News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jul 17, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow daily debrief banner: sunrise over a misty field with the date Jul 17, 2026.

Good Friday evening, Alexandria. 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 — Jul 17, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Police: Accidental shooting in Old Town sends man to hospital Friday morning (1227 views)
  2. JUST IN: Alexandria under Code Purple Air Quality Alert due to wildfire smoke (1093 views)
  3. JUST IN: Jury indicts Lorton man after pedestrian killed crossing street in Old Town North (666 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Alexandria man arrested for allegedly destroying multiple license plate readers (8337 views)
  2. Alexandria Soccer Association families among victims of soccer coach’s alleged Italy summer camp scam (5882 views)
  3. Fired Alexandria sheriff’s deputy allegedly agreed to smuggle drugs to inmate for $500 (5817 views)
  4. BREAKING: Man shot to death on Holmes Run Parkway in Alexandria (4337 views)
  5. Chicago-style hot dog spot to hold grand opening above Del Ray Public House on July 18 (3803 views)
  6. JUST IN: Dog may have accidentally started fire at West End home, owner says (3471 views)
  7. Alexandria man faces felony hit-and-run charge in Fairlington crash (2554 views)
  8. UPDATE: APD identifies victim of Wednesday night fatal shooting on Holmes Run Parkway (2475 views)
  9. Maryland man allegedly tried to pass forged $11K check at Del Ray bank, police say (2379 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

⛈️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with potential smoke before noon and a high around 94, feeling like 103 due to the heat index. Winds will be from the south at 6 to 11 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. The chance of precipitation is 70%, with rainfall between a tenth and a quarter inch, possibly higher in storms. Saturday night, showers, and thunderstorms are likely before 2am, with cloudy skies and a low near 74. The southwest wind will be around 7 mph, with a 60% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
– George Eliot

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

Around Town

What’s on in Alexandria this weekend: Old Town Pub Crawl, Stewart Copeland show

By Emily Leayman
Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant and Bar at 112 King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Old Town Pub Crawl, a sold-out show with The Police drummer Stewart Copeland, historical tours and other events will keep Alexandrians busy throughout the weekend.

After a Code Purple Air Quality Alert on Friday, conditions should somewhat improve for outdoor events this weekend. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is predicting a moderate air quality index on Saturday.

Go to What’s on in Alexandria this weekend: Old Town Pub Crawl, Stewart Copeland show Read more
Sponsored

Listing of the Day: 624 South Saint Asaph Street

By ALXnow.com
Two-story gray-blue townhouse with black shutters, white trim, and an American flag at the front door amid neatly trimmed shrubs on a brick sidewalk
624 South Saint Asaph Street

Noteworthy: Historic Old Town home with two outdoor spaces and one off-street parking space

Circa 1875, this semi-detached townhouse offers gracious rooms for entertaining and everyday living, a private outdoor retreat, and one off-street parking space. The stylish living room features parquet flooring, crown molding, plantation shutters, and a gas fireplace with a marble surround and ventless gas logs. The formal dining room offers parquet flooring and crown molding, while a striking chandelier adds warmth and elegance, creating an inviting atmosphere for entertaining.

Go to Listing of the Day: 624 South Saint Asaph Street Read more
News

JUST IN: Jury indicts Lorton man after pedestrian killed crossing street in Old Town North

By James Cullum
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Nearly three months after a woman was killed crossing the street in Old Town North, a Lorton man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to yield to a pedestrian causing death.

Tekaligne Shirko, 46, surrendered to the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office after a grand jury indictment on July 15, according to a release from the Alexandria Police Department.

Go to JUST IN: Jury indicts Lorton man after pedestrian killed crossing street in Old Town North Read more
News

ARHA appoints former longtime CEO as interim amid national search

By James Cullum
ARHA properties in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Roy Priest, the former longtime CEO of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, has been named the interim CEO until a permanent successor is chosen, the organization announced this week.

Priest was CEO of Alexandria’s public housing authority from 2006 to 2017, and his temporary reinstatement follows last month’s resignation of interim CEO Rickie Maddox. Priest started work on July 7 and will act as interim CEO for five or six months until the ARHA Board fills the permanent CEO position, ARHA Board Chair Mark Jinks told ALXnow in an email.

Go to ARHA appoints former longtime CEO as interim amid national search Read more
Around Town

Adoptable pet of the week: Petite Ginger seeks a quiet home

By Emily Leayman
Dog with black, white, and tan coat wearing a blue collar, sitting on a patterned rug indoors.
Ginger is available for adoption (via AWLA)

Meet Ginger, a petite pup seeking a quiet home to land in.

This gentle dog at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria needs a patient family who will move at her pace until she gets comfortable. She enjoys snuggling up once she feels safe with her person, an AWLA volunteer told ALXnow.

Go to Adoptable pet of the week: Petite Ginger seeks a quiet home Read more
News

Police: Accidental shooting in Old Town sends man to hospital Friday morning

By James Cullum
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A man was injured when he accidentally discharged his gun Friday morning (July 17) inside a home in Old Town.

The 66-year-old man called 911 around 6:15 a.m. to report that he was alone at home in the 300 block of Wilkes Street when he shot himself in his left hand with a handgun, according to Alexandria Police Department radio dispatches.

Go to Police: Accidental shooting in Old Town sends man to hospital Friday morning Read more
Opinion

Poll: The best race for runners in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com
Runners in a street race with a large circular badge reading 'READER ALXnow CHOICE' overlaying the right side.

Fall is months away, which means peak season for Alexandria’s beloved running events. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or a casual 5K participant, Alexandria has a variety of races that showcase scenic routes, strong community spirit and charity causes.

Here are the nominees for “Best Race for Runners in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your go-to race? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Food Truck in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Three weeks ago, we voted on the Best Pool in Alexandria. The results are now official:

1. Great Waves Waterpark

2. Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility

3. Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility

Weather

JUST IN: Alexandria under Code Purple Air Quality Alert due to wildfire smoke

By ALXnow.com
Suburban residential area with multi-story buildings in the foreground, trees, and a hazy city skyline in the distance.
Hazy conditions in Alexandria due to wildfire smoke, July 17, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Smoke from the wildfires raging in Canada is having more of an impact Friday in Alexandria and the D.C. region.

Alexandria is under an Air Quality Alert Friday (July 17), Mayor Alyia Gaskins said in a social media update. According to AirNow air quality monitoring, the current air quality index in Alexandria exceeded 200, reaching the “very unhealthy” level.

Go to JUST IN: Alexandria under Code Purple Air Quality Alert due to wildfire smoke Read more
News

No evidence of cyclosporiasis outbreak in Va., Alexandria health officials say

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press
Two red round cells on a blue-stained microscopic slide, clustered together.
This undated photo taken through a microscope provided by the CDC shows Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts found in a fresh stool sample which had been prepared with a formalin solution and stained with safranin. (CDC via AP)

The intestinal illness spreading in parts of the U.S. has been raising food safety concerns, but health authorities in Alexandria say there’s little cause for alarm locally.

Cyclosporiasis is an infection caused by a parasite believed to be linked to some types of imported fresh produce. The illness is most often associated with watery diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can last a few days to upward of a month, but some people do not show symptoms.

Go to No evidence of cyclosporiasis outbreak in Va., Alexandria health officials say Read more
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