Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Aug 27, 2026

By ARLnow.com
Hero banner for ARL Now: 'Daily Debrief for Aug 27, 2026' over a city street with a pink-blossomed tree.

Good Thursday 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 27, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌦️ Friday’s forecast

After 2pm, expect a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, with patchy fog between 7am and 8am. Otherwise, it will be partly sunny with a high of about 87°F, and calm winds becoming north at around 6 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%. Friday night will have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, and then a slight chance of showers until 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of around 69°F and a light north wind, with a 20% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”
– Vince Lombardi

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Thanks for reading! 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

Controllers raised Marine One radio problems a week before DCA close call

By The Associated Press and ARLnow.com
Donald Trump walking on an airfield beside a uniformed officer, with a large helicopter in the background.
President Donald Trump, left, walks from Marine One to board Air Force One, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., en route to South Carolina. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Air traffic controllers and the pilots of President Donald Trump’s helicopter met to discuss radio problems one week before a jet was allowed to take off from Reagan National Airport just as Marine One lifted off from the White House.

Controllers had reported not receiving the standard three-minute warning call ahead of Marine One flights, and both sides agreed to an alternative in those instances — but that plan, to relay the radio call through someone else, was also unsuccessful on the day of the Aug. 4 incident, the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report shows. The report was released Thursday.

Go to Controllers raised Marine One radio problems a week before DCA close call Read more
Sponsored

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington: August 26, 2026

By Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose prices have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: The properties featured here may be listed with other brokerages– but that doesn’t limit your options. Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to represent you, arrange showings, analyze value, and negotiate the best possible terms on your behalf. We understand the neighborhoods, pricing trends and market timing — and we use that knowledge to your advantage. 

As of August 24, there are 172 detached homes, 57 townhouses and 260 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 33 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc. 

Weather

WEATHER ALERT: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com
Storm arriving in Ballston on June 11, 2026 (courtesy Leslie K.)

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Arlington, Falls Church and much of the D.C. area.

The watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Forecasters say strong storms with damaging winds, hail and even ”a couple” of tornadoes are possible tonight.

Go to WEATHER ALERT: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Arlington Read more
Event

2026 Ocean, River Cruises & Guided Tours Showcase (@ Germantown, MD)

Event poster for the Ocean, River & Guided Tours Travel Showcase on Sept. 19, with a register button and a QR code. Includes multiple travel-brand logos in a collage background.

BlackRock Center For The Arts

12901 Town Commons Dr

Germantown, Maryland 20874

Website Contact Social

Dreaming about your next vacation? Join Cruise Planners Beth Borrego and Rod Rodriguez for an inspiring day devoted to ocean and river cruises, guided tours, luxury travel and unforgettable destinations!

Meet representatives from AmaWaterways, Collette, Oceania Cruises and Premier World Discovery. Hear informative presentations, ask questions, explore exciting vacation possibilities and discover which travel experience may be the perfect fit for you.

Go to 2026 Ocean, River Cruises & Guided Tours Showcase (@ Germantown, MD) Read more
Sports

O’Connell coaches are optimistic about upcoming football season

By Dave Facinoli
Blue jersey ball carrier (#7) runs with the ball while a white-uniform defender (#50) pursues on a green turf field.
Nick Morris returns as a top running back for O'Connell (photo by Dave Facinoli)

Victories have been few and sometimes far between in recent seasons for the Bishop O’Connell Knights’ varsity football team.

The private-school squad hopes to change those results during the 2026 campaign, which begins with an afternoon non-conference home contest at 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, against the Washington-Liberty Generals in an all-Arlington showdown.

Go to O’Connell coaches are optimistic about upcoming football season Read more
Around Town

Good Trouble Roasters aiming to open next month in Cherrydale

By Dan Egitto
Outdoor cafe seating in front of a brick building, with black rectangular planters and multicolored metal chairs around black tables.
Good Trouble Roasters at 3800 Langston Blvd (courtesy of Mike Greiner)

A new cafe with in-house coffee roasting and imaginative decor is getting ready to open in Cherrydale next month.

Good Trouble Roasters is approaching the final stages of construction at 3800 Langston Blvd, owner Mike Greiner told ARLnow. Signage is up and the interior appears close to ready, but he said he’ll still need a few more weeks to open.

Go to Good Trouble Roasters aiming to open next month in Cherrydale Read more
Opinion

How Dolly Parton and her theme park touched the life of an ARLnow reporter

By Scott McCaffrey
Female country singer in a sparkling white outfit, strumming a glittery white guitar on stage and singing into a headset mic.
U.S. singer Dolly Parton performs at Glastonbury music festival, England, Sunday, June 29, 2014. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)

Mary Jo Jaynes, a classified-ad sales representative at the Northern Virginia Sun newspaper, was adamant she’d come in on her day off to answer the phones on a Saturday morning back in early November 1996.

The Sun that day was getting a phone call from Dolly Parton, and Mary Jo wanted to be the one to field it.

Go to How Dolly Parton and her theme park touched the life of an ARLnow reporter Read more
News

Falls Church leaders consider new tax on commercial property

By Scott McCaffrey
Two female panelists at a conference table with microphones; the woman on the left in a red top is speaking and gesturing, while the woman on the right in a beige blazer listens.
Mayor Letty Hardi and Council member Laura Downs (screenshot via City of Falls Church)

Falls Church City Council members have begun cautious discussions about a possible new tax on commercial and industrial property owners.

Under state law, the city has the ability to levy a surcharge of up to 12.5 cents per $100 assessed valuation on non-residential properties, so long as the funding supports new transportation initiatives.

Go to Falls Church leaders consider new tax on commercial property Read more
News

Impacts of N. Va.’s data center boom could reach Arlington, leaders say

By Scott McCaffrey
FILE - Cars drive past data centers that house computer servers and hardware required to support modern internet use, such as artificial intelligence, in Ashburn, Virginia, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

The proliferation of data centers in Northern Virginia could end up affecting even urbanized communities like Arlington, officials said at a recent forum.

“We are all connected,” County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said of regional data-center impacts at the 11th annual Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit.

Go to Impacts of N. Va.’s data center boom could reach Arlington, leaders say Read more
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