Ryan Belmore | ALXnow

Youngkin names two Alexandria residents to state boards

Published September 28, 2025 at 8:00AM

George Washington's Mount Vernon estate (via Facebook)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced new administration and board appointments on Friday, which include two Alexandria residents.

Brandy Schantz of Alexandria, CEO of Schantz Business Consulting, was appointed to the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council. Robert Luther III of Old Town, founder of Constitutional Solutions PLLC, was named to the Board of Visitors to Mount Vernon.

Sports

Titans stay unbeaten with 23-21 win over Woodson

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 28, 2025 at 7:25AM

The Alexandria City High School Titans run onto the field, Sept. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Titans overcame a sluggish start to defeat C.G. Woodson 23-21 on Friday night, rallying from a 14-7 first-quarter deficit to remain unbeaten.

Woodson jumped out early with 14 first-quarter points while Alexandria City managed just one touchdown. The game remained scoreless through the second and third quarters.

News

Alexandria City Council to host town hall Oct. 4 at Patrick Henry Recreation Center

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 27, 2025 at 9:00AM

Alexandria City Council Town Hall on June 12 (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Alexandria residents will have the opportunity to directly engage with their elected officials at a City Council town hall scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center.

The upcoming session will be the city’s third town hall of the year, following gatherings in March and June that drew dozens of residents and addressed topics ranging from ward redistricting to Old Town train tracks.

News

Alexandria maintains top credit ratings for 33rd consecutive year

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 6:30PM

Alexandria City Hall in Old Town in 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria has once again received the highest possible bond ratings from major credit agencies, marking the 33rd consecutive year the city has earned top marks for its financial management – news that City Manager Jim Parajon appeared to preview at a tourism industry event Thursday night.

S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Ratings reaffirmed Alexandria’s ‘AAA’ and ‘Aaa’ ratings, respectively, allowing the city to continue securing low interest rates when issuing bonds for significant capital projects.

News

Alexandria man sentenced to 1 day in $4M COVID fraud scheme

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 4:30PM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 5:09PM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

An Alexandria man received a sentence of just one day behind bars for his role in a $4 million scheme that defrauded a federal COVID-19 relief program, according to a press release received from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia, on Friday.

Carl Pierre, 37, received the sentence in May for helping orchestrate a scam that exploited the Paycheck Protection Program through a fitness center that never opened to the public. His co-conspirators received longer sentences when they faced U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles on Thursday.

News

Visit Alexandria expands tourism focus beyond Old Town with new neighborhoods initiative

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 2:30PM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 4:27PM

Visit Alexandria's new Neighborhoods Hub features an interactive map and enhanced storytelling to promote communities beyond Old Town. (Screenshot: VisitAlexandria.com

Visit Alexandria announced a comprehensive neighborhoods initiative designed to distribute tourism’s economic benefits across all areas of the city while encouraging visitors to explore beyond the traditional Old Town corridor.

The initiative centers on a new Neighborhoods Hub on the organization’s website, featuring an interactive map, enhanced content, embedded videos, and expanded storytelling about Alexandria’s diverse communities, Claire Mouledoux, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Alexandria, said during the organization’s annual meeting Sept. 25.

News

VDOT seeks public input on South Van Dorn Street improvements near Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 12:45PM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 4:47PM

Give Input on South Van Dorn Street STARS Study (via VDOT)

The Virginia Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback on a study examining potential safety and traffic improvements along South Van Dorn Street in Fairfax County, including the section that connects directly to Alexandria’s city limits.

The STARS (Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions) study encompasses a 2.5-mile section of South Van Dorn Street, from Telegraph Road to the Alexandria boundary, and three-quarters of a mile of Franconia Road, between Grovedale Drive and South Van Dorn Street.

News

Alexandria tourism taxes hit record $88M, fund city services

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 11:30AM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 4:30PM

Shopping in Old Town Alexandria (via Visit Alexandria)

When visitors dine at Alexandria restaurants, stay in local hotels, or shop along King Street, they’re helping fund essential municipal services through the taxes they pay.

Alexandria’s tourism industry generated $88 million in consumption tax revenue during fiscal year 2025, a $2 million increase from the previous year, as visitor spending reached $1 billion for the first time in the city’s history. These taxes on sales, meals, and lodging from visitors traveling more than 50 miles to the city directly support the city’s core services.

News

Starbucks closes at least one Alexandria location as part of national restructuring

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 9:45AM

Starbucks at King & Union (Screenshot via Google Maps)

A Starbucks location in Old Town will reportedly close today as part of a sweeping national restructuring effort announced by CEO Brian Niccol on Thursday.

The Starbucks at King & Union streets — located at 100 S. Union Street — will close permanently on Friday, according to customers who visited the location. The closure comes as part of Starbucks’ plan to close roughly 400 underperforming stores across North America, representing about 1% of the company’s locations.

News

Alexandria tourism hits $1 billion milestone for first time in city’s history

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 9:08AM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 4:32PM

Alexandria's tourism industry reached the historic $1 billion milestone in visitor spending for the first time in 2024. Credit: Visit Alexandria

Alexandria’s tourism industry reached an unprecedented milestone in 2024, generating more than $1 billion in visitor spending for the first time in the city’s history, Visit Alexandria announced Thursday during its annual meeting at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center.

The historic achievement represents an 8% increase from $941 million in visitor spending in 2023 and marks a dramatic recovery from pandemic lows of $445 million in 2020. Alexandria’s growth rate outpaced both Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole, according to data released by the tourism organization.

News

Notes: Alexandria Police to close John Carlyle Street for Oktoberfest Saturday

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 8:01AM

Oktoberfest at John Carlyle Square, Sept. 27, 2025 (via Eventbrite)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Friday, Sept. 26, the 269th day of 2025. There are 96 days left in the year.

☀️ Today’s weather: Partly sunny, with a high near 82°F. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Mostly cloudy tonight, with a low around 66°F. Calm wind.