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Morning Notes

Published October 14, 2019 at 8:00AM

The Amtrak and VRE station (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Weekend Flooding in Old Town — “There are several road closures in the old town area due to coastal flooding. The unit block of Prince Street, The Strand and Unit block of King Street High Tide are temporarily closed. Avoid the area.” [WJLA, Capital Weather Gang, Twitter, Twitter]

City Offices Closed for Holiday — Numerous Alexandria city government offices and facilities are closed today for the Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday. ALXnow will not be publishing additional news articles today, except in the event of breaking news.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 11, 2019 at 8:00AM | Updated October 11, 2019 at 9:16AM

On-Time Grad Rates Rise at T.C. — “T.C. Williams High School faces challenges with on-time graduation rates despite a few bright spots, according to data released by the Virginia Department of Education Tuesday. The school’s on-time graduation rate for the 2018-2019 school year was 83.5 percent, an improvement from 80.6 percent the year before. By comparison, Virginia overall had 91.5 percent.” [Patch]

Service Boosted on Two DASH Routes — “Waiting for public transportation in any kind of weather isn’t really anyone’s idea of a good time, right? Effective Oct. 13, AT-1 and AT-9 DASH passengers can expect more frequent service and extended hours in the transit schedule.” [Zebra]

News

City Government Offices Closing for Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday

By ALXnow.com

Published October 10, 2019 at 4:30PM

This coming Monday, Oct. 14 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Alexandria and a number of city government offices and facilities will be closed.

Thanks to a recent Alexandria City Council vote, the second Monday in October is now known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the city, though it is still a state and federal holiday known as Columbus Day.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 10, 2019 at 8:00AM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Patch Editor Dies After Cancer Fight — “William ‘Skip’ Wood, of Alexandria, Virginia, died on Sunday, Oct. 6, after a battle with cancer. He was 57. A longtime journalist and Virginia resident, he covered parts of Northern Virginia for Patch over three years, and was well-known nationally for his reporting at USA Today.” [Patch]

Alexandria Man Charged With Classified Leaks — “A counterterrorism analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency has been charged with leaking top-secret details about foreign countries’ weapons systems to two journalists, including a reporter with whom he apparently was romantically involved, federal authorities said Wednesday. Henry K. Frese, 30, of Alexandria, Va., ‘was caught red-handed disclosing sensitive national security information.'” [Washington Post, Wall Street Journal]

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 9, 2019 at 8:00AM

New Hotel Opening in Old Town — “The New Hyatt Centric in Alexandria is accepting reservations for March 1, 2020. The hotel, at 1611 King St., will have a restaurant on site. It will have 124 rooms. The hotel will be pet-friendly and include a fitness center.” [Alexandria Living]

Local Zip Code Among State’s Priciest for Renters — “Alexandria, one of the most competitive real estate markets, is also one of the state’s priciest for renting an apartment… Alexandria’s zip code 22314 is the eighth most expensive in Virginia. The average $2,145 rent has a 3.8 percent year-over-year change.” [Patch]

News

JUST IN: Car Runs into Fro Yo Shop on Duke Street

By ALXnow.com

Published October 8, 2019 at 3:20PM

Car crashes into SweetFrog frozen yogurt shop at Alexandria Commons (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The driver of a car ran into the front of the SweetFrog frozen yogurt shop at 3219 Duke Street this afternoon.

The crash, at the Alexandria Commons shopping center, was reported around 2:45 p.m.

News

Crash, Medical Emergency Blocks Lanes on I-395

By ALXnow.com

Published October 8, 2019 at 11:20AM

Crash and reported medical emergency on I-395 at Duke Street

(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) Traffic is slow from Seminary Road to Duke Street after a crash and reported medical emergency in the southbound lanes of I-395.

The incident was reported shortly before 11 a.m., underneath the Duke Street overpass. Initial reports suggest that a driver suffered a medical emergency and crashed. It was not immediately clear whether how many other vehicles were involved in the crash.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 8, 2019 at 8:00AM

New Senior Care Center Set to Open in 2021 — “Construction is progressing quickly on a new senior care community in Old Town. Sunrise Senior Living broke ground on its new facility at the intersection of North Washington and Princess streets early this year. The McLean-based company is building a 93-room assisted living community.” [Alexandria Living]

Waterfront Construction Projects Well Underway — “Anyone living on Union Street in Old Town 10 years ago might not recognize it now… During the week, the street is crowded with construction vehicles, and there are several places where the sidewalk is temporarily blocked or under a protective awning because of the construction. Hardly the setting for tourists taking selfies.” [Gazette-Packet]

News

JUST IN: Gas Leak Closes E. Glebe Road in Potomac Yard

By ALXnow.com

Published October 7, 2019 at 11:15AM

Outside gas leak along E. Glebe Road in Potomac Yard (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A building has been evacuated in Potomac Yard after construction crews struck a large gas line.

The National Industries for the Blind building was evacuated and E. Glebe Road closed between Main Line Blvd and Potomac Avenue due to concerns about the escaping natural gas. Alexandria police and firefighters are on the scene, awaiting crews from Washington Gas to shut off the line.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 7, 2019 at 8:00AM

Car-Free Block of King Street Planned — “Members of Alexandria’s City Council Wednesday night OK’d a proposal by City staff to begin laying the groundwork for a pilot program that will see a part of lower King Street closed to cars on weekends, beginning in April. The pilot project would close the 100 block of King Street to traffic on weekends through October.” [Alexandria Living Magazine, Patch]

For Sale: Historic House With Notorious Past — “The nonprofit organization that owns the site of one of the most notorious slave pens in the nation has put the building and its basement museum up for sale, after struggling for years to pay for the mortgage, property taxes and repairs. Freedom House, a registered National Historic Landmark in Alexandria, Va., is being advertised as an office or residential property priced at $2.1 million.” [Washington Post, WTOP]

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published October 4, 2019 at 8:00AM

Mirror Mirror art display at Waterfront park in Old Town Alexandria (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Suit Filed Over Chicken Slaughterhouse — “The drama over the halal poultry butcher shop coming to Alexandria did not end when city council approved the business’ special use permit on March 26… About a month after the SUP approval, 10 businesses and residents filed a lawsuit against the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria City Council over the decision.” [Alexandria Times]

FBI Releases 2018 Crime Stats — “In Alexandria, violent crime fell from 262 to 260. That includes four murders and nonnegligent manslaughters, down from six in the previous year. Alexandria had 2,482 property crimes total in 2018, the same number reported in 2017.” [Patch]