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.

Around Town

Ballyshaners’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade returning to Old Town for 43rd year

By Katie Taranto
Alexandria's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A festive afternoon of Irish dancing, pipe bands and emerald-green outfits and decorations is returning soon to Old Town.

The Ballyshaners‘ 43rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is expected to draw thousands of spectators to celebrate alongside a lineup of performers and community organizers. Local dignitaries plan to kick off festivities at noon Saturday, March 7, with the parade stepping off at 12:30 p.m.

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News

Old Town Pool renovation updates expected at city meeting next week

By Katie Taranto
Old Town Pool (via City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria is expected to provide an update next week about ongoing plans to replace the Old Town Pool.

City staff will share updates on the project’s design and construction timeline, and attendees will be able to provide feedback at the meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at the Oswald Durant Center (1605 Cameron Street).

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Regional officials briefed about ongoing response to Potomac River sewage spill

By Emily Leayman and Katie Taranto
A sailboat on the Potomac River (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Regional officials were briefed yesterday (Monday) on continued repairs and efforts to mitigate health risks five weeks after a sewage pipe collapsed, releasing an estimated 243 million gallons of sewage into the Potomac River.

DC Water officials outlined steps it has taken since the Jan. 19 sewer pipe collapse, just east of the American Legion Bridge, during a virtual meeting with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments that included Vice Chair, Mayor Alyia Gaskins. The collapse happened in a section of the Potomac Interceptor, which carries about 60 million gallons of sewage daily from Fairfax and Loudoun counties, the towns of Vienna and Herndon, Dulles Airport and Montgomery County, Md.

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News

National summit for churches seeking to support housing kicks off in Old Town North

By Katie Taranto
The Waypoint at Fairlington site in September 2022 (via Wesley Housing/Facebook)

Leaders from religious communities, development groups and financial institutions are gathering in Old Town North today (Tuesday) for a summit on faith-based housing development.

The sold-out event, “Restoring Hope and Building Opportunities,” is taking place now at United Way Worldwide’s Alexandria headquarters, where speakers and attendees “will examine how faith-based institutions can move beyond advocacy to serve as structured development partners — leveraging land, capital, and community trust to address housing shortages and expand economic opportunity,” according to a release.

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News

All Alexandria streets are clear of snow as ACPS returns to classrooms today

By Katie Taranto
Wintry morning along Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, Feb. 23, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria crews were quick to finish clearing Sunday’s snowfall, aided in part by some warmer temperatures and a lack of “snowcrete.”

As of last night (Monday), all primary, secondary and residential streets have been cleared, as well as Alexandria City Public Schools buildings, bus stops, city facilities and adjacent sidewalks, according to a city announcement. Roads are clear as ACPS students and staff make a return to classrooms today on normal schedules, following yesterday’s synchronous learning plans.

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News

Alexandria sets Friday filing deadline for City Council candidates in April special election

By Katie Taranto
Voting sign at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

The City of Alexandria has confirmed the April 21 special election date for an open seat on City Council, and candidates are required to file by the end of this week.

Candidates are required to have all paperwork submitted to the General Registrar by 5 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 27 in order to appear on the ballot, according to a city announcement this afternoon (Monday).

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News

VDH: Measles outbreak not likely in N. Va. despite uptick in cases

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)

Maintaining high childhood vaccination rates is key to preventing measles outbreaks, state health experts say, as cases have seen an uptick in Northern Virginia and across the country this year.

In the first two months of 2026, Virginia has confirmed 10 cases of measles — double the total cases recorded last year — and nine of them have been in the northern region, with exposures reported in Alexandria, Fairfax County and surrounding areas.

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Around Town

Several Alexandria artists named finalists in regional Wammie Music Awards

By Katie Taranto
Wammie Awards crowd (via The Wammie Awards/Facebook)

Eight Alexandria artists have advanced as finalists in the 37th annual Wammie Music Awards, as competition narrows down in the regional program.

Several musicians made the cut from Alexandria’s initial 14 nominees, receiving 12 finalist nominations for their work across multiple genres, including hip-hop, pop, funk and more. Winners will be announced during this year’s live awards show on Saturday, March 28, at D.C.’s Capital Turnaround.

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News

BREAKING: ACPS closed Monday as plans shift to synchronous learning

By Katie Taranto
Francis C. Hammond Middle School, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools will be closed tomorrow (Monday), with students participating in synchronous learning, the school system announced tonight.

ACPS made the decision around 9:40 p.m. Sunday, shifting gears from previous plans to open with a two-hour delay due to the ongoing snow. All schools and offices will be closed, with students participating in synchronous learning and staff following a virtual workday.

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News

UPDATED: ACPS will close Monday as snowfall continues

By Katie Taranto
ACPS school buses in snowy, icy conditions, Jan. 30, 2026 (via ACPS/Facebook)

Alexandria City Public Schools has announced it will be closed tomorrow (Monday), following previous plans to open with a two-hour delay.

All schools and offices will be closed tomorrow, with students participating in synchronous learning and staff following a virtual workday. ACPS announced the decision around 9:40 p.m. Sunday, adjusting from the previously planned two-hour delay.

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News

Measles case may have led to exposures at Alexandria office building

By Katie Taranto
2800 Eisenhower Avenue (via Google Maps)

An Alexandria office building is one of several potential measles exposure sites in Northern Virginia confirmed by state health officials last night (Thursday).

People in the office building, located at 2800 Eisenhower Avenue, could have been exposed to measles between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The office was reported as an exposure site in connection with two new measles cases in the region.

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