On This Day in Alexandria History — “On April 16, 1789, George Washington ‘…bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to private life, and to domestic felicity’ on a weeklong journey to his inauguration in New York as the nation’s first President. Along the way, Washington was feted by the people of Alexandria on April 19, with other public celebrations occurring in Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia and Trenton upon his arrival in those cities. He finally reached Manhattan on April 23 and one week later was sworn in as POTUS at Federal Hall on Wall Street, now the site of the New York Stock Exchange.” [Historic Alexandria]
Pilots Admonished for Animal Noises on Air Traffic Control Audio — “The animal sounds heard over an air traffic control frequency were not from a cat loose on the plane, but human pilots making animal noises. The meowing occurred over an air traffic control frequency at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on April 12.” [ABC News]
Alexandria Coach Makes Wrestling Hall of Fame — “In the fall of 1988, Steve Castle made his first appearance as a teacher at Episcopal High School … The validation of Castle’s success at his chosen endeavor came Saturday night as the former head wrestling coach of Episcopal for 33 years, backed by a small army of former athletes, mentors and coaches, was inducted into the Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.” [Alexandria Times]
Spanberger Acts on Gun-Related Bills — “Taken together, the changes mark one of the most significant overhauls of Virginia’s firearms laws in years, touching on how guns are sold, stored and carried across the commonwealth. At the center of the package are measures that restrict the future sale of certain semi-automatic firearms, broaden background check requirements and set new standards for safely securing guns in homes and vehicles.” [Virginia Mercury]
Rep. Beyer Renews Millionaire Surtax Push — “On Tax Day, U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) reintroduced their Millionaires Surtax Act, legislation to address the growing income inequality gap between wealthy and working Americans and raise significant revenue to support everyday families and grow our economy.” [Rep. Don Beyer]
Reminder from Metro on Hot Weather — “Keep in mind this spring and summer, when rail temperatures exceed 135°F, speed limits on aboveground tracks will be reduced to 35 mph for your safety.” [WMATA/X]
ACPS Holds Job Fair for Transportation Staff — “Join ACPS for our Transportation Open House on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at 3540 Wheeler Avenue in Alexandria, VA. We’re looking for talented, passionate individuals ready to support students and make a difference every day.” [ACPS/Facebook]
New Legal Notice — Forfeiture of $13,202, money counter; drug/money-laundering-linked; 30-day response. [Public Notices]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 92°F and a light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 69°F. There’s a 30% chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m., with winds shifting from southwest at 6 to 8 mph to west after midnight. [NWS]
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