Around Town

Good Friday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 28, 2026.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Police investigating after woman found dead near Rosslyn Metro entrance (19156 views)
  2. UPDATED: Firefighters battle apartment blaze in Ballston (19144 views)
  3. Arlington’s spotted lanternflies may reach a turning point in 2028 or 2029 (17661 views)
  4. Solace Outpost brewpub taking over El Rey taqueria in Ballston (12673 views)
  5. New pizzeria with jumbo slice and Italian food opens in Cherrydale (11578 views)
  6. Another person was struck by a car at a Wilson Blvd intersection over the weekend (11485 views)
  7. Fights caught on camera after spilling outside of Arlington bars (10145 views)
  8. ZIP code in Westover area climbs to the top of Arlington’s wealth rankings (8213 views)
  9. School Board considers three new categories for excused absences (7791 views)
  10. Arlington announces location of 10 new speed cameras in school zones (6562 views)
  11. Impacts of N. Va.’s data center boom could reach Arlington, leaders say (6093 views)
  12. WEATHER ALERT: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Arlington (5685 views)
  13. Virginians can now present ID using Apple Wallet (5073 views)
  14. Il Radicchio completes first orders at new Clarendon location (4941 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

☀️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect sunny weather with a high of about 85°F and a northeast wind at 6 mph. On Saturday night, clouds will increase, and temperatures will drop to around 68°F, with a southeast wind of 5 mph that will become calm by evening. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
– Charles Darwin

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to discuss it on our new Disqus-powered community message board. 👋


News

A man who pleaded guilty to a shooting at a Ballston apartment building in 2025 was arrested late last month in a D.C. homicide.

Malachi Rawlings, 23, faces a charge of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a woman in Southeast D.C. earlier this year, the Metropolitan Police Department announced on Aug. 2.


Sponsored

For many Virginia homeowners, the family home is more than an asset. It’s where children grew up, memories were made, and decades of life unfolded. Placing your home in a trust can help protect that legacy while making things easier for your loved ones in the future.

A properly structured and funded trust may help avoid probate, provide continuity if you become unable to manage your affairs, and give your family clear instructions about what should happen to the home. Here’s what Virginia homeowners need to know.

Why Put Your Home in a Trust?

A trust can provide several important benefits:

  • Fewer delays for your loved ones. A properly funded trust lets your successor trustee take control without going through the probate court, which means no waiting for a judge to authorize basic tasks like paying the mortgage or selling the home.
  • Clear direction for blended or complex families. If you’ve remarried, have stepchildren, or want to keep inherited property in the bloodline, a trust makes your wishes legally enforceable without relying on someone else’s memory or promises.
  • Private handling of family matters. Unlike a will, which becomes public once filed, a trust remains confidential. That means no one outside the family needs to know who inherits the home or under what conditions.
  • Continuity during incapacity. If you become unable to manage your affairs, your trustee can step in immediately to handle household needs, sell the property if necessary, or manage rental income without delay.
  • Flexibility in how and when assets are passed down. You can keep the house in trust for a minor child, delay distribution until a certain age, or use the home for a surviving spouse with other terms in place after they pass.

A trust isn’t necessarily the right choice for every homeowner, however. The appropriate plan depends on your family, finances, property, and long-term goals.

Step 1: Choose the Right Trust

Virginia homeowners may use several types of trusts, including revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, testamentary trusts, special needs trusts, and charitable trusts.

For many homeowners who want to continue controlling and living in their home while simplifying the transfer after death, a revocable living trust may be appropriate. Other situations may call for a different type of trust.

The type of trust you choose can affect control of the property, taxes, creditor protection, and how the property is distributed.

Step 2: Choose the Right Trustee

The trustee manages the property and follows the instructions in the trust. With a revocable living trust, you can typically serve as your own trustee during your lifetime and name a successor trustee to take over if you become incapacitated or die.

Choose someone you trust to handle financial and property matters responsibly. Depending on your circumstances, that could be a family member, friend, or professional trustee.

Step 3: Create the Trust Document

The trust document identifies the person creating the trust, the trustee, the beneficiaries, and the rules governing the trust.

Because your trust should reflect your specific circumstances and comply with Virginia law, working with an experienced Virginia trust attorney can help avoid vague language, missing provisions, or other problems that could create confusion later.

(more…)


News

All 11 candidates running for local office in Arlington have agreed to appear at the Arlington County Civic Federation’s annual candidate forum.

The event will be held on Tuesday, Sep. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Hazel Conference Center at VHC Health (Virginia Hospital Center). It will also be livestreamed and archived for later viewing.


News

A man who says he was badly injured during an immigration arrest on Columbia Pike is demanding a criminal investigation.

Protesters gathered outside the Arlington County Justice Center this morning (Friday) in support of Jose Mejia Hernandez, who says he suffered a brain bleed and other injuries after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers reportedly chased him and shot him with a Taser earlier this month.


Opinion

A reliable auto mechanic is a must-have for any car owner, and Arlington has plenty of options to choose from.

Here are the nominees for Best Mechanic in Arlington as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards. Whether in need of a regular check-up or an emergency repair, these are the mechanics Arlington residents turn to for help.

Did we miss your go-to mechanic? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for Best Orthodontist in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Chinese Restaurant in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. TNR Cafe
  2. Peter Chang
  3. Tiger Dumplings

Sports

As the team’s third new head coach in five seasons, Brian Slay has set realistic expectations for the Wakefield Warriors in the upcoming high-school football campaign.

Slay inherits a squad that won few games the previous four years, and victories could be a challenge again this fall with a young, sophomore-heavy unit.


News

Removing overly burdensome business regulations was one theme of a recent gathering of Northern Virginia leaders.

“We need to not get in the way,” County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said at the 11th annual Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit.


News

Dominion Hills and Boulevard Manor residents may get an upgrade to their water tower sooner rather than later.

Fairfax County supervisors have agreed to fast-track consideration of a new water tower serving a multi-jurisdictional region in the broader Seven Corners area, which also includes parts of the city of Falls Church.


News
Moon over Ballston (courtesy Leslie Koch)

Eads Street Burglary Arrest — A man was arrested after allegedly assaulting people in a residential building lobby in the 1900 block of S. Eads Street early Wednesday, then forcing his way into a neighboring building and assaulting a victim again, police said. He faces burglary, assault and battery and destruction of property charges. [ACPD]

Courthouse Robbery Reported — A man was robbed in the 2100 block of Clarendon Blvd early Tuesday. Police say a suspect approached, struck the victim and stole an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing. Officers canvassed the area without success and the investigation is ongoing. [ACPD]

Spy Case Guilty Plea — A former Defense Intelligence Agency cybersecurity specialist who monitored insider threats pleaded guilty Wednesday to an Espionage Act charge, admitting he tried to trade classified records for citizenship in a friendly foreign country. Nathan Laatsch was arrested last year after an FBI sting in an Arlington park. [ALXnow, Washington Post]

Lottery Impostor Scam Warning — The Virginia Lottery says people have been offered money in exchange for personal information by someone claiming a connection to the agency. It says it never pays for personal data or asks for photos, driver’s licenses or banking details, and is working with law enforcement. [Press Release]

Renters Warned of ICE Activity — Housing Alexandria told residents of an Arlandria property to stay inside and not open building doors to strangers after ICE activity in the area. ICE said it arrested 1,328 people across Virginia and Maryland this month, including at least four in Alexandria. [ALXnow]

Hispanic Enrollment Slips — Fewer Hispanic students are enrolling in Virginia and Maryland public schools amid stepped-up immigration enforcement. Maryland Department of Education data shows statewide Hispanic K-12 enrollment down 0.6% after four years of post-pandemic growth, with Montgomery County down more than 3%, or over 1,800 students, compared to 2021. [Fox 5]

Governor Rips ICE Tactics — Spanberger criticized federal immigration enforcement after a two-week operation that DHS said netted more than 1,300 arrests in Virginia and Maryland, roughly 400 of them people with a criminal conviction or charge. She said agents’ “actions are sowing fear and degrading a lot of trust.” [WUSA 9]

Governor Vows Change After Escape — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has promised changes after a man committed to a Fairfax County mental health facility — found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2019 killing — used a weekend pass to board a one-way flight to Tajikistan from Dulles in July. [Fox 5]

Two-Way Express Lanes Eyed — VDOT is studying whether to run the I-95 express lanes in both directions at all times, instead of the current inbound-morning, outbound-afternoon setup, and to extend them south past Fredericksburg. Fairfax County Board Chair Jeff McKay (D) has long called the one-way design a problem. [NBC 4]

VRE Weighs Event Trains — VRE is weighing more weekend service for festivals and sporting events after running Sunday trains for the Freedom 250 IndyCar race in D.C., which drew more than 550 riders. CEO Katie Choe said the agency is in talks with Amtrak and CSX about trains for events like next year’s NFL draft. [WBJ]

Bring Your Own Power — PJM, the regional grid operator serving Virginia, has asked federal regulators to require new data centers and other large customers to supply their own power to the grid. Those that don’t would be first in line to move onto backup generators or cut usage when the grid is strained. [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Friday — Patchy fog and a slight chance of showers before 8 a.m., then partly sunny with a high near 88 and a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Northwest winds will be light, at 1–5 mph. Expect mostly cloudy skies overnight with a low around 70. [NWS]

New Legal Notice — Certificate request for passenger/NEMT transport; protests due Sept. 15. [Public Notices]

Want to keep the discussion going? Try our new community forum.