News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
A hazy sunset in Westover (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Cemetery Flyover This Morning — From Arlington National Cemetery: “[Friday] morning, around 11:00 a.m., there will be a flyover in support of a funeral.” [Twitter]

Gun Control Rally on Saturday — “Wear Orange is a time for everyone in our community to come together to show our collective power in addressing gun violence. Arlington Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America invite you to join us for a walk and rally on Saturday June 3, 2023 1:00pm – 4:00pm at Courthouse Plaza. 1-2pm- Gun Violence Awareness Walk to Clarendon Metro & back. 2-4pm- Rally to Honor the Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence.” [Event Calendar]

I-395 Exit Ramp Closure — “Starting Friday night, June 2, the southbound I-395/Route 1 Exit 8C bridge will be closed every Friday night through this fall for work related to the I-395/Route 1 Southbound Exit 8C Bridge Repairs Project… The southbound I-395/Route 1 Exit 8C ramp will be closed from midnight to 7 a.m.” [VDOT]

Maywood Burglary Suspect Arrested — “3300 block of 23rd Road N. At approximately 4:08 a.m. on June 1, police were dispatched to the late report of a breaking and entering. Upon arrival, it was determined at approximately 3:45 a.m., the known male suspect allegedly gained entry to the residence and approached the female victim. She pushed him away and notified another resident of the home who confronted the suspect and he left the residence.” [ACPD]

Sentencing for Fmr. WMATA Official — “An Arlington man was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Wednesday for his role in the manipulation of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s procurement process in favor of a company that was paid more than $1.3 million for items and services.” [Patch]

Free Donuts Today — “America runs on Dunkin’® and this National Donut Day, America runs on free donuts. On Friday, June 2, Dunkin’ die-hards and donut fans can enjoy a free classic donut of their choice, with any beverage purchase.” [Press Release]

How Much Delivery Drivers Really Make — “DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats may be convenient, but whether they’re a winning proposition for anybody can swing on a few dollars. The apps aren’t always transparent about who receives what share of the bill paid by customers. So The Washington Post conducted an experiment, placing identical orders on each app and then gathering receipts from all parties to see how each fared.” [Washington Post]

Air Quality Alert Amid Wildfire Smoke — “We have Code Orange #AirQuality throughout the #Baltimore & #DC region & it’s also forecasted for tomorrow, 6/2. Kids, older adults, & others w/health concerns should limit time outside.” [Twitter, Capital Weather Gang]

It’s Friday — Sunny and hot, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 8 mph in the morning. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. [Weather.gov]

Arlington County responds to lawsuit alleging Missing Middle changes decided illegally

By Jo DeVoe
Arlington County government headquarters (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington County has filed a response to the Missing Middle lawsuit against it.

Ten residents are suing the county, arguing that the recently-passed zoning changes known as Missing Middle were approved illegally and would allow development that harms their lives.

In a response shared with ARLnow, dated last Tuesday, May 23, the county argues that the plaintiffs did not prove they, in particular, will be harmed by any new development. It also disputes the claims that the county broke specific provisions in Virginia law related to zoning deliberations and meeting procedures.

Now that both sides have made their cases in writing, a hearing in the civil division of Arlington County Circuit Court is set for July 11 at 10 a.m. In other recent zoning battles in Virginia courts, the lower courts ruled in favor of the county government, while the state Supreme Court overturned those decisions.

The complaint against the county was filed in April, about a month after the Arlington County Board ratified zoning changes that allow the construction of 2-6 unit homes on lots previously zoned for single-family homes.

The plaintiffs complained their property values will be hurt and their quality of life diminished by any new “Expanded Housing Option” or EHO development.

They also said the Arlington County Board failed to properly advertise what was being considered and did not do the due diligence needed to understand the impact of increased density on the neighborhood level.

Arlington County is challenging the legitimacy of the lawsuit, asking the court to rule that the facts of the Missing Middle saga invalidate the claims and dismiss the case so it cannot come before the court again.

On substantive grounds, the county challenges the 10 residents, saying they failed to show the zoning changes will burden them such that the county must provide relief.

For instance, the plaintiffs predicted several negative impacts as a result of the change: increased flooding, sewage backups, school overcrowding and difficulty driving on narrow streets cramped with cars parked on the street. Arlington County says that is speculative at best.

“No property has been developed under the terms of the Zoning Amendment, and any allegations of harm are pure speculation,” the county said in its lawsuit. “The court cannot be asked to issue an advisory opinion based on hypothetical facts.”

The 10 residents also say the Arlington County Board did not consider a long list of societal impacts of which state code requires consideration prior to zoning code changes.

Just because it did not conduct the “special studies or investigations” the plaintiffs claimed were necessary does not mean the factors were not considered at all, Arlington County argues.

“The Board Report, the testimony of the County’s professional staff, and the testimony of the members of the County’s Planning Commission, Housing Commission, Transportation Commission and other advisory commissions and public speakers shows that the County Board adequately considered the factors in [state code],” the suit says.

The plaintiffs also claim the county exceeded its authority when it instituted tree canopy requirements tied to the number of units on a property. They said it violates the Dillon Rule to require more than what is required in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance.

Arlington County sees it differently.

“The county amended its zoning ordinance to create an incentive for tree plantings in exchange for increased density, as permitted through its power to administer incentive zoning,” it says.

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Plans for more apartments and retail on Crystal Towers site enter home stretch

By Jo DeVoe
1/9

A development proposed for Crystal City is entering the home stretch.

Tonight (Thursday), the Arlington Planning Commission is slated to review and vote on plans from Dweck Properties to add a residential building and a retail building to the existing the Crystal Towers Apartment complex at 1600 S. Eads Street.

The 132-foot, 11-story residential building would have up to 209 units and a penthouse with an amenity space and ground-floor retail, per a Planning Commission report. Dweck proposes 54 studios, 120 1-bedroom and 35 2-bedroom units and is aiming for LEED Gold certification in exchange for extra density.

A single-story, 27,901-square-foot retail building would have building heights ranging from 16 to 22 feet.

If approved, the apartment building would replace an existing surface parking lot between the Crystal Flats building and the existing Crystal Towers buildings fronting S. Eads Street, according to application materials. The new retail building to the north, also fronting South Eads Street, would replace another existing surface parking lot to the north.

As part of the project, dubbed Crystal Towers 3, S. Eads Street will get a median buffer connecting to a buffer built as part of the first phase of Amazon’s second headquarters, north of the site. Dweck proposes adding new sidewalks, street trees and street lights along S. Eads Street as well.

The project would also realize some improvements to an existing open space at the corner of 15th Street S. and S. Eads Street, according to a recent county staff report. Dweck proposes expanding the space by some 700 square feet and adding a boardwalk area with public tables and chairs, bench seating and new pathways, without disturbing a mature oak tree.

Plans call for two green roofs, one over a portion of an existing building and a second over the new retail development fronting S. Eads Street.

Prospective tenants in the new residential building would have access to an existing garage that already serves Crystal Towers residents and the Lofts building nearby. Despite the increased occupancy, the total number of spots is set to drop from 1,152 to 1,061 spots, plus 11 visitor bicycle spots.

The developer intends to make an affordable housing contribution to the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) of $1,421,380.

This “could provide gap financing for approximately 18 (committed affordable units) at the nearby Crystal Houses infill development project, a project which is anticipated to request a significant amount of AHIF financing to achieve the County’s stated objective of partnering with the property owner to significantly increase the supply of low and moderate income housing options in Crystal City,” the report says.

The Arlington County Board is slated to review and vote on the project during its meeting on Saturday, June 10.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Aerial view of Crystal City, Pentagon City, National Airport and D.C. (Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf)

Update on Delayed Rosslyn Development — “The approved Arlington County site plan setting up the eventual demolition of two obsolete office buildings — one home to the Deep Throat garage key to the Watergate investigation — and replacement with a pair of office and residential towers is days from expiring. Monday Properties could secure its third extension for the project encompassing 1401 Wilson Blvd. and 1400 Key Blvd. during the June Arlington Board meeting… More importantly, it appears Monday is finally gearing up to start work on the project.” [Washington Business Journal]

Flagging Ranked Choice Mistakes — “Let’s say you have messed – yes, that’s a good PG-rated word – up your ballot in the June 20 primary, perhaps owing to the stress of trying to get the new ranked-choice-voting process correct. What happens then? It depends, in large part, whether you are voting in person (whether early or on the 20th) or by mail.” [Gazette Leader]

Union Kitchen Boycott — “Workers at five Union Kitchen locations in DC and Virginia democratically voted to unionize but were not officially recognized until June of last year, after a lengthy legal battle… This Thursday, UFCW Local 400 Union and a coalition of 20 supporting organizations — including Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO — will hold a press conference to announce a consumer boycott of Union Kitchen stores.” [Metro Washington Labor Council]

Airports Authority Fights More Flights — “National Airport is home to the busiest airport runway in the nation, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is promoting the data to defeat efforts at bringing more flights there. Reagan National’s main runway – dubbed Runway 01/19 – each day handles an average of 819 scheduled commercial operations. The only other runway that comes close is Runway 07L/025R at Los Angeles International Airport.” [Gazette Leader]

County Board Candidates on Education — “Ahead of the Democratic primary on June 20th, we reached out to the county board candidates and asked about issues impacting APS and Arlington students. Their responses are shared below.” [Arlington Parents for Education]

One Month from New Water Free, Trash Rate — “Effective July 1, residential customers will see the combined quarterly base charges for water and sewer increasing by $5.04 to $29.89 per quarter, as approved in the County’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget. Similar increases will be seen for multi-family and commercial accounts. The sewer use rate will remain unchanged but the annual household solid waste rate will increase from $307.89 to $406.14.” [Arlington County]

Tolerable Summer Heat Predicted — “Looking ahead to June through August, we anticipate plenty of heat and humidity. Still, we expect a summer fairly similar to the last two, which were not especially brutal. They were close to average, without the relentless heat that is the hallmark of our most memorably oppressive summers. Neither summer saw the mercury reach the century mark.” [Washington Post]

It’s June — Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Northeast wind around 7 mph. At night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. [Weather.gov]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

Seven years after speaking out, a few residents of an affordable housing building say problems persist

By Jo DeVoe
The Shelton in Green Valley (staff photo)

Residents of The Shelton, an affordable housing development in the Green Valley neighborhood, are raising concerns about property management and poor treatment of residents.

They previously raised these same issues in 2016, along with other quality-of-life that they say plagued the building, owned by local affordable housing developer AHC Inc.

“We are having problems in my apartment complex,” Frank Duncan, who has lived there since it opened, told members of the Tenant-Landlord Commission earlier this month.

He described an exorbitant water bill, errant late fees, a whole week without hot water and disrespectful management staff. He articulated a feeling among residents that their housing situation is not guaranteed because rent has been paid month-to-month since the pandemic started.

The testimony before the commission comes as AHC Inc. says it is making it easier for residents to report complaints. Some current and former commission members say these complaints reinforce their powerlessness to do more than advise residents. ARLnow has previously reported on how limited mediation options in Arlington, compared to Fairfax County, dissuade residents from bringing up issues.

Duncan said residents feel mistreated when they try to raise issues with management, which causes them to let issues go unresolved.

“When you go to the rent office, the manager is so disrespectful,” Duncan said. “She does not have the time to listen to what we have to say. So, they don’t go in there. They come to get me to go in there and talk.”

Disrespectful management was one of the complaints levied against management at the Serrano Apartments on Columbia Pike two years ago. AHC received public and county scrutiny after ARLnow reported on complaints about poor living conditions at the complex.

Since then, AHC made changes to its operations, including getting new leadership and committing to third-party management at The Serrano, though advocates and some residents say issues persist, WAMU/DCist reported in April.

The nonprofit developer says it is working to address concerns at The Shelton.

“AHC’s mission is to put residents first. Thus, we value resident feedback, take resident concerns seriously, and do not tolerate poor customer service from anyone interacting with residents,” AHC President and CEO Paul Bernard said in a statement. “When we learn about issues, including disrespectful behavior, we act swiftly and follow up with our property management companies.”

AHC spokeswoman Jennifer Smith said the nonprofit developed and distributed a Resident Concern Guide for all residents at all Arlington communities to ensure residents know how to report — and, if needed — escalate issues.

She says the management company, Harbor Group is working extra hours and through staffing shortages to certify residents meet income eligibility requirements to live there. After this is done, Smith says, eligible residents can get back on year-long leases.

Harbor Group is also trying to make bills and late fees for rent easier to understand, she said. The company also scheduled a meeting with residents to discuss concerns and issues. This was planned before the Tenant-Landlord Commission meeting, Smith notes, and was attended by AHC staff and Bernard.

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Arlington County Board candidates call for more regulations, incentives and public education to mitigate flooding

By Jo DeVoe
1/3

This spring, Arlington County began buying up properties in the Waverly Hills area to combat flooding.

Already, despite some concerns about how the program would work, three residents have agreed to sell their homes. The county will tear them down and replant the land so water has a place to flow during large rain storms.

All seven Arlington County Board candidates — six of whom are vying for the support of the local Democratic party this primary — say the county needs to change its land-use policies and get more people on board with adding stormwater infrastructure in their backyards, in order to make neighborhoods more resilient to a predicted increase in flooding.

“The July 2018 and 2019 floods in particular really drove this home for us — we had some real life-safety issues pertaining to flooding,” Susan Cunningham said in a forum hosted by nonprofit advocacy group EcoAction Arlington last week.

“[It] highlighted that, not only because of climate change but really because of lack of long-range planning, we have very outdated stormwater management systems that we don’t have a budget to improve,” she continued. “We do have a lot of catch up to do.”

Since the floods, Arlington County has taken steps to manage stormwater beyond buying homes for flood relief.

Starting next year, Arlington will fund its stormwater management plan with a stormwater utility fee. The county will charge property owners a rate based on how much of their property is covered in hard surfaces, like roofs and driveways. (Currently, it is funded by a tax based on property assessments.)

Other changes include new regulations requiring single-family home construction projects to retain more water and some $90 million in bond referenda from 2020 and 2022 for stormwater projects.

Developers of single-family homes report higher construction costs due to retention regulations. Bonds and the new stormwater utility fee, meanwhile, could spell higher taxes for residents.

So, in this race, some candidates say the county should examine how its own policies encourage flooding before requiring more of residents.

Cunningham and Natalie Roy, both of whom have opposed the recently adopted Missing Middle zoning changes, that starts with reducing the allowable buildable area that homes can occupy on a lot.

“This is something that we should’ve done 10 years ago and definitely something we should have done before approving the misguided [Missing Middle] plan,” Roy said.

Perennial independent candidate Audrey Clement said she would call for the repeal of Missing Middle, linking the new policy to tree loss and thus, increased flooding.

She said she would also end a practice among developers to subdivide lots to circumvent state environmental ordinances preventing construction near protected land along Arlington streams called “resource protection areas,” or RPAs.

“It was by this sleight of hand that the county permitted a tear-down McMansion in a North Arlington RPA in 2018 but also the destruction of a 100-foot state champion redwood on the same lot,” she said.

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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…)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Aerial view looking west on Wilson Blvd, towards Courthouse, from Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington Library App Updated — “Beginning May 30, 2023, Arlington County residents and Library patrons can download an updated Arlington Public Library app from the Apple Appstore and Google Play Store. The popular Library app… provides streamlined access to library collections, introduces new account features, keeps track of multiple card holders, and delivers timely information about library programs, services, and location updates.” [Arlington County]

Va. Square Tip Jar Robbery — “At approximately 1:05 p.m. on May 28, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny. Upon arrival, it was determined the suspect entered a business and took the tip jar from the counter. An employee confronted the suspect, during which a struggle ensued. The suspect then threw the tip jar and allegedly pushed the employee before fleeing the scene. Responding officers located the suspect in the Virginia Square Metro station and took him into custody.” [ACPD]

Metro Reports Rise in Crime — “Crime this year in the Metro system, which includes buses, trains, parking lots and other Metro facilities, is far above where it was at this time last year, according to Metro Transit Police statistics. Through the end of April, there had been four homicides this year compared with none last year, and 85 aggravated assaults, compared with 63 in the first four months of 2022. Robberies are up 155 percent.” [Washington Post]

Another Local Gas Leak — From yesterday afternoon: “N. Culpeper Street in Halls Hill is being shut down between 19th and 17th streets due to a gas line struck at a house that’s under construction.” [Twitter]

Career Center Vote Approaches — “Arlington County Board members shortly are expected to take the procedural steps necessary to allow construction of the new Arlington Career Center building to begin… The request, which is likely to be acted on at the County Board’s June 10 meeting, also would provide permission to partially demolish the existing Career Center building” [Gazette Leader]

Va. Changes State Job Requirements — “Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today a landmark change in how state agencies will recruit and compete for talent by eliminating degree requirements, preferences or both for almost 90% of state classified positions. The new Commonwealth hiring practices will expand opportunities for Virginians and give equal consideration to all qualified job applicants.” [Press Release]

Crash at Shopping Center Near Fairlington — “A driver was hospitalized after she drove her car into Robcyns (3660 King Street) at the Bradlee Shopping Center. The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m., according to the dispatch. The driver was taken away on a stretcher and told ALXnow they accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.” [ALXnow]

More Canadian Smoke — From yesterday afternoon: “With a wildfire burning over far SE Canada, the east-northeast winds may bring some of this smoke into the Mid-Atlantic region by late this evening. So don’t be surprised if you smell smoke while outdoors!” [National Weather Service]

It’s Wednesday — Mostly sunny and warm, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 6 mph. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]

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…)

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