ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

It was another rough week for the Bradlee Shopping Center: earlier this week, a vehicle crashed through the front window of Tropical Smoothie Cafe ((3610-G King Street).

This afternoon (Friday), police responded to a report of a larceny in the shopping center. Alexandria Police spokesman Marcel Bassett told ALXnow the incident involved multiple juveniles and so far no arrest has been reported.

Notification:: There is a moderate police presence in the 3500 block King Street. This is in response to a larceny from persons. No injuries reported in connection with this incident. APD is investigating. pic.twitter.com/mj0ZxjWydq

— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) February 17, 2023

One of the big stories this week was the cancellation of the city’s grant program aimed at helping business owners who are Black, indigenous or a person of color.

The program had been set to launch this month but was delayed after it was challenged in court by engineering firm Tridentis, LLC. The firm claimed in a court filing that the program was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause and prohibited on the basis of race.

The Washington Post reported that Alexandria officials admitted that the grant criteria as written was a violation of the 14th Amendment, but that the city would work to find other ways to help minority business owners disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

The most-read stories this week were:

1. Six years after its last defeat, the BID proposal rears its head in Old Town once more
2. Vehicle smashes through front window of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Bradlee Shopping Center
3. Alexandria cancels grant program for minority-owned businesses after lawsuit
4. The value of Alexandria’s residential tax base is outpacing its commercial tax base
5. Man pistol-whipped in Arlandria Monday night
6. No arrest after ‘targeted’ drive-by shooting in Arlandria Tuesday night
7. Suspect in last Friday’s shooting in Arlandria is under arrest
8. Notes: Hybla Valley carjacking raises other criminal justice questions
9. Notes: Man convicted of 2021 murder of woman with Down syndrome in the West End
10. New safety report details ACPS arrests and security incidents this school year