Around Town

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Feb 12, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

☔️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect rain to subside before 10am, followed by increasingly sunny skies and a high of 52. South wind shifting to northwest at 6-13 mph and gusts up to 23 mph. 60% chance of precipitation, with under a tenth of an inch possible. For Thursday night, mostly clear, lows around 26, and northwest winds of 11-14 mph along with gusts up to 23 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


Schools

A major policy shift by the Virginia High School League (VHSL) could impact how Arlington Public Schools approaches transgender athletes.

VHSL announced this week that it will follow an executive order from President Donald Trump that attempts to ban students born male from competing on girls teams, threatening financial sanctions if schools don’t comply.


News

Arlington leaders had their worries addressed, but concerns expressed by leaders in Fairfax County helped to kill, for 2025, a bill aimed at ensuring transparency in local-government decisionmaking.

The measure, patroned by Virginia Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39), had sailed through the upper chamber unanimously on Jan. 31.


Around Town

Wax sculptures celebrating Black History Month and other pieces of art are on display in two new exhibits at Pentagon City’s mall.

The limited-time installations at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City showcase notable Black figures from throughout U.S. history, as well as artwork from the Arlington Artists Alliance.


Event

Join the Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts at the 34th Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2026 featuring live jazz, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities in the heart of Rosslyn! This year’s lineup is bringing a diverse mix of performers and bands redefining the jazz music genre including Plena Libre, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, Parlor Greens, and Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band.


News

A Reston man has been sentenced to at least seven years in prison for multiple sex crimes in Arlington.

Matthew Coble’s sentencing, handed down Friday by Circuit Court Judge Daniel S. Fiore II, follows his convictions for aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties with a minor — crimes involving two different victims.


Weather

Get your sledding in now while you can.

A few freezing sprinkles or additional flurries are possible this morning, forecasters say, but temperatures are set to rise above freezing in a couple of hours. The warm up, combined with expected rain tonight, should melt much of the 5-6 inches of snow that fell yesterday. Tomorrow’s high of 54 should finish the job.


News
A deer watching the snowfall at Bon Air Park (courtesy David Blue)

Planning Comm. Backs Melwood Plan — Arlington Planning Commission members voted unanimously Monday night to support Melwood’s plan, opposed by some local residents, for redevelopment of its parcel at 750 23rd Street S. that would add affordable housing to the site. The proposal later this month will be considered by the County Board. –Scott McCaffrey

Furloughs at Local USAID Contractor — “The Management Science for Health — an Arlington-based nonprofit that receives funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development — has furloughed 118 U.S.-based employees as the Trump administration moves to shutter USAID.” [WBJ]

Seeking Victims of Exposure Suspect — “The Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is investigating a suspect charged in an indecent exposure investigation and is seeking possible additional victims.” [ACPD]

AG Takes Aim at Sex Offender Case — “Virginia’s attorney general is apparently seeking to revive a Fairfax indecent exposure case against a person who was subsequently charged with allegedly exposing himself in a girls’ locker room at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington.” [FFXnow]

Lawmakers Want Crash Answers — Local members of Congress have “requested answers and commitments from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on its plans to protect the flying public in the wake of the January 29 collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines airplane.” [Press Release]

Gravelly Point Still Closed — “The closure of Gravelly Point has been extended to February 12th at the request of NTSB.” [Bluesky]

Another Gun Seized at DCA — “Transportation Security Administration officers prevented a Bowie, Maryland man from bringing a loaded firearm onto a flight leaving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Monday.” [Patch]

Arlington Man Nabbed in Sting — “A recent online operation conducted by child exploitation detectives resulted in seven arrests,” including a 48-year-old Arlington man. [FFXnow, FCPD]

Illnesses on the Rise in Va. — “It’s that time of year again, where everyone is catching different viruses. ‘As of February 1, the level of respiratory illnesses across Virginia is high and trending upward,’ said Heather Harmon-Sloan, Virginia Department of Health’s respiratory communications coordinator. COVID-19, RSV, pneumonia, and influenza cases are skyrocketing throughout Virginia.” [WVIR]

Towing May Get Costlier — “Virginia drivers could soon see higher towing fees under legislation that’s advancing toward the governor’s desk, but the decision to raise rates will remain in the hands of local governments… The bill proposes increasing the maximum initial towing and hookup fee for passenger vehicles from $150 to $210 — a rate that a recent state study deemed ‘reasonable.'” [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Wednesday — Snow, freezing rain, and sleet are expected in the morning, transitioning to rain, snow, and sleet after 1pm, then just rain after 4pm. The day will be cloudy with a high near 36, and an east wind of 6-8 mph. Precipitation probability is 70%, with minimal ice and less than half an inch of snow and sleet accumulation. For Wednesday night, rain will persist mainly before 4am, with a low around 34 and a 100% chance of precipitation. New precipitation amounts ranging from a quarter to half an inch are possible. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Feb 11, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌨️ Wednesday’s forecast

Snow, freezing rain, and sleet are expected until 1pm, transitioning to rain, snow, and sleet between 1pm and 4pm, with rain becoming likely after 4pm. The day will be cloudy with a high near 36, and an east wind of 6-8 mph. Precipitation probability is 70%, with minimal ice and less than half an inch of snow and sleet accumulation. For Wednesday night, rain will persist mainly before 4am, with a low around 34, east wind of 3-6 mph, and a 100% chance of precipitation. New precipitation amounts ranging from a quarter to half an inch are possible. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
– Albert Schweitzer

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.