Ryan Belmore | ALXnow

Former Alexandria councilman’s use of city polo at protest draws questions

Published August 20, 2025 at 7:22PM | Updated August 21, 2025 at 4:36AM

Former Alexandria City Councilman Mo Seifeldein wearing an official City Council polo at ARHA protest on Aug. 20 (Staff Photo by James Cullum)

Former Alexandria City Councilman Mo Seifeldein‘s decision to wear an Alexandria City Council polo shirt while participating in a housing protest Tuesday has drawn questions from residents about the appropriate use of city-branded clothing by former officials and potential voter confusion.

Seifeldein, who served on the City Council from 2019 to 2021 and is running for Congress, wore the official city polo while positioning himself as a mediator during a demonstration outside the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority headquarters on Wythe Street. More than a dozen current and former ARHA tenants protested poor living conditions and delayed repairs.

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Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge to open for vessel passage tonight

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 20, 2025 at 12:00PM

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge at sunset (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge will open at midnight tonight to allow a vessel to pass through, causing traffic stoppages of 15 to 20 minutes, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

The agency’s Northern Virginia district shared the traffic alert on social media Wednesday morning, advising drivers to expect delays on the span that carries Interstate 95 and the Interstate 495 Capital Beltway between Alexandria and Oxon Hill, Md.

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Health officials investigate potential measles exposure at Dulles Airport

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 20, 2025 at 10:30AM | Updated August 20, 2025 at 11:35AM

The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

Alexandria residents who traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport on Aug. 12 may have been exposed to measles, according to health officials.

The Virginia Department of Health was notified of a confirmed measles case involving an out-of-state resident who traveled through the airport that day. The potential exposure occurred in the main terminal, at the TSA security checkpoint, in Concourse B and on transportation between the main terminal and Concourse B from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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Red Barn Mercantile partners with Two Men and a Truck to collect formal wear for young adults

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 20, 2025 at 10:00AM

Red Barn Mercantile and Two Men And A Truck are collecting dress donations. (Credit: Red Barn Mercantile)

Red Barn Mercantile, located at 1117 King Street in Alexandria, is partnering with Two Men and a Truck to collect gently used homecoming and wedding guest dresses and shoes through the end of August.

The initiative aims to help young adults who may not be able to afford clothing for special events by creating a free boutique in a warehouse where they can shop for formal wear.

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ACPS superintendent scheduled for Sept. 3 virtual community forum

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 20, 2025 at 9:02AM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at Mount Vernon Community School on Nov. 15, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria will host a community town hall meeting with Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt on Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom.

The virtual forum, announced Tuesday on the organization’s Instagram account, will provide residents an opportunity to engage directly with the district’s top administrator about education issues affecting the community. The meeting comes just over two weeks after ACPS students returned to classrooms on Monday, Aug. 18, for the start of the 2025-26 school year.

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Notes: State commission approves transmission line project along Alexandria-Fairfax border despite resident objections

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 20, 2025 at 7:59AM | Updated August 20, 2025 at 10:12AM

Credit: Paul Horn/Inside Climate News

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Wednesday, Aug. 20, the 232nd day of 2025. There are 133 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Patchy drizzle before 8 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 4 p.m. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Titans ready for battle: Alexandria City High School football looks to rebound in 2025

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 20, 2025 at 6:00AM | Updated September 21, 2025 at 3:52AM

Alexandria City High School's homecoming football game against West Potomac on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School’s football program continues its 2025 season Thursday when the varsity Titans host Meridian High School at 6:15 p.m. for their home opener, following last week’s season-opening road game at Langley High School.

Head coach Rodney Hughey and his staff are working to improve on last season’s 3-7 overall record and 3-4 Division 6A regional mark. The Titans finished 39th in the state division rankings, providing motivation for the program’s rebound efforts this fall.

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Federal government places Alexandria schools on high-risk status over Title IX

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 19, 2025 at 6:31PM

Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

The U.S. Department of Education escalated its conflict with Alexandria City Public Schools on Tuesday, placing the district on “high-risk” status and moving all federal funding to a reimbursement-only system after ACPS rejected federal demands to change transgender student policies, according to a department press release.

The action affects over $50 million in federal funding flowing to Alexandria and four other Northern Virginia school districts, requiring the schools to pay expenses upfront and then request reimbursement from the federal government, the department said.

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Alexandria police searched for 2 suspects in S. 28th Street shooting that injured 1

By Ryan Belmore and James Cullum

Published August 19, 2025 at 5:48PM | Updated August 20, 2025 at 9:22AM

Scene outside 3220 S 28th Street on Aug. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police searched Tuesday evening for two suspects who shot a man twice in Alexandria, prompting a multi-agency manhunt involving K-9 units.

The shooting occurred around 5:06 p.m. near the 3200 block of South 28th Street, with the victim found on the ground in front of 3220 S. 28th St. suffering gunshot wounds to the abdomen and arm, witnesses said.

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Woman found dead during eviction process in Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 19, 2025 at 12:30PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Alexandria police are investigating after a woman was found dead outside an apartment building during an eviction on Tuesday morning.

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office said deputies were conducting an eviction on the eighth floor of 400 Madison Street around 9:03 a.m. when they discovered the resident, an adult female, deceased outside the building.

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Alexandria schools reassure families that ICE agents have not visited campuses amid enforcement concerns

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 19, 2025 at 12:12PM

School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt sent a message to the school community Tuesday reassuring families that federal immigration agents have not visited any school campuses, following concerns about recent enforcement activity in the city.

“We want to clarify that while ICE agents currently may be active in the City of Alexandria, ICE agents have thus far not visited any ACPS campuses during this school year,” Kay-Wyatt wrote in the message shared with students, staff and families.