Author: ARLnow.com

Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. Started by a Pentagon City resident who has spent the past several years working in local TV news, ARLnow.com seeks to distinguish itself with original, enterprising, up-to-the-minute local coverage.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Gray day in Rosslyn (Flickr pool photo by Jeff Vincent)

Pike Raid Leads to Child Porn Charges — “Federal prosecutors in Virginia have charged a former national security journalist for ABC News with a child pornography offense. James Gordon Meek, a producer who covered wars, terrorism and major crimes for the network, was charged with one count of transporting child pornography. The FBI said in a court filing unsealed Wednesday that agents searched Meek’s apartment in Arlington last year and found explicit images and videos of minors on his electronic devices.” [Washington Post, Twitter]

ACPD Upping Response to Carjackings — “Since the beginning of 2023, the Arlington County Police Department has investigated five reports of carjackings in the County. The Department continues to deploy increased police resources, to include both visible and non-visible assets, in Crystal City and the surrounding neighborhoods to address this crime trend.” [ACPD]

Shots Fired Near Shirlington — “4500 block of 31st Street S. At approximately 10:23 p.m. on January 31, police were dispatched to the report of shots heard. Responding officers recovered evidence in the roadway confirming shots had been fired. No property damage or injuries were reported. During the course of the investigation, officers established a perimeter, processed the scene and spoke with potential witnesses. There is no suspect(s) description. The investigation is ongoing.” [ACPD]

It Snowed at Last — “It’s official: DC (based on observations at Reagan National Airport) had its first measurable snow of winter today: 0.4 inches. This is the fifth-latest first snow on record. NYC, Baltimore and Philly also had their first dustings.” [Twitter, Capital Weather Gang]

Arlington Hires Climate Policy Officer — “Arlington County is excited to announce the hiring of Carl “Bill” Eger for the position of Climate Policy Officer. Mr. Eger brings sixteen years of senior-level local government energy and climate experience to Arlington County. He will begin this leadership role on March 6.” [Arlington County]

Ped Struck at Dangerous Intersection — “ACFD responded a short time ago to a pedestrian struck at the intersection of Four Mile Run Drive and S. George Mason Drive. Driver reportedly ran over pedestrian’s foot.” [Twitter]

It’s Groundhog Day — Updated at 9:15 a.m. — “Punxsutawney Phil – the legendary groundhog weather watcher – woke up and saw his shadow Thursday morning, calling for six more weeks of winter. Each February 2, on Groundhog Day, the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club make the pilgrimage to Gobbler’s Knob, Phil’s official home.” [CNN]

It’s Thursday — Overcast throughout the day. High of 42 and low of 32. Sunrise at 7:15 am and sunset at 5:32 pm. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Feb 1, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 8668 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Feb 1, 2023.

  1. Four Courts starting interior demolition today, aiming for late summer reopening
  2. Columbia Pike’s Rincome Thai is set to close this month after nearly 40 years
  3. APS parents plan march to show support for students and demand action on youth opioid epidemic
  4. Morning Notes

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌥 Thursday’s forecast

Overcast throughout the day. High of 42 and low of 31. Sunrise at 7:15 am and sunset at 5:32 pm. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Thought of the Day

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Four Courts starting interior demolition today, aiming for late summer reopening

By ARLnow.com
1/8

Nearly six months after a rideshare vehicle plowed into Ireland’s Four Courts, seriously injuring several patrons and sparking a devastating fire, work is starting on its eventual reopening.

Following roof repairs last week, a weeklong interior demolition process is getting underway today, Four Courts managing partner Dave Cahill tells ARLnow.

“Today’s a great day, we’re excited,” said Cahill. “It’s great to have the sound of a hammer inside the restaurant again.”

After the demolition, the owners of the long-time Courthouse pub will evaluate the damage and determine a timeline for construction and reopening. The hope is to be open by late summer.

Asked whether the owners ever considered simply reopening elsewhere, Cahill suggested that the community’s response following the crash put that idea to rest.

“There have been lot of challenging days, but the support for the community has been overwhelming,” he said. “It would be very difficult to walk away. After 27 years, there’s a lot of history and memories in this space.”

Cahill added that Arlington County, sometimes noted for its difficult-to-navigate permitting processes, “is being very helpful,” guiding the owners through the various regulatory hurdles.

Police announced in October that the Uber driver who slammed into Four Courts after suffering an apparent medical emergency would not face criminal charges. All three pub-goers who suffered serious, potentially life-threatening injuries in the August crash were released from the hospital by the next month.

Morning Poll: Are you on Mastodon? And should we join?

By ARLnow.com
Mastodon on an iPhone (Photo by Battenhall on Unsplash)

Much has been written about Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter and what that means for the platform.

One thing we know for sure is all that drama caused interest in the open-source social network Mastodon to spike. Many who have tried out the network have not stuck around, and there’s skepticism about whether any new Twitter-like network will be able to supplant the original, but nonetheless some recent developments point to potential staying power for Mastodon.

One such development is that our social media management system now supports Mastodon publishing.

That makes it feasible for us to launch ARLnow Mastodon presence and start publishing links to stories. But… would it be worthwhile? Is there a critical mass of Arlingtonians hanging out on Mastodon?

Let’s find out.

Photo by Battenhall on Unsplash

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Rainy evening commute in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Parenthood Is Expensive in Arlington — “Parents in Arlington County with young children are spending about 15.8 percent of their income on child care, according to a new report that calls prices “untenable for families,” even for those who live in areas where rates are lower. That’s about $27,220 a year in 2022 dollars, according to the National Database of Childcare Prices.” [Patch]

Narcan Training Today — From the Arlington Dept. of Human Service: “Special Narcan Training: Wednesday, Feb. 1. Drop in any time between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Learn how to administer it and get your free Naloxone!” [Twitter]

Nat’l Group Endorses Local Candidate — “Jonathan Dromgoole, a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for Arlington County Board, has been endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ people to public office.” [Sun Gazette]

New Arts Grant Opportunity — “Arlington Cultural Affairs and the Arlington Commission on the Arts are introducing the P.L.A.C.E. Grant, a new grant program that seeks to provide opportunities to artists, makers and performers from underserved and under-represented communities. Applications are now being accepted through April 28.” [Arlington County]

New Local Sports Show — “Brandy Louis Simms and George Johnson will start broadcasting their new radio show, ‘Sports Rap’, on Sunday, February 5th on Radio Arlington (WERA 96.7fm)… Johnson has previously worked at Home Team Sports/Comcast SportsNet, while Simms is the manager former Sports Director at Montgomery Community Media’s ‘Cable News 21’. The weekly show, ‘Sports Rap’, will air every Sunday at noon (12pm) and will primarily discuss local high school, college and professional sports along with other issues within the world of sports.” [MoCo Show]

High School Hoops Update — “In Jan. 27 Liberty District high-school basketball games, the Wakefield Warriors boys defeated the visiting McLean Highlanders, 68-55, and the Wakefield girls lost to host McLean, 56-42… Also on Jan. 27, the Washington-Liberty Generals boys team (12-6, 6-3) defeated the host Marshall Statesmen, 47-38, to give first-place Marshall (15-3, 7-1) its first Liberty District loss this season.” [Sun Gazette]

Arlington Pizza Shop Expanding — “Old Dominion Pizza Company is rolling out to Fairfax City. The small Arlington County shop will expand for the first time, replacing the defunct Latin American restaurant Pampa Sazone at 3950 University Drive, Suite 102. Owner John Rodas says the restaurant will open this spring, potentially as soon as March.” [FFXnow]

It’s Wednesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 42 and low of 32. Sunrise at 7:16 am and sunset at 5:31 pm. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jan 31, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 42526 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Jan 31, 2023.

  1. BREAKING: Police presence at Wakefield High School after possible overdose
  2. Yet another BMW stolen in yet another Crystal City area carjacking
  3. DEVELOPING: Person shot, Bob & Edith’s on Columbia Pike damaged after night of gunfire
  4. UPDATED: Metro announces a three-week summer shutdown involving the Ballston and EFC stations

📅 Upcoming events

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

☔ Wednesday’s forecast

Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 41 and low of 31. Sunrise at 7:16 am and sunset at 5:31 pm. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Thought of the Day

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight with no vision.” – Helen Keller

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Yet another BMW stolen in yet another Crystal City area carjacking

By ARLnow.com
Possible carjacked vehicle and suspect vehicle caught on camera (courtesy Dave Statter)

It has been an eventful couple of weeks for BMW drivers in the Crystal City and Pentagon City area.

Last night another BMW was taken during a carjacking, by suspects who themselves arrived in a BMW. This time it happened outside the 7-Eleven store at the corner of 23rd Street S. and S. Eads Street.

“At approximately 10:14 p.m. on January 30, police were dispatched to the report of a stolen vehicle,” Arlington County police said today in a crime report. “Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim was attempting to reverse out of a parking space when Suspect One exited the suspect vehicle, approached the victim, brandished a firearm, threatened him and demanded his vehicle.”

“The victim exited his vehicle and Suspect One and Suspect Two entered,” the crime report continued. “The suspects then fled the scene in the victim’s stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed with the suspect vehicle, occupied by Suspect Three and Suspect Four, following.”

This was the fifth reported carjacking in Arlington in three weeks, the fourth in the Crystal City and Pentagon City areas, and the third involving BMWs.

On Jan. 15 an Audi was carjacked at 23rd Street S. and S. Fern Street, in Crystal City. On Jan. 25 a white BMW was carjacked near 23rd Street S. and Crystal Drive, in Crystal City. On Jan. 26 a BMW was carjacked in front of the Pentagon City mall after another BMW, carjacked in D.C., crashed and was abandoned nearby on Route 1.

The five vehicles carjacked in Arlington this month compares to zero carjacked last January and 14 total throughout 2022, according to stats provided by ACPD.

BREAKING: Police presence at Wakefield High School after possible overdose

By ARLnow.com
1/4

(Updated at 4:35 p.m.) There was a significant police presence at Wakefield High School today after a possible drug overdose.

One student was transported via ambulance from the school in critical condition after being found unresponsive. Four other students were treated on the scene for unspecified issues, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

Police and medics responded to the school’s medical clinic and an upper floor boys bathroom, where CPR was performed on the student who was then rushed to the hospital, according to initial reports.

A police press release issued this afternoon said the student who was taken to the hospital remains in critical condition.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division is investigating an apparent drug overdose at Wakefield High School.

At approximately 9:27 a.m. on January 31, police and fire were dispatched to the 1300 block of S. Dinwiddie Street for the report of an unresponsive juvenile male inside a bathroom. Medics administered emergency medical aid before transporting the juvenile to an area hospital. He remains hospitalized in critical condition. Four additional juveniles were evaluated on scene by medics.

Responding officers processed the scene, collected evidence and spoke with witnesses. Based on the preliminary information, this incident is being investigated as an apparent drug overdose. In accordance with Virginia Code, additional details are not releasable due to the patient’s age.

This remains an active investigation and anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, help is available and there are numerous treatment resources available in Arlington.

This morning, during the emergency response, Wakefield’s principal sent an email to families, noting that “students are being held in their second period classes at the request of the Arlington County Police Department.”

The school ultimately dismissed early, cancelled all evening activities and has postponed tonight’s athletic events.

“Due to the disruption caused by the ongoing ACPD investigation, we are dismissing students early,” Wakefield principal Chris Wilmore said in a subsequent email. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. and all after-school and evening activities are canceled. Students will be provided with a grab-and-go lunch if needed as they leave.”

In recent months numerous parents and advocates have sounded the alarm to ARLnow about opioid use and overdoses in Arlington’s public schools, including middle schools and high schools.

Arlington police responded to APS buildings seven times for reported overdoses between January and October 2022, according to ACPD stats. APS has been trying to combat a twin epidemic of opioid use and mental health crises among students, leading to at least two student deaths since Christmas, ARLnow reported earlier this month.

This afternoon, Wilmore sent the following email to families, noting that “additional counseling services will be available for students on Wednesday.”

(more…)

DEVELOPING: Person shot, Bob & Edith’s on Columbia Pike damaged after night of gunfire

By ARLnow.com
1/3

(Updated at 1:40 p.m.) One person was seriously injured and Bob & Edith’s Diner was damaged after two incidents of gunfire in Arlington last night.

The first shooting happened in the Green Valley neighborhood, near the intersection of 22nd Street S. and S. Kenmore Street, shortly after 11 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing 5-6 gunshots in the area, exchanged between two vehicles, per scanner traffic.

Shortly thereafter, gunfire was reported along the 2300 block of Columbia Pike and apparent bullet holes were found in the windows of Bob & Edith’s Diner. No one at the diner was hurt, according to police.

Then, at 11:20 p.m., an officer reported to dispatch that a person who was shot had arrived at Virginia Hospital Center in a car with numerous bullet holes. The driver of the vehicle was detained for questioning, per scanner traffic.

Police said the gunshot victim was treated for “serious injuries.” The Fairfax County police helicopter was called in to help search for the suspects but nothing was found, according to Arlington County police.

In a press release issued later this morning, police said that the victim is in stable condition, confirmed that the two shootings are linked, and asked for tips.

The preliminary investigation indicates the victim was stopped at the traffic light at 22nd Street S. and S. Kenmore Street when the suspect discharged multiple rounds at the victim’s vehicle from a black sedan. Following the shooting, the victim drove away from the scene but the suspect followed and discharged additional rounds towards the victim’s vehicle at Columbia Pike and S. Wayne Street. The victim was then able to leave the scene and seek medical assistance at a hospital.

Responding officers processed both scenes, collected evidence, spoke with witnesses and conducted an aerial search with the assistance of a police helicopter. Residents are asked to review their home surveillance for any video that may assist the ongoing investigation. Additionally, anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

This was not the week’s first outburst of gunfire. Shots were fired overnight Sunday into Monday in the Green Valley and Arlington Mills neighborhoods, but no injuries have been reported from those incidents.

There were at least three shootings in Green Valley last year:

  • A man shot and seriously injured near the Lucky Seven Food Mart on July 6, 2022
  • A man shot by police after he allegedly walked around the neighborhood firing gunshots at random on Oct. 14, 2022
  • A man shot and seriously injured after an apparent dispute, resulting in the arrest of a 40-year-old Arlington resident, on Nov. 27, 2022

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Loops in a local parking garage (Flickr pool photo by Emma K. Alexandra)

Rent Growth Slowed in 2022 — “Add together the past five years… and the Arlington apartment market has somewhat underperformed the nation as a whole, according to new data…  But that’s largely owing to the steep initial decline in apartment rents at the very start of the pandemic… 2020: -13% in Arlington, -1% nationwide. 2021: +16% in Arlington, +18% nationwide. 2022: +4% in Arlington, +4% nationwide.” [Sun Gazette]

County Board Statement on Tyre Nichols — “While we are centered on supporting the Memphis community in healing from this tragic event, we know that our community wants reassurance that this won’t happen in Arlington. The Arlington County Police Department is dedicated to a culture of caring and respect, not excessive force, cruelty or violence. The standards set for and upheld by our officers are important in cultivating this culture.” [Arlington County]

Jewelry Store Robbery in F.C. — “On Friday, January 27 at about 12:50 p.m., three suspects entered Princess Diamonds (6757-12 Wilson Blvd.) and stole about $100,000 in jewelry. One suspect pointed a handgun at an employee while another suspect used a hammer to shatter display cases and access jewelry. The three subjects fled in a black Mercedes-Benz sedan.” [City of Falls Church]

Local Ramen Recommendations — “It’s always a good time for ramen, but it’s hard to beat the winter time. The traditional Japanese noodle dish features plenty of fresh toppings, add-ons and spice levels, making it easy to customize to your taste. Just as important, it’s warm and satisfying on a frigid, gray day. For a cold-weather pick-me-up, look no further than these local shops.” [Arlington Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Light rain in the morning and afternoon. High of 45 and low of 36. Sunrise at 7:17 am and sunset at 5:29 pm. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jan 30, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Monday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 9202 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Jan 30, 2023.

  1. Arlington teen arrested after another teen shot to death in Alexandria
  2. Plaza’s public peeing problem prompts possible portable provision, permanent potty planning process
  3. Morning Notes
  4. Crime report: ACPD investigating gunfire in two neighborhoods, ACFD arrests arson suspect

📅 Upcoming events

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

☔ Tuesday’s forecast

Light rain in the morning and afternoon. High of 51 and low of 33. Sunrise at 7:17 am and sunset at 5:29 pm. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Thought of the Day

Be open to trying new things and learning new skills, as this will help you reach your full potential.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

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