Emily Leayman | ALXnow

‘Faith in Housing’ bill on by-right affordable housing will require new ordinance in Alexandria

Published May 18, 2026 at 3:45PM

Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

A bill allowing church-based by-right housing development and several other laws passed during the 2026 Virginia General Assembly will require or allow local action, according to a presentation to Alexandria City Council last week (May 12).

Wendy Ginsberg, the city’s legislative director, provided an update on key bills the city has been tracking or will be impacted by during City Council’s May 12 meeting. Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, which means localities can only use authority granted through state law.

News

Police fatally shoot suspect following shooting of female victim in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum

Published May 18, 2026 at 8:15AM | Updated May 18, 2026 at 9:37PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A fatal officer-involved shooting followed the suspect’s fatal shooting of a female victim in Alexandria early Monday (May 18), according to police.

Around 4:05 a.m., the Alexandria Police Department responded to a report of a female victim who had been shot at an apartment complex (27 Canterbury Square) in the West End. Two relatives had left the apartment, leaving the suspect barricaded inside a room with the victim.

News

Torpedo Factory Art Center draws one operator bid as city weighs next steps

By Emily Leayman

Published May 15, 2026 at 1:45PM

The Torpedo Factory in Old Town (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City Council learned Tuesday (May 12) that the city received just one proposal for a potential operator of the Torpedo Factory Art Center during its procurement process.

Earlier this year, City Council allowed a procurement process to advance to select a new operator for the Torpedo Factory Art Center at 105 N. Union Street. Bids were due April. 27.

Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Brutus is most happy around people

By Emily Leayman

Published May 15, 2026 at 12:30PM

Brutus (via Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Brutus, a people-loving companion who would never betray you.

This 1-year-and-7-month-old dog loves to stay active and is treat-motivated to learn new tricks, according to an AWLA volunteer. He loves playing fetch, although he is not always inclined to bring the ball back. Brutus would also enjoy accompanying you on walks or hikes.

News

Braddock Road bike lane and parking removal appeal heads to City Council Saturday

By Emily Leayman

Published May 14, 2026 at 11:55AM

Segments of Braddock Road where the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board approved changes (via City of Alexandria)

The appeal of the Traffic and Parking Board’s February decision on the Braddock Road redesign in the Rosemont and Del Ray neighborhoods is heading to City Council Saturday (May 16).

Four petitions against the redesign came from residents living along the Braddock Road corridor, as well as Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Community Praise Church on W. Braddock Road. Appellants are hoping City Council will overturn the board’s decision, which would remove parking on Braddock Road between Mount Vernon Avenue and Russell Road to add new bike lanes. According to a city memo, appellants are concerned that the loss of parking will affect access to homes and places of worship.

News

Memorial at Alexandria church pays tribute to people who died in ICE custody

By Emily Leayman

Published May 14, 2026 at 9:15AM

The ICE custody death memorial at Fairlington Presbyterian Church (via Fairlington Presbyterian Church/Facebook)

Fairlington Presbyterian Church has created a memorial on its front lawn to remember people who have died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since 2025.

The church, located at 3846 King Street in the West End, dedicated the memorial Sunday (May 10). The memorial features posts representing each of 32 people who died in ICE custody from January 2025 to early January 2026. Another 18 names of people who died in ICE custody leading up to May 2026 are included in a brochure being distributed at the memorial. Some official causes of death are pending or disputed.

News

Staff, families warn against budget cuts as Alexandria School Board seeks to fill $5.6M gap

By Emily Leayman

Published May 13, 2026 at 2:45PM

The Alexandria City School Board at the budget public hearing on May 12, 2026 (via Alexandria City Public Schools)

Concerns about budget cuts focused on student-facing positions and health care premium increases were raised at an Alexandria City School Board public hearing Tuesday (May 12) as the board seeks ways to fill a $5.6 million gap.

City Council’s $979.1 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget, adopted April 29, did not fill the $5.6 million gap the school system needs to fund its proposed $12.7 million collective bargaining agreement. After City Council’s budget approval, ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt presented a revised budget to the School Board on May 7.

News

VRE pushes back road closure to late May for rail bridge work near Alexandria Union Station

By Emily Leayman

Published May 13, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria Union Station sign (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

The Virginia Railway Express is postponing the next of its road closures to accommodate rail bridge work near Alexandria Union Station (110 Callahan Drive).

Construction on the two replacement rail bridge spans over King Street and Commonwealth Avenue has been rescheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Friday, May 29, running through 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 2. King Street will be fully closed between Russell Road and Daingerfield Road during construction. Traffic will be detoured to Duke Street, and Commonwealth Avenue will remain open with a single travel lane with alternating traffic directed by flaggers. Sunset Drive will remain fully open.

Around Town

Crooked Run Fermentation plans to open Del Ray taproom later in 2026

By Emily Leayman

Published May 12, 2026 at 1:45PM

Crooked Run Fermentation's future location in Del Ray (via Crooked Run Fermentation/Facebook)

Northern Virginia brewery Crooked Run Fermentation is planning to expand its footprint with a new location in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood.

After filing for a Virginia ABC permit earlier this year, the brewery confirmed it is planning a Crooked Run Brewery Taproom at 2003 Mount Vernon Avenue, the former location of Dolce & Bean. Crooked Run Fermentation, founded in Leesburg in 2013, also has a production facility and taproom in Sterling and a location at D.C.’s Union Market.

News

AlexRenew seeks public input on wastewater base charge changes Saturday

By Emily Leayman

Published May 12, 2026 at 9:15AM

Near the AlexRenew wastewater plant (staff photo by James Cullum)

Proposed changes to the base charge for Alexandria’s wastewater customers will be addressed at a public hearing Saturday (May 16).

AlexRenew, which operates the city’s wastewater service, is proposing updates to how its base charge is calculated. The utility proposes calculating the base charge using the monthly water use of a typical household, rather than the current method based on a customer’s meter size. For residential customers, water use of 3,500 gallons would equal one unit. For commercial customers, average usage volume would be converted into units relative to residential customers’ usage to set the base charge.

News

Alexandria NAACP, elected officials slam Virginia Supreme Court’s redistricting ruling

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press

Published May 11, 2026 at 1:45PM

Signs supporting and opposing redistricting on April 6, 2026 in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Elected officials representing Alexandria have joined the Alexandria NAACP in condemning the Virginia Supreme Court’s overturning of the redistricting referendum.

Voters had narrowly approved the referendum to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts — with 51.69% in favor — on April 21. The Virginia Supreme Court struck down the voter-approved constitutional amendment in a 4-3 ruling Friday (May 8), with the majority citing procedural violations in how the amendment was placed on the ballot.