On This Day in Alexandria History — “On May 20, 1809 the ‘Long Bridge,’ built just north of Alexandria opened, connecting Virginia with the new capital city of Washington, D.C. across the Potomac River. During this time, Alexandria’s 18th century isolation and dependence on waterways for regional travel was being reduced as new highways were extended from Alexandria’s dead end street grid southward from Henry Street across Great Hunting Creek to Richmond, and northward from North Washington Street to Washington, D.C. along what is now Powhatan Street.” [Historic Alexandria]
Spanberger Vetoes Marijuana Retail Market Bills — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has vetoed legislation that would have created a legalized marijuana marketplace but is vowing to work with elected officials to resume work on plan ahead of the next General Assembly session. In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Spanberger said the plan, as is, would have created a retail market without the ‘timeline, structure or resources to be successfully implemented.'” [WTOP]
RiverRenew Update — “Last week a specialized marine construction dive team cut open the connection between the RiverRenew pumping station and the existing plant. This means AlexRenew will be ready to treat the CSO flows that fill the Waterfront Tunnel during storms.” [AlexRenew/Bluesky]
Mayor Gaskins Turns Moms Day Out Event into Moms Night Out — “In a recent social media video, Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins invited moms across the city to step away from the endless demands of work, family life, carpools, and calendars for an evening designed entirely for them.” [The Zebra]
Virginia Supreme Court Takes Arlington Missing Middle Lawsuit — “The Virginia Supreme Court has agreed to review the lawsuit over Arlington’s Missing Middle zoning change, moving one step closer to resolving the complicated but consequential case. Following oral arguments last month, the court announced (Tuesday) that it will review a Virginia Court of Appeals ruling that would create big obstacles for plaintiffs, if upheld.” [ARLnow]
Smithsonian Castle to Reopen After Extended Closure — “Just in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Smithsonian Castle will reopen this week, inviting visitors to reconnect with familiar spaces and explore new stories about the American experience.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Metro Raises Concern About Fare Evasion on Buses — “Metro says nearly seven out of every 10 bus riders are still not paying the fare to ride the bus. Now, a new crackdown is coming that will involve bus operators and transit police.” [NBC Washington]
AWLA on Increase in Fawn Sightings — “From May through June, newborn fawns are left by their mothers for long periods of time, and it is not uncommon to find one alone. Fawns are rarely abandoned, and it’s best to leave them alone while Mother Nature does her thing.” [Animal Welfare League of Alexandria/Facebook]
Reminder on ACPS Closures — Alexandria City Public Schools will be closed Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day, Tuesday, May 26 for a teacher work day and Wednesday, May 27 for Eid al-Adha. [ACPS calendar]
It’s Wednesday — Expect increasing clouds with showers and thunderstorms likely after 5 p.m. and a high near 95°F, with a west wind of 6 to 11 mph. There is a 60% chance of rain, with new rainfall generally less than a tenth of an inch, though heavier amounts are possible in thunderstorms. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms will continue until 3 a.m., with a slight chance of showers between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. The low will be around 59°F, with a north wind of 5 to 7 mph and an 80% chance of rain, with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. [NWS]
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