Latest / ARLnow Daily Update / ARLnow Daily Update: August 13, 2026

Transcript

ARLnow Daily Update: August 13, 2026 · ARLnow Daily Update

• 0:00
  It's Thursday, August 13th. This is the ARL Now Daily Update. Arlington's independent policing auditor now answers directly to the county board.
• 0:09
  Board members approved a new employment contract for Mumi Ibrahim this week after a closed session that ran nearly three hours.
• 0:17
  Ibrahim has held the job since 2022 and until now she reported to county manager Mark Schwartz, who oversees the police department.
• 0:25
  Board spokesperson David Barrera said she will now serve at the pleasure of the county board instead. That is closer to how the role was first envisioned.
• 0:34
  A state bill in 2022 would have allowed the change, but then Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed it. Legislation from Delegate Patrick Hope cleared the way this year.
• 0:44
  The driver responsible for a DUI crash that killed an Arlington 19-year-old is out of jail after less than two years.
• 0:52
  Brooks Baehr pleaded guilty to DUI involuntary manslaughter in the rollover crash that killed Washington-Liberty graduate Nicholas Rados in October of 2024.
• 1:02
  Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani Tafti confirmed his release on Tuesday.
• 1:07
  She said Virginia's good time rules mean that charge carries a 65% service rate, and credit for time served pushed his start date back to October of 2024.
• 1:18
  Baehr faces five years of supervised probation, an indefinite license suspension, and a five-and-a-half year suspended sentence if he violates those terms. If you vote in Arlington, the fall calendar is now set.
• 1:30
  Early voting for the November 3rd general election starts Friday, September 19th at the Bosman Government Center and runs through October 31st.
• 1:39
  Satellite voting opens Saturday, October 17th at the Walter Reed and Langston Brown community centers. October 23rd is the deadline both to register and to request a mail ballot.
• 1:51
  On the ballot, United States Senate, the eighth District, House seat, county board, school board, a special election for treasurer, three state constitutional amendments, and five local bond referendums.
• 2:06
  In Ballston, the apartment building going up next to the Harris Teeter is taking shape.
• 2:10
  Southeastern Development Associates Vice President Mary Sin told ARL Now the first of 197 units should be available in spring of 2027.
• 2:20
  It includes a public park of about six tenths of an acre and is the second of three buildings planned for the site.
• 2:27
  A final phase would replace the parking lot across the street with 227 apartments and ground floor retail. A driver is facing a DUI charge after a car fire in a Crystal City parking garage.
• 2:40
  Police say he struck a pillar just before 8:45 Wednesday night in the 2200 block of South Clark Street, and his vehicle caught fire.
• 2:49
  Crews put it out quickly with no impact to the apartments and businesses above, but smoke filled connected garages and set off more alarms, requiring hours of ventilation.
• 3:00
  The driver was hospitalized with injuries described as not life-threatening. Falls Church may take another run at redesigning its city flag.
• 3:08
  The historical commission recommended a change last year, arguing the historic church on the current seal has not been the center of city life for more than a century.
• 3:17
  That idea stalled, but members said at their July 30th meeting that council may be more open now. With a new city manager coming, they expect it to take time.
• 3:28
  Some of Arlington's youngest business owners set up shop at the Arlington County Fair this weekend.
• 3:34
  The nonprofit Kids Markets is hosting kid-run booths Saturday and Sunday in the upper field, with vendors ages five to 17 selling jewelry, crafts, crocheted goods, and fidget toys.
• 3:46
  They set their own prices and keep their profits. Saturday's 40 booths are full, but organizers said spots were still open for Sunday. And Yorktown football opens the season with a title to defend.
• 4:00
  The Patriots went seven and four last fall and swept the Liberty District at six and in Alec Hicks' first season as head coach.
• 4:07
  They return senior running back Jack Eziden, receiver Boston Izzo, and cornerback Nate Randles, with senior Jack McCurry taking over at quarterback.
• 4:17
  Yorktown opens at home Friday, August 28th against South Lakes, which beat them twice last year. This sponsored update is from Saranli Dental.
• 4:27
  Saranli Dental has opened a new office in the Clarendon Courthouse area, led by board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Samantha Saranli.
• 4:36
  The practice offers general and cosmetic dentistry, including cleanings, whitening, Invisalign, veneers, and dental implants. The office has free parking and is a short walk from the Courthouse Metro stop.
• 4:49
  Saranli Dental is welcoming new patients. That's all for today. Thank you for listening.