On This Day in Alexandria History — “In 1944, the Inter-County Metropolitan Freeway was proposed to connect Route 1 near Gum Springs, Virginia, with the Baltimore -Washington Parkway, on a westward route through Tysons Corner … On September 28, 1955, the federal government formally authorized the new highway through Alexandria, with the name shortened to the Capital Beltway. Several months later, the name of the yet-to-be-built bridge was also changed, to honor the centennial of the birth of the nation’s 28th President. On September 25, 1958 ground-breaking ceremonies were held near Jones Point, to start construction of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The formal opening of the bridge was held on December 21, 1961, with Wilson’s wife Edith expected to attend. However, she died suddenly that very morning, just hours before the dedication ceremony began.” [Historic Alexandria]
Police Chief on Automated License Plate Readers — “Police Chief Tarrick McGuire told residents Thursday night that the research does not establish that automatic license plate readers reduce crime, and that the case for them rests on something narrower: they help investigators develop leads.” [Alexandria Brief]
Girls Flag Football Launches at ACHS — “Girls flag football at Alexandria City High School launches their first season starting in the fall of 2026. After being sanctioned by jurisdictions in Fairfax, this long awaited opportunity is on the verge of becoming fully sanctioned by the Virginia High School League (VHSL).” [Theogony]
AI Scanning of Alexandria’s Streets Completed — “The work is part of SmartScan, a pilot program under the City’s SMART Roadway Management Initiative. Alexandria is working with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute on the project, which is being funded through a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation, or SMART, program.” [The Zebra]
Jefferson-Houston School Earns First Purple Star Designation — “The Virginia Council on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children voted to approve Jefferson-Houston as a recipient of this award, which recognizes schools that are committed to supporting students and families connected to the military. The Purple Star designation is valid for three school years. The Purple Star Designation Award is given to military-friendly schools that go above and beyond in providing critical resources and support to military families as they transition into the school community.” [Alexandria City Public Schools]
Local Leaders Hopeful on I-95 Two-Way Express Lanes Proposal — “VDOT officials sketched out their plan on Tuesday (Sept. 22) for converting the existing reversible I-95 Express Lanes, which can be used only in one direction at a time, into a bidirectional network running 45 miles from Fairfax south to Spotsylvania County. VDOT, which owns the roadway, and Transurban, which operates it, are collaborating on the project, which carries an estimated price tag of $4.5 billion.” [FFXnow]
Mandate on Licensed Nurses in All Schools Considered — “Virginia schools could be required to have a licensed nurse in every building starting in 2028, under a legislative proposal introduced Wednesday. The measure is designed to close healthcare gaps by placing experts in schools to manage complex medical conditions. Virginia permits school divisions to employ nurses, but state law doesn’t require it. About 8% of Virginia’s schools operate without a nurse.” [Virginia Mercury]
Street Maintenance Scheduled for This Week — Streets set for repaving or maintenance are Somervelle Street (from Duke Street to end) North Beauregard Street (from Lincolnia Road to Sanger Avenue). The schedule is subject to change based on weather, equipment and other factors. [Alexandria T&ES]
Mid-Atlantic Beaches Hammered by Nor’easter — “The beaches have taken a beating, with water running up to the dunes and, in some cases, breaching them. Significant erosion is occurring. Because the lumbering storm is so slow-moving, the prolonged pounding from the ocean is causing significant damage. Conditions should gradually improve Monday.” [Capital Weather]
It’s Monday — The weather will be mostly cloudy, with temperatures reaching a high of around 70 degrees and a northwest wind at approximately 8 mph. Overnight, the sky remains mostly cloudy with a low temperature near 60 degrees and a northwest wind of 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]
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