Hearing on Midair Crash Details Ignored Warnings — “National Transportation Safety Board members were deeply troubled Tuesday over years of ignored warnings about helicopter traffic dangers and other problems, long before an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk collided a year ago, killing 67 people near Washington, D.C. … Throughout the daylong hearing, investigators emphasized the history of missed opportunities to address the risks.” [AP, ARLnow]
E. Coli Surges in Potomac After Sewage Leak — “Tests of water samples from the Potomac River are reporting dangerously high levels of E. coli following a rupture in a sewage pipe upstream from Arlington … The spill does not impact drinking water, which is a separate system, DC Water said.” [ARLnow]
Firefighters Extinguish Bedroom Fire — “Engine 206 and surrounding companies arrived with smoke showing from a garden apartment on Merton Court this evening. Crews located and extinguished a bedroom fire. Our Fire Marshall’s are working to determine a cause.” [IAFF Local 2141]
Data Center Bills Advancing — “Several of the bills are aimed at helping localities manage the industry as well as temper community concerns over environmental impacts, sound, and viewshed issues around data centers. One bill looks to place data centers near manufacturers and warehouses – far away from commercial and residential communities. [Virginia Mercury]
Dulles Reports Record-Setting Year —”The 2024 passenger count at Dulles was 27,254,087, up 8.4% from 2023 and the highest since its opening in 1962. The airport is benefiting from United Airlines expanding service, as well as by the arrival of new domestic and international carriers.” [FFXnow]
Open Enrollment Lags — “With the deadline to register for health insurance coverage through the state’s marketplace this year fast approaching, thousands fewer Virginians have signed up so far this cycle … Preliminary estimates show a roughly 20,000-household drop in enrollment in 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to a spokesperson with Virginia’s Health Benefit Exchange.” [VPM]
Residents Voice Snow Concerns — “Northern Virginia Bureau reporter Drew Wilder reports city leaders admit difficulties with snow and ice removal but say they are working on it.” [NBC4 Washington]
It’s Wednesday — Expect increasing clouds and a high near 22, along with wind chill values dropping to -1, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 5 to 9 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to a low of 6 and wind chill values as low as -3. A calm wind will turn into a northwest breeze around 6 mph after midnight. [NWS]
