A man on a bike was injured in a crash along Wilson Blvd in the Bluemont neighborhood this afternoon.
The incident happened shortly before 3:30 p.m. at the intersection with N. Lexington Street. Initial reports suggest that a driver struck the cyclist in the intersection, sending him hurtling to the ground.
Police responded to the Arlington County Fair on Friday and Saturday for separate incidents involving teens.
The first happened Friday night when a teen suspect allegedly flashed what appeared to be a gun at an officer.
This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at [email protected].
Question: How can my condo Association meaningfully reduce its expenses?
Answer: The Master Insurance policy is often the largest, or one of the largest, annual expenses for a Condominium Association and managing it is critical to keeping stable condo fees. Recently, skyrocketing insurance premiums have put tremendous pressure on Association budgets, but good news has finally arrived for condo owners and Boards.
Today’s column is written by Andrew Schlaffer, Founder and President of ACO Insurance and someone I recommend to any condo Board that wants to inquire about their existing or a new master insurance policy (condo or HOA). You can reach Andrew at [email protected] or (703)595-9760.
Take it away Andrew…
After three to four years of double-digit renewal increases, the condominium insurance market is genuinely improving. Commercial property insurance premiums nationally declined in early 2026, for the first time since 2017, according to a survey by The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.
For well-maintained, low-claim condo buildings, we’re seeing typical renewal increases of just 2% to 5% — a dramatic change from the 10%+ increases that were common over the past several years. Water damage remains the leading source of claims for the DMV’s aging condo buildings, followed by fire and wind/hail, but the overall cost trend is heading in the right direction for many communities.
Reinsurance is Driving the Cost Control
Much of this relief traces back to reinsurance — the backup coverage insurance companies themselves buy to protect against catastrophic losses. Reinsurance capital is at record levels, and reinsurance rates fell by double digits over the past year as capacity grew, according to industry reinsurance renewal reports. As reinsurers compete harder for business, carriers are passing some of those savings down to condo associations in the form of smaller increases — and in some cases, outright rate decreases.
Cost Control is not Applied Equally
That said, underwriting scrutiny remains high, and not every building benefits equally. Carriers continue to favor newer, fire-resistive buildings with full NFPA 13 sprinkler systems and newer roofs. Older, garden-style condos with a single means of egress and no sprinklers remain a difficult class to place, since the carrier market for these buildings is thinner, competition is lower, and claims frequency tends to run higher.
If your building falls into this category, it’s generally best to stay with your current carrier unless you receive a double-digit increase — shopping the account in this segment can do more harm than good.
The umbrella/excess liability market hasn’t seen the same relief. Nuclear verdicts (jury awards over $10 million) continue rising sharply, keeping capacity tight and rates firm, according to 2026 liability market data. Expect umbrella/excess liability increases in the 10% to 30% range depending on your community’s loss history and risk profile.
Pillars of Insurance Reviews
Condo insurance reviews require a holistic approach, so it’s important to break the cost into a few distinct categories: insurance premium, deductible expense, and out-of-pocket costs. To effectively accomplish long-term savings, all three of these categories need to be considered and addressed with a qualified insurance professional.
Students are arriving at Marymount University this week for their fall semester, potentially resulting in some traffic delays near the main campus.
Move-in began yesterday (Sunday) and will continue through this upcoming weekend, but the busiest day is expected to be Wednesday from 6:45 a.m.-5 p.m. This is the university’s official move-in day, with first-year convocation scheduled for Thursday morning.
A new spot for cupcakes, ice cream and other sweet treats is preparing to open in Falls Church.
Lil’ Cakes & Creamery, a local chain, is hoping to open at 120 Founders Avenue by the end of August, a spokesperson told ARLnow. The shop specializes in gourmet cupcakes with flavors such as key lime pie and caramel macchiato, plus treats like milkshakes and cookie ice cream sandwiches.
*Mamistad Groups meet IN PERSON-only the introductory Zoom call is virtual. :)
Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for.
Local students got in the back-to-school spirit last week with some help from the Washington Wizards.
Featuring appearances by Wizards mascot G-Wiz, the Wizards Dancers and DJ Chalant, the “Back-to-School Tip-Off” celebration provided students with backpacks filled with school supplies and free haircuts on Friday at Claremont Immersion Elementary School.
Members of an Arlington advisory panel are expressing concerns that feedback on the county’s proposed Climate Action Plan doesn’t fully represent the broader community.
Jason Schwartz, representing the Housing Commission on the county’s Climate Action Plan Advisory Group, raised concerns about the underrepresentation of renters and those living in multifamily properties in an online survey being used as a planning tool by staff.
Arlington school leaders are getting creative about recruiting and retaining special education teachers.
Arlington Public Schools has embarked on a partnership with George Mason University’s Project Patriots initiative, giving current staff the ability to earn required degrees and obtain special-education certification while still working full-time for the school system.
Arlington Businesses Aid Colombia — Inca Social and Dov & Company have been collecting donations for victims of the Aug. 10 earthquake in Colombia, which killed more than 270 people. Through Aug. 21, Inca Social is donating all sales of its Colombian ceviche and arepas to relief efforts. [DC News Now]
Pedestrian Dodges Runaway SUV — Video posted by Dave Statter shows a driver losing control of an SUV on the south side of the Pentagon last Thursday night as a man ran to get out of the way. Arlington County firefighters responded and the injured man was sitting up when they arrived. [Dave Statter/X]
Arlington House Intruder Indicted — A federal grand jury indicted a man accused of assaulting a U.S. Army police officer inside Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery. Park Police found him lying in a second-floor bed on July 14, a day after citing him for trespassing there. He remains held without bond. [Patch]
Spanberger Tours Rosslyn Apartments — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) visited Wholey Legacy Homes, a 234-unit income-restricted building at 1300 N. Pierce Street in Rosslyn, while highlighting nearly $100 million for housing programs in the state budget. She toured with state Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington). [Patch]
DCA Safety Fixes Lag — Six months after the NTSB issued its final recommendations on the January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National Airport, 51 of the 52 remain open. Chair Jennifer Homendy said the country is “no closer today to addressing many of the serious safety gaps” behind the crash. [Washington Post]
Community Foundation Honorees — The Arlington Community Foundation has announced Devanshi Patel will receive the Spirit of Leadership Award and Alejandra Underwood the Spirit of the Rise Award at the 33rd annual William T. Newman, Jr., Spirit of Community Awards, to be held Nov. 12 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View. The event also will honor the legacy of Judge William Newman, Jr., who died earlier this year and who in 1991 founded the foundation. [Arlington Community Foundation]
Police vs. Sheriff, Explained — Arlington law enforcement was once handled by a sheriff, one deputy and about a dozen special officers who were paid per arrest and supplemented their income by inspecting the county’s outhouses, Bill Fogarty writes. A separate police department formed with nine officers on Feb. 1, 1940. [Falls Church News-Press]
Ulta Theft Suspect Held in Arlington — A D.C. man, 28, faces a petit larceny warrant after an Aug. 13 theft at an Ulta Beauty store in Springfield, police said. Arlington County police located the man and his car in Pentagon City and took him into custody on unrelated charges. [WUSA9]
Virginia Lands Leap Day Primary — The Democratic National Committee approved its 2028 presidential primary calendar Saturday, giving Virginia the last of six early slots on Feb. 29, leap day, as ARLnow reported last month. South Carolina votes first, on Jan. 22. [New York Times]
MOM’s Bans Employee Masks — Employees are demanding answers after the Rockville, Maryland-based grocery chain barred masks and face coverings on the clock, effective Aug. 10, citing customer experience. Workers with medical needs are exempt with a doctor’s note. MOM’s has an Arlington store on N. Veitch Street. [WTOP]
Colorful Kicks Rule the Track — Shoe-color options used to be limited for local high school and collegiate track-and-field participants, but these days, runners have a rainbow to choose from — and often take great care in deciding which colors to pick. [RunWashington]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 90 and a west wind of 5–8 mph. There’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 72. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Two pedestrians, a man and a woman, were killed in separate crashes on a stormy Sunday night.
The first happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Carlin Springs Road and Columbia Pike, just over the Arlington border in Fairfax County. A man was struck by a Metrobus turning right onto Carlin Springs Road from Columbia Pike.
