Katie Taranto | ALXnow

JUST IN: Democratic firehouse primary for Del. Bennett-Parker’s seat scheduled for Tuesday

Published January 16, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated January 16, 2026 at 12:08PM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, Oct. 18, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Democrats are in for deja vu as this month’s second Democratic firehouse primary will take place Tuesday to fulfill outgoing Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s seat, after her resignation announcement.

The firehouse primary is happening this Tuesday, Jan. 20, according to the Alexandria Democratic Committee. So far, two candidates have entered the race vying for Bennett-Parker’s 5th District seat: City Councilmember R. Kirk McPike and former Alexandria City School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera.

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Alexandria ceremony honoring MLK Jr. rebukes political violence and racism

By Katie Taranto

Published January 16, 2026 at 11:15AM

Attendees at the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Program 2026 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Alexandria honored the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with song, dance and poetry, as well as a thorough rebuke of political violence and societal divisions under the Trump administration last night (Thursday).

The 53rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Program began with an impassioned invocation from the Rev. Quardricos Bernard Driskell of Beulah Baptist Church, who said King is remembered as “a prophet who named America’s sins and paid his life for it.” Driskell denounced current approaches to immigration enforcement, military spending and “taking over sovereign nations for profit, power and greed.”

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Croatian Football Federation names Alexandria as home base during FIFA World Cup

By Katie Taranto

Published January 16, 2026 at 10:15AM

Players with the Croatian Football Federation (via Hrvatski nogometni savez /Facebook)

Soccer fans in Alexandria are in for a treat, as the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has announced it will be staying in Alexandria during the FIFA World Cup this summer.

The team’s base camp will be in Alexandria, where players will stay at the AKA Hotel at 625 First Street in Old Town and train at Episcopal High School as they participate in the World Cup. Games will take place across Canada, Mexico and the United States from Jun. 11 through July 19.

Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Crystal, with ‘ears that could hear signals from space’

By Katie Taranto

Published January 16, 2026 at 8:45AM

Crystal (courtesy of Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Crystal, a good girl with endearingly pointy ears who is waiting to meet her future family at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

The three-year-old dog weighs 56 pounds and is easily spotted by her brown brindle patches and “ears that could hear signals from space,” an AWLA volunteer wrote. The four-legged pal is full of energy and fond of squeaky toys.

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Teen pedestrian transported to hospital with serious injuries after Thursday night crash

By Katie Taranto

Published January 16, 2026 at 8:15AM

Near N. Van Dorn Street and Holmes Run Parkway (via APD/Facebook)

A 15-year-old was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries last night (Thursday) after being struck by a driver in the Landmark area.

The Alexandria Police Department reported a “serious motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian” at the intersection of northbound N. Van Dorn Street and Holmes Run Parkway. The crash, which reportedly involved a driver in a silver Honda Civic, happened around 7:12 p.m., according to APD dispatches.

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Search of Washington Post reporter’s home took place in Alexandria, FBI confirms

By The Associated Press and Katie Taranto

Published January 15, 2026 at 1:41PM

FILE - A person walks into the One Franklin Square Building, home of The Washington Post newspaper, June 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FBI agents searched a Washington Post reporter’s Alexandria home yesterday (Wednesday) as part of a leak investigation into a Pentagon contractor accused of taking home classified information, the Justice Department said.

Hannah Natanson, who has been covering President Donald Trump’s transformation of the federal government, had a phone, two laptops and a Garmin watch seized in the search of her Alexandria home, the Post reported. Natanson has reported extensively on the federal workforce and recently published a piece describing how she gained hundreds of new sources — leading one colleague to call her “the federal government whisperer.”

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Historic Alexandria to host kick-off for events, exhibits celebrating America’s 250th anniversary

By Katie Taranto

Published January 15, 2026 at 11:45AM

The Alexandria Lyceum (staff photo by Airey)

A free, public event at The Lyceum this month will celebrate historical programs, exhibitions and events coming to Alexandria for America’s 250th anniversary.

Guest speakers at the America250 Kick-Off will discuss “the significance of the Semiquincentennial and Virginia’s unique role in shaping and continuing to tell a fuller, more inclusive American story,” according to OHA.

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Regional foundation opens scholarship applications for Alexandria students

By Katie Taranto

Published January 14, 2026 at 10:45AM

From left to right: Deidre Smith and Da'Nasia Curtis, recipient of the 2025 Amin Family Scholarship Fund. Da'Nasia is a 2025 graduate of Unity Reed High School, and is pursuing her degree at Virginia Commonwealth University (courtesy of The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia)

A local community foundation’s 2026 scholarship cycle includes 11 awards that are now accepting applications from Alexandria students.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia opened applications for more than 30 regional scholarships on Monday. At least 11 awards are open to Alexandria students, including those studying medicine, music and the environment.

Around Town

Flooded Del Ray record store raises over $5K in one day for recovery efforts

By Katie Taranto

Published January 14, 2026 at 9:15AM

Flooding at Crooked Beat Records (via Crooked Beat Records/Facebook)

Over $5,000 has been fundraised for Crooked Beat Records less than a day after the flooded Del Ray business published fundraisers on social media to support its restoration.

A GoFundMe and merchandise fundraiser have quickly garnered more than $5,300 for the vinyl shop, after a burst pipe incident flooded it with several inches of water over the weekend. As of yesterday (Tuesday), water had continued to enter the shop but crews were working to address damage, according to a Facebook video by owner Bill Daly.

Around Town

Contest deadline approaches for poems to be displayed in DASH buses

By Katie Taranto

Published January 13, 2026 at 12:30PM

New, 60-foot 100% electric DASH bus acquired in June 2025 (via DASH)

Residents who want to see their literary creations displayed in Alexandria’s buses and trolleys have until Friday to enter DASH’s 12th annual poetry contest.

“DASHing Words in Motion” is accepting poetry submissions until 5 p.m. Friday from writers age 16 and older who live, work or study in the city. Contest winners’ poems will be displayed for thousands of city transit riders to see during National Poetry Month in April.

News

Alexandria Republicans announce state Senate candidate for February special election

By Katie Taranto

Published January 13, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated January 14, 2026 at 12:20PM

Julie Robben Lineberry (courtesy of the Arlington GOP)

The Alexandria Republican City Committee has selected a candidate to compete in February’s special election to replace Sen. Adam Ebbin (D).

Realtor Julie Robben Lineberry will serve as the party’s candidate in the 39th Senate District, according to a mass email sent this morning (Tuesday) by Arlington GOP Chair Matthew Hurtt.