News

County Board members have authorized the submission of three transportation improvement projects worth a combined $46 million for possible state funding.

The three proposals will now vie in the next round of “Smart Scale” funding, with winning projects receiving funding starting in 2029. They concern Arlington Blvd ramps, pedestrian facilities along N. Glebe Road and an intersection with an I-66 off-ramp.


News
A daycare class walking down the sidewalk on a sunny day in Virginia Square (courtesy George Brazier)

Arlington-Backed Gun Bills Signed — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed four bills closing loopholes that allowed domestic abusers to keep firearms, including the “boyfriend loophole” covering unmarried partners. The laws, effective July 1, were championed by Arlington’s Sen. Barbara Favola (D) and Del. Adele McClure (D) and praised by Doorways, the county’s sole shelter for abuse survivors. [Press Release]

ACPD Adds 18 Officers — Arlington County’s 18 newest police officers graduated from Session 154 of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy. The class of 12 men and six women, from 10 states, will now complete a 12-week field training program before starting solo patrol. [Arlington County]

River Place’s 2052 Deadline — Owners at River Place, the four brick towers in Rosslyn, don’t own the ground beneath them. A 99-year ground lease signed in 1953 runs out in 2052, when the land and buildings revert to the land owner — the quirk that lets a Potomac-view condo in the roughly 1,720-unit complex sell for under $200,000. [Ghosts of DC]

Arlington Classics Make the List — Two Arlington mainstays made Washingtonian’s roundup of 25 D.C.-area restaurants still thriving after a quarter-century or more: Carlyle in Shirlington and Nam-Viet in Clarendon. Carlyle, the Great American Restaurants flagship, opened with the Village at Shirlington 40 years ago, while Nam-Viet has served Vietnamese fare since 1986 and is still known for its spring rolls. [Washingtonian]

Historical Society President Re-Elected — Peter Vaselopulos was reelected president of the Arlington Historical Society at the organization’s June 11 annual meeting. Sean Denniston was re-elected vice president, while Richard Samp will serve as treasurer and Harry Evans as secretary. —Scott McCaffrey

Parkway Speed Cameras Cleared — A new state law taking effect July 1 clears the way for speed cameras and added police enforcement on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, where a National Park Service study found speeding is a major crash factor. The cameras still need federal sign-off; the law lets Virginia State Police and Fairfax County police help U.S. Park Police, who now patrol the federally owned road alone. [Fox 5]

Squash Lanternflies Now — The invasive spotted lanternflies are back in their young “nymph” stage, and Fairfax County is urging residents to kill them before they mature into winged adults in July. “Vacuuming or squashing nymphs are the easiest ways to reduce the population,” the county said. Soapy water also works. [FFXnow]

Retail Weed Deal Reached — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) and legislators announced a compromise to open Virginia’s recreational marijuana market on July 1, 2027, reviving a plan she had vetoed. Sales would carry a 6% state tax, rising to 8% in 2029, with up to 350 retailers licensed in a phased rollout. The deal hinges on a state budget lawmakers must pass by June 30 to avert a first-ever shutdown. [NBC 4, WTOP, Virginia Mercury]

Microsoft Backpedals on Clean Energy — As the data center boom strains Virginia’s power grid, Microsoft is considering abandoning its goal of running on carbon-free electricity around the clock by 2030. The reversal collides with the state’s own climate targets. Virginia, the world’s data center capital, hosts Microsoft facilities in Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax counties. [Inside Climate News]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 88 and a light southwest wind. Skies turn partly cloudy overnight with a low around 69. [NWS]

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As of August 31, there are 175 detached homes, 60 townhouses and 249 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 42 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

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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 — Jun 16, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

It will be sunny with a high of 88 degrees and a southwest wind at 3 to 8 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 69 degrees. Expect a south wind at 5 to 9 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
– Socrates

🌅 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! 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.


Announcement

Pentagon MMA has brought a special honor home to Arlington from the birthplace of Muay Thai.

The Arlington Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu Academy is now officially a certified and registered Muay Thai Gym Partner through the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, making Pentagon MMA the only Muay Thai academy on the East Coast to have earned this distinction.


News

The runways at Reagan National Airport will be closed for much of July 3 and 4 to accommodate celebrations in D.C.

Ambitious plans for a record-breaking fireworks display, coupled with aerial performances and rehearsals, mean that no flights will be scheduled at the airport after noon on the Fourth of July. Additionally, the airspace will be closed for several hours in the early afternoon on July 3.


Event

Dreaming about your next vacation? Join Cruise Planners Beth Borrego and Rod Rodriguez for an inspiring day devoted to ocean and river cruises, guided tours, luxury travel and unforgettable destinations!

Meet representatives from AmaWaterways, Collette, Oceania Cruises and Premier World Discovery. Hear informative presentations, ask questions, explore exciting vacation possibilities and discover which travel experience may be the perfect fit for you.


Schools

Ranging in age from 16 to 46, those in the graduating Class of 2026 at Arlington Community High School proved there was no single path to educational success.

“Every road led here,” Principal Jeannette Allen said at the graduation ceremony, held June 12 at Washington-Liberty High School.


News

Just weeks after Arlington’s new outdoor pickleball complex at Walter Reed Community Center opened for play, a battle over operating hours is underway.

With some pickleball supporters circulating a petition to expand the schedule, a representative of the Columbia Heights Civic Association went to Saturday’s County Board meeting to denounce the idea.


Around Town

A Rita’s Italian Ice and a new cafe concept with in-house coffee roasting are in the works at two vacant storefronts in Cherrydale.

The dessert spot and the coffee shop, Good Trouble Roasters, are both preparing to open in retail bays at 3800 Langston Blvd — a shopping area that has seen significant turnover, but where the smash burger restaurant Burger Billy’s Joint has found success since spring 2024.


News

Some local parks boosters say they are eager to work with county officials to upgrade an exhibit on Arlington’s Native American history.

Representatives of Friends of Gulf Branch Nature Center recently met with officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to discuss ways to move forward at the nature center. The meeting came after two refurbished exhibits recently reopened following a multi-year restoration effort.


News

Neighbors are pressing county leaders to deliver tangible safety improvements to S. Carlin Springs Road by the time students return to school in August.

“This is an immediate emergency — an urgency that we cannot look beyond,” Glencarlyn resident Dixie Duncan said at the Board’s public-comment period on Saturday.


Announcement

Looking for a fall activity that gets you moving and builds real confidence? EvolveAll Martial Arts and Training Studio is offer free classes for youth and adults during it’s upcoming Intro Week, September 14-19.

EvolveAll, Arlington’s martial arts and fitness community off Columbia Pike, is once again opening its doors for a full week of free trial classes — and youth classes are one of the highlights. Kids ages 5-15 will get to try hands-on martial arts instruction designed to build discipline, focus, and self-defense skills in a supportive, age-appropriate environment.