Author: Katie Taranto

Katie Taranto is a reporter at ALXnow. She previously covered local businesses at ARLnow and K-12 education at The Columbia Missourian. She is originally from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

News

Preschooler with measles led to potential exposures in N. Va. last week

By Katie Taranto
Virginia Department of Health offices in Richmond. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for The Virginia Mercury)

The Alexandria Health Department is alerting city residents to recent measles exposures that occurred in Northern Virginia last week.

A preschool-aged child in the region who recently traveled internationally was confirmed to have measles, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The child visited three health care sites across Woodbridge and Falls Church from Jan. 13-18, which AHD notes may have led to potential exposures.

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News

Del. Bennett-Parker expresses interest in debate with Lineberry in State Senate race

By Katie Taranto
Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker reads a proclamation at Art on the Avenue in Del Ray, Oct. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker has expressed interest in participating in a virtual forum after special election opponent Julie Robben Lineberry proposed a series of debates yesterday (Tuesday).

Lineberry, the Republican nominee, “challenged” Bennett-Parker to participate in three debates in a press release yesterday afternoon. In a statement to ALXnow, Bennett-Parker said Lineberry contacted her after publicizing the challenge.

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News

Metro closures will affect weekend rail service in Alexandria this spring

By Katie Taranto
A train arrives at the King St-Old Town Metro station, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A series of weekend-long Metrorail closures between Pentagon City and Reagan National Airport will start next month, impacting Blue and Yellow lines departing and entering Alexandria.

Trains on the Blue and Yellow lines will be suspended between those stations during ten weekends this spring, and Metro will offer free connecting shuttle bus services. The closures are planned to accommodate the construction of a second entrance at Arlington’s Crystal City station.

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News

JUST IN: Councilman Kirk McPike wins Democratic firehouse primary for delegate seat

By Katie Taranto
City Council candidate Kirk McPike speaks at the ADC Straw Poll at Port City Brewing Company, April 14, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

City Councilman R. Kirk McPike has been declared the winner in today’s Democratic firehouse primary to succeed outgoing Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5).

McPike secured 60.5% of the vote Tuesday among 5th District Democrats, defeating three other candidates in the running. A total of 2,115 voters participated in the primary, placing district turnout at around 3%, according to tallies from the Alexandria Democratic Committee and data from the Virginia Public Access Project.

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Around Town

Japanese restaurant in Old Town makes Washingtonian’s ‘100 Very Best Restaurants’ list

By Katie Taranto
Dish at Nasime Japanese Restaurant (via Nasime Japanese Restaurant/Facebook)

Just one Alexandria restaurant caught the spotlight in Washingtonian magazine’s new “100 Very Best Restaurants” list for 2026.

For at least the fourth year in a row, Nasime, a popular Japanese restaurant located at 1209 King Street in Old Town, has been featured on the magazine’s list of its favorite eateries across the D.C. area, released today (Tuesday). This year, the spot ranked No. 12 out of 100.

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Around Town

Stretch therapy center plans grand opening at larger space in West End this week

By Katie Taranto
Movement in Science's new location (courtesy of Movement in Science)

Celebrations are in order this week for a stretch therapy center that recently relocated to a larger space in the West End.

Movement in Science has moved to Suite 228 at 50 S. Pickett Street, a little under a mile from its previous location 648 S. Pickett Street. The business has planned a “Wellness Open House” from 9-11 a.m. Thursday and a ribbon cutting on Friday.

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News

New Health Department plan will seek to improve Alexandria’s mental wellness

By Katie Taranto
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (Credit: Alexandria Health Department)
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

Improving mental health across the city will be in focus in Alexandria’s next Community Health Improvement Plan.

Mental wellness is one of three topics that will be addressed in the city’s new CHIP, AHD announced last week. The topic was selected for further engagement after 47% of 2,020 respondents in the city’s 2025 Community Health Assessment survey selected “mental health” as their top community health issue.

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News

Alexandria Sheriff’s Office inmate dies in hospital, prompting investigations

By Katie Taranto
Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are investigating the death of an Alexandria Sheriff’s Office inmate yesterday (Monday).

Ricardo Roberts, 60, died shortly after 5 a.m. yesterday “while being treated for chronic medical issues” at Inova Fairfax Hospital, the Sheriff’s Office announced yesterday. The investigations are required by law following an in-custody death.

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News

Four candidates will appear on Tuesday’s primary ballot after Fairfax County teacher joins race

By Katie Taranto
Voters wait in line at the firehouse primary at Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town, Jan. 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Voters in tomorrow’s Democratic firehouse primary will have four candidates to choose from after Fairfax County Public Schools teacher Gregory Darrall entered the race this weekend.

Darrall, a self-described “proud progressive,” is a special education teacher and vice president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers. His name will appear on District 5 voters’ ballots tomorrow alongside City Councilmember R. Kirk McPike, former School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera and defense attorney Chris Leibig.

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News

Defense attorney Chris Leibig is third candidate to enter primary for Bennett-Parker’s seat

By Katie Taranto
Chris Leibig (courtesy of Chris Leibig)

Chris Leibig, a longtime criminal defense attorney and former public defender from Del Ray, is running for delegate in Tuesday’s Democratic firehouse primary.

Leibig served in the Alexandria Public Defender’s Office from 1996-2002 and practices law from his Old Town office. He is the third candidate to enter Tuesday’s race to replace outgoing Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, joining City Councilmember R. Kirk McPike and former Alexandria City School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera.

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Around Town

Alexandria restaurants to compete for best cherry dishes in upcoming ‘Cherry Challenge’

By Katie Taranto
Cherry dessert (via George Washington Birthday Celebration/Facebook)

Restaurants in Alexandria will face off later this month to determine which eateries have the best cherry-oriented appetizers, entrees, drinks and desserts.

It’s all part of the “Cherry Challenge” culinary contest starting Sunday, Jan. 25, hosted in tandem with other festivities to commemorate George Washington’s birthday by the president’s Birthday Celebration Committee.

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