The National Park Service is requesting more public input on a plan to build a triumphal arch on the Virginia side of Memorial Bridge.
Respondents have until Thursday, July 30 to submit feedback on President Donald Trump’s plans to build the 250-foot arch in a heavily trafficked roundabout between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Prosecutor Deposed by Congress — Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti (D) faced nearly five hours of questions from the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, behind closed doors, as part of the panel’s investigation into her office’s immigration and prosecution policies. “I will not be intimidated into violating my oath of office to uphold the rule of law, nor will I be pressured into breaking faith with the values of the community that elected me,” she said. [WUSA9, NBC 4, Parisa Dehghani-Tafti/Bluesky]
Flaming Garbage Closes Street — A trash truck fire closed S. Fern Street near Costco in Pentagon City, between 12th and 14th Streets S., for an extended period Thursday afternoon. The flaming garbage was dumped in the loading dock area and on the street as firefighters battled the blaze, and a county excavator was brought in to help with the cleanup. [ARLnow/X]
Rosslyn Jazz Fest Returns — The Rosslyn Jazz Fest returns Sept. 12 with a lineup spanning Puerto Rican plena, New Orleans jazz, soul, funk and Afrobeat. Grammy-nominated ensemble Plena Libre headlines the free festival, which runs 1 to 7 p.m. at Gateway Park (1300 Langston Blvd). Now in its 34th year, the event also features food trucks, outdoor bars and lawn games. Tickets become available Aug. 1. [Patch]
NAACP Seeks Award Nominations — The Arlington NAACP is seeking nominations for 2026 branch awards, to be presented at the organization’s Freedom Fund Banquet on Oct. 10. Nominations are open through Aug. 15. [Arlington NAACP]
New Turf for Long Bridge — Arlington County will replace the synthetic turf at Long Bridge Park’s Field 4 on or around Aug. 3, swapping in organic wood-fiber infill, restriping the field and replacing corner flags. There may be parking impacts near the site during construction, but all other fields at the park will remain open. The project is expected to wrap this summer. [Arlington County]
National Guard Staying in D.C. — The Defense Department confirmed the National Guard will remain deployed in Washington through Inauguration Day 2029, over objections from D.C. leaders. More than 5,000 troops were sent to the city after President Trump declared a crime emergency last summer. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council have pushed to end the deployment, so far without success. [NBC 4]
Dominion Merger Review Begins — Virginia’s State Corporation Commission now has six months to review Dominion Energy’s proposed merger with Florida-based NextEra Energy after the utility filed its official arguments this week. The all-stock deal, valued at about $67 billion, would create a company serving 10 million customers across four states. The plan has drawn scrutiny from consumer advocates and Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi (D) over its potential impact on ratepayers. [Virginia Mercury]
It’s Friday — Wildfire smoke will linger over the area amid a Code Red air quality alert. Otherwise, expect mostly sunny skies today, with a high near 93 and light north winds of 1–5 mph. Overnight lows will fall to around 75, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms developing late. [NWS]
Advance Your Career. Explore Graduate Programs Near D.C.
Are you looking to make a real impact in government or public service? Advanced education can be the key, and it’s closer than you think.
The Schar School offers master’s degrees and graduate certificates designed to help students build expertise, advance their careers, and make an impact in their communities and professions. Located just minutes from Washington, D.C., the Schar School combines rigorous academics with access to the institutions, organizations, and networks shaping policy and public service today.
Students benefit from:
• Renowned faculty with academic and real-world experience
• Hands-on learning through applied research and policy simulations
• Connections to government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations
• Access to one of the nation’s most dynamic professional environments
Graduate programs are available in areas including:
• Public Policy
• International Affairs
• Public Administration
• National Security and Defense
• Government and Public Management
Explore programs, connect with admissions, and discover the graduate pathway that’s right for you.
Update on 7/17/26 — The Code Red alert has been upgraded to a Code Purple alert due to the thick smoke.
Earlier: The wildfire smoke hanging over the region is expected to get worse on Friday, prompting Arlington to move or cancel all of its outdoor parks and recreation programming for the day.
Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Jul 16, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
This afternoon, expect widespread smoke mainly after 2 p.m., with mostly sunny skies and a high near 92°F. Winds will come from the north at about 5 mph before becoming calm. Tonight, there is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m., along with widespread smoke. Conditions will be partly cloudy with a low around 74°F, and winds from the southeast at 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
– Winston Churchill
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.
Live standup comedy in Arlington on Friday July 31 starring Jim Bryan, Kim Villamera, and Greg Billet.
Friday, July 31, 2026
Theo Stamos, who served two four-year terms as Arlington’s commonwealth’s attorney before being defeated in a costly and contentious 2019 primary, has been tapped to lead the U.S. attorney’s office in Alexandria.
Stamos has been appointed first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. With the U.S. Attorney position currently vacant, she also will serve as acting U.S. Attorney until the post is filled permanently.
More than a dozen leaders from Green Valley’s Mount Zion Baptist Church traveled to Pittsburgh last week to dedicate a gravestone honoring the congregation’s first pastor.
For the past 123 years, the Rev. Robert Simon Laws’ remains had rested in an unmarked grave at historic Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh. After learning of the lack of a gravestone, Mount Zion decided to do something about it.
County Board members are considering a contract to convert Kenmore Middle School’s athletic fields from grass to synthetic turf, among other improvements.
Set for approval as part of the Board’s consent agenda, the contract is slated to be awarded to the LandTek Group, the low bidder among four competitors.
Is there anything Falls Church residents love as much as dogs? Cats, apparently.
Just months after being named the most “dog-loving” city in Virginia, the Little City has ranked top in the state for its residents’ love of cats.
The Five Guys in Courthouse has temporarily closed for a revamp of its interior.
The burger spot at 2300 Wilson Blvd closed on July 6 and is expected to reopen in August, a company spokesperson told ARLnow. No further information was available on the specific renovations, but permit applications mention “interior alterations.”
