Arlington County’s wrecking ball is headed for Key Bridge Marriott - Arlington news - NewsLocker (2024)

Arlington County in Virginia now intends to raze the Key Bridge Marriott building if the property’s current owner does not address issues outlined in a new Notice of Violation issued May 17.(WTOP/Jeff Clabaugh)Arlington County in Virginia now intends to raze the Key Bridge Marriott building if the property’s current owner does not address issues outlined in a new Notice of Violation issued May 17.(WTOP/Jeff Clabaugh)The Key Bridge Marriott, vacant since July 2021, has become home to

‘Egregious behavior’: Va. work crew threw bear carcass off overpass, near trail, animal rights group says

A black bear was found in a plastic bag in Arlington, Virginia. (Courtesy Sonia Nayar)A black bear was found in a plastic bag in Arlington, Virginia. (Courtesy Sonia Nayar)A work crew in Virginia illegally threw the body of a black bear that had been hit by a car off an overpass, which led to a woman’s gruesome discovery of the carcass Friday, according to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
A company contracted by the Virginia Department of Transportation has taken responsibility for

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jun 3, 2024

Good Monday 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 — Jun 3, 2024.9:45 am: Gun buyback planned this weekend for Arlington, Falls Church residents |Comments
10:45 am: ARLnow to discontinue AI-generated email newsletter |Comments
11:30 am: Weeks-long lane closure on bridge north of Courthouse starts today |Comments
12:30 pm: Axe-wielding suspe

JUST IN: Dead bear was struck by driver before being dumped in Arlington, AWLA says

Screenshot of original Nextdoor post about dead bear found in bag (courtesy anonymous)
Authorities believe they know how a bear found in a trash bagin Arlington died.
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington just released a statement (below) saying the bear was struck by a driver on I-66 in Prince William County, then transported to Arlington and illegally dumped.
The driver is reportedly a VDOT contractor.
At approximately 3:30 PM this afternoon, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA

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APS to expand green school bus fleet via $1 million in federal funding

Arlington County school buses (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington Public Schools is set to add several new all-electric school buses to its fleet next year.
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Arlington is among 18 Virginia school districts awarded the 2023 Clean School Bus rebate to purchase five new all-electric (or low-emission) buses.
Funded through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the rebate program is intended to help school districts across the co

Most and least expensive homes sold in Arlington (May 2024)

4509 39th Street N.
Here in Arlington, real estate is a spectator sport. Let’s take a look at some of themost and least expensive single-family homes sold last month (May 2024).
Most expensive single-family homes sold4509 39th St N — Golf Club Manor — $3,350,000 (6 beds | 6.5 baths | 7,232 sq. ft.)
2628 N Upland St — Donaldson Run — $3,250,000 (7 beds | 9 baths | 8,159 sq. ft.)
3612 N Rockingham St — Williamsburg — $3,100,000 (6 beds | 9 baths | 6,

New Thai restaurant coming to Williamsburg neighborhood

The former Williamsburg Deli will be the site of the new Singha Thai restaurant (via Google Maps)
A Thai restaurant is coming to Williamsburg Shopping Center.
Singha Thai will take over the 639-square-foot space of the former Williamsburg Deli, property manager Kalis Development Corporation announced.
The deli at 2900 N. Sycamore Street had been listed for sale as of last summer.
This is the second restaurant endeavor for the new owners, who are also behind Kin Japanese and Thai Eatery in German

Axe-wielding suspect arrested after Ballston chase

A man armed with an axe tried to rob a business in Ballston before leading police on a foot chase, according to ACPD.
The incident started just before 5:30 p.m. Saturday on the 4200 block of Fairfax Drive, at the Cigars Unlimited shop. The man allegedly shattered a display case before fleeing the store.
Officers located the suspect nearby and gave chase, taking him into custody on the 900 block of N. Stuart Street, at the Ballston Exchange office complex, about 20 minutes after the initial robb

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Weeks-long lane closure on bridge north of Courthouse starts today

One lane on the 21st Street N. bridge over I-66 is closing for two months starting today (Monday).
Until early August, only northbound traffic may pass over the bridge near the MOM’s Organic Market north of Courthouse. Then the opposite lane will closed as construction crews complete deck work on the other side, the Virginia Department of Transportation said in a press release.
Southbound 21st Street traffic is now being detoured via N. Scott Street, Langston Blvd and N. Veitch Street. Pe

ARLnow to discontinue AI-generated email newsletter

Screenshot of ARLnow’s AI generated email
ARLnow is discontinuing its AI-generated morning newsletter, though we’re not ruling out an eventual return.
We announced the email just over a year ago, with the twin goals of testing artificial intelligence capabilities and serving readers who wanted a morning email with more of a “voice.”
The morning email was the “Today Show” to the “Nightly News” of our popular afternoon email, which consists mostly of

Gun buyback planned this weekend for Arlington, Falls Church residents

A handgun (Photo by Thomas Tucker on Unsplash)
Local residents will be able to receive upwards of $250 in gift cards as part of a gun buyback this weekend.
The drive-thru event, held at Arlington Assembly of God church at 4501 N. Pershing Drive in Buckingham, will run from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, June 8.
Open to adult residents of Arlington County and Falls Church, relinquished weapons will be destroyed after receipt, according to the county.
“Assault-style weapons” will comma

‘What are the chances that you’re running into a bear in a bag?’: Arlington woman speaks on gruesome discovery

Residents of a quiet neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia, were both horrified and perplexed after a dead black bear was found decomposing in a plastic bag along a local walking trail Friday night.
Arlington resident Sonia Nayar told WTOP that around 4:30 Friday afternoon, she was taking her 12-year-old son and their dog for a walk on the trail near North Adams Street and Spout Run Parkway — her dog was the first to sniff out something wrong.
“My dog went directly to the bag,” s

Which roads in Arlington are closed Sunday for the Clarendon Cup Cycling Classic?

The 2024 Clarendon Cup Cycling Classic is taking place in Arlington, Virginia, on Sunday and area roadways will be closed to accommodate the annual event.
The following roads will be closed to vehicle traffic in Clarendon and Crystal City until around 4 p.m., according to Arlington County police:Clarendon Boulevard, from Washington Boulevard to N. Edgewood Street
N. Fillmore Street, from Clarendon Boulevard to Wilson Boulevard — access to Clarendon Boulevard from N. Fillmore Street isn&rsq

‘All clear’ given after Pentagon City Mall evacuated for ‘suspicious vehicle’ investigation

A file photo of an Arlington County police car. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)A file photo of an Arlington County police car. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)Arlington County, Virginia, officials evacuated the Pentagon City Mall Saturday evening to investigate reports of a suspicious vehicle, according to county police, fire and EMS officials.
According to Arlington County Police spokesperson Ashley Savage, the incident started around 7:30 p.m. at a shopping center garage in the 800 block of Army Navy Drive. Police eva

Pentagon City Mall evcauted following ‘suspicious vehicle’ report, police say

A file photo of an Arlington County police car. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)A file photo of an Arlington County police car. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)Arlington County, Virginia, police have evacuated the Pentagon City Mall as they investigate reports of a suspicious vehicle in the area.
According to spokesperson Ashley Savage, the incident started around 7:30 p.m. at the shopping center. Shortly after police got the report, the mall was evacuated.
Anyone planning to travel should avoid the area while the invest

UPDATED: Mall evacuated due to suspicious vehicle in parking garage

The Pentagon City mall was evacuated Saturday evening due to a suspicious vehicle in an adjacent parking garage.
Arlington County police and the bomb squad investigated over the course of several hours. Photos and video from the scene showed a large emergency response and authorities operating an unmanned vehicle to inspect the car.
Authorities gave the all clear around 11 p.m.
“Police and fire personnel will be clearing the scene,” ACPD said on social media.CONTINUED: ACPD and @Arl

DEVELOPING: Mall evacuated due to suspicious vehicle in parking garage

Police at Pentagon City mall for suspicious vehicle (via traffic camera)
The Pentagon City mall was evacuated Saturday evening due to a suspicious vehicle in an adjacent parking garage.
Arlington County police and the bomb squad are on scene investigating.
“Expect continued police activity in the area,” ACPD said on social media.POLICE ACTIVITY: ACPD is investigating a suspicious vehicle parked inside a parking garage in the 800 block of Army Navy Drive. Access to the garage is restr

Dead black bear in large plastic bag found in Arlington Co.

A dead black bear was found in a large plastic bag near a walking trail in Arlington County, Virginia, on Friday night, according to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
According to an announcement from the AWLA, their animal control was dispatched around 8:30 p.m. “to the area of Spout Run Parkway near North Adams Street” in Arlington for a suspected dead dog in a plastic bag.
Upon arriving, a deputy identified the animal in the bag as an adult black bear. The bear was examined

Pentagon City Mall evacuated, police say

A file photo of an Arlington County police car. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)A file photo of an Arlington County police car. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)Arlington County, Virginia, police have evacuated the Pentagon City Mall as they investigate reports of a suspicious vehicle in the area.
According to spokesperson Ashley Savage, the incident started around 7:30 p.m. at the shopping center. Shortly after police got the report, the mall was evacuated.
Anyone planning to travel should avoid the area while the invest

BREAKING: Dead bear found in plastic bag in Arlington

Map showing the area where the dead bear was discovered (via Google Maps)
Local and state authorities are investigating after a dead bear was found in a plastic bag in Arlington.
A Nextdoor user posted about the grisly discovery Friday, before authorities were called.
“I was walking with my son and dog on a trail near our home in Arlington,” in the North Highlands neighborhood west of Rosslyn, the user said. “My dog got close to a big black trash bag and I noticed a bad smell a

Prince George’s Co. man ‘forgot’ he had loaded gun at Reagan National Airport, officials say

A Capitol Heights, Maryland, man is facing a federal fine after Transportation Security Administration officers at Reagan National Airport said they found a loaded gun in his carry-on Thursday.
The TSA said the man told agents he “forgot” that he had a loaded gun with him.
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE: TSA officers at Reagan National Airport said they intercepted this loaded gun a security checkpoint on May 30. (Courtesy TSA)
“Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all t

After 2nd near miss collision at Reagan National, aviation expert says not enough was done to prevent this

Wednesday’s near ground collision of an American Airlines jet and a King Air plane at Reagan National Airport, the second close call in a month, is once again raising questions about what aviation safety experts are saying is a severe shortage of air traffic controllers nationwide.
The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation into this latest incident, when an American Airlines plane was on its takeoff and nearly collided with a King Air plane that was landing on a short

ARLnow Daily Debrief for May 31, 2024

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 — May 31, 2024.9:55 am: NEW: Arlington County declares Key Bridge Marriott a ‘public nuisance’ |Comments
11:00 am: Peterson maintains lead in local endorsem*nts as Democratic primary approaches |Comments
11:40 am: DEVELOPING: Victim wounded by knife-wielding suspect outside of m

Key Bridge Marriott is headed for Arlington County’s wrecking ball

Arlington County in Virginia now intends to raze the Key Bridge Marriott building if the property’s current owner does not address issues outlined in a new Notice of Violation issued May 17.(WTOP/Jeff Clabaugh)Arlington County in Virginia now intends to raze the Key Bridge Marriott building if the property’s current owner does not address issues outlined in a new Notice of Violation issued May 17.(WTOP/Jeff Clabaugh)The Key Bridge Marriott, vacant since July 2021, has become home to

Arlington woman warning others after being targeted by realistic-sounding fraud

A woman on her phone (Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash)
Her daughter had been in a car accident, and the situation was much worse than a simple fender bender. At least, that’s what the mother was led to believe.
“All I knew is that she was potentially in a serious amount of trouble,” the mother said.
The Arlington woman, who requested anonymity, nearly fell victim to an impostor scheme. No money exchanged hands, but the emotional impact was devastating, she said.
It started wit

UPDATED: Victim wounded by knife-wielding suspect outside of middle school

Arlington County police are investigating a robbery and stabbing outside of Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
The incident happened around 11 a.m. Friday behind the school at 125 S. Old Glebe Road.
Initial reports suggest that an approximately 25-year-old man slashed or stabbed a male victim in the abdomen with a pocket knife, before fleeing in the direction of Route 50 with stolen cash and jewelry.
The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and, according to police, is being taken to a loc

DEVELOPING: Victim wounded by knife-wielding suspect outside of middle school

Police cars (file photo)
Arlington County police are investigating a robbery and possible stabbing outside of Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
The incident happened around 11 a.m. behind the school at 125 S. Old Glebe Road.
Initial reports suggest that an approximately 25-year-old man slashed or stabbed a male victim in the abdomen with a pocket knife, before fleeing in the direction of Route 50 with stolen cash and jewelry.
The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and, according to poli

Peterson maintains lead in local endorsem*nts as Democratic primary approaches

Election Day in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
With the Democratic primary vote weeks away, one Arlington County Board candidate maintains a clear lead in endorsem*nts from local officials.
Dozens of current and former county leaders have thrown their hat in the ring for Tenley Peterson ahead of the June 18 vote. Additions in recent weeks include outgoing County Board Chair Libby Garvey, former Arlington Sheriff Beth Arthur, former County Board member Christian Dorsey and outgoing Arlin

NEW: Arlington County declares Key Bridge Marriott a ‘public nuisance’

Arlington County is taking steps to unilaterally secure and demolish the vacant Key Bridge Marriott in Rosslyn.
The county announced Friday morning that it has declared the property at 1401 Langston Blvd a “public nuisance… due to its unsafe and unsanitary conditions.”
“Arlington County has assumed the responsibility to immediately secure the building against entry,” the county said in a press release. “If the timelines specified in the Notice of Violations a

‘Another very scary moment’: DC-area lawmakers react to another close call at Reagan National Airport

On Wednesday morning, an American Airlines flight bound for Boston from Reagan National Airport in Arlington had to abort its takeoff to avoid colliding with another plane.
The Federal Aviation Administration said American Airlines Flight 2134’s takeoff was aborted by air traffic controllers because another aircraft had been cleared to land on an intersecting runway. The FAA is investigating the incident.
As WTOP’s news partner 7News reported, it is estimated the two planes came with