ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

It’s been a busy week in Alexandria, with some controversies at the school, city, and even state levels.

At ACPS, a new report detailed the arrests and safety incidents that have occurred in this school year, and then last night some School Board leaders butted heads over a lack of transparency in the creation of a new advisory board to review school safety issues.

Things have been more congenial on the new City Council, but the Council did draw the ire of anti-abortion activists after a planned proclamation, later scrapped, would have honored women’s healthcare providers.

Lastly, Monique Miles had seemed like a rising local Republican star after the former City Council candidate snagged a state-level attorney position, but some of those aspirations came crashing down after Miles was axed from the job after the Washington Post reported that Miles had expressed support on social media for the rioters that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. Miles spoke with the Alexandria Times this week and discussed the backlash and firing.

Top stories

1. Alexandria wants to start charging businesses rent for use of ‘parklets’
2. Alexandria’s (possibly) worst park could be getting money for a makeover
3. New report details arrests and safety incidents in ACPS
4. Alexandria taking a new look at one of its oldest types of mixed-use development
5. Report: New affordable housing having positive impact on Alexandria property values
6. Canceled proclamation draws ire of anti-abortion activists in Alexandria
7. Alexandria leaders plan around upcoming Yellow Line shutdown
8. Carlyle and Old Town hosting St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls
9. Snugglebug French Bulldog ‘Lilac’ needs a new home
10. Gordon Lightfoot, Kevin Bacon and more coming to Birchmere