Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.
Five years ago, Josh Cease taught himself how to be a drum major on the top level of a parking garage in Frisco, Texas.
While the world wrestled with the pandemic, in 2020 Cease bought a mace, and taught himself drum majoring by drilling up and down the parking garage, leading an invisible band by listening to famous marches with headphones. In 2022, Cease moved to Centreville, and he started looking for opportunities to lead a marching band.