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.
Large power outage in Pentagon City and Crystal City on Sept. 28, 2023 (via Dominion)
(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) More than 5,000 Dominion customers were in the dark this morning due to a large power outage.
Around 10:45 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to the power substation at the intersection of S. Fern Street and 18th Street S. for a report of a transformer explosion and fire.
Shortly before 11 a.m. firefighters on scene reported that they had put a small fire out and were awaiting the arrival of Dominion representatives.
The incident knocked out power to much of the Pentagon City and Crystal City area, prompting numerous calls for stuck elevators and tripped alarms.
As of publication the Dominion website was reporting 5,146 customers without power in Arlington. The power was fully restored, according to Dominion, by 12:30 p.m.
Crystal City Outage Info: A failed piece of equipment has caused 5,178 customer outages this morning. Our crews are on the scene making repairs. We expect to have power restored within the hour. Thank you for your patience.
This is the second month in a row for a large power outage in this area. An underground cable failure along 15th Street S. knocked out power to more than 10,000 Dominion customers on Aug. 22.
Response to incident at Washington-Liberty High School in 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
(Updated at 11 a.m.) An alleged shooting threat briefly sent students practicing on a school field indoors tonight.
The incident happened around 7 p.m. outside of Washington-Liberty High School. A police dispatch said the man was “yelling that there was going to be a shooting at the stadium.” He was being held down by several people until officers arrived, the dispatch said.
Numerous students were on the field at the time and were reportedly rushed inside the building.
“An individual threatened the field hockey players at a practice during a marching band rehearsal,” a tipster said. “I am a W-L student and I can confirm that the students were quickly brought in.”
An email sent to band families around 7:30 p.m., shared with ARLnow, said the man was arrested.
Good evening,
This evening there was an incident at the stadium entrance with a individual claiming to have a weapon. The police were called and the students were immediately sent inside. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody, and we have resumed rehearsal at this point now that the all clear from APD has been given. We will end at 9:00 as scheduled.
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out.
Thanks,
Dr. Sedatole
Arlington County police said in a subsequent crime report on Thursday that they arrested a 35-year-old Arlington resident. He is currently being held in jail on several threat-related charges.
“The adult male suspect entered the stadium and allegedly made threats of harm to other individuals.,” the crime report said. “The male suspect was detained by bystanders and taken into custody by responding officers. No weapon was seen or located.”
The suspect “was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct and Threats on School Grounds (x2).,” the crime report continues. “He was held on no bond.”
Expect mostly cloudy skies with a peak temperature near 68 degrees on Thursday, accompanied by a gentle northeast wind at 7 mph. During Thursday night, there is a 40% chance of rain, and patchy fog may appear after 4am. The weather remains mostly cloudy with a low temperature around 60 degrees and a northeast wind at 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
The forthcoming apartments dubbed “The Commodore” in Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington has seen the greatest growth in people living alone of 342 U.S. cities.
That’s according to a new study by the website SmartAsset, which examined census data between 2016 and 2021.
Arlington is No. 1 on the list and neighboring Alexandria is No. 2, at a 3.54x and 2.98x increase of people living alone, respectively. In Arlington, about 42% of households only had one resident as of 2021.
“The rate of single people who live alone is rising dramatically in some U.S. cities,” a SmartAsset spokesman wrote. “Our findings show Arlington and Alexandria ranked among the top five cities where households changed the most.”
More from SmartAsset’s findings:
On average, the rate of single people living alone jumped to 28%. Five years prior, that figure was 24%. In Arlington, VA, which had the most drastic increase, the proportion of people living alone jumped from 11% to 41%.
Single people make up nearly half of households in these cities. The largest single populations across men and women are Washington, D.C. (48.23%); St. Louis, MO (47.49%); Alexandria, VA (46.52%); Richmond, VA (46.23%); Cincinnati, OH (46.20%); and Cleveland, OH (46.20%).
In the D.C. area, more than 25% of households are single women. Single-woman households are most prominent in Richmond, VA (28.00%); Washington, D.C. (26.74%); and Alexandria, VA (26.23%). These areas also saw the largest increases in the proportion of single women living alone over five years, with greater than 15% of households added to this cohort. Other areas with large bachelorette populations include St. Louis, MO (25.70%); New Orleans, LA (25.70%) and Cincinnati, OH (24.63%).
It’s perhaps worth pointing out that the end year of the study period, 2021, was in the midst of the pandemic — which might have prompted some to exit roommate situations.
2023 rankings for “Increase in People Living Alone in U.S. Cities” (via SmartAsset)
Expect patchy drizzle and isolated showers before 9am, followed by mostly cloudy skies and a high temperature near 65 degrees. The northeast wind will be around 8mph, with a 20% chance of precipitation. Wednesday night will remain mostly cloudy, with a low temperature around 54 degrees and an east wind at around 7mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
(Updated at 1 p.m.) Police responded Monday afternoon to a reported shooting on Columbia Pike.
The incident happened shortly before 4 p.m. on the 1800 block of the Pike, at The Wellington apartment complex. Initial details were murky, but a man suffered what was described as a wound to the upper leg.
A female suspect was detained and a weapon found.
On Tuesday, Arlington County police confirmed that the man was shot and that the incident was “domestic in nature.”
More, below, from an ACPD crime report.
MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2023-09250189, 1800 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 3:53 p.m. on September 25, police were dispatched to the report of an assault with a weapon. Upon arrival, it was determined that following a verbal dispute and physical altercation inside a residence, the female subject discharged a firearm, striking the male subject. The male subject was transported to an area hospital with injuries considered non-life threatening. The female subject ran from the scene and was located by responding officers in the 1200 block of S. Ross Street and subsequently charged with Malicious Wounding. A firearm was recovered. The incident was determined to be domestic in nature and additional information is restricted from release in accordance with Virginia Code § 19.2-11.2. The investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing.
NEW: One person was injured in an incident involving a weapon a short time ago in an apartment at 1850 Columbia Pike. It's unclear if it's a gunshot wound. Injury is considered non-life threatening. Another person was detained by @ArlingtonVaPD. Video via @SafetyVid.… https://t.co/9TaUfMbfCnpic.twitter.com/Zt5pexoURP
There is a 30% chance of rain and patchy drizzle throughout the day, with fog expected between 9am and noon. The high temperature will be near 62°F, with a northeast wind of 8-10 mph. Tonight, anticipate patchy drizzle and rain until 3am, and fog before 1am, with a low around 55°F and similar wind conditions. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote 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.
For sale sign in front of a business district (generated by DALL-E 2)
Last time we checked in on the Arlington businesses listed for sale online, in June, we highlighted a dozen restaurants and stores.
This time around we have ten — but a wider variety of business types.
The businesses listed on BizBuySell, an online aggregator, are described but usually not named.
The listings below are a reminder that the local business community is far from static — businesses are constantly opening, closing, and trading hands in a dynamic market like Arlington. It’s also a reminder that owning a local business is hard and requires considerable sacrifice, which sometimes leads owners to seek to exit their business and find another entrepreneur to take things over.
Popular restaurant centrally located in the high growth area of Arlington VA. Recognized in 2022 by The Washington Post, this business has established a loyal customer base from local residents and businesses with its authentic cuisine. Excellent signage and exposure with ample parking. Seating capacity of 60+ with off-street parking. Past 3 years upwarding trending sales and business operations including in-house dining, internet marketing, and catering. The sale includes furniture, fixtures and fully equipped kitchen with hood. Owner relocating internationally.
This established, single-operator hair color salon, located in the vibrant heart of downtown Arlington, is on the market. Despite the challenges of Covid, which led to a reduction in staff, this salon has shown remarkable resilience and is thriving under the operation of one experienced stylist. With its high-visibility location attracting substantial foot traffic, the potential for growth and expansion is immense.
A staple in it’s neighborhood. Located in a beautiful area, the store serves the high income demographic base (No Bullet-Proof Glass). The current owners have owned and operated this business for close to 15 years; they are retiring and seeking younger/energetic candidates to acquire and build on top of the fantastic base that they have established. Perfect for a Husband/Wife Team or a Seasoned Buyer with Experience that Knows how to Take Advantage of This Opportunity.
Brand Name Gas Station. 3 Repair Bays Rented at $ 12,000 per month. Gas Gross Profit is $22000 per month. Miscellaneous revenue $ 1000/ Month. Excellent location for buyers who are mechanics. Repair Shop tenants has been there for 11 years & running a busy repair business.
Popular restaurant & bar in Arlington VA for sale. This restaurant has been in business for almost 10 years and has become extremely popular within the DMV area. The menu consists of an American style cuisine which has earned this establishment 5 stars on google reviews. Phenomenal dining area build out including a large full service bar with draft beers on tap and outdoor seating. The current owner is ABSENTEE while the average sales of his restaurant are an amazing $4,000,000 annually.
A multi-modal scene viewed from Patrick Henry Drive; a Metro train, commuters stuck in traffic, a westbound cyclist and an eastbound runner (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Funeral Procession for Marine — From the Arlington County Police Department: “A funeral procession for Cpl. Spencer Collart, who tragically died in a training exercise, will travel through Arlington tomorrow. He was a @GeneralsPride graduate & those wishing to show their respect are asked to be present on the N. Stafford St. overpass above I-66 at 9:30 AM.” [Twitter]
Flyover This Morning — From AlertDC: “The Naval Air Force Atlantic will conduct a military aircraft flyover in the NCR over the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, September 25, 2023, at approximately 11:00AM.”
Man Blames Wife for Gun at DCA — “A Virginia man blamed his wife for a loaded handgun that was found in his carry-on bag on Thursday by security officials at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
The .22 caliber pistol was loaded with five bullets and was packed in the man’s carry-on bag, TSA said Friday.” [Patch]
W-L Football Remains Undefeated — “With their biggest margin of victory so far this season and their first shutout, the Washington-Liberty Generals improved to 5-0 for the first time since the 1971 high-school football season. The host Generals did so by blanking the Falls Church Jaguars, 44-0, Sept. 22 in a non-district game. For Washington-Liberty, the single-game point total was its fourth over 40 this fall.” [Gazette LEader]
Groundbreaking for Affordable Apts — “The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for the redevelopment of the Marbella Apartments in Arlington’s Radnor/Fort Myer Heights neighborhood. The new 234-unit affordable development will replace a 31-unit garden-style apartment complex on N. Queen Street, which is being torn down.” [Patch]
Beyer Calls for Menendez Resignation — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), co-founder of the Egypt Human Rights Caucus and longtime critic of the Sisi regime’s human rights violations, today issued the following statement on Senator Robert J. Menendez… ‘the preponderance of evidence presented in the indictment makes it impossible for him to continue serving in the U.S. Senate, and I urge him to resign.'” [Blue Virginia]
Eagle Sighting Along the Pike — “Arlington realtor Eli Tucker was walking with a friend on South Glebe Road near his home in Alcova Heights by Columbia Pike when his friend did a double take exclaiming he thought he’d just seen an eagle fly by with something in its talons. ‘I didn’t see it at all,’ said Tucker, ‘But a couple of minutes later we turned the corner and saw the eagle perched on the wall. After a few seconds, we realized it had a rabbit.'” [Zebra]
It’s Monday — There is a slight chance of showers in the afternoon after 2pm and patchy fog between 7-10am, with overall mostly cloudy skies and a high of 67°F. A north wind of 7-9 mph is expected. The chance of precipitation is at 20%. Monday night, expect a higher chance of showers, primarily after 8pm, along with cloudy skies and a low of 58°F. A northeast wind around 10 mph is anticipated, with a 40% chance of precipitation. [Weather.gov]
ARLnow’s reporting crew talked about some of the week’s stories and discussed why we make certain decisions. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, iHeart, Audacy or TuneIn.
⛈️ Saturday’s forecast
Expect rain and possible thunderstorms after 3pm today, with a high near 63°F and strong winds from the northeast at 22-28 mph, gusting up to 48 mph. Precipitation is guaranteed, with 0.75-1 inch of rainfall. Tonight, anticipate more rain and potential thunderstorms with a low of 61°F. The breezy conditions continue, with winds at 16-25 mph and gusts up to 39 mph. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation and an additional 0.75-1 inch of rainfall. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)
(Updated at 2 p.m.) An Arlington teen of the same name as an 18-year-old convicted in a recent high-profile case has been arrested after allegedly fleeing from police.
Arlington County police say Kenan Owens, 18, was arrested Wednesday in Chesterfield County — near Richmond — on warrants for reckless driving and eluding.
The charges stem from an incident early Tuesday morning in which, according to police, an officer tried to pull over a vehicle seen driving well over the speed limit near the Columbia Pike and Washington Blvd ramps.
The driver allegedly fled the traffic stop and abandoned the car a few blocks away, in the Arlington View neighborhood.
More from ACPD:
RECKLESS DRIVING, 2023-09190035, Washington Boulevard at Columbia Pike. At approximately 6:10 a.m. on September 19, an officer initiated a traffic stop for reckless driving after observing the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed over the posted speed limit. The driver disregarded the officer’s emergency equipment and fled the area. The officer last observed the vehicle turning from Columbia Pike and subsequently located the abandoned vehicle in the 1400 block of S. Rolfe Street. After further investigation, officers determined the identity of the driver and obtained warrants for Kenan Owens, 18, of Arlington, VA for Reckless Driving and Eluding. He was located and taken into custody in Chesterfield County, VA on September 20.
Earlier this year, an 18-year-old Arlington resident named Kenan Owens was arrested by a SWAT team after triggering a lockdown at Wakefield High School. Police said at the time that he “was known to carry a firearm” and “had an ongoing dispute with” a student at the school.
Owens was charged with trespassing, stalking, having a loaded gun around children, altering a gun’s serial number and conspiring to distribute marijuana.
All but the trespassing and one of four gun charges was dropped. In June he was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months on both charges, with the entire sentence suspended on the gun charge and all but two months suspended on the trespassing charge, according to court records.
Arlington County police spokeswoman Ashley Savage was unable to confirm to ARLnow whether the 18-year-old Kenan Owens arrested this week was the same Kenan Owens — who will turn 19 in December — charged in the high-profile Wakefield incident. State law prevents the department from revealing details of a suspect’s prior criminal history in that manner, Savage said.
The charges from this week are not yet visible in the state court records system and Owens is not expected to be booked into Arlington’s jail, Savage said, after being released on a court summons in Chesterfield County.
