News | ARLnow.com

In Re-Election Bid, Alfonso Lopez Hopes to Keep Advocating For Constituents

Published August 29, 2017 at 4:45PM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:28PM

Lopez said he likes to help his constituents in the 49th District with issues like wanting a new stop sign, or help with filing their taxes. And he and his staff run events such as health insurance enrollment fairs and stream cleanups.

“I do it because I love it,” Lopez said. “I love giving back, I love the opportunity to help people that I’ve never met before. To literally help change people’s lives that I don’t even know but who need help. I’m proud of the fact that with things I’ve accomplished I think I’ve done that. And I want to keep doing that.”

Man Spurned By Disinterested Women Arrested for Throwing a Brick At Their Car

By ARLnow.com

Published August 29, 2017 at 1:45PM

File photo

According to an Arlington County Police Department crime report, below, Lorenzo Rivas-Martinez was upset that two women inside the car “asked to be left alone” after he and a companion approached them. He then allegedly threw a brick at their car multiple times.

“The vehicle’s windshield and passenger door sustained damage,” said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

Amid Parking Tensions, a Racially-Charged Vandalism

By ARLnow.com

Published August 29, 2017 at 11:00AM | Updated August 29, 2017 at 11:22AM

Racially-charged vandalism to car in Barcroft neighborhood (photo courtesy Evie Bernard)

Someone keyed the words “black bitch” onto a black man’s car on a block in Arlington’s Barcroft neighborhood, where some residents are up in arms about outsiders parking on their street.

The man, who works as a contractor at the Army National Guard Readiness Center (111 S. George Mason Drive), parked his car near the corner of S. Pershing Drive and 1st Street S. this past Thursday morning. When he arrived back at the car that afternoon, he found the words carved onto his driver’s side door and called police.

Work to Begin Soon on Washington Blvd Bike Lanes, Repaving

By Chris Teale

Published August 29, 2017 at 10:00AM

Drivers in Westover and East Falls Church can expect traffic delays and detours in the coming weeks as the state and county repave and add bike lanes to Washington Blvd.

The project by the Virginia Department of Transportation, which owns and operates the street, is set to begin in the next couple of weeks with repaving between Lee Highway and N. McKinley Road.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published August 29, 2017 at 9:05AM

Reminder: Dogs Not Allowed Off-Leash in Arlington — “In the last year, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington received 260 reports of dogs running at large and more than 120 sightings of strays. Being off-leash in Arlington is only allowed on private property and in designated dog parks.” [Arlington County]

AAA: Gas Prices Up Due to Harvey — The ongoing disaster along the Gulf in Texas is causing gas prices to rise in the D.C. area, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. [Alexandria News]

County Launches Food Scraps Drop-Off Program

By Chris Teale

Published August 28, 2017 at 4:30PM

Residents can have their food waste composted by the county as part of a pilot program launched earlier this month.

From 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday, any county resident can take their food scraps to the Department of Environmental Services’ Solid Waste Bureau at 4300 29th Street S. in Shirlington, near the Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s headquarters.

County Department Changes Name, Designs New Logo

By Katie Pyzyk

Published August 28, 2017 at 2:30PM

As of July 1, emergency management employees and those in the county’s Emergency Communications Center work in the Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management. Department staff voted for the name from several suggestions.

“While we do not often change the name of our departments, and not all departments have logos, in the past 15 years some have had name changes,” said County Manager Mark Schwartz. Two examples are the current Department of Environmental Services and the Department of Parks and Recreation, which both underwent reorganizations.

Virginia State Police Warn of Phone Scam

By ARLnow.com

Published August 28, 2017 at 10:00AM

Scammers are calling Northern Virginia residents, claiming to represent Virginia State Police and demanding money.

VSP is warning about the scam, saying it never collects fines over the phone. Those who get a call from a scammer are encouraged to hang up immediately.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published August 28, 2017 at 9:00AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:56PM

Lost Dog Reunited With Owner — A dog that disappeared under mysterious circumstances is back at home this morning, her owner says, after the man who picked her up as she was wandering around North Arlington saw a sign with the dog’s photo and dialed the phone number on it. [Facebook]

County Lauded for Digital Prowess — Arlington has been named one of the “top 5 counties for digital government” by StateTech magazine. The county was lauded for “embracing open data and transparency” in decision making and citizen outreach. [StateTech]

Police: Man in Rideshare Pool Masturbated in Front of Female Passenger

By ARLnow.com

Published August 25, 2017 at 2:15PM | Updated August 25, 2017 at 5:32PM

(Updated at 5:30 p.m.) Arlington County Police are investigating an indecent exposure incident that happened in a rideshare vehicle Thursday morning.

A man exposed himself and masturbated during the “pool” ride, in view of a female passenger, around 9 a.m., according to an ACPD crime report. It was not immediately clear with which ride-hailing service the vehicle was associated; scanner traffic referred to it as both an Uber and a Lyft ride.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published August 25, 2017 at 9:05AM

NSF Starting Its Move to Alexandria — “Moving day for the first group of National Science Foundation workers relocating from the agency’s Ballston headquarters to Alexandria starts this weekend, more than four years — and more than a bit of controversy — after selecting the site for its new home.” [Washington Business Journal]

TSA Moving to Springfield — The headquarters of the Transportation Security Administration will be moving from Pentagon City to Springfield, after the GSA awarded a new 15-year, $316 million lease. The move is expected to take place in 2020. [Washington Business Journal]

Man Arrested for Assaulting Women Along Custis Trail

By ARLnow.com

Published August 24, 2017 at 4:05PM

Police say Marvin Velasquez touched a woman walking the trail inappropriately on Wednesday afternoon. He also grabbed a second woman and then exposed himself to her, according to a news release.

The incidents happened along the trail near where it crosses Spout Run Parkway. Police are now trying to figure out whether there may be additional victims.