News

An 18-year-old from Silver Spring, Md., was arrested yesterday (Wednesday) for allegedly brandishing a handgun in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

No one was seriously injured during the incident, which occurred in the 800 block of John Carlyle Street around 7:40 p.m. Wednesday. The victim told police that he did not know the suspect, who had pulled out a handgun and cocked it, according to an APD radio dispatch.


News

City Council ignored a plea from the School Board Tuesday night, unanimously approving a resolution to change how the city appropriates funding to Alexandria City Public Schools.

City Council’s resolution directs ACPS, in preparation for the Fiscal Year 2028 budget, to submit estimates for funds needed through major classifications instead of a lump sum. The School Board asked that the move, which was introduced at a March 4 joint work session with City Council, be postponed as it restricts the school system from redirecting budgeted funds to pay for programs and services.


News

UPDATE at 5 p.m. — As of Thursday evening, Dominion Energy’s outage map is no longer showing outages in Old Town. 

Nearly 2,000 residents and businesses in Old Town were without power after an outage was reported just after 10 a.m. today (Thursday).


News

Nonprofit leader Wanda Pierce has been selected as the interim executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter, the organization announced today.

Pierce, the former CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation, started work yesterday (Tuesday), temporarily filling the vacancy recently left by former longtime Executive Director Shannon Steene. Pierce will manage Carpenter’s Shelter’s 64-bed Hoffman Center, as well as the 64-bed Alexandria Community Shelter on Mill Road as the organization’s board of directors conducts a national search for Steene’s replacement.


News

Alexandria’s City Council set a one-cent ceiling for the city’s real estate tax rate on Tuesday night.

City Councilman John Taylor Chapman made the motion to increase the ceiling, which is not the final adopted tax rate. While City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposed $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget has no tax increase, the one-cent ceiling gives the city more options in crafting the budget, which is set for a final council vote on April 29.


News

There will be a town hall meeting next week to discuss January’s sewage spill in the Potomac River, Mayor Alyia Gaskins has announced.

On Jan. 19, a collapsed pipe caused hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater to flow into the Potomac, prompting the Virginia Department of Health to issue a recreational water advisory. That advisory was partially lifted earlier this month when VDH found that bacteria concentrations were “at levels acceptable for all recreational water use.”


Around Town

The National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is celebrating a special anniversary — 15 years as a member of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber ALX).

NIB is the largest employment resource for people who are blind in the U.S. and is an active participant with the chamber. In 2024, NIB and its associated agencies provided employment to 5,142 people who are blind, culminating in more than $172 million in wages and benefits.


News

Critics of Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey asked City Council last night (Monday) to withhold his funding unless he stops voluntarily transferring inmates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

More than two dozen speakers appeared before City Council at its public hearing on City Manager Jim Parajon’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. For nearly a year, activists have protested against ASO’s transferring of Alexandria inmates to ICE custody via the agency’s detainers and administrative warrants.


Around Town

A new restaurant self-described as a “five-star dive bar” will cut the ribbon at its new location in Old Town on Thursday.

The Commodore (220 N. Lee Street) is the second location for business partners Rob Van de Graaff and Steve Kim, who also own The Commodore in D.C.’s Dupont Circle. The space was previously home to Mystic BBQ & Grill, which closed last fall after being open for a year and a half. Before that, it was home to Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster BBQ.


News

Alexandria’s annual Adopt-a-Park program is returning this spring, bringing community groups together to beautify the city’s parks and open spaces.

The program is kicking off with a celebration hosted by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities from 6-7:30 p.m. next Wednesday, March 18 at 2900 A Business Center Drive. The event is an opportunity for applicants and groups to connect with fellow volunteers, meet city staff, review updated procedures, get supplies and ask questions about the program.


News

The Alexandria City School Board is asking City Council to postpone voting on a resolution this week that would change how the city appropriates funding to the school system.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins introduced the proposal at City Council’s joint work session with the School Board on March 4. The new system would authorize Council to approve funding allocations by major classification, instead of an annual lump sum. School Board Chair Michelle Rief says that more discussion is needed.


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