News

Future neighbors of a planned behavioral-health and rehabilitation compound on S. Carlin Springs Road are pressing for more details about management and oversight.

Representatives of VHC Health and Lifepoint Behavioral Health met with local residents during a July 16 meeting convened by the Glencarlyn Civic Association to discuss the proposed 146-bed facility.


Around Town

A musical comedy duo featuring an Arlington native appeared on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” last week to talk about a viral music video.

Yorktown High School graduate Annie Nardolilli and Alexandria native Louisa Hall have been recording lighthearted hits under the name Griefcat since 2019. Appearing on television last Monday afternoon, they discussed their song “I Already Took Off My Bra,” which came out last year and has over 50 million views across platforms.


Around Town

Ayers Variety & Hardware officially closed its doors yesterday (Sunday), but not before customers gave a fond sendoff to the 78-year-old Westover hardware store.

The store was busy with shoppers yesterday morning, making final purchases at the business that has stood in The Westover Shopping Center since 1948. Two posters with notes and signatures from customers were still hanging in the windows this morning.


Announcement

Two Arlington residents delivered standout performances for Falls Church-based NOVA Fencing & Archery Club at the 2026 USA Fencing National Championships.

Solomon Brosnan, a student at Washington-Liberty High School, captured the Division III National Championship in Men’s Épée. Brosnan began fencing overseas before joining NOVA, where his game rose to a national level.


News

A recent project review by Arlington County planning staff flagged numerous practical concerns about plans to build a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery.

Noting incomplete and sometimes inconsistent information in an environmental assessment by the National Park Service, county staff questioned likely impacts on roads, pedestrians, historic views and air traffic if the Trump administration builds a 250-foot arch in the middle of the Memorial Circle roundabout.


News

County Board members are asking for residents’ patience as authorities continue an investigation into a fatal police shooting on Columbia Pike in May.

Board Chair Matt de Ferranti responded to a petition drive launched for information and dialogue around the death of 33-year-old Shawn Valn, who was shot and killed by Arlington officers after barricading himself in a 7-Eleven store at 3602 Columbia Pike.


News

County staff say work is ongoing to make the government’s “report-a-problem” online portal more user-friendly and responsive.

“I hear your frustration,” said Nicole Jackson, a business systems analyst for the county government, during the July 8 joint meeting of the county’s Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC).


News
Reagan National Airport as seen from Gravelly Point, amid wildfire haze (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

Deep Throat Garage to Be Razed — The Arlington County Board on Saturday unanimously approved two major redevelopments totaling more than 1,400 apartments. Monday Properties will build two 27-story towers with 831 units at 1401 Wilson Blvd and 1400 Key Blvd in Rosslyn, replacing the parking garage where Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward met Watergate informant Deep Throat. Separately, JM Zell Partners will convert the former TSA headquarters in Pentagon City into 607 apartments. [WBJ]

Inn of Rosslyn Sold — D.C.-based Monument Realty has closed on its $3.6 million purchase of the shuttered Inn of Rosslyn (1601 Fairfax Drive), clearing the way for an eight-story, 142-unit apartment building the County Board approved in January over staff’s objections. The 38-room hotel, built in 1957, will be demolished. Construction expected is expected by spring 2027. [WBJ]

Ballston Westin Sells — The 338-room Westin Arlington Gateway hotel (801 N. Glebe Road) has sold for $92.7 million, according to county deed records. An affiliate of Kentucky-based Columbia Sussex Corp. bought the Ballston property from Rockpoint Group and Highgate Holdings. It marks the company’s first hotel in Virginia and the property’s first sale in a decade. [WBJ]

Crystal City Hit-and-Run — Dave Statter shared video of a hit-and-run crash on northbound I-395 near Crystal City, in which “an aggressive driver took out a car getting on the highway from Route 1 and then kept going.” The striking vehicle was last seen heading toward the airport via the southbound GW Parkway ramp. There was no indication of serious injury. [Dave Statter/X]

Top Digital County — Arlington has again ranked among the nation’s top digital counties, taking the No. 2 spot in its population category in the 2026 Digital Counties Survey from the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties. It’s the 15th time Arlington has placed in the top three, with seven first-place finishes. [Arlington County]

Flyover This Morning — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an Aircraft Flyover in the NCR over Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, July 20, at 11:40AM.”

Federal Jobs Hit 30-Year Low — Federal employment across the Washington region has fallen to its lowest level in three decades, dropping from nearly 376,000 at the start of President Trump’s second term to 312,500 in May, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Axios reports the slump is a primary reason the District is in a mild recession. [Axios]

Spanberger’s First Six Months — Reflecting on her first half-year as Virginia’s first female governor, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) said the biggest lesson has been that “you can never actually overcommunicate.” A new VCU Wilder School poll found 44% of registered voters approve of her performance, while 47% disapprove. [Virginia Scope]

Historic Smoke Outbreak — Friday brought one of the worst smoke-driven air quality events in modern D.C.-area history, rivaling the historic outbreaks of 2023. Reagan National Airport logged 42 consecutive hours of smoke through 4 p.m. Saturday — the longest streak on record, surpassing a 31-hour mark set in November 1952. The wildfire smoke drifted in from western Ontario and northern Minnesota. [Capital Weather]

It’s Monday — Mostly sunny with a high near 85 and a light east wind. A chance of showers and thunderstorms moves in overnight after 2 a.m., with a low around 71. [NWS]

New Legal Notice — A hotel restaurant seeks on/off-premises wine, beer, mixed-beverage ABC license. [Public Notices]

Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.


News

After a challenging 2025 and an up and down start to 2026, airport officials are hopeful for sustained passenger strength at Reagan National Airport through autumn.

“We anticipate the [summer] months to be strong,” said Paul Bobson, vice president for airline business development at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).


Weather

Update at 2:15 p.m. — On top of everything else, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was just issued for the region, through 9 p.m. Severe storms packing damaging winds are possible later today (Saturday), with some Severe Thunderstorm Warnings already in effect west of the immediate D.C. area.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia until 9 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/vJPO2kTTQE


Announcement

Two Arlington residents delivered standout performances for Falls Church-based NOVA Fencing & Archery Club at the 2026 USA Fencing National Championships.

Solomon Brosnan, a student at Washington-Liberty High School, captured the Division III National Championship in Men’s Épée. Brosnan began fencing overseas before joining NOVA, where his game rose to a national level.