On This Day: Alexandria’s Role in Creating Arlington National Cemetery — On this day in 1862, Alexandria leased land at the west end of Wilkes Street to the Federal government, establishing the nation’s first military cemetery. As Civil War casualties mounted, the cemetery filled rapidly—nearly 4,000 graves within a year, mostly soldiers who died while receiving medical care in the city. When burial space ran out, Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs proposed a solution that would become iconic: burying the war dead on the grounds of Arlington House, Robert E. Lee’s vacated estate. That decision gave birth to Arlington National Cemetery. [Historic Alexandria]
Eight ARHA Commissioners Resign Ahead of Deadline — Eight of nine Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority commissioners resigned Tuesday in response to a demand from Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Council that they step down by today’s deadline or face formal removal proceedings. City Council will meet today at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers to vote on an emergency ordinance amending the city code and make immediate appointments to the Board. [ALXnow]
City Manager Warns of Economic Headwinds Despite Tourism Milestone — Alexandria City Manager James Parajon presented a sobering economic outlook to the City Council Tuesday night, warning of troubling trends in unemployment, consumption taxes, and consumer confidence despite the city’s recent achievement of crossing $1 billion in visitor spending. The monthly State of the Economy report, part of a series requested by Mayor Alyia Gaskins and members of the City Council, highlighted deepening concerns about national economic uncertainty and its local impacts as the city prepares for budget discussions. [ALXnow]
Early Voting Turnout Surpasses 2021 Pace — Early voting turnout in Alexandria is running well ahead of the 2021 election cycle, with more than 9,600 ballots cast so far for the November general election. [ALXnow]
Vote Could Expand Express Toll Lanes on Beltway in Virginia — A vote Wednesday could add new express toll lanes on the Capital Beltway in Virginia from the Springfield interchange through Alexandria and across the Wilson Bridge. The main sticking point in the debate is the Wilson Bridge itself. Some Maryland leaders on the other side of the bridge worry new express lanes will cause more congestion on their side. Walter Alcorn, a high-ranking member of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) that will vote on the plan, believes it is far from a done deal, noting that Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland’s Department of Transportation have yet to resolve differences with VDOT. [NBC4 Washington]
Sustainable Design and Student Well-Being Guide Alexandria’s New High School Campus — Perkins Eastman’s design for Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard campus sets a new standard for sustainable, inclusive K–12 learning environments. Flexible classrooms and collaborative hubs encourage hands-on exploration across arts, science, and CTE programs, while natural light, enhanced air quality, and acoustic ceiling solutions create comfortable, focused environments that support student well-being and engagement. Community resources—including a Teen Wellness Center, Family Resource Center, and Early Childhood Center—extend the school’s mission of equity and innovation beyond the classroom. [I+S Design]
Community Budget Forum Set for Tonight — Alexandria City Public Schools will host a Community Budget Forum tonight from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus Forum room. Whether you care about schools, parks, public safety, housing, or transportation, ACPS wants to hear from you. Residents are invited to bring their ideas, concerns and vision for the community. [ACPS]
Tall Ship Providence Undergoing Maintenance and Preparing for Major Inspection — Maintenance work is moving along aboard the Tall Ship Providence, with several projects underway including painting or coating all of the wood on the ship and servicing gun carriages. Visitors may notice ongoing projects during tours, as the smells of tar, sawdust, and paint continue the sailing tradition of hundreds of years. For large-scale repairs, Providence will travel to Georgetown, MD, to be hauled out and inspected in November, allowing the crew to determine next steps to restore the ship to her signature traditional look. [Tall Ship Providence]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 70 degrees with a north wind at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. For Wednesday night, the skies will remain clear, and the temperature will drop to around 45 degrees. The north wind will persist at approximately 9 mph. [NWS]
