Early Voting Begins for Nov. 3 Election — “The general election ballot will include races for Sen. Mark Warner’s (D-Va.) U.S. Senate seat and Rep. Don Beyer (D-8)’s 8th Congressional District seat. Three constitutional amendments — regarding reproductive rights, same-sex marriage and voting rights for former felons — are also on the ballot.” [ALXnow]
Sen. Warner to Begin Early Voting Period in Alexandria — “U.S. Sen. Mark Warner will open Virginia’s early voting period at Alexandria’s registrar office Friday morning, casting his own ballot alongside Rep. Don Beyer at 132 N. Royal St. … About an hour after his campaign announced the schedule, Warner told Virginia reporters on a midday media call that Department of Homeland Security agents had accessed voter files to obtain personal information about Virginians, and that doing so violates state law.” [Alexandria Brief]
Three ACPS Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists — “Congratulations to three Alexandria City High School students named 2027 National Merit Semifinalists. Josiah Baldwin, Zoe Foster and Lucy Hunnicutt are among more than 16,000 students selected as semifinalists in the 72nd Annual National Merit Scholarship Program.” [ACPS/Facebook]
Revolutionary War Forum Set for Today in Alexandria — “Historic Alexandria will host the Alexandria Forum on Friday, September 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street. This day-long Forum, ‘Nothing But Independence,’ will explore Alexandria and Northern Virginia during the Revolutionary War and how these moments in time continue to reverberate through today.” [Historic Alexandria]
Miracle League of Alexandria Celebrates 15 Years — “When Mac Slover and Bill Schultz officially launched the Miracle League chapter of Alexandria in April 2011, they set out to create a league where adults and children with disabilities could be surrounded by community and play baseball. More than 15 years later, the organization continues to break barriers and open up doors to individuals and families across Alexandria and beyond, promoting inclusivity, access and support on and off the field.” [Alexandria Times]
101-Year-Old Veteran to Conduct at Art on the Avenue — “At 101, Alexandria resident Col. Arnald D. Gabriel will return to the conductor’s podium during Del Ray’s Art on the Avenue Festival, Oct. 3. The legendary musician and World War II veteran will conduct two selections, ‘America the Beautiful’ and ‘El Capitan,’ with the NOVA Concert Band during its noon-to-1:15 p.m. performance on the Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel Band Stage — a stage named in his honor.” [The Zebra]
Alexandria History Tours Founder Spotlighted — “Tim Rose served eight years on active duty in the Marine Corps and then built a career in investment banking before a plaque at Christ Church honoring George Washington’s pallbearers pointed him somewhere else entirely. He founded Alexandria History Tours in May 2023, ran 233 tours that first year and expects to run between 550 and 600 this year.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
AFD’s Community Fire Academy Begins — “The Community Fire Academy kicked off its first class Monday! Participants learned about the department’s history, from its beginnings to the modern-day department, and gained a deeper look into the people and traditions that have shaped the Alexandria Fire Department.” [Alexandria Fire Department/Facebook]
Use Your Plant Knowledge for ALX Herbarium Hunt — “Think you can spot a mystery plant? Put your plant knowledge to the test! Follow RPCA on Instagram or Facebook for clues to mystery plants growing in Alexandria’s parks. Find the plant, snap a photo, identify it, and share your findings using #RPCAHerbariumHunt for a chance to win.” [Alexandria RPCA]
Kennedy Center Draw Speculation Amid Closure — “A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to give 30 days notice before any ‘demolition’ occurs at the Kennedy Center, an order that came less than 24 hours after President Trump said that the performing arts center could be ‘ripped down,’ and photos showed him looking at a document that said ‘Kennedy Center Demolished.'” [CBS News]
New Map Shows Status of Affordable Housing Terms in Virginia — “Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) are a federal tax incentive that developers can tap into when building apartments geared towards tenants earning certain percentages of area median income. The process is designed to provide cost-conscious housing for low-income earners, who might otherwise struggle to afford market-rate rents. Of Virginia’s nearly 108,000 LIHTC units around the state, more than 18,000 of them are set to lose that status by 2030, with some expiring within the next year.” [Virginia Mercury]
Virginia Prepares for Recreational Cannabis Market — “The commonwealth’s Cannabis Control Authority released new draft regulations on what the recreational marijuana market could look like starting next summer. The new draft regulations allow for as many as 350 retail locations across the commonwealth. That’s enough to put a pot shop in every city, county and town in Virginia.” [WJLA]
It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of 85°F and a gentle north wind of 7 to 9 mph. In the evening, skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 65°F, accompanied by a light north wind at about 6 mph. [NWS]
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