On This Day in Alexandria History — “On April 21, 1893, Alexandrians were saddened to learn of the death the evening before of George Carroll, a well-known and affable African American who had served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Before the war, Carroll had served as a slave in the home of Josiah H. Davis and as a boy, had worked at the old plaster mill on the waterfront between Prince and Duke Streets … Carroll was a member of Alexandria’s Sumner Post, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a fraternal organization of nearly 400,000 Union Army veterans by 1890, which advocated for pensions for veterans, voting rights for black veterans and advancement of advocacy groups in American politics.” [Historic Alexandria]
It’s Election Day — Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the Alexandria City Council special election and statewide redistricting amendment. [Office of Voter Registration and Elections]
Reminder on ACPS Student Holiday — “All Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) will be closed for students on Tue., April 21, 2026, due to the special election taking place that day. For staff, this will be a work day.” [ACPS]
Redistricting Amendment to be Decided — “Voters in the Commonwealth will consider a ballot measure that would amend Virginia’s constitution to give the Democratic-majority General Assembly temporary power to redraw the state’s congressional districts. It’s the latest move in an escalating redistricting arms race that began in July 2025, when Texas Republican lawmakers redrew their state’s congressional map to favor Republicans at President Donald Trump’s urging.” [ARLnow]
First Gentleman Visits Alexandria School — “First Gentleman Adam Spanberger stopped by Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School to surprise Region 4 VDOE Teacher of the Year Deedra Robinson with chocolate chip cookies made by the Governor’s Mansion chef. He also visited Minnie Howard Campus – Alexandria City High School, where he connected with Amazon Future Engineer scholarship recipient Mohammed Elyas Noorzai and School Board Student Ambassador Madsen Lynch.” [ACPS/Facebook]
Traffic Signal Upgrades at Duke Street Intersections — “The City of Alexandria’s Adaptive Signal Control Cabinet Upgrade project is moving forward, with important work happening this week at two of the city’s busiest intersections along Duke Street … Crews will install new traffic signal cabinets that allow real-time, adaptive signal timing. Once fully deployed, these improvements will help reduce congestion, improve travel time reliability, and keep traffic moving more efficiently over time.” [Alexandria T&S]
“Alexandria’s Adult Prom” Held — “On Saturday evening April 18, the city’s hottest ticket of the year took on a distinctively radiant, crimson glow. The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria celebrated its landmark 40th anniversary with a “Ruby Gala” that was so highly anticipated, it officially sold out on Monday, April 13—days before the first tuxedo was even zipped.” [The Zebra]
Beautification Award Nominations Open — “In honor of America250, a new category recognizes Best Patriotic Native Plantings for residential, business, and community properties. Residents and City properties are encouraged to replace a small area of grass with red, white, and blue native plants. Businesses can also participate by showcasing native plant containers in patriotic colors at their entrances.” [Alexandria RPCA]
Lawsuit over Potomac River Sewage Spill — “Filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court, the lawsuit claims violations of state water pollution laws and seeks civil penalties, environmental cleanup costs, and restoration of impacted natural resources. State officials are also requesting a court order requiring DC Water to prevent future unauthorized sewage discharges and fully restore the affected areas.” [MoCo Show]
It’s Tuesday — Expect widespread frost before 10 am, followed by sunny weather with a high near 62°F. Winds will be calm, shifting to the south at about 6 mph in the afternoon. On Tuesday night, there is a 30% chance of showers after 2 am, with partly cloudy skies and a low around 50°F. South winds will increase to 7 to 9 mph. [NWS]
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