What a week in Alexandria. If we were making hay instead of paragraphs, the barn would be full.
Alexandria is bracing for the impact of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt says that the school system is “deeply concerned” and that the action raises questions about future federal support.
“At this time, we will await further guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Education regarding the rollout as this executive order takes effect and the funding allocations have been finalized,” Kay-Wyatt told ALXnow.
In other political news:
- Vice President JD Vance sold his Del Ray home for $1.9 million on March 14
- Alexandria Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) was named the most progressive legislator in Virginia, and filed her reelection paperwork
- ALXnow will host monthly one-on-one conversations with Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins starting April 4
Public safety and crime stories were the most read this week.
ALXnow’s top story was on a Mercedes-Benz crashing into parked cars and flipping over in Old Town on March 3. No arrest has been made, and a witness told police that they ran to the vehicle and saw a man inside the Mercedes-Benz break a window, crawl out and stand up, according to a search warrant affidavit.
“(The witness) asked the male if he called 911, to which he replied, ‘You call 911,’ and then fled on foot westbound on Green Street,” according to the search warrant affidavit.
Our number-two story was on Wednesday (March 19), on the recovery of a man’s body from the Potomac River at Jones Point Park. Our third top story was on three men arrested after a man was assaulted and robbed of his shoes on a DASH bus in Alexandria’s West End.
For the second time this month, the Alexandria Health Department is warning of a potential measles outbreak in Northern Virginia.
In development news, on Monday (March 17) we reported on plans to replace an office building at 1900 N. Beauregard Street with a 345-unit, six-to-seven story apartment building. The new building would have 330 market-rate apartments — 40 studios, 161 one-bedroom apartments, 144 two-bedroom apartments, including 35 affordable housing units (10%).
In business news, ALXnow went inside the newly refurbished La Madeline at 500 King Street in Old Town. We also reported on a Sichuan restaurant opening in Arlandria, a new speakeasy in Del Ray, and a new home for Big Wheel Bikes in Old Town.
Tired of tipping? We also reported that Smoking Kow BBQ on Duke Street scrapped their tipping policy and raised employee pay.
Don’t miss our coverage of Break Water, the newest art installation at Waterfront Park.
In case you missed it, spring officially began on Tuesday (March 19). To mark the occasion, ALXnow has launched a spring photo contest.
The most-read stories this week were:
- No arrest after Mercedes-Benz crashes into parked cars and flips in Old Town (8380 views)
- POLICE: Man’s body recovered from the Potomac River at Jones Point Park (8342 views)
- JUST IN: Man assaulted and robbed of shoes on DASH Bus in Alexandria’s West End (7565 views)
- PLANS: Apartments could replace office building in Alexandria’s West End (4941 views)
- Smoking Kow BBQ on Duke Street scraps tipping policy and raises employee pay (3704 views)
- Vice President JD Vance sells Del Ray home for $1.867 million (3494 views)
- Alexandria man booked after allegedly pointing handgun from Jeep at other drivers (3352 views)
- PHOTOS: Check out the interior renovations at La Madeline in Old Town (3334 views)
- Notes: Big Wheel Bikes finds new home in Old Town (2895 views)
- Notes: Metro prepares for peak Cherry Blossom travel, launches commemorative card (2659 views)
- Health Department warns of potential measles exposure in Northern Virginia (2636 views)
Have a safe weekend!
