ALXnow’s Top Stories This Week in Alexandria

What a busy week in Alexandria.

Our top story this week was on Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Old Town shop fibre space on March 3. It was Harris’ first official visit outside of the White House since she was inaugurated, and she spoke about the American Rescue Plan with shop owner Danielle Romanetti.

Alexandria City Public Schools reopened for hybrid instruction this week, the first time since all school facilities were shut down on March 13. The school system reportedly welcomed back 1,200 special needs students in kindergarten through fifth grade. ACPS will open on March 9 for special education students, and then fully reopen its doors to hybrid learning for students on March 16.

On the coronavirus front, the number  of deaths due to the virus has climbed to 123, and cases are at 10,404 since the first case was reported on March 11, 2020. Mayor Justin Wilson says the city is doing well keeping the numbers down, although with a vaccine waiting list exceeding 45,000 and 3,000 vaccine doses being given out weekly, distribution will continue to be slow.

More than 550 people responded to this week’s poll on the proposed new names for T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School. About 60% of respondents said they were happy with Alexandria High School, but not with Naomi Brooks Elementary School; 25% said they liked both names; 8% didn’t like either name; and 6% didn’t like the high school name and were happy with the elementary school name.

In case you missed them, here are some other important stories:

• City Could Help Turn Hotels Emptied by Coronavirus Into Affordable Housing
• Councilwoman Amy Jackson Argues With School Board Over MacArthur Elementary Construction Schedule
• City Council and School Board Budget Talk Gets Territorial Over School Resource Officers

Here are our most-read posts this week:

1. Just In: Vice President Visits Old Town Shop Fibre Space
2. Alexandria Wants Feedback on Building Spray Park in Del Ray
3. El Chapo’s Wife to be Isolated in Alexandria Jail for One Month Per COVID-19 Distancing Rules
4. Consultant Proposes Replacing Community Shelter with Mixed-Use Development
5. Alexandria Advocacy Facebook Group Parodied in New Blog
6. Superintendent Proposes New Names for T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary
7. Patrick Moran, Son of Former Congressman Jim Moran, is Running for City Council
8. ACPS Reopens its Doors and Evaluating Grading System for Traumatized Students
9. Man Arrested for High-Speed Vehicle Race on I-495
10. Meronne Teklu Enters City Council Race
11. Neighborhood Spotlight: Old Town is the New Town

Have a safe weekend!

Photo via Peter Velz/Twitter