Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

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Patent and Trademark Office building closed until Saturday following ‘incident’

By Vernon Miles
The Remsen building of the Patent and Trademark Office (image via Google Maps)

The Remsen building of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Alexandria will be closed for the rest of the week after what the USPTO has called an “Alexandria Campus Incident”.

Alexandria Police spokesman Marcel Bassett said police received a call at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14, for a person having a mental health crisis.

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Athenaeum hosting open signing of book of condolences for Queen Elizabeth II

By Vernon Miles
Book of condolences at the Athenaeum (courtesy photo)

A book of condolences at the Athenaeum (201 Prince Street) is offering locals an opportunity to add their thoughts or feelings on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

The book was put together by the British Officers Club of Washington D.C. to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest serving monarch in British history.

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Alexandria balks at proposed statewide water rate increase

By Vernon Miles
ALXnow reporter's sink (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The City of Alexandria has issued a formal objection to a water rate increase proposed by Virginia American Water.

Virginia American Water, a statewide utility company, requested authority from the state to increase its rates to create a sales revenue totaling $14.3 million — a 27.6% increase over current revenues.

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Police: Mental health crisis at U.S. Patent and Trademark Office resolved peacefully

By Vernon Miles
The US Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated 10:35 a.m.) Despite rumors to the contrary, the Alexandria Police Department (APD) said no one was killed at the Patent and Trademark Office yesterday.

Alexandria Police spokesman Marcel Bassett said APD received a call at approximately 10:45 a.m. yesterday (Tuesday) for a person having a mental health crisis.

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NOVA Parks takes over a hidden gem in the Alexandria’s West End

By Vernon Miles
Winkler Botanical Preserve, via NOVA Parks/Facebook

The Winkler Botanical Preserve (5400 Roanoke Avenue) has been a tucked away, isolated enclave of natural beauty not far from the Mark Center, but with a new acquisition it could be thrust into the limelight.

Regional parks organization Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NOVA Parks) announced today that it will take over ownership of the 44.6 acre nature preserve.

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King Street Walgreens replacement headed to City Council

By Vernon Miles
615-621 King Street development proposal (image via City of Alexandria)

A new development replacing a former Walgreens and a Burke & Herbert Bank is headed to City Council review with a strong endorsement from city staff.

The new development, called The Mansly, will change relatively little of the King Street-facing exterior. The most notable change being the white painted brick restored to Old Town’s iconic redder hue.

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King Street pedestrian zone in Old Town extended into November

By Vernon Miles
Unit block of King Street pedestrian zone (image via City of Alexandria)

A pilot project to convert the unit block of King Street — the part closest to the waterfront — into a pedestrian-only zone has been extended for another two months.

The pilot started over Memorial Day weekend and was scheduled to shut down after Labor Day, but Alexandria Transportation and Environmental Services announced on Twitter that the pilot was being extended to Nov. 20.

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Alexandria reviewing options for new Duke Street transitway

By Vernon Miles
Traffic backup heading eastbound along Duke Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The City of Alexandria is eyeing three basic concepts for a Duke Street transitway to help boost bus service along the arterial road.

The three options presented at a meeting of the Duke Street Transitway Advisory Group last month ranged from the buses in the center of the street to mixed in with traffic. The options are:

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Alexandria schools still face gaps in reading proficiency, suspensions and more

By Vernon Miles
Students return to George Washington Middle School, August 24, 2021 (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Beyond just low test scores, a city report on issues of suspension, reading rates and more shows that the city schools still face issues of severe racial disparity.

The City of Alexandria’s Children & Youth Community Plan 2025 (CYCP) was earlier this year, highlighted that while there has been some progress in areas like drop-out rates, suspensions have gone up at Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) and the city has failed to meet reading proficiency standards for non-white students since 2016.

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