ALXnow’s Top Stories this Week in Alexandria

It’s the end of a busy week in Alexandria.

Once again, crime and public safety stories were the most read on ALXnow.

On Friday, we found that the 19-year-old man arrested for the September 30 West End murder of John Harding Pope was released on bail just eight days before the murder. Pope’s death is the second murder of the year. In the first murder, Ibrahim Bouaichi was out on bail when he allegedly killed his former girlfriend.

On Thursday, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office confirmed that two suspected ISIS terrorists are now in the city jail. Alexanda Amon Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh also made their initial appearances at the Eastern District of Virginia federal courthouse in Alexandria.

On the pandemic front, there are now 73 COVID-19 deaths in the city, and the Virginia Department of Health projects there will be 20,000 more cases statewide by Thanksgiving. The city also announced that residents impacted by the pandemic might also be eligible to receive $100-$400 in grocery gift cards.

On the school front, T.C. Williams High School’s student newspaper Theogony broke the story that Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Gregory Hutchings, Jr. now sends one of his children to a private high school in the city.

Meanwhile, Alexandria was named the fifth best small city in U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler and made Forbes’ Weekend Getaway list.

Nearly 200 readers also participated in our weekly poll on passing out Halloween candy, and 60% said they would not hand out candy, 29% said they are doing modified trick-or-treating and 11% said they will hand out candy like usual.

If you need a good laugh, this Sunday at 8 p.m. there will be more COVID-friendly stand-up comedy in Old Town.

Here are ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria:

1. BREAKING: Suspect Arrested for West End Murder
2. BREAKING: Former Alexandria Nurse Jesse Bjerke Sentenced 65 Years For Raping Lifeguards at Gunpoint
3. Report: ACPS Superintendent Sends Child to Bishop Ireton High School
4. VIDEO: West End Murder Victim Identified
5. Police: Illegal Drugs Sold in West End Via Snapchat During Pandemic
6. Man Dies After Crash on N. Washington Street in Old Town
7. Republican Jeff Jordan Running Uphill Battle Against Incumbent Rep. Don Beyer
8. Delaware Woman Charged for Three Hit-And-Runs in Old Town and Driving Under the Influence
9. Man Shot on Quantrell Avenue in City’s Second Murder of 2020
10. Students, Parents Ask School Board to Not Renew Agreement Allowing Police at Alexandria City Public Schools
11. Homeowner Shot in Targeted Del Ray Home Invasion

Have a safe weekend!