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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum
The athletic fields at Episcopal High School (via City of Alexandria)

Welcome to Friday! Here’s a look back at our most-read stories of the week.

Our top story this week is on Episcopal High School being named a training site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. To accommodate an international soccer team with a home-away-from-home atmosphere, the private school is asking the city for permission to install field lighting with 47 light poles between 40-to-100-feet-tall.

The Episcopal property abuts the Seminary Hill neighborhood, and the school is asking that the plans be in effect for 10 years. FIFA announced Episcopal as a potential training site last fall, and the selected team will stay at Hotel AKA Alexandria (625 First Street). City Council will consider the matter at its hearing on May 17.

Looking for something special this Mother’s Day weekend? Our second top story was our weekender listing of events, where you can check out all the happenings in Alexandria that’ll make mom feel special.

With food in mind, we turn to our number-three post. In case you missed it, Wonder, a self-described “new kind of food hall” offering menus by celebrity chefs, is planning to open a location in Franconia and is looking at opening another spot in Potomac Yard.

For the last week, ALXnow has also reported on a First Amendment controversy within Alexandria City High School. Facing backlash from city leaders, the School Board officially went back to the drawing board Thursday night (May 8), by announcing that its intended policy changes on the oversight of Alexandria City High School’s student publications have been put on hold. The announcement was made as more than a dozen student journalists held signs and demanded their editorial independence from ACPS administrators. So far, their Voices Unbound plan has the backing of City Council members and Mayor Alyia Gaskins.

The most-read stories this week were:

  1. Episcopal High School named FIFA World Cup training site and wants 40-to-100-foot-tall lights at its athletic fields (6514 views)
  2. Alexandria gears up for a packed weekend with live music, markets, and Mother’s Day fun (3210 views)
  3. Notes: Wonder food hall may be coming to Alexandria (3197 views)
  4. PLANS: West End complex to convert old laundry rooms into 19 new apartments (2602 views)
  5. Developer adding more apartments to narrow West End property (2491 views)
  6. Here’s why Alexandria City High School’s graduation is in May, not June this year (2178 views)
  7. Developer seeks extension to build automated parking garage in Old Town (2130 views)

Have a safe weekend!

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.