Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Gadsby’s Tavern in Old Town Reopening This Weekend With Some Precautions

Published August 4, 2020 at 3:15PM

Old Town historical site Gadsby’s Tavern (134 N. Royal Street) is the latest local institution scheduled to reopen, with tours starting again this Friday.

According to the city website, the museum will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from 1-4 p.m.

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BREAKING: Alexandria Police Ask for Public Help in Finding Man Wanted for Murder

By Vernon Miles

Published August 4, 2020 at 12:50PM | Updated August 6, 2020 at 12:14PM

The Alexandria Police Department is asking the public to help locate Ibrahm Elkahlil Bouaichi, who is wanted for the July 29 murder of Karla Elizabeth Dominguez Gonzalez.

According to police, Bouaichi is described as 33-year-old man of Middle Eastern descent, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds. Police said Bouaichi should be considered armed and dangerous and poses a potential threat to anyone who comes into contact with him.

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Services Delayed and Flood Warning Remains as Isaias Moves Through Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published August 4, 2020 at 10:30AM

As Alexandria hunkers down for potentially heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Isaias, some local services have been suspended.

The northern entrance to the King Street Metro station will be closed.

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Tropical Storm Isaias Brings Flood Warning for Alexandria and Surrounding Localities

By Vernon Miles

Published August 4, 2020 at 7:45AM

The weather is expected to make a dramatic turn over the next few hours.

After some early preparation last night by the Alexandria Fire Department and other city agencies, yesterday’s Flood Watch has been upgraded by the National Weather Service to a Flood Warning for Alexandria and surrounding localities.

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New Unemployment Claims Reach Two-Month High as Numbers Continue to Climb

By Vernon Miles

Published August 3, 2020 at 4:30PM

The number of new unemployment claims in Alexandria has reached levels not seen since early May, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

The latest numbers show that the number of new unemployment claims — those making their initial unemployment filings — has gone up to 932 for the week of July 25. Between July 18 and July 25, claims increased by 201.

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Poll: Is ACPS Right to Go Online Only in the Fall?

By Vernon Miles

Published July 31, 2020 at 3:15PM

ACPS headquarters and clock (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City Public Schools announced earlier today that staff is recommending schools reopen for online-only classes in September.

The school system outlined some of the immense challenges it faced with maintaining social distancing with in-person classes in the falls, like a requirement that school buses operate at 1/4 capacity. Students expressed concerns that online classes could face similar problems as they did in the spring, but ACPS promised online classes would be more smoothly handled in the fall.

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Irish Technology and Industrial Company Moves Into Eisenhower Avenue Office Park

By Vernon Miles

Published July 31, 2020 at 2:00PM

Developer Monday Properties announced last week that tech company Johnson Controls will be moving into the company’s Cameron Run office park.

Johnson Controls is an Ireland-based company that produces fire, HVAC and security equipment. The building is currently home to Tyco Integrated Security — which Johnson Controls merged with in 2018 — Michael Baker and Savi Technology.

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BREAKING: ACPS Announces Online-Only School in the Fall

By Vernon Miles

Published July 31, 2020 at 11:15AM

Students learning at home during the COVID-19 shutdown (Photo via ACPS/Facebook)

Over a week after all of its neighboring school districts had made similar announcements, Alexandria City Public Schools announced this morning that the school year will start entirely virtual.

The program will include a structured bell schedule, live daily instruction with teachers, and some one-on-one or small group tutoring. Students in pre-K through first-grade classes will also receive age-appropriate technology, ACPS said, while students in grades 2-12 will receive Chromebooks.

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AEDP Announces Recipients for Business Grant Program with More Funds on the Horizon

By Vernon Miles

Published July 30, 2020 at 4:45PM

The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) announced a full list of recipients for the program’s ALX B2B program — grant funding aimed at helping local businesses hold out through a sluggish recovery — and is moving forward on another phase of the program.

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Stately Lionhead Rabbit ‘Mr. Patterson’ Seeks Dignified Home

By Vernon Miles

Published July 30, 2020 at 3:15PM

Mr. Patterson, a rabbit up for adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (courtesy photo)

Mr. Patterson may be cute, but the staff at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria where he is currently awaiting say that prospective owners should make no mistake — he is a true gentleman.

“Mr. Patterson may be a bit leonine, but he’s actually just a lionhead rabbit (though he’s just as proud of his majestic mane as any big cat would be),” said Gina Hardter, a spokesperson for the AWLA. “This 2-year-old gentleman’s favorite spots are a well-filled hay bin or a snuggly enclosure with lots of blankets.”

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ACPS Engages With Students on Logistical Challenges and Fall Expectations

By Vernon Miles

Published July 29, 2020 at 3:00PM

Alexandria City Public Schools promised a group of students inquiring about the upcoming school year that the new format will be smoother and more accessible than the spring and summer classes, whether that’s online-only or a hybrid model.

In a virtual Q&A session, school administrators spoke to elementary, middle and high schoolers about what they can expect in the upcoming school year.