News

Morning Notes for February 9, 2026

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On February 9, 1862, Rev. K.J. Stewart of St. Paul’s Church was arrested by Union troops for omitting a prayer for President Abraham Lincoln during services. Within a couple months, St. Paul’s was converted into use as a Union hospital.” [Historic Alexandria]

Walk for Peace Happening Today — “The Walk for Peace is expected to enter Alexandria on the morning of Monday, Feb. 9 and will proceed northbound along George Washington Parkway. Intermittent lane closures along George Washington Parkway is expected, and traffic will be impacted. Expect delays, alter travel plans, and have an alternate route planned. This information is subject to change.” [APD]

Constitutional Amendments Will Go To Voters — “After signing the bill to send the marriage equality amendment to voters, Spanberger hugged Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, the bill’s sponsor … It is one of Ebbin’s last pieces of legislation before he joins Spanberger’s administration as a senior adviser to the Cannabis Control Authority.” [Virginia Mercury]

NoVA Skater Wins Olympic Gold –“The 21-year-old [Ilia Malinin], nicknamed the ‘Quad God’ landed five quadruple jumps and scored 200.03 points for his free skate, atoning for a mediocre short program — at least by his lofty standards — one night earlier.” [AP]

Market Square Garage Closes Today — “Monthly pass holders “should have already been contacted” about new parking options, and a list of alternative locations in Old Town is available on the city’s website. The garage is closing as the project site will be secured with fencing this month, according to the announcement.” [ALXnow]

Firefighters Extinguish Laundromat Blaze — “Engine and Rescue 209 arrived with fire showing from a laundromat in the 3400 Block of Commonwealth Avenue. Fire was quickly extinguished with limited extension.” [IAFF Local 2141]

APD Badge for Black History Month — “The APD Juneteenth and Black History Month badge was created by Officer Vincent Williams and Officer Erik Elam, and their squad of officers as part of the department’s specialty badge program. Their goal was intentional: to honor Black history, acknowledge the struggles, achievements, and sacrifices of Black Americans, and create opportunities for meaningful conversation within the department and the community it serves.” [APD]

Tonight: America250 Kickoff — “The evening will feature guest speakers exploring the significance of America’s 250th anniversary and Virginia’s role in telling a fuller, more inclusive American story. Attendees will also get a first look at the exciting exhibitions, programs, and special events planned throughout 2026.” [City of Alexandria]

It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high temperature around 33 degrees, with northwest winds of 3 to 6 mph. The night will bring mostly cloudy skies and a low temperature near 22, accompanied by calm winds. [NWS]

Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.

About the Author

  • This is the staff byline for ALXnow, used by editors and other full-time staff. Launched in October 2019, ALXnow is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Alexandria, Virginia.