Crime in Arlington fell last year for the first time since 2018, with reported serious offenses down 10.9% — largely driven by a drop in property crimes ranging from larceny to motor vehicle theft.
The decline, detailed in the police department’s annual report published yesterday (Wednesday), reverses a yearslong climb. ARLnow flagged the drop in December using preliminary numbers.
The Virginia Court of Appeals will review some of the many charges against a convicted sex offender accused of indecent exposure in multiple girls’ locker rooms.
Richard Kenneth Cox, who is accused of entering public changing areas at Arlington Public Schools pools in order to undress and remain there while naked, has successfully challenged indictments on charges of illegal loitering near a school, WJLA reported this week. The rest of Cox’s charges are currently on hold pending an appeal of the Arlington County Circuit Court decision.
A colorful new landmark is bringing fresh energy to Columbia Pike while celebrating the people, cultures and stories that define one of Arlington’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
On Saturday, October 24, Arlington Public Art, the Columbia Pike Partnership, and the community will celebrate the completion of the first County-sponsored mural on Columbia Pike, a striking new work by artist Rowan Bathurst located on the side of the Goodwill building at 4714 Columbia Pike.
The mural, commissioned through Arlington Public Art and Arlington Economic Development, is part of ongoing creative placemaking efforts designed to strengthen neighborhood identity, enhance public spaces and create welcoming experiences for residents, visitors and local businesses.
For Bathurst, an artist whose work explores the relationships among people, nature and cultural heritage, Columbia Pike offered a rich source of inspiration. The mural features portraits of women representing cultures reflected throughout the neighborhood, surrounded by imagery drawn from local history, global artistic traditions and the natural environment of Four Mile Run.
What makes the project especially meaningful is the community’s role in shaping it. Public input gathered at the Barcroft Resource Fair and Columbia Pike Farmers Market revealed a strong desire for artwork that reflected the neighborhood’s diversity, vibrant character and connection to nature. A community advisory panel helped guide the project from concept through completion, ensuring the final design reflected the voices and experiences of the community it serves.
The resulting artwork is both a visual landmark and a celebration of the people who make Columbia Pike unique. It highlights the corridor’s longstanding role as a welcoming and multicultural community while creating a vibrant new point of interest along one of Arlington’s most traveled commercial corridors.
The project was made possible through a partnership with Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, which provided the highly visible wall for the mural. Located on the Goodwill building at 4714 Columbia Pike, the artwork transforms an everyday streetscape into a destination that invites residents and visitors to pause, reflect and connect with the neighborhood’s identity.
As Arlington continues investing in public art and placemaking initiatives, projects like this demonstrate how art can strengthen community pride, foster connection and contribute to vibrant public spaces. Public art not only enriches the visual landscape, but also helps tell the stories of Arlington’s neighborhoods and the people who call them home.
The community is invited to join the celebration on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The free event will feature remarks from the artist and community representatives, music, refreshments and family-friendly activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the mural up close and learn more about the community stories, cultural influences and local inspiration behind its creation.
For Columbia Pike, the mural represents more than a new work of art. It is a lasting reflection of the corridor’s creativity, diversity and community spirit, and a vibrant new symbol of the neighborhood’s past, present and future.
Art Focus is a regular series highlighting the artists, organizations, public art projects and creative initiatives that enrich Arlington’s cultural landscape.
Plans for a new beer garden in Crystal City appear doubtful as the space has gone back up for lease.
The property at 556 22nd Street S. — which includes several thousand vacant square feet of indoor and outdoor patio space — had re-entered the market as of last week, despite a local chef’s previous plans to open Scapegoat Beer Garden there.
Clarendon Hotel Plan Scrapped — Mill Creek Residential wants to swap the planned hotel at the former Silver Diner site (3200 Wilson Blvd) in Clarendon for an 11-story, 168-unit residential building. The developer says it pursued hotel partners but “just came up empty.” [WBJ]
Tobacco Shop Robbery Charge — A 30-year-old Alexandria man has been charged with robbery after grabbing a display of Kratom products and shoving an employee at a tobacco shop in the 3400 block of Washington Blvd, according to a search warrant affidavit. Alexandria police are investigating whether he’s linked to a separate shop theft in the city. [ALXnow]
Arlington Legal Funder Expands — Rocade Capital, an Arlington firm that lends to the legal industry, has acquired California’s Law Finance Group, a deal it says will expand its reach in the niche sector. The combined firms have deployed roughly $2.3 billion over the past decade-plus. A price wasn’t disclosed. [WBJ]
Car Carriers Run Amok — Car carriers keep blocking the bus lane on Army Navy Drive in Pentagon City and driving the wrong way. One also recently blocked the Fashion Centre’s driveway exit, forcing drivers “to leave through the entrance,” Dave Statter reported in the latest of a series of posts and videos on the issue. He saw no ticketing. [Dave Statter/X]
Del Ray House Fire — Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 2600 block of E. Randolph Avenue in Del Ray on Wednesday afternoon. The homeowner said she, her partner and son escaped safely. She believes an ember from a backyard fire pit started it. Smoke was visible from Arlington. [ALXnow]
Inside Trump’s Arch — “For years, some enthusiasts of classical architecture have argued that Washington needs a triumphal arch… President Donald Trump took the idea, enlarged it and is now pushing to begin construction on a 250-foot-tall arch as soon as possible… Many have focused on the arch’s exterior, but The Washington Post has created the first 3D visualization of its interior.” [Washington Post]
Fare Evasion Crackdown Update — Metro Transit Police have issued 807 citations and made 51 arrests since May 24 as part of a system-wide fare evasion crackdown, with 10 of those arrested having outstanding warrants. The agency, which launched a “Fares Pay for Service” campaign, estimates bus fare evasion alone could cost it roughly $50 million this fiscal year. [DC News Now]
River Water Quality Dashboard — A coalition of local water groups has launched a public dashboard with real-time water quality data for the Anacostia, Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, drawing on nine sensor sites. “The recent catastrophic sewage spill in the Potomac taught us many lessons,” said Potomac Riverkeeper Network president Betsy Nicholas, citing the need for timely monitoring. [Press Release]
Rain Chances Stay Slim — Wednesday marked the D.C. area’s sixth straight rain-free day, and the dry streak will likely reach nine before showers return Sunday, Capital Weather reports. Even then, models project only 0.01 to 0.1 inches — bad news as the region sits under a newly declared drought watch. [Capital Weather]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies with a high near 89 and light northwest winds of 5 mph or less. Skies stay mostly clear overnight with a low around 65. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Flickr pool photo by ksrjghkegkdhgkk
Have old bikes or bike accessories lying about? Donations welcome of serviceable bicycles of any model, bike parts & accessories including tools & clothing. Also portable sewing machines in operating condition. Items will support community programs around the globe providing access to jobs, education, health care, & youth development. A suggested $10 per bike helps defray the expenses of getting a serviceable bike & supplies to a qualifying destination. Bikes for the World is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit agency & provides a receipt good for tax purposes for all donations.
Separately, Arlington County will accept residents’ old electronics & batteries, household hazardous materials, scrap metal & other items. Details for the County event are at https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Recycling-and-Trash/Household-Hazardous-Materials-HHM/E-CARE
An Arlington man is facing charges after police say he accidentally fired a shot into a neighboring home while cleaning his gun.
The incident happened just before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on the 1100 block of S. Highland Street, just south of Columbia Pike.
Good Wednesday 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 — Jun 3, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny weather with a high near 89 and a light northwest wind. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 65. Winds will be light and variable, shifting to come from the south at about 5 mph in the evening. See more from Weather.gov.
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
– Confucius
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
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Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is throwing support behind legislation intended to address the impacts of data centers on rising prices of electricity for Virginia residents.
The Power for the People Act, which Warner is co-sponsoring, aims to address cost and reliability issues associated with data centers’ power needs. The legislation directs states to look into new rate classes for data centers, seeks a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rule to ensure data centers are paying for infrastructure upgrades that would not be otherwise needed, and seeks to increase accountability in local electricity infrastructure.
A drought watch went into effect throughout the D.C. area today (Wednesday), responding to below-average rainfall and historically low flow in the Potomac River.
Despite the stretch of wet weather that the region received last month, all of Arlington is currently classified in either “moderate” or “severe” drought, while some portions of the Potomac Basin have been designated in “extreme drought.”
Arlington added a company to the Fortune 500 this year, bringing to four the number of the nation’s 500 largest public companies headquartered in the county.
Liquefied natural gas company Venture Global debuted at No. 328 on the 2026 list, which Fortune released Wednesday morning. The Arlington-based firm, public since early 2025, reported $13.8 billion in revenue, according to the Washington Business Journal.
