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.

BREAKING: Worker Rescued from Rosslyn Construction Site

By ARLnow.com
1/10

An injured worker was rescued from the 27th floor of a high-rise construction project in Rosslyn this morning.

The fire department responded to The Highlands development site on Wilson Blvd, near N. Pierce Street, shortly after 11 a.m. for a report of a construction worker with a back injury.

Given that the worker was high above ground level, a technical rescue team worked to lower him via a Stokes basket attached to one of the construction project’s tower cranes. A crowd of workers watched from the street, some with phones in hand, as firefighters completed the delicate operation.

Wilson Blvd and N. Pierce Street were closed in the area during the rescue, but have since reopened.

The project, which is nearing completion, is building hundreds of condos and apartments, as well as retail space, in the northern part of the Rosslyn neighborhood, near the new H-B Woodlawn school building.

UPDATED: Police Investigating Shooting in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Someone fired gunshots on a residential block in Clarendon, Arlington County police say.

The shooting reportedly happened just after 4 a.m. this morning on the 1200 block of N. Herndon Street, which is home to apartment buildings and the James Hunter dog park, a block from the Clarendon Metro station.

No one was struck by the reported gunfire, ACPD said.

“At approximately 4:11 a.m., police were dispatched to the 1200 block of N. Herndon Street for the report of shots heard,” police said this morning. “This incident is being investigated as a non-contact shooting. No victims or injuries have been reported at this time.

“Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or [email protected],” the department added. “Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).”

Update at 5:15 p.m. — In a new press release, below, Arlington County police say the incident happened during an early morning gathering, when “individuals became engaged in a dispute and shots were fired.” The press release notes that two vehicles were seen fleeing the area “at a high rate of speed,” both of which were later located and one of which crashed, injuring two people.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is investigating a shooting that took place in the early morning hours in the Lyon Village neighborhood.

At approximately 4:11 a.m. on August 14, police were dispatched to the 1200 block of N. Herndon Street for the report of shots heard. Responding officers observed two vehicles leaving the scene at a high rate of speed. A traffic stop was attempted and both drivers actively eluded police.

A lookout for the vehicles was broadcast. One vehicle was located after it crashed at the intersection of 10th Street N. and Arlington Boulevard. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was transported by medics to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Through investigative measures, the second vehicle and associated individuals were located in the 400 block of Army Navy Drive.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the known individuals were attending a gathering in the neighborhood. According to witness accounts, the individuals became engaged in a dispute and shots were fired. No injuries were reported.

This remains an active criminal investigation. Detectives have conducted numerous interviews and no charges have been sought at this time. The investigation suggests this is an isolated incident with no known threat to the community.

Anyone who may have observed the incident or who has any information related to this case is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Map via Google Maps

As Hospitalizations Remain Low, Arlington Records Biggest One-Day Case Count Since May

By ARLnow.com

An additional 42 coronavirus cases were reported in Arlington overnight, the highest one-day total since late May.

The new cases bring Arlington’s total since the start of the pandemic to 3,176. At the same time, however, reported hospitalizations remain remarkably low. Despite Arlington’s trailing seven-day case total being above 100 since July 31 — it currently stands at 139 — there has not been a new COVID-related hospitalization reported since Saturday.

The cumulative number of hospitalizations in the county is currently 437. Two months ago it stood at 400. Ten COVID-related deaths were reported during that time span.

The lack of hospitalizations may be attributable in part to who’s getting sick: mostly younger people. Over the past month, 57% of new cases in Arlington have been among those in their 20s and 30s — an age range that’s about 40% of the county’s population.

Just over 350 Arlington residents are getting PCR-based coronavirus tests each day, according to the latest Virginia Dept. of Health data. The county’s positivity rate recently ticked up to 4.6%, but remains below the statewide figure of 7.2%

Police Investigating Indecent Exposure on Mt. Vernon Trail

By ARLnow.com

A dispute between a cyclist and a jogger led to an indecent exposure incident on the Mt. Vernon Trail yesterday afternoon, police say.

The incident happened around 4:30 p.m., on the trail near Roaches Run and Gravelly Point. A man on a bicycle was engaged in an shouting match with a jogger; at one point, police say, the cyclist allegedly flashed the jogger.

“During the argument, the suspect exposed themselves to the other party,” said U.S. Park Police spokesman Sgt. Eduardo Delgado. The cyclist rode off before police arrived.

Delgado did not provide a suspect description, but police radio traffic at the time described him as riding a road bike while dressed in spandex and red and white striped socks.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Virtual County Fair Starts Today at Noon — “August 14-16, the Arlington County Fair will be hosting a variety of LIVE events on our Facebook page (via Facebook Live) to share the magic of the Fair even during unsure times. Check out our exciting schedule that includes fan favorites and some brand-new fun.” [Facebook]

County Considering More Early Voting Locations — “Arlington County Board members will hold a special session Aug. 25 to act on a request from county election officials doubling the number of ‘satellite’ early-voting centers across the county this fall. In addition to Madison and Walter Reed community centers, which had been used for early voting in recent presidential elections, the Electoral Board aims to add the Aurora Hills Community Center and Langston-Brown Community Center.” [InsideNova]

Local Movie Theaters to Open Soon — “Arlington’s two AMC Theatres are set to reopen on Aug. 27: AMC Courthouse Plaza 8 [and] AMC Shirlington 7… the movie theater chain said guests will pay just 15 cents per movie on that day.” [Patch]

Inside PBS NewsHour HQ in Arlington — Updated at 9:40 a.m. — From a magazine feature written pre-pandemic: “This is how PBS NewsHour happens every weekday: with a 9:45 a.m. meeting that feels, already, like midday. Each morning, some 30 people fit into a tight conference room in a low-slung brick building on the outskirts of Shirlington to discuss what the longtime public television fixture will air that evening at 6 p.m.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Fundraiser for Local Fitness Instructor — “Chris Green is one of the DMV’s finest fitness instructors. A Lululemon and South Block ambassador, he is a coach and mentor to so many… He recently ruptured his Achilles and has an incredibly long and tough journey ahead. As if COVID hadn’t impacted fitness professionals enough, throw this in the mix and it’s a double, even triple whammy.” [Community Post]

Marymount Ditches SAT/ACT Requirement — “Beginning with applicants for the Fall 2021 semester, Marymount University will adopt a complete test-optional policy for submission of SAT and ACT scores. This decision builds off of the University’s longstanding commitment to a holistic review of applications, as Marymount has been test-optional for select students for a number of years already.” [Press Release]

Police: Woman in Stolen Vehicle Twice Tried to Flee Traffic Stops

By ARLnow.com
1/4

Several vehicles were damaged Wednesday afternoon after a woman in a vehicle that was reported stolen twice tried to ram her way out of traffic stops, according to police.

The incident started shortly after 4 p.m. in the Buckingham neighborhood.

Police say the woman stole a car that was left idling and unattended, near the intersection of N. Henderson Road and N. Thomas Street, and was subsequently spotted driving north of N. Glebe Road near Route 50.

She refused to stop for officers, but was followed through Ballston by police in unmarked vehicles, as witnessed by an ARLnow reporter. Police tried to block her in on N. Monroe Street, near the Arlington Arts Center, but she reportedly hopped the curb and kept driving. The mirror of a parked vehicle, as well as the front of a police SUV, appear to have been damaged in the process.

An Arlington County Police Department crime report details what happened next.

“Officers briefly lost sight of the vehicle, but located it again when the suspect backed into a parking spot in the 3300 block of 2nd Street S.,” near Thomas Jefferson Middle School, according to the crime report. “The suspect refused to exit the vehicle and began to drive again, striking a cruiser blocking it into the spot.”

“Spike sticks were deployed as the driver attempted to flee again by reversing the vehicle onto the curb behind it,” the crime report continues. “Following multiple attempts to have the suspect exit the vehicle, officers forced entry and took her into custody without incident.”

“Latia Hill, 27, of No Fixed Address, was arrested and charged with Grand Larceny: Motor Vehicle Theft, Eluding Police and Reckless Driving, and held on no bond,” the crime report concludes. “During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the suspect also struck a parked vehicle in the area of Wilson Boulevard and N. Monroe Street.”

A Virginia State Police trooper assisted with the final traffic stop, according to scanner traffic. No injuries were reported.

Arlington County police recently warned residents of a wave of thefts of unattended vehicles, many of which are delivery vehicles.

Taco Bamba is Planning to Open Next Week in Ballston

By ARLnow.com
1/4

The new Taco Bamba location in Ballston is expected to open to the public a week from today.

Chef Victor Albisu announced last month that what was previously planned as Huevos, a new all-day egg restaurant concept, would instead become a tried-and-true Taco Bamba outpost, in part due to financial pressures from the pandemic.

The new taco eatery will be located at 4000 Wilson Blvd, facing N. Quincy Street, in the former Yona space. The location has been serving as a Taco Bamba pick-up spot since April, and the popularity of the service was another factor in Albisu’s decision.

The new 1,500 square foot restaurant is the fifth Taco Bamba in Virginia. Set to open on Thursday, Aug. 20, the takeout taqueria will feature “a bar program, a small patio and a brand-new menu of nuestros tacos, in addition to the taqueria’s traditional favorites.”

“Creating a new menu for each location is always my favorite part of any opening,” Albisu said in a statement. “All Taco Bamba locations have their own identity that reflects the neighborhood, and Arlington has such a great culinary tradition of immigrant cuisines. We’ve felt really inspired while creating these dishes.”

The full press release, which has been lightly edited by ARLnow for clarity, is below.

(more…)

JUST IN: Police Investigating Mall Robbery

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Police are investigating a robbery at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.

Initial reports suggest that multiple suspects stole items from the Superdry store in the mall, then fled in a vehicle by ramming one of the mall parking garage gates.

Police followed the vehicle over the 14th Street Bridge and into the District, where the driver crashed into another vehicle near the 12th Street ramp, and all five suspects — believed to be juveniles — ran off, according to scanner traffic. The Superdry merchandise was reportedly tossed into the water below by the fleeing suspects.

So far, there’s no word of any arrests.

Arlington is No. 3 Place in U.S. for Runners, Study Finds

By ARLnow.com

Arlington is the third-best place in the United States for runners, according to a newly-released study.

The website SmartAsset “analyzed data for 95 of the largest U.S. cities across six metrics related to the safety, accessibility and popularity of running as well as the affordability of local housing,” a company spokeswoman said, adding that it’s the fourth year in a row that the list has been compiled.

Arlington has actually fallen in the rankings, from first in 2018 and 2019 to third this year. It appears that a lower percentage of parkland than other locales might have hurt the county in the rankings. It fared better in other metrics.

“Arlington, Virginia has the second-highest number of gyms per 10,000 residents of any of the 95 cities in our study, at approximately 2.4,” SmartAsset wrote. The county “also ranks seventh overall for housing costs as a percentage of income, at slightly more than 20%. Arlington has a walk score of 68.9, the 15th-best score for this metric of any of the cities we analyzed.”

Running, the website notes, “is a great way to stay fit during the pandemic, as it allows people to get outdoors while maintaining social distancing with minimal equipment.”

The top dozen best places for runners, according to SmartAsset, are:

  1. Minneapolis
  2. Omaha
  3. Arlington
  4. San Francisco
  5. New York City
  6. Seattle
  7. St. Paul
  8. Cincinnati
  9. Madison
  10. Pittsburgh
  11. Boston
  12. Chicago

Arlington is Under Another Flash Flood Watch Today as Rain Continues to Fall

By ARLnow.com

Arlington is under a Flash Flood Watch for the second day in a row.

After nary a raindrop fell in Arlington yesterday, today is starting out with steady rain and a bit of thunder — and there’s more rain on the way.

The National Weather Service says that the rain could be heavy at times and cause flash flooding. Flooding is already being reported south and west of Arlington this morning, in Prince William, Fauquier and Spotsylvania counties.

The Flash Flood Watch is in effect throughout the day today for most of the D.C. area More from NWS:

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING…

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has expanded the Flash Flood Watch to include portions of central Maryland, The District of Columbia, and Virginia, including the following areas, in central Maryland, Anne Arundel and Prince Georges. The District of Columbia. In Virginia, Albemarle, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Augusta, Central Virginia Blue Ridge, Culpeper, Eastern Highland, Fairfax, Greene, King George, Nelson, Northern Fauquier, Orange, Prince William, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Southern Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Western Highland.

Through this evening slow moving thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rainfall may develop today. Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms may lead to flash flooding. Potential impacts include rapid rises of water, flooded roads and flooding of structures in low lying areas near streams. Landslides and washouts are also possible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Dems Reject Bipartisan Redistricting — “Despite criticism from within the party that the move would be seen as blatantly partisan as well as bad policy, the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s membership on Aug. 6 voted to oppose the state constitutional amendment that, if enacted, would set up an independent redistricting commission.” [InsideNova]

Marymount Announces Reorganization — “In its latest strategic initiative, Transform MU, Marymount University is restructuring its existing academic programs into three highly focused Colleges, each combining disciplines to create broader educational and research opportunities.” [Press Release]

Diocese Announces New Virtual School — “The Catholic Diocese of Arlington announced it will offer a fully virtual school for grades K-8 in the 2020-2021 academic year, which begins in early September. The school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, provides a new option to parents interested in enrolling their children in local Catholic schools. All 41 brick-and-mortar Catholic schools in the Diocese, which serve 17,000 students, have announced they will reopen in the fall for either safe-distance full-time in-person instruction or a combination of in-person instruction and e-Learning. St. Isidore offers families an option for full-time virtual learning.” [Catholic Diocese of Arlington]

Local Teen Raises Money for Yemen — “Since July 1, an Arlington teenager has raised $300 for Saba Relief. The organization helps people affected by the crisis in Yemen. Emily Tesone started hand sewing plushies for her friends when the pandemic began. Her hobby grew more meaningful after she learned about what was happening in Yemen.” [WDVM]

Flickr pool photo by Eric

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