Ryan Belmore | ALXnow

Alexandria mayor to address community questions in monthly live forum

Published August 27, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated August 27, 2025 at 3:24PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins in Council Chambers, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins will sit down with ALXnow next Tuesday for her regular monthly conversation with the community, offering residents a direct line to city leadership as the City Council prepares to resume meetings after its August recess.

The live virtual discussion, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 11 a.m., provides a platform for community members to get answers about pressing city issues and municipal priorities. The 30-minute session will be hosted by ALXnow Publisher Ryan Belmore.

News

ARHA board places CEO on probation, hires law firm for investigation

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 27, 2025 at 9:44AM | Updated August 27, 2025 at 3:07PM

Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners took decisive action Wednesday morning, voting to hire an independent law firm to investigate CEO Erik Johnson and placing him on probationary status with a final warning.

The board convened a special meeting at 8 a.m., one day after Mayor Alyia Gaskins sent a letter on behalf of City Council demanding a third-party investigation into Johnson’s residency in public housing.

News

Notes: Metro announces winning design for new 8000-series rail fleet after public vote

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 27, 2025 at 8:00AM

Metro unveils winning design for new 8000-series rail fleet (Credit: WMATA.com)

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Wednesday, Aug. 27, the 239th day of 2025. There are 126 days left in the year.

☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 78 degrees. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59 degrees. Northwest wind around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening.

News

City Council demands ARHA investigation ahead of emergency board meeting

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 27, 2025 at 6:00AM | Updated August 27, 2025 at 11:10AM

Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority will convene a special board meeting this morning at 8 a.m. to discuss a personnel matter in executive session, one day after Mayor Alyia Gaskins sent a letter on behalf of City Council demanding a third-party investigation into CEO Erik Johnson’s residency in public housing.

In a four-page letter sent Tuesday to ARHA Board Chair Anitra Androh, Gaskins called for an independent investigation into three specific areas: Johnson’s actions, ARHA’s compliance with all applicable laws related to properties the authority owns and manages, and ARHA’s finances, including an independent financial audit.

News

GSA launches search for new Alexandria office space to house displaced National Science Foundation

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 26, 2025 at 4:45PM | Updated August 26, 2025 at 8:13PM

National Science Foundation at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (via NSF)

The General Services Administration has launched an official search for office space in Alexandria to relocate the National Science Foundation after the agency was displaced from its Eisenhower Avenue headquarters.

In a presolicitation notice posted to the federal contracting website SAM.gov on Thursday, GSA is seeking between 240,000 and 280,000 square feet of Class A office space for a 48-month lease term, with occupancy required by the end of November. The notice (ID 5VA0785) was first reported by Bisnow and then by the Washington Business Journal.

News

Alexandria defense contractor lands $70M in CBRN defense contracts

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 26, 2025 at 2:15PM

BryceTech Awarded $70 Million in Prime Contracts to Advance CBRN Capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense (Credit: BryceTech)

Alexandria-based BryceTech has been awarded three prime contracts worth approximately $70 million over five years to advance chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense, the company announced Tuesday.

The multi-year contracts support the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense and will see BryceTech deploy about 50 full-time professionals with acquisition, scientific, technical, and programmatic expertise.

News

Federal security chief warns of rising threats at Alexandria conference

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 26, 2025 at 1:15PM

DCSA Director David Cattler speaks to insider threat and security professionals from military, government, industry and academia at the National Insider Threat Awareness Month (NITAM) conference held at the U.S. Patent and Trade Office on Aug. 18. (Photo By Sgt. Marcel Bassett)

The head of a major federal security agency warned Aug. 18 that a “perfect storm” of global threats is targeting the region’s defense contractors and classified government work.

David Cattler, director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, told security professionals that adversaries are increasingly viewing Northern Virginia’s intellectual property and defense workforce as “strategic terrain, as valuable as any battlefield,” according to a DCSA press release.

News

Plea deal expected for former FCC employee in Alexandria sexual assault cases

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 26, 2025 at 11:15AM

Jeffrey Gary (via APD)

A plea agreement is expected for Jeffrey Gary, the former Federal Communications Commission employee charged with sexually assaulting and attempting to abduct two women near Alexandria Metro stations in May.

Gary, 35, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday in Alexandria court, allowing three of the four charges against him to move forward to a grand jury, according to NBC4 Washington.

News

Notes: Little Theatre of Alexandria to stage Pulitzer Prize winner ‘Lost in Yonkers’

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 26, 2025 at 8:00AM | Updated August 26, 2025 at 8:54AM

Lost In Yonkers will run Sept. 6 - 27, 2025 at The Little Theatre of Alexandria (Credit: The Little Theatre of Alexandria)

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Tuesday, Aug. 26, the 238th day of 2025. There are 127 days left in the year.

☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 80 degrees. West wind 3 to 6 mph. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61 degrees. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Around Town

Cancer survivor, Komen leader to share children’s book at Alexandria event

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 26, 2025 at 6:00AM

Author and Komen leader Paul Schneider to share "Love Stays Strong" during in-person event in Alexandria (Contributed image)

Paula Schneider, a breast cancer survivor and leader with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, will discuss her new children’s book “Love Stays Strong” during a Sept. 3 event at Old Town Books.

The 7 p.m. presentation will feature Schneider alongside Karin Purugganan, a licensed professional counselor in Alexandria. The event will take place at Old Town Books, 130 S Royal St.

News

Things to do this week and weekend in Alexandria: Aug. 25-Sept. 1

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 25, 2025 at 12:00PM | Updated August 28, 2025 at 12:53PM

Biking on Queen Street (Kristian Summerer for Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria residents and visitors have plenty to choose from this weekend as the city’s popular Summer Restaurant Week extends through Labor Day weekend, offering diners special menus and pricing at participating establishments. The long weekend features a mix of outdoor markets, cultural events and live entertainment across the city’s neighborhoods.

Saturday highlights include the weekly Old Town and Del Ray farmers markets, while Sunday adds the West End and Four Mile Run markets to give shoppers multiple opportunities to browse local produce and crafts. Music lovers can catch performances ranging from jazz at The Birchmere to traditional Irish sessions at Daniel O’Connell’s, while families can explore history at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum’s Family Day with Young Historians on Sunday. The Alexandria City Public Schools will host several community meetings throughout the week, including funding discussions and board development sessions, before city offices close Monday for the Labor Day holiday.