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.

News

Police investigating robbery this morning at T-Mobile store in Landmark neighborhood

By Vernon Miles
247 S Van Dorn Street where a T-Mobile store was robbed (image via Google Maps)

Police are investigating a commercial robbery that took place this morning around 11 a.m. at a shopping center off S. Van Dorn Street.

According to scanner traffic, a man in a hoodie and wearing a mask came into the T-Mobile store at 247 S. Van Dorn Street and appeared to have a weapon tucked into his pants.

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Local housing affordability groups hosting mayoral and City Council forum this week

By Vernon Miles
Advocates for greater affordable housing support at a City Council budget hearing (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Those hoping to learn a little more about the candidates running for local office in Alexandria can do so later this week at a forum hosted by Tenants and Workers United.

The forum is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 at the Tenants and Workers United, 3801 Mount Vernon Avenue. The rain location is the Del Ray United Methodist Church at 100 E Windsor Avenue.

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First National Bank opens at former Nando’s Peri-Peri spot in Old Town

By Vernon Miles
First National Bank managers and executives at opening of new King Street location (photo courtesy The Chamber ALX)

First National Bank held a ribbon cutting and grand opening late last week for its new location on King Street.

The bank is located at 704 King Street in Old Town in a 4,200-square-foot space that’s been empty since Nando’s moved out last July.

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News

Road closures planned ahead of race through Old Town this weekend

By Vernon Miles
Runners in the PNC Parkway Classic (photo via PNC Parkway Classic/Facebook)

A race through Old Town this weekend will cause some road closures on Saturday and Sunday.

The PNC Parkway Classic is scheduled for Sunday, April 28. The city said in a release that there will also be a couple of closures on Saturday — we’re told that’s for race setup near Oronoco Bay Park.

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Alexandria schools take lion’s share of planned tax rate increase, but it’s still less than School Board hoped

By Vernon Miles
The first day at school at George Mason Elementary School, August 21, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is the biggest winner of a 2.5 cent tax rate increase being considered by City Council, but it still falls short of the budget voted on by the School Board.

The School Board voted earlier this year to request $384.4 million from the City Council — $21 million more than previous budgets and double the budget proposed by Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt. Mayor Justin Wilson previously said that fulfilling that budget request would require an unprecedented 6-cent tax increase.

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Washington Post food critic highlights favorite restaurants, including an Alexandria spot

By Vernon Miles
Meal at Vermilion (photo via Vermilion Restaurant & Bar/Facebook)

Vermilion at 1120 King Street has some pretty prestigious fans.

Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema shared a list of his five favorite spots around the area with an emphasis on international cuisine.

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News

Port City wins World Beer Cup award for popular Belgian Wit beer

By Vernon Miles
Port City Optimal Wit and ALXnow rabbit affairs editor Hugo (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Port City’s Optimal Wit, its most iconic beer, took home the gold medal at the World Beer Cup.

The World Beer Cup is an international beer competition hosted by the Brewers Association that breaks prizes down be categories of beer. The ceremony was held yesterday (Wednesday) in Las Vegas.

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News

Alexandria sets its sights on Eisenhower Avenue overhaul

By Vernon Miles
Eisenhower Avenue (image via Google Maps)

Eisenhower Avenue’s days at the hot-spot for local drag racing could be coming to an end soon.

At a Transportation Commission meeting last week, Senior Transportation Engineer Dan Scolese laid out plans to potentially reduce lanes at the western end of Eisenhower Avenue to install new bicycle lanes and improved transit options.

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Office building housing The Motley Fool in Carlyle being sold at foreclosure auction

By Vernon Miles
2000 Duke Street (image via Google Maps)

(Updated 4:40 p.m.) The large office building in Carlyle containing the Motley Fool headquarters is heading to a foreclosure auction.

The 164,407-square-foot office building has a stately appearance at the northern entrance to the Carlyle neighborhood — with the iconic lion statues out front and a distinctive circular turret design — but the building has been the victim of market upheaval since the pandemic devastated office real estate.

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