The U.S. flag flies at half-mast in front of Arlington House (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Virginia’s Democratic congressional delegation is demanding the restoration of Arlington House educational materials that cast Robert E. Lee’s role in history in a critical light.
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, who represents Arlington in the 8th Congressional District, led Democrats in demanding the National Park Service bring back a Junior Ranger Program activity booklet to Arlington House. The booklet was reportedly flagged for stating, “In 1829, Robert E. Lee promised to serve in the Army and protect the United States. In 1861, he broke his promise and fought for slavery.”
Pumping gas at a Sunoco on Columbia Pike (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Gas prices in Virginia have crept past $4.30 a gallon on average, more than 40% higher than this time last year — and the squeeze at the pump shows no obvious sign of letting up.
AAA’s Virginia average for a gallon of regular sat at $4.322 on Monday, with the metro D.C. average just above $4.53. The national average has climbed roughly 25 cents in each of the last two weeks, according to WSLS, and the Virginia average is now about $1.31 above where it stood a year ago, Northern Virginia Magazine recently reported.
The cause isn’t a mystery.
Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28 — drawing condemnation from Virginia’s Democratic congressional delegation — Iran has blocked access to the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes. The Federal Reserve, which had been expected to cut interest rates this year, has turned cautious as it waits to see how long the conflict lasts.
The result has been the fastest run-up in consumer prices in three years. Federal data released last week showed inflation climbing 3.8% from April 2025 to April 2026, with gasoline prices up more than 28% year-over-year and real hourly wages falling for the first time in three years.
The economic ripples have already shown up in local coverage: the Iran conflict has complicated Arlington’s real estate market, cut flights out of Dulles, and prompted Northern Virginia housing markets to brace for a slower spring than expected.
How much pain is felt at the pump depends on how someone gets around. Arlington residents who commute by Metro, bike, e-bike, or electric vehicle, or who work from home, may barely notice the new price tag at the gas station. Others — those who drive daily for work, ferry kids to school and activities, or live in parts of the county less served by transit — are absorbing the increase fill-up by fill-up.
Earlier this spring, Virginia House Republicans proposed a 90-day suspension of the state’s gas tax, which would have shaved an estimated 30 cents per gallon off prices at a cost of roughly $125 million per month in lost transportation funding. Many Democrats opposed the idea on the grounds that it would shrink road and transit budgets. The proposal did not advance.
Last year, when DOGE-driven federal workforce cuts started to bite, 65% of poll respondents said they were “very worried” about the local economy. Two months later, most readers said they had already started pulling back on spending. With prices now rising faster than wages and gas leading the climb, we’re curious how directly all this is hitting home.
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Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti and members of her staff (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
A pair of open-house-style events held over the weekend provided local residents an up-close look at the inner workings of the commonwealth’s attorney’s office.
The two Interactive Data Walks on Local Prosecution and Diversion Programs aimed to demystify the work of the prosecutor’s office, Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti told ARLnow.
Shiny sculpture on a sunny day in Rosslyn (courtesy George Brazier)
Pike Robbery Arrest — An Alexandria man, 32, was arrested on robbery charges after a Saturday morning incident in the 4100 block of Columbia Pike. Police said the suspect stole cash from the victim, then “threatened the victim with scissors” before fleeing the scene. He was held without bond. [ACPD]
DCA Parking Upgrade — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is committing $17 million to modernize parking systems at Reagan National and Dulles, replacing aging tech that’s “approaching end of life” with a system supporting license plate recognition, mobile wallets and ticketless payments. The MWAA board is expected to vote on the proposal Wednesday. [WBJ]
Pup Rescued Near Key Bridge — A dog separated from its owner ended up on the rocks along the Potomac River above Key Bridge. Good samaritans alerted authorities, and DC Fire and EMS Department Fireboat 4 came to the rescue, “retrieved the pup and returned it to the owner.” [DC Fire and EMS/X]
Park Volunteer Honored — Arlington County recognized Noreen Hannigan on Tuesday with the 2025 Bill Thomas Park Volunteer Award, citing her roughly 2,800 hours of work with the Arlington Regional Master Naturalists and Tree Stewards since 2015. Hannigan co-leads a project to plant 100 trees and shrubs along a stretch of Four Mile Run. [Arlington County]
Arlington Mural Tour — In his column, Bill Fogarty traces the history of public murals in Arlington, starting with seven New Deal panels by Auriel Bessemer in the lobby of the Clarendon Post Office. He also visits murals at two American Legion posts and interviews the artist behind the John Mercer Langston tribute along Langston Blvd. [Falls Church News-Press]
Cannabis Sales Vetoed Again — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have created Virginia’s long-delayed adult-use cannabis retail market, five years after the commonwealth legalized possession. The veto “likely pushes any renewed negotiations into the 2027 legislative session.” [Virginia Mercury], Washington Post, WTOP]
Drug Board Vetoed — Spanberger on Tuesday also rejected a bill creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to help cap drug costs for state-regulated insurance plans, marking the proposal’s third veto across two governors. The veto came hours after the governor touted a separate bill she signed capping out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month. [Virginia Mercury, Gov. Spanberger/X]
Summer Outlook — NBC4 chief meteorologist Doug Kammerer posted his summer outlook for the D.C. region, predicting a strong El Niño pattern will bring more humidity and rainfall but less intense heat than typical. “All in all, it should be a pretty good summer,” he said. [Doug Kammerer/X]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunshine and potentially record-setting heat, with a high near 96 but falling to around 90 in the afternoon as a cold front moves through. Showers and thunderstorms are likely later in the day, with a 70% chance of precipitation. Overnight lows will drop to around 59 behind the front, as a cool and damp pattern takes hold through the holiday weekend. [NWS]
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Northern Virginia Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend and support our upcoming World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Traffic Victims.
World Day of Remembrance is an annual event where we honor those whose lives were prematurely ended after being struck by a person driving. This year is particularly painful and sad as we think about the recent death of a 13-year-old Frost middle school student who was struck and killed by a person driving a truck on Pickett Road. We will also honor the nearly 30 other people (as of today’s date) who have been killed on Northern Virginia streets while, walking, biking, or rolling since last year’s day of remembrance.
Expect increasing clouds with showers and thunderstorms likely after 5 p.m. and a high near 95°F, with a west wind of 6 to 11 mph. There is a 60% chance of rain, with new rainfall generally less than a tenth of an inch, though heavier amounts are possible in thunderstorms. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms will continue until 3 a.m., with a slight chance of showers between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. The low will be around 59°F, with a north wind of 5 to 7 mph and an 80% chance of rain, with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa
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An approved EHO development in the Leeway Overlee neighborhood, in October 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)
The Virginia Supreme Court has agreed to review the lawsuit over Arlington’s Missing Middle zoning change, moving one step closer to resolving the complicated but consequential case.
Signature Theatre in Shirlington (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Three Arlington theater companies took home a combined seven Helen Hayes Awards this week — including one for a Yorktown High School graduate.
Signature Theatre led local winners with four awards, while Synetic Theater claimed two — including one of the night’s top Outstanding Production prizes — and Avant Bard Theatre picked up one. The Shirlington-based Signature finished fifth overall among the region’s theaters at the 42nd annual Helen Hayes Awards, held Monday at The Anthem in D.C.
Central United Methodist Church and Unity Homes building in Ballston on April 30, 2026 (staff photo)
Arlington leaders are still working through the implications of a change to state law making it easier for religious organizations to build affordable housing.
The Faith in Housing Act removes some, but not all, local regulatory approval for affordable housing constructed on land owned by nonprofit organizations, including religious groups. Despite some concerns from various local governments around the commonwealth, the measure had the backing of Democrats in the General Assembly and ultimately was signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).
