News

Good Wednesday 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 — Apr 29, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Three arrested after teen stabbed in Alexandria’s West End (3180 views)
  2. Old Town’s Il Porto to celebrate rebrand with ‘Renaissance’ dinner tomorrow (2677 views)
  3. City manager proposes $135M financing deal to develop former Old Town North power plant (1531 views)
  4. Del Ray’s First Thursday dates reduced as citizens association takes over event (1308 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

It will be mostly sunny with a high near 67°F and a northwest wind blowing at about 15 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 44°F and a lighter northwest wind at 7 to 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success is not an accident, success is a choice.”
– Stephen Curry

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!


News

Alexandria City Public Schools is asking the city for permission to use a temporary parking lot in Potomac Yard — once part of the former arena proposal — for school buses this summer.

ACPS filed a special use permit application with the city asking to temporarily use a 45,000-square-foot lot for three months at 3331 Exchange Avenue in the Potomac Yard neighborhood. The property was pitched in 2023 as a new $2 billion home for the Washington Wizards and Capitals before losing support in Alexandria and fizzling out with lawmakers in Richmond.


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News

On Tuesday, City Manager Jim Parajon unveiled a plan to catalyze a two-phase development of the former Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town North with a $135 million city investment.

The $135 million, 30-year tax increment financing agreement would be funded by projected future tax revenues at the 19-acre mixed-use site through the creation of a Community Development Agency. Under the proposal outlined to City Council, Parajon said the $135 million investment would spark more than $2 billion in private sector investment and generate more than $770 million in tax revenues.


Around Town

A longtime Italian restaurant in Old Town is celebrating its rebranding with a special dinner tomorrow night (Thursday).

Il Porto Ristorante is working on “refreshing the brand” at 121 King Street, with plans for a new logo, revised website and updated menus “to reflect a more modern look while staying true to what Il Porto has always been,” a spokesperson told ALXnow.


Event

Join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon at the BlackRock Center for the Arts as Cruise Planners Beth & Rod present a special travel-inspired matinee featuring the beloved film Under the Tuscan Sun.

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


News

The Pride of Baltimore II will be sailing into Alexandria Thursday for several days of tours and sails.

The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, a drawbridge on the Capital Beltway (I-495), will open at midnight Thursday (April 30) to allow the ship to pass. Drivers should expect delays during the drawbridge opening and follow signs displayed on the bridge, according to the city government.


News

Two teenagers and an adult were arrested and charged with malicious wounding after an alleged attempted robbery that left a teenager with non-life-threatening stab wounds in Alexandria’s West End.

The victim reported the incident to police at around 3:20 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in the 2100 block of N. Early Street, which is near the intersection with W. Braddock Road. The victim told police he was approached by four Hispanic males, and that one of them — wearing a black ski mask and holding a knife — stabbed him in the face, according to Alexandria Police Department dispatches.


News

The D.C. region’s federal workforce has reached its lowest level since 1990 under cuts pursued by the Trump administration, according to a new economic analysis from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

The D.C. metropolitan area lost 62,100 federal jobs between January 2025 and January 2026, putting the region’s federal workforce — approximately 313,700 — at its lowest level since 1990, according to the COG report.


Around Town

This will be the first year the Del Ray Business Association is not hosting First Thursday block parties since it founded the event nearly 30 years ago.

Del Ray’s First Thursdays have been turned over to the Del Ray Citizens Association, which runs other neighborhood events such as last weekend’s Del Ray GardenFest and the upcoming Del Ray House and Garden Tour on Saturday, May 9.


News

Business Fundraiser for Animal Shelter — “Madison Street Tattoos’ ‘Tattoos for Rescues’ fundraiser on Saturday, April 25 was an immense success, bringing together animal lovers, artists, and the community for an unforgettable day in support of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). The event raised an astounding $12,100 to benefit animals and pet families in need. In addition, the shop also collected physical donations of pet food and supplies to benefit our in-shelter animals. Over the course of 10+ hours, five dedicated tattoo artists worked tirelessly, inking more than 50 participants. [Animal Welfare League of Alexandria]

Budget Adoption on Wednesday — “On April 29, the Alexandria City Council will vote on the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Budget, which begins July 1, 2026. Join us in person at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center or watch online at alexandriava.gov/Dockets.” [City of Alexandria]


Announcement

The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City, in partnership with Arlington County Public Library, invites you to an open discussion on managing local government in a changing environment.

Join Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz and Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon for a conversation about how local governments are adapting to shifts in federal funding and changes at the state level. The discussion will explore how these evolving conditions may impact local priorities, services, and decision-making in our communities.