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.

ARLnow’s reporting is making a difference. Your support could boost it.

By ARLnow.com

ARLnow has been providing independent, in-depth coverage of Arlington since 2010.

We are committed to keeping readers informed about the issues that matter most to the community, including those that help to keep local officials and organizations accountable. Sunlight really is the best disinfectant.

Among the ARLnow stories that have had a real impact on the community, we were the first to report extensively on the problems at the Serrano Apartments, which — as recounted in a commission report — led the county to take action.

Arlington Landlord-Tenant Commission report on the Serrano Apartments (via Arlington County)

We also reported on the deaths of seven inmates over seven years at the Arlington County jail, which led to an outcry, calls for reform, and changes in protocols.

Our reporting helped to bring public attention to the series of deaths, according to a candidate for Arlington County Sheriff, in an interview with Patch.

Excerpt from a Sheriff’s candidate interview (via Patch)

We want to do more reporting like this but need your help.

The cyclical nature of the advertising business, and its susceptibility to economic downturns, means that we need to be cautious when it comes to adding more reporting positions.

But the steady support of ARLnow Press Club members helps us to weather the vicissitudes of the ad market. With more members, we can add to our reporting resources and cover even more important local stories.

Join the Press Club today, help keep our community informed, and you’ll also get the following exclusive benefits.

  • A weekday morning email that brings you news summaries and a look at the news of the day before it’s published
  • A monthly newsletter that brings you early versions of feature stories and in-depth reporting projects
  • Text message alerts the minute a significant, time-sensitive or breaking story is published
  • In the works: online chats with our journalists and participation in live newsmaker interviews.

A sincere thank you for your support, Arlington, including to our 250+ existing Press Club members.

Sincerely,

The ARLnow Team

Fmr. County Board candidate says he wants restorative justice for man who attacked him

By ARLnow.com
NBC 4 story on Adam Theo (via NBC 4)

The local civic figure who was beaten after trying to intervene in a domestic assault says he doesn’t want jail time for his attacker.

Adam Theo suffered serious injuries after an incident Sunday evening in Clarendon. According to police, Theo saw a man and woman fighting, tried to intervene, and was then punched repeatedly in the face by the man.

More from an ACPD crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2023-05280186, 2800 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 6:39 p.m. on May 28, police were dispatched to the report of an assault with injury. Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim was walking in the area when he observed the male suspect and female subject involved in a dispute, during which the male suspect allegedly assaulted the female subject. The victim attempted to intervene, during which the suspect struck him multiple times before the victim was able to move away from the suspect. The suspect then reapproached the victim, pushed him to the ground and assaulted him before being separated by the female subject and a witness. The male suspect and female subject then fled the scene and were not located by responding officers. The victim sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.

Theo, a Transportation Commission member and former Arlington County Board candidate, is a supporter of reform-minded Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Taft and her campaign for re-election.

He told NBC 4, which reported on the attack yesterday, that he does not want jail time for his attacker, who remains at large.

“I hope that he gets help and treatment and that he is fixed from his problems,” Theo said. “Anything that can get him into anger management program, that can get him some probation, that he’s watched and he has to show that he’s a better person over time.”

A GoFundMe campaign established to help Theo pay the bills while he recovers and remains out of work has already surpassed $10,000.

“Theo would never ask for help on his own behalf, which is one reason we are,” wrote the organizer, fellow local housing advocate Luca Gattoni-Celli. “Theo is concerned his condition will affect his ability to work in the short to medium term. He was already dealing with a lot of challenges, and richly deserves our help. Please be generous, as he has always been generous to his community. Theo is an Air Force veteran and civic leader in Arlington.”

Florida man tries to bring handgun into DCA as banner year for confiscations continues

By ARLnow.com
Gun confiscated at National Airport on Memorial Day (courtesy TSA)

Yet another traveler has tried to bring yet another gun onto a flight at Reagan National Airport.

The Transportation Security Administration says it confiscated a loaded .380 caliber handgun from a Florida man traveling on Memorial Day.

“The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint,” the TSA said. “The X-ray unit alerted the TSA officer to check the carry-on bag, which was opened by police for a closer inspection.”

This is the 17th gun caught by TSA officers at National Airport so far this year. That puts DCA on track for about 40 firearm confiscations this year, well above the 29 confiscated last year and 14 confiscated in 2019.

Gun confiscations at National Airport so far in 2023 (courtesy TSA)

More, below, from a TSA press release.

A Florida man was stopped by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport yesterday (May 29) when they detected a handgun in the man’s carry-on bag. The .380 caliber gun was loaded with six bullets.

The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted the TSA officer to check the carry-on bag, which was opened by police for a closer inspection and the gun confiscated. The man told officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him. Police cited the man on a weapons charge.

Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and now the man faces a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.

“The Memorial Day holiday weekend was the busiest weekend of the year, and the airport will continue to be crowded throughout the summer. Claiming that you forgot that you had a gun with you is inexcusable. Responsible gun owners must know where their guns are at all times,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport.

“Our officers are good at their jobs and are staying vigilant to keep all travelers safe and secure. Airports are congested, people are eager to travel and this is no time to be carrying prohibited or illegal items in your carry-on bag,” Busch added.

“It is concerning that most people who are stopped at TSA checkpoints with a firearm tell us that they forgot that they had it with them. Travelers need to come to the airport prepared to go through the security screening process and that means knowing the contents of their carry-on bags and knowing that there are no prohibited items inside,” he said.

Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage.  Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and gun owners have a duty to ensure they are not violating any local firearm laws. Additionally, contacting the respective airline could reveal any additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.

Metro stations to close for Orange Line rail replacement work

By ARLnow.com
I-66 and the Metro tracks near East Falls Church (staff photo)

Get ready for some Metro construction disruptions.

Four Orange Line stations will close starting this Saturday, June 3 through Sunday, June 25, to allow for replacement of four-decade-old steel rails. The closures include East Falls Church in Arlington, plus Dunn Loring and West Falls Church in Fairfax County.

Shuttle buses will replace trains for Orange Line riders going between the Ballston and Vienna stations, and Silver Line riders traveling between Ballston to McLean. A second phase of work, which will result in no Orange Line service just between West Falls Church and Vienna, is scheduled from June 26 to July 16.

More from a Metro press release:

Beginning Saturday, June 3, Metro will begin rail replacement work on the Orange Line in Virginia. During construction, which will be done in two phases to minimize station closures, Metro will replace the original 40-year-old steel rail between Ballston-MU and Vienna stations. Replacing the track in this section is a top priority to ensure safety and increase reliability. Crews will also install fiber-optic cables during this shutdown to modernize communications and allow for more efficient maintenance in the future.

Free shuttle bus service will be available for customers during all station closures. Customers are advised to plan extra time for their travel. Metro is boosting outreach to customers at the affected stations and will have prominent signage, announcements in stations and on trains, and teams of outreach personnel to assist customers with the temporary travel patterns during the construction.

“Replacing some of the oldest tracks in our system is critical to safety and reliability, and crews will work 24/7 to complete this project as quickly as possible so we can get back to normal service,” said Metro Chief of Infrastructure Andy Off. “We make every effort to minimize impacts to our customers, and we thank them for their patience while we continue to build a safe and modern Metro to serve the entire region.”

Customers will continue to have normal or near normal service outside of the work zones, with frequent service on the busiest parts of the system in the downtown core area with stations served by multiple lines. Between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory and between L’Enfant Plaza and Mt Vernon Sq trains will arrive at stations every 4-6 minutes all day.

Detailed shuttle service information from Metro is below.

(more…)

ARLnow Daily Debrief for May 30, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 19674 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

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

  1. BREAKING: W-L senior and standout soccer player killed in Fairfax County double homicide
  2. Morning Notes
  3. Peter Chang set to open new restaurant in Crystal City
  4. JUST IN: Police union endorses challenger for Commonwealth’s Attorney

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 6 mph. At night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. East wind 3 to 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”
– Charles R. Swindoll

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

BREAKING: W-L senior and standout soccer player killed in Fairfax County double homicide

By ARLnow.com
1/2

A Washington-Liberty High School senior was killed in a double homicide yesterday in Fairfax County.

Braden Deahl, 18, was a standout soccer player on the W-L varsity team who had committed to play at St. Mary’s College of Maryland earlier this month, according to an athletics website.

Deahl’s death was announced in an email to W-L families this afternoon.

“It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our seniors, Braden Deahl, died on Monday,” wrote principal Tony Hall. “Braden was a beloved member of the Washington-Liberty family, and impacted the lives of many of our students and staff members. He brought much joy to all who knew him, especially his soccer teammates and fellow 12th graders. We all deeply feel his loss.”

Shortly thereafter, Fairfax County police announced that Deahl was one of two young men killed at an apartment complex near Tysons on Memorial Day.

“On May 29, 2023 at 3:37 p.m., officers responded to an apartment building in the 2200 block of Pimmit Run Lane in Falls Church for a man who had been shot. Jonas Skinner, 20, of Ashburn, was found in the laundry room of the apartment building with a gunshot wound to the upper body,” wrote FCPD. “Officers found three additional individuals in the parking lot suffering from stab wounds to their upper body. Braden Deahl, 18, of Arlington County, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.”

The other two stabbing victims are expected to survive, though one remains in the hospital.

In a press release, below, FCPD said the killings appear to have been drug-related. A teenager has been arrested and charged with robbery resulting in death.

Detectives believe a drug related robbery led to the fatal shooting of one man and the fatal stabbing of another. Police have charged one juvenile in connection to this crime and anticipate more updates to follow.

On May 29, 2023 at 3:37 p.m., officers responded to an apartment building in the 2200 block of Pimmit Run Lane in Falls Church for a man who had been shot. Jonas Skinner, 20, of Ashburn, was found in the laundry room of the apartment building with a gunshot wound to the upper body. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel declared Skinner deceased at the scene.

Officers found three additional individuals in the parking lot suffering from stab wounds to their upper body. Braden Deahl, 18, of Arlington County, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The other two victims were taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries not believed to be life threatening. One of the juveniles remains hospitalized.

During a search of the area, K9 officers located a significant amount of marijuana nearby believed to be connected to the homicide. All individuals involved are believed to be known to each other and this is not a random act of violence.

Earlier today, a 17-year-old was charged with robbery resulting in death.

Police anticipate more announcements in this case.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death in the coming days.

Deahl is at least the second Arlingtonian to be murdered outside of the county’s borders so far this year. A Yorktown High School grad was killed in a D.C. hotel room in April.

The full letter from Hall to Washington-Liberty families is below.

(more…)

UPDATED: Major gas leak in Westover area

By ARLnow.com
Washington Gas truck (file photo)

(Updated at 12:10 p.m.) The smell of natural gas has been reported in parts of the Westover neighborhood after a major leak.

The leak in a gas transmission line was first reported around 9:30 a.m. on the 1800 block of N. Lexington Street. Initial reports suggest that Arlington’s emergency dispatch center received reports of a gas smell in the nearby Westover library, Cardinal Elementary School and other locations as a result of the leak.

“It has come to our attention that there is a leak in a gas line up the street and there have been reports of a gas smell in pockets throughout the building, the principal of Cardinal Elementary wrote in an email to families. “We were told that the students are safe and it will be fixed soon.”

Washington Gas crews are now on scene working to repair the line. Firefighters are also standing by, just in case.

Arlington public safety call center to start using Amazon AI system for non-emergency calls

By ARLnow.com
Arlington’s Emergency Communications Center in 2013 (file photo)

Arlington County will soon start using an automated system developed by Amazon Web Services to answer non-emergency public safety calls.

Starting on Thursday (June 1), non-emergency callers to 703-558-2222 will go through Amazon Connect to address their issues, according to the county.

“Amazon Connect is a cloud-based contact center service that allows residents to connect with the Arlington County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) for non-emergency inquiries,” says an FAQ on the county website. “When a caller dials (703) 558-2222 for non-emergency needs, Amazon Connect will answer the call and provide verbal assistance. It will provide a faster and more efficient response to non-emergency inquiries. Alternate languages will be built out in the future.”

“Personal information is not stored or shared with Amazon or the County,” the FAQ adds. “Amazon Connect is only for non-emergency calls like car towing inquiries, animal control needs, or noise complaints. For emergencies, always call 9-1-1.”

Additional capabilities, including the ability to speak languages other than English and artificial intelligence-driven functionality to address certain inquiries, are in the works, the county said.

In September 2021, WTOP reported that Arlington’s Emergency Communications Center was experiencing staffing shortages and “addressing concerns that its current setup is problematic and even potentially dangerous.”

More, below, from an Arlington County press release.

The Arlington County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) will launch Amazon Connect to handle non-emergency calls starting June 1, 2023. This cloud-based service allows anyone to contact the County quickly and easily for non-emergency issues using the non-emergency line, 703-558-2222, freeing up 9-1-1 professionals to focus on emergencies.

Amazon Connect is a secure and accessible service that allows the ECC to address non-emergency calls more efficiently while protecting caller privacy. The technology will streamline operations, improve service delivery, and reduce the burden on emergency responders.

“We are excited to continue to lead the region in implementing responsive and industry best-practice emergency communications technology,” said William Flagler, Director of the Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management. “The use of Amazon Connect for non-emergency calls will allow our emergency communications staff to focus on emergencies while providing residents with faster, more efficient, and secure service for non-emergency inquiries.”

Amazon Connect is only for non-emergency calls; the current 9-1-1 system will continue to handle emergency calls.

When a caller dials 703-558-2222 (the non-emergency line), Amazon Connect will answer and provide verbal assistance. The system can answer calls and speak to the caller to provide verbal direction, providing a faster and more efficient response to non-emergency inquiries.  No personal information is stored or shared with Amazon.

In the future, the County plans to expand the system’s capabilities using artificial intelligence. The system will learn to identify and effectively address reasons for calling (e.g. towed cars, potholes, trail and park maintenance, noise complaints, County operating status), and will offer service in the County’s top five most spoken languages. The County also plans to connect the system to its online reporting form and update residents on resolving non-emergency issues they share.

Boats burn in Columbia Island blaze

By ARLnow.com
Boats on fire at Columbia Island Marina (photo courtesy D.C. Fire and EMS)

It was a dreadful sight for boaters looking forward to a Memorial Day on the water.

Early Sunday morning, a significant blaze broke out at Columbia Island Marina, between the GW Parkway and the Pentagon, prompting a large fire department response from Arlington and D.C., including D.C. fireboats.

At least three boats and some of the marina’s dock were damaged, according to D.C. Fire and EMS. The flames could be seen from a distance.

Despite the intensity of the fire at times, fed by the boats’ fuel tanks, no injuries were reported.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Softball near Washington-Liberty High School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Memorial Day in Arlington — “President Joe Biden lauded the sacrifice of generations of U.S. troops who ‘dared all and gave all’ fighting for their country and called on Americans to ensure their ‘sacrifice was not in vain’ in Memorial Day observances at Arlington National Cemetery. Biden was joined at the traditional wreath-laying ceremony by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Harris’ husband, Douglas Emhoff.” [Associated Press]

Fmr. County Board Candidate Assaulted — “My friend Dan Alban and I are creating this fundraiser for our dear friend Adam Theo, who was assaulted the night of May 28th. Theo, as he likes to be called, tells the story: ‘This evening when walking home I passed a young guy arguing w/ (I presume) his girlfriend in Clarendon. He starts getting violent with her – pushing her around and trying to rip off her clothes. I intervened… and got the s*** beat out of me.'” [GoFundMe, Twitter, WUSA 9]

Wrong-Way Driver Hits ACPD Cruiser — “At approximately 3:50 a.m. on May 26, an officer driving in the area of Wilson Boulevard and N. Edgewood Street observed a vehicle driving the opposite direction down a one-way street. The officer activated her emergency equipment and as she attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver, and sole occupant, exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. The suspect vehicle continued to roll and struck the occupied cruiser head-on.” [ACPD, Twitter]

South Block Expansion Plan — “Arlington-based smoothie and juice bar chain South Block is planning a major expansion that could see its local footprint more than triple over the next few years. The company, founded in 2011 by Amir Mostafavi, has kicked off a capital raise aimed at increasing the number of stores in the D.C. area from 15 to 50… Further out, Mostafavi hopes to strike out into new markets outside Greater Washington, potentially to include Richmond.” [Washington Business Journal]

Arlington No. 2 in Va. for Wealth — “Arlington ranks second in Virginia in a new ‘wealth index’ compiled by SmartAsset.com. Counties across the nation were ranked based on per-capita income, investment income and property value. The highest scoring community (San Mateo County, Calif.) had its result set at 100, with all other communities ranking below it. With an overall wealth index of 64.86, Arlington ranked below the city of Falls Church (72.89) among Virginia locales.” [Gazette Leader]

New Commander at Fort Myer — “Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall welcomed the new joint base commander, Col. Tasha N. Lowery, and bade farewell to Col. David D. Bowling, during a change of command ceremony May 25 at Conmy Hall. Welcome to JBM-HH, Col. Lowery!” [Twitter]

New Arlington Monopoly Game — “Arlingtonopoly, a one-of-a-kind Arlington-themed board game produced by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, will hit store shelves later this year… The game is expected to go on sale in fall 2023 and will cost $40.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Local Student in Nat’l Spelling Bee — “Ruby Kadera is one of 231 competitors in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week! Opening ceremony tonight. Spelling begins tomorrow.” [Twitter]

It’s Tuesday — Cloudy in the morning, then turning sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind around 10 mph. At night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 55. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. [Weather.gov]

Photos: Memorial Day weekend in Arlington

By ARLnow.com
1/34

It’s Memorial Day weekend in Arlington.

The flags are in at Arlington National Cemetery, ‘Rolling to Remember’ participants are rolling up to local hotels, and the 35% of locals who say they’re traveling for the weekend have been keeping National Airport busy.

ARLnow staff photographer Jay Westcott has been out and about over the past day or so, documenting some of the scenes around the county. Providing an assist is Army photographer Elizabeth Fraser, whose photos of the “Flags In” event were published online by Arlington National Cemetery.

This was the 75th annual Flags In at the cemetery. More, below, from the U.S. Dept. of Defense.

An honored tradition.

Soldiers assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” and other service members placed American flags at headstones at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., in advance of Memorial Day.

This was the 75th anniversary of “Flags In,” during which service members adorn gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery to honor the nation’s fallen heroes.

View More Stories