Emily Leayman | ALXnow

UPDATED: Two people shot in Alexandria’s West End

Published June 20, 2026 at 9:15PM | Updated June 21, 2026 at 10:51AM

The Alexandria Police Department on scene of a West End shooting, June 20, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department responded to a shooting that injured two people in the West End tonight (Saturday).

The shooting was reported around 7:03 p.m. in the area of 5335 Duke Street and the 100 block of N. Paxton Street. The two adult male victims were taken to the hospital. An APD spokesperson told ALXnow one victim was in stable condition and the other in critical condition.

Around Town

Adoptable pet of the week: Gentle Bart looks for home with love and treats

By Emily Leayman

Published June 19, 2026 at 2:45PM

Bart, an adoptable dog at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (via AWLA)

Meet Bart, a large-breed dog from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria who could use a home with lots of love and treats.

This handsome pup can be shy at first, but his sweet personality will soon take over after meeting new people. He loves being with people and appears to get along well with other dogs, an AWLA volunteer told ALXnow.

Around Town

Juneteenth, Pride, World Cup events lead Alexandria’s June 19-21 weekend happenings

By Emily Leayman

Published June 19, 2026 at 9:15AM

Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie will host a World Cup viewing party with the Alexandria Soccer Association (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Alexandria will get a long holiday weekend packed with Juneteenth festivities, Father’s Day events, Pride Month celebrations and summer solstice events.

As some workers get a day off for the federal Juneteenth holiday, Alexandria will host events like the Juneteenth Festival at Charles Houston Recreation Center, Washington Revels Jubilee Voices Juneteenth Concert at Shiloh Baptist Church and Memorial at Douglass Cemetery.

News

Alexandria congressional candidate weighs in on federal firings in ‘Daily Show’ segment

By Emily Leayman

Published June 18, 2026 at 9:15AM

Michael Duffin is running for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District seat (via Michael Duffin for Congress)

Michael Duffin, a fired State Department worker from Alexandria who is running for Congress, appeared on “The Daily Show” Tuesday to discuss federal workforce reductions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Duffin, who lives in the West End with his wife and two children, was one of more than 1,300 federal workers fired by the State Department in July 2025. The Democrat running in the 8th Congressional District joined Maryland congressional candidates Alexis Goldstein and Tracy Starr and New York candidate Alissa Ellman in “The Daily Show” segment on fired federal workers’ campaigns.

Around Town

Former Hotel AKA Alexandria in Old Town North rebranded as The Satire

By Emily Leayman

Published June 17, 2026 at 1:45PM

Exterior of The Satire, formerly Hotel AKA Alexandria (via The Satire)

As Hotel AKA Alexandria transitions to the Autograph Collection Hotels by Marriott today (Wednesday), the Old Town North hotel has been renamed The Satire.

The Satire, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, features new branding and management as well as Marriott rewards benefits for hotel guests. The hotel is managed by Concord Hospitality and will remain under Electra America Hospitality’s ownership.

News

King Street closure for VRE work at Alexandria Union Station to begin tomorrow

By Emily Leayman

Published June 17, 2026 at 9:15AM

At Alexandria Station in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A road closure and pedestrian detour for a Virginia Railway Express rail project around Alexandria Union Station (110 Callahan Drive) will resume starting tomorrow (Thursday).

King Street will be closed between Russell Road and Daingerfield Road starting 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18 until around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24. Commonwealth Avenue will remain open with an alternating single lane directed by flaggers. Sunset Drive will remain open. A detour is available via Callahan Drive, Duke Street and Diagonal Road.

News

Early voting to begin this week for August congressional primaries in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published June 16, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated June 16, 2026 at 12:14PM

Charles Houston Recreation Center on Election Day, April 21, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Early voting is set to begin Thursday, June 18 for 2026 congressional primary elections in Alexandria, according to the city’s Office of Voter Registration and Elections.

The elections on Aug. 4 will include a Democratic primary for U.S. House of Representatives in the 8th Congressional District and a Republican primary to decide who will run against Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) for U.S. Senate. Virginia voters are not registered by party, so they can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary.

News

City Council approves Housing 2040 Plan to guide housing goals over next 15 years

By Emily Leayman

Published June 15, 2026 at 1:45PM

The Sherwood apartment building at Southern Towers in Alexandria's West End. (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Saturday (June 13), Alexandria City Council unanimously approved the Housing 2040 Plan, which will set the city’s housing goals over the next 15 years.

The Housing 2040 Plan will guide city policies on expanding housing supply and affordable homeownership, preserving existing affordable housing, seeking landlord-tenant protections, strengthening condominium communities, expanding resources for seniors and people with disabilities, and supporting safe and healthy housing. It will also guide the city’s legislative policies on housing, land use planning, small area plans, housing programs and development of new financial and regulatory tools.

News

Alexandria government offices, other services to close Friday for Juneteenth

By Emily Leayman

Published June 15, 2026 at 11:45AM

The Contrabands and Freedmens Cemetery Memorial at 1001 S. Washington Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Alexandria and other agencies serving the city have announced closures and other schedule changes for the Juneteenth holiday.

All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed Juneteenth (Friday, June 19). The holiday recognizes the end of slavery in the U.S. as the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free on June 19, 1865 — two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

News

Mayor Gaskins urges self-care after her dehydration scare during Sails on the Potomac

By Emily Leayman

Published June 15, 2026 at 10:00AM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins (staff photo by James Cullum)

After a health scare and visit to the emergency room, Mayor Alyia Gaskins shared some advice for residents: “take care of yourself.”

Gaskins ended up in the emergency room due to severe dehydration during Sails on the Potomac‘s opening ceremony on Friday (June 12). City leaders were giving remarks to kick off the weekend-long festival.

News

School Board cuts 56 positions in $401M ACPS budget, gives lifeline to CIS program

By James Cullum and Emily Leayman

Published June 12, 2026 at 5:45PM

The Alexandria City School Board on June 11, 2016 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board gave the green light to its $401.18 million combined funds budget on Thursday night, capping months of public meetings and conversations during what Board Chair Michelle Rief described as “an extraordinarily difficult budget year.”

“This year’s budget development process occurred amid significant uncertainty,” Rief said before the budget’s passage, “including federal workforce reductions that disproportionately affect Alexandria, slowing City revenue growth, continued inflationary pressures, the complexity of negotiating our first collective bargaining agreement and the delayed adoption of the state budget.”