At ALXnow, we’re looking back at this year one last time before turning the page to 2026.
This New Year’s Eve, we’ve prepared a roundup of our most-read stories of the year. In 2025, readers stayed up-to-date on breaking news and public safety, city government and schools, the local business scene and more.
Stories about the local impacts of federal changes dominated this year’s top stories — from the Department of Housing and Urban Development taking over the National Science Foundation’s former space, to increased immigration enforcement in our neighborhoods and federal layoffs hitting our city particularly hard.
Other top stories were focused in on Alexandria, from public health data to power outages and recent upheavals in the housing authority.
Readers also leaned into good news during a serious and, at times, tragic year. You might’ve read about the Taylor Swift-themed pop-up bar and the unveiling of a new Ken Burns documentary. It’s also quite possible you’re one of the many people who voted for their favorite Alexandria bagel in our poll.
These are the top 30 headlines that ALXnow readers viewed in 2025 to stay informed, learn something new and engage in their community. On behalf of our newsroom, thank you for reading.
Stories #1-10
- #1: Report: National Science Foundation headquarters to be taken over by HUD, displacing 1,800+ employees (80,132 views)
- #2: Report: ICE preparing to deploy tactical units to Northern Virginia and four big cities (62,870 views)
- #3: Former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber passes away unexpectedly (61,867 views)
- #4: BREAKING: Virginia Tech campus opening interrupted by protests (43,752 views)
- #5: Alexandria pastor’s Charlie Kirk comments spark national debate (35,018 views)
- #6: Man struck by train at Potomac Yard Metro dies, was being chased (33,821 views)
- #7: Federal agents spotted in Alexandria’s Arlandria neighborhood Friday (27,167 views)
- #8: Inova Alexandria Hospital employee fired after patient’s credit cards stolen, used at Target (25,445 views)
- #9: Taylor Swift-themed pop-up bar ‘Eras’ opening next week in Del Ray (23,220 views)
- #10: Ken Burns unveils new documentary series ‘The American Revolution’ at Mount Vernon (22,247 views)
Stories #11-20
- #11: Former Alexandria City High swimmer Emil LaSida, 21, dies; held college records (21,863 views)
- #12: Alexandria-based defense contractor to add 1,200 jobs in $46.9M expansion (21,272 views)
- #13: Federal downsizing hits Alexandria hardest among Virginia suburbs, study shows (18,874 views)
- #14: Alexandria City High School Dean of Students Tiffany Barner dies (18,854 views)
- #15: Report: Alexandria real estate developer files bankruptcy, faces federal takeover of properties (18,682 views)
- #16: Alexandria City High School Executive Principal Alexander Duncan III leaving to run Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington (17,869 views)
- #17: Del Ray restaurant employee suspended after customer reports hidden bathroom camera (17,017 views)
- #18: Poll: The best bagel shop in Alexandria (16,513 views)
- #19: Glory Days Grill permanently closes its doors in Alexandria after seven years (15,892 views)
- #20: Woman charged after allegedly using pricey Old Town Airbnb for prostitution (15,784 views)
Stories #21-30
- #21: Alexandria council member calls for investigation into housing authority CEO living in public housing (15,370 views)
- #22: USPTO WARN Notice reflects October layoffs, no new December cuts (15,072 views)
- #23: Eight Alexandria housing commissioners resign after Mayor, City Council demand their departure (14,897 views)
- #24: Prankster relatives unmasked as suspects who terrorized Alexandria woman (14,891 views)
- #25: Alexandria’s plan to fight flooding will close Waterfront Park and Point Lumley Park for at least two years (14,637 views)
- #26: BREAKING: Three males shot in Arlandria Sunday night (14,384 views)
- #27: Thousands without power in Alexandria following Friday night storms (14,173 views)
- #28: Man who jumped from King Street balcony was indicted for dating app fraud (14,072 views)
- #29: JD Vance’s Del Ray home listed for sale (13,987 views)
- #30: Alexandria ranks higher than average in Virginia for STIs and rates are still swelling (13,880 views)
