to your local news. Subscribe to the ARLnow Daily Update on Apple, Spotify or Amazon.

New Details in Fatal I-395 Crash — Police say the unlicensed driver in the crash that killed three teens led a trooper on a roughly two-minute, five-mile pursuit in a car stolen Sept. 26. The driver and a passenger, both 16 and from Silver Spring, Md., died at hospitals, and a 17-year-old died at the scene. A 16-year-old Alexandria girl is in serious but stable condition. [ALXnow]

Federal Cuts Hit Home — In Arlington and Alexandria, 62% of respondents to a Gallup and Greater Washington Community Foundation survey said federal job cuts or furloughs negatively impacted their household — above the regional average of 55% but below D.C.’s 66%. [FFXnow]

Stumbling Stone Dedication — “Arlington Public Library… will host the Stumbling Stone dedication ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 11 a.m., to honor the lives of former enslaved African Americans Bess (born ca. 1735) and Nann (born ca. 1747), at the intersection of N. Quincy Street and 10th Street North.” [Arlington County]

Decades at the DCA Help Desk — Antoinette Jeffries, 79, has volunteered at an information desk at Reagan National Airport since 1987, once fielding a marriage proposal from a Central African finance minister. “It’s just the excitement of it, and meeting new people all the time,” she said. [Washington Post]

Dad Bands Rock for AWLA — “The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) brought together more than 400 animal lovers, raising a total of $11,702 for Arlington animals in need, during the 4th Annual Reason to Rock Music Festival…” The festival, held Sept. 19 in Falls Church, was founded in 2023 by four local dad band members. [Press Release]

Diesel Costs Squeeze School Buses — “Months of changes to gas prices are causing some Northern Virginia school districts to spend thousands more on diesel fuel for buses than they had planned.” Fairfax County Public Schools, with nearly 1,600 diesel buses, is paying almost $2 more per gallon on average than last year. [WTOP]

Warner Backs Film Tax Credit — Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and a bipartisan group of senators are sponsoring a bill to create a 20% federal, labor-based tax credit for U.S. film and TV productions spending at least $1 million, with bonus credits that could raise it to 30%. [Press Release]

Fall Festival Picks — “Fall is peak festival season in the DMV.” Picks include the Cox Farms Fall Festival (select dates through Nov. 8), the 50th annual Fairfax City Fall Festival (Oct. 10) and the Wharf Oktoberfest’s Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash (Oct. 3). [Axios]

When Leaves Will Peak — “Peak foliage color is expected in D.C. around Nov. 7. If you’re heading to the Shenandoah — a popular leaf peeping spot — peak is expected Nov. 2.” [Axios]

Mild Fall Predicted — “D.C.’s fall outlook favors mild weather, slightly delayed and uneven foliage, coastal storm threats, and little reason to expect an early freeze or snow.” [Capital Weather]

It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 81 and a light southwest wind. Tonight will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.

Red Light Crash on Video — A driver ran a red light, resulting in a crash at 18th Street S. and S. Fern Street, in the Pentagon City area, Saturday afternoon, according to video posted by Dave Statter. There was “no indication of serious injuries.” [Dave Statter/X]

New Human Rights Chief — County Manager Mark Schwartz has named Anna Maynard, acting head since November 2025, to permanently lead the Office of Human Rights. Schwartz is also proposing, in his FY 2028 budget, splitting the office’s internal EEO work from external Human Rights Ordinance and fair housing enforcement. [Arlington County]

Alexandria Flock Map Coming — “The Alexandria Police Department will release a map of automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera locations across the city by Oct. 1, the same day that it begins a third-party audit of its surveillance programs.” APD has 61 fixed license plate reader cameras. [ALXnow]

Diocese Buys Chantilly Office — “The Catholic Diocese of Arlington has purchased a Chantilly office building from a global aviation services company.” It paid $4.25 million for the 20,400-square-foot building at 14532 Lee Road but declined to say how it plans to use the property. [WBJ]

Hunt for ‘Vaccine-Friendly’ Doctors — “Some DMV parents are seeking ‘vaccine-friendly’ pediatricians after being asked to leave former practices over how — or whether — they vaccinate their children.” Pediatric Associates of Alexandria, which follows the American Academy of Pediatrics schedule, has recently dismissed more families who don’t comply, a pediatrician there said. [Axios]

DMV Waits Down Nearly 80% — “Motor vehicle office wait times in the commonwealth fell to 8.3 minutes in 2026 from about 37 minutes in 2019, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles…” Customers with appointments see even shorter waits, a DMV spokeswoman said. [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Tuesday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 77 and northwest wind 3–8 mph. Partly cloudy tonight, with a low around 61. [NWS]

No time to read? Now you can listen to your local news. Subscribe to the ARLnow Daily Update on Apple, Spotify or Amazon.