ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

It was a quick week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

With summer in full swing, three Alexandria athletes have made it on the U.S. Olympic Team — sprinter Noah Lyles, high-jumper Tynita Butts-Townsend and boxer Troy Isley.

In other sporting news, Old Town businesses beat Del Ray in a controversial softball game Wednesday, adding fuel to the fire of an intense rivalry.

It’s been super hot out lately, and the City urged caution and reminded residents to take advantage of special cooling centers.

On the COVID front, the city’s DASH bus service announced that one of its drivers passed away from complications from the virus.

Meanwhile, Mayor Justin Wilson believes that the city has met its 80% vaccination threshold, while Virginia Department of Health data says about 65% of residents over the age of 16 are partially vaccinated. The Alexandria Health Department, which just launched a COVID-19 test and vaccine pilot at T.C. Williams High School, says the data does not take into account city residents vaccinated in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

It’s also July 4 weekend, and in this week’s poll we asked whether readers plan on traveling, with 67% of respondents voting to stay home, 27% opting to travel by car and just 6% traveling by air.

Important stories

• City Council to specify when local dogs are allowed to bark
• Woman shot in Landmark Area Monday night
• New mixed-use development headed to the heart of Chirilagua
• Alexandria’s unemployment rate has been cut in half since May 2020
• Alexandria’s Sportrock Climbing Center is packed with business after Biden visit
• Alexandria eyes bus rapid transit and bike lanes for Duke Street
• Alexandria Police looking for driver in fatal hit-and-run
• Basilica of St. Mary bridge and expansion designs move forward
• Military spouses ask Sen. Tim Kaine to help with childcare in Alexandria roundtable
• Alexandria Reggae band FeelFree gets political in latest single
• Alexandria teaching racial and social equity with 30 day challenge
• Visit Alexandria website gets most views ever as businesses slowly climb back
• King Street Trolley service to return next Monday

Top stories

1. Researchers call out shoddy craftsmanship in buried 18th century Alexandria ship
2. Man suspected of raping 12-year-old stepdaughter in Landmark area flees to El Salvador
3. Landmark Mall plan approved as Planning Commission demands better environmental considerations
4. Alexandria leaders acknowledge serious security issues with elimination of school resource officer funding
5. Shortened Alexandria Birthday celebration is still on for July 10
6. Alexandria eyes bus rapid transit and bike lanes for Duke Street
7. Parker-Gray tiny lot home moves forward with some unique challenges
8. Alexandria woman dies after veering off road on Interstate 95
9. City talks strategy on making Chirilagua/Arlandria neighborhood Amazon-proof
10. UPDATE: Man taken into custody as West End apartment barricade situation ends peacefully
11. BREAKING: California man arrested for West End murder, indicted with 16 others in massive racketeering conspiracy

Have a safe weekend!