News | ARLnow.com

Layoffs at Arlington-Based Opower

Published April 11, 2016 at 11:20AM | Updated April 11, 2016 at 12:04PM

The move comes amid a wave of layoffs among tech companies that are struggling to attain or maintain profitability as tech investment euphoria cools. Across the economy, there’s weakness in the employment market and in corporate profits.

“We’ve reduced a small number of roles — about 45, including about 25 in our U.S. offices,” Opower Vice President of Communications Matt Maurer said this morning in response to an inquiry from ARLnow.com. “It’s part of an effort to cut back on our overall spend in sales and marketing and R&D.”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 11, 2016 at 9:15AM | Updated April 11, 2016 at 9:35AM

Today Covers Arlington Couple Picking Baby Name — An Arlington County has named three children after former presidents, but is now seeking help naming their fourth child, a girl. Potential names include Kennedy, Reagan, Pierce and Monroe. [Today Show]

School Board Releases Proposed Budget — The Arlington School Board has released its proposed, $582 million budget and is now seeking public comment on it. Final school budget adoption is scheduled for May 5. [Arlington Public Schools]

Man Arrested, Charged in Road Rage Incident

By ARLnow.com

Published April 8, 2016 at 1:15PM | Updated December 23, 2021 at 4:08PM

(Updated at 4:10 p.m. on 12/23/21) An Alexandria man has been arrested and charged in a road rage incident on S. Glebe Road last month.

On the afternoon of March 9, a verbal dispute between two drivers turned violent when, according to police, one of them got out of his car and smashed the other’s car window — and hand, in the process — with a bat.

Police Looking for Man Who Invited Kids to Follow Him Home

By ARLnow.com

Published April 8, 2016 at 11:45AM

Police cars (file photo)

The alleged incident took place at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, on the 5200 block of 8th Road S., in the Arlington Mill neighborhood. The children refused to follow the man and were unharmed.

From an ACPD crime report:

VDOT to Hold I-395 Express Lane Meeting on Monday

By ARLnow.com

Published April 8, 2016 at 11:15AM | Updated April 8, 2016 at 11:38AM

The meeting is being held at Wakefield High School’s cafeteria (1325 S. Dinwiddie Street) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday, April 11.

The project will extend the 395 Express Lanes ” for eight miles north from Turkeycock Run near Edsall Road to the vicinity of Eads Street in Arlington,” according to VDOT.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 8, 2016 at 9:45AM

Tulips in bloom at the Netherland Carillon in 2016 (Flickr pool photo by Joseph Gruber)

Rapper Arrested in Arlington — D.C. rapper Martrel Reeves, better known as Fat Trel, was arrested by Arlington County Police early Thursday morning after a traffic stop in I-395. Reeves is reportedly facing charges of DWI, narcotics distribution, speeding and driving on a revoked license. [WJLA, XXL]

APS May Hire Horticulturist — In its new budget, the Arlington School Board is considering hiring a horticulturalist — “to help us keep our trees healthy” — along with a public engagement specialists and more psychologists and social workers. [InsideNova]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 7, 2016 at 9:30AM

Crystal City Bus-Only Lanes Opening Soon — Bus-only lanes in Crystal City, part of the Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway, are set to open April 17. It’s the region’s first Bus Rapid Transit line. [Washington Post]

Civ Fed Wants Lower Taxes — The Arlington Civic Federation voted Tuesday to call for a one cent reduction in property taxes. The current annual rate is 99.6 cents for every $100 of assessed value. [InsideNova]

Arlington’s Homeless Population Down 64 Percent Over Past Three Years

By ARLnow.com

Published April 6, 2016 at 2:00PM

Man sleeping on a bench outside Arlington Central Library (file photo)

That’s according to figures released today by Arlington County, which conducted a count of homeless individuals on the streets and in shelters in January. The county credited two of its initiatives — 100 Homes and Zero: 2016 — with playing “key roles” in reducing homelessness by helping the homeless to secure stable housing.

“This is great news and further confirmation that our strategies are working,” County Board Chair Libby Garvey said in a statement. “By not only sheltering people from the elements, but helping them get back on their feet, we are saving lives and strengthening our community. It is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do.”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 6, 2016 at 9:45AM

GMU to Tweak Name of Scalia Law School — A week ago, after receiving $30 million in donations, George Mason University announced that it was naming its Arlington-based law school the “Antonin Scalia School of Law,” in honor of the late Supreme Court justice. The internet promptly went wild for the school’s would-be acronym: ASS Law or ASSoL. GMU noticed, and is now adjusting the name to the “Antonin Scalia Law School.” [Above the Law]

Porch Fire in High View Park — A small fire broke out yesterday on the porch of a house in the High View Park neighborhood, on the 2300 block of N. Dinwiddie Street, about two blocks from Fire Station No. 8. The fire marshal is investigating the incident. [Twitter]

Arlington Is Seeking Its First Poet Laureate

By ARLnow.com

Published April 5, 2016 at 4:15PM

To date, perhaps surprisingly, Arlington has not had one. But that’s about to change.

Arlington County is seeking applicants from individuals seeking to become the county’s first-ever poet laureate. The position only pays $1,500 per year — partially from donated funds — but it does come with the lofty title. The poet laureate’s two year term is set to begin July 1.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 5, 2016 at 10:25AM

New Traffic Pattern on Route 1 — There’s a new traffic pattern for the lefthand turn from southbound Route 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway) to 23rd Street S. in Crystal City. The change was necessitated by operations of the new Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway. [Facebook]

Aurora Hills Library Eyed As School Site — The current Aurora Hills library and senior center is being looked at by Arlington Public Schools as a possible site for a new elementary school. Meanwhile, even though nearby Oakridge Elementary is over capacity, Superintendent Patrick Murphy says there’s actually a more pressing need for additional elementary capacity in north Arlington due to population growth around the Rosslyn-Ballston and Lee Highway corridors. [InsideNova]

Commuting Woes on Metro, Route 50 This Morning

By ARLnow.com

Published April 5, 2016 at 9:20AM | Updated April 5, 2016 at 3:17PM

It was not a good morning commute if you were driving on Route 50 or riding Metro’s Orange or Silver lines over the last hour or so.

First, a crash on Route 50 at N. Fillmore Street around 8 a.m. left a vehicle on its side and one person trapped, before being extricated by firefighters. The eastbound lanes of Route 50 just reopened after an extended closure. Delays extends back several miles.