Emily Leayman | ALXnow

Alexandria committee finds some consensus on School Board election reforms at first meeting

Published August 27, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria City Councilman Canek Aguirre (staff photo by James Cullum)

Members of Alexandria City Council and the Alexandria City School Board appointed to a special committee found some common ground as they met for the first time Tuesday (Aug. 25) to discuss School Board election reforms.

On Tuesday, the committee shared some agreement on increasing term lengths from three to four years. While there wasn’t any initial consensus on staggering terms, members will continue discussions at the next meeting and will also start dialogue on board size.

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Alexandria intervenes in proposed Dominion Energy, NextEra merger case

By Emily Leayman

Published August 26, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated August 26, 2026 at 3:11PM

A Dominion Energy lineman lifts himself up to work on a power line in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in North Augusta, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr., File)

The City of Alexandria is formally intervening in the proposed merger of Dominion Energy with Florida-based NextEra Energy under consideration by state and federal regulators.

The city government has filed as a participant in the case under review by Virginia’s State Corporation Commission. Along with the SCC, the $67 billion merger proposal is under consideration at the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Around Town

Political operative from Alexandria pens debut thriller novel, plans launch at Elaine’s Literary Salon

By Emily Leayman

Published August 26, 2026 at 9:15AM

Author Matt Lavoie (via Matt Mendelsohn)

Alexandria resident Matt Lavoie has spent decades working as a policy expert and political operative in D.C., and now he has taken that experience to pen and paper.

Lavoie’s thriller novel “Main Street Fringe” will be released by Level Best Books on Sept. 1. This is Lavoie’s first novel, following the story of a Virginia State Police detective going “undercover” as himself to pursue a violent conspiracy group, putting his own family at risk.

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UPDATED: AFD extinguishes small fire on Metro tracks at Braddock Road station

By Emily Leayman

Published August 25, 2026 at 5:00PM | Updated August 26, 2026 at 9:15AM

Braddock Road Metro station on Aug. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

An apparent small fire on the Metro tracks prompted an emergency response at the Braddock Road Metro station Tuesday evening.

The Alexandria Fire Department was called to the station (700 N. West Street) around 5:14 p.m. According to radio dispatches, a Metro supervisor called 911 to report potential wood burning on Track 2. Units found an apparent smoking crosstie and did not believe Metro had to shut down the electrified third rail.

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Some Amtrak trips to run from Alexandria instead of D.C. for nine days in October

By Emily Leayman

Published August 25, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated August 26, 2026 at 11:24AM

Alexandria Amtrak station platform (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Alexandria Union Station will be busier than usual for nine days in October as it replaces D.C.’s Union Station for some Amtrak trips.

Amtrak announced Monday that it will be replacing aging track components for nine days, prompting a service suspension at the control point between D.C. and Virginia. Work will start after service ends on Friday, Oct. 16 and be completed before morning service on Monday, Oct. 26.

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Old Town North Alliance names three finalists to design arts and cultural district banners

By Emily Leayman

Published August 25, 2026 at 11:45AM

Sculptor Christian Benefiel’s art installation in Old Town North (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Old Town North Alliance is one step closer to developing branding for the neighborhood’s new arts and cultural district.

The alliance’s board of directors named three artists as finalists in the Old Town North Arts and Cultural District Banner Design Project. They will be subject to a public vote to determine the winning artist.

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Alexandria’s Breast Cancer Collective keeps focus on patient outcomes after rebranding

By Emily Leayman

Published August 25, 2026 at 9:15AM

The Walk to Bust Cancer (courtesy of Breast Cancer Collective)

Nearly a year after rebranding as the Breast Cancer Collective, the Alexandria-based organization is preparing for major fundraisers in the fall to continue its work to make breast cancer screenings and treatments accessible.

The collective officially announced its rebranding as the Breast Cancer Collective last October. The name change from the National Breast Center Foundation sought to clear up confusion with other national breast cancer entities.

Around Town

Regional summer restaurant week draws participation from Alexandria eateries

By Emily Leayman

Published August 24, 2026 at 1:45PM

Outdoor dining at Vermilion (via Vermilion/Instagram)

Even though Alexandria Restaurant Week ended Sunday, diners have another chance to score special menus for a second restaurant week.

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s Summer Restaurant Week runs from Monday, Aug. 24 to Sunday, Aug. 30. Participating eateries have a choice of offering $25 or $35-per-person brunch or lunch menus and $40, $55 and $65-per-person dinner menus. Some restaurants may extend specials beyond the weekend.

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Alexandria students begin school year with stricter cell phone rules, new boundaries

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum

Published August 24, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria School Board Chair Christopher Harris shakes hands with a student on the first day of school at Alexandria City High School, Aug. 24, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools welcomed students back for the first day of school today (Monday) as the district implemented a stricter student cell phone policy and new school boundaries.

More than 15,000 students started school at ACPS, from the incoming kindergarten class who will graduate in 2039, to the seniors graduating next year. Acting Superintendent Grace Taylor, Mayor Alyia Gaskins, School Board Chair Christopher Harris, Alexandria City High School Principal Michael Burch and Police Chief Tarrick McGuire visited classrooms at ACHS’s King Street Campus on the first day.

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Herd of goats recruited to tackle invasive plants in an Alexandria park

By Emily Leayman

Published August 21, 2026 at 2:45PM

Goats (via Bailey Mahon/Unsplash)

In a developed city like Alexandria, residents may soon be surprised to find four-legged landscapers wandering a West End park.

Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities is launching a pilot program to bring 35 to 40 goats to All Veterans Park (4725 Duke Street). Starting Sept. 8, the herd of goats will be brought to graze on invasive plants on the slopes of the park. The invasive plants being targeted in the pilot program are kudzu, garlic mustard and multiflora rose.

Around Town

Mount Vernon Trail wins public vote for national Hall of Fame induction

By Emily Leayman

Published August 21, 2026 at 10:00AM

Exercising along the Mount Vernon Trail in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Mount Vernon Trail has secured a place in Rails to Trails Conservancy’s catalog of the nation’s best trails.

Trails advocacy organization Rails to Trails Conservancy announced that the Mount Vernon Trail received 58% of public votes to win the Hall of Fame accolade. The other nominees were National Battlefield Trail in Texas and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Ohio. Public voting was open from Aug. 5 to 16.