News

Gun restrictions, paid leave and foam container ban: Virginia bills taking effect on July 1

By Emily Leayman
Del. Charniele Herring at her campaign kickoff at Clyde's at 1700 N. Beauregard Street on April 3, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Over 1,100 bills made it out of the latest General Assembly session, and many will take effect Wednesday (July 1).

As Democrats gained a trifecta with the election of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and control of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, legislators’ bills focused on priorities like immigration enforcement, gun control, housing and tenant protections, reproductive rights and more. Democrats also passed Virginia’s first-ever paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, and child care assistance programs for workers.

Go to Gun restrictions, paid leave and foam container ban: Virginia bills taking effect on July 1 Read more

Virginia Railway Express buys former freight yard in Alexandria

By James Cullum
A VRE train crosses a bridge over King Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Virginia Railway Express announced Monday (June 29) that it has bought a former freight yard in Alexandria as part of a service and fleet expansion.

VRE’s $35.8 million deal to buy the Seminary Yard (located near Duke Street and Interstate 495) from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is part of a five-year, $155 million agreement to transfer four properties to VRE ownership. The former rail yard will be used for storage space for trains and equipment.

Go to Virginia Railway Express buys former freight yard in Alexandria Read more

Morning Notes for June 30, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Alexandria’s ninth annual Pride Fair was held at John Carlyle Square Park, June 27, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On June 30, 1852, Fireman Charles Glasscock was killed when he was struck by a fire engine. He and other members of the Friendship Company were responding to a fire alarm and “running the engine” when he was accidentally run over.” [Historic Alexandria]

New Parking Meter Fees and Parking Fines Start July 1 — Starting July 1, Alexandria’s parking meter rates will increase to $2.75 per hour, and parking fines and citations will increase to $55 per violation. The rate changes apply to all metered parking spaces in the City of Alexandria Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Metered parking is free on Sundays and state holidays. [ALXnow]

Go to Morning Notes for June 30, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jun 29, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Monday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Jun 29, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Morning Notes for June 29, 2026 (547 views)
  2. Fourth of July brings holiday closures and schedule changes to Alexandria (488 views)
  3. Rep. Beyer says President Trump shouldn’t be impeached just as a ‘messaging exercise’ (443 views)
  4. Alexandria Sheriff’s Office finds no policy violations in death of man awaiting jail booking (436 views)
  5. PHOTOS: Alexandria celebrates Pride Fair at new John Carlyle Square location (390 views)
  6. Long-running Rosemont Fourth of July returns after cancellations in last two years (373 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

☀️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect sunny weather with temperatures reaching a high of around 90°F. Winds will be light, initially from the southwest, shifting to a southward direction at 5 to 9 mph. During the night, anticipate mostly clear skies with a low of about 71°F. Winds from the south will persist at 7 to 9 mph, with possible gusts up to 18 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success is not in what you have, but who you are.”
– Bo Bennett

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Rep. Beyer says President Trump shouldn’t be impeached just as a ‘messaging exercise’

By James Cullum and Emily Leayman
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) in his office in the Longworth House Office Building in D.C. (staff photo by James Cullum)

With the November midterm elections just four months away, Northern Virginia Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) is considering the implications of a Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives.

In his office at the Longworth House Office Building, Beyer told ALXnow in an interview that President Donald Trump deserves to be impeached a third time, but not as a messaging exercise that will result in an acquittal from a divided Senate. He also said that no matter the outcome of the November midterms that the country will still have two years left of an administration that operates under the unitary executive theory of the presidency.

Go to Rep. Beyer says President Trump shouldn’t be impeached just as a ‘messaging exercise’ Read more

Alexandria Sheriff’s Office finds no policy violations in death of man awaiting jail booking

By James Cullum
The William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center (via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office maintains that it violated no policies when a man arrested for public intoxication died while waiting to be booked into the city jail.

On Aug. 15, 2025, Allan Tucker II died in APD custody in the sally port of the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center after waiting upward of 35 minutes during a Sheriff’s office shift change. In a release put out today (June 29), ASO said that the Northern Virginia Critical Incident Response Team found “no criminal wrongdoing on the part of Alexandria Police Department or Alexandria Sheriff’s Office personnel.”

Go to Alexandria Sheriff’s Office finds no policy violations in death of man awaiting jail booking Read more

Fourth of July brings holiday closures and schedule changes to Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
America’s 250th anniversary flag in Old Town (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

As residents prepare to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, cookouts and beach getaways, the City of Alexandria and other agencies serving the city have announced closures and other schedule changes for the holiday weekend.

Because July 4 falls on a Saturday, the observed holiday for city government and other agencies is Friday, July 3. All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed for the Independence Day observance (Friday, July 3).

Go to Fourth of July brings holiday closures and schedule changes to Alexandria Read more

Morning Notes for June 29, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Construction progress at City Hall and Market Square, June 25, 2026 (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On June, 29, 1929, the U.S. government announced plans to construct the George Washington Memorial Parkway from the nation’s capital, southward to Mount Vernon. First proposed by Alexandria’s M. B. Harlow about 1907, the roadway was described as “the Appian Way and Westminster Abbey combined”, an apparent reference to America’s first roadway built specifically for motorized vehicles, the Long Island Motor Parkway, which was often referred to as a modern Appian Way … The new parkway in Virginia would be opened just in time for Washington’s 200th birthday celebration in 1932.” [Historic Alexandria]

Hearing on Man’s Death in APD Custody Monday — “The city’s Independent Community Policing Review Board will conduct a public hearing on [Allan Tucker II]’s death from 6:30-9 p.m. Monday, June 29 in the City Council Chamber at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center.” [ALXnow]

Go to Morning Notes for June 29, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jun 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Friday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Jun 26, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Finn & Fire brings Peruvian Nikkei cuisine to Old Town with soft opening (555 views)
  2. Accelerated National Maritime Museum plan takes shape as Tall Ship Providence suspends operations (460 views)
  3. Morning Notes for June 26, 2026 (450 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. King Arthur Baking Company eyes fall for opening of Old Town store and baking school (8398 views)
  2. NOW: Over 7,800 without power in Alexandria after severe storms (8042 views)
  3. Outgoing ACPS superintendent takes sudden leave, designees appointed (4700 views)
  4. New café and wine bar launches soft opening this week in Old Town (4669 views)
  5. JUST IN: Tall Ship Providence to suspend operations on the Potomac River (4471 views)
  6. The Dog Store to close June 27 in Del Ray, vows to find new location (4276 views)
  7. Fiery crash in Alexandria follows state police pursuit of driver (3598 views)
  8. Body camera footage of Alexandria police shooting homicide suspect released (3189 views)
  9. Alexandria fire chief reports morale boost, staffing gains with new 49-hour work week (3121 views)
  10. Auditor finds Alexandria police disregarded man’s hospital requests before in-custody death (2999 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

🌧️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect showers and possible thunderstorms throughout the day, with patchy fog before 11 a.m. The high will be around 82°F, and winds will shift to the south at about 5 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 80%, with rainfall between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, higher in thunderstorms. Saturday night will also have showers and possible thunderstorms until midnight, then scattered showers will continue. Fog may develop after 2 a.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 68°F, accompanied by light east winds. Probability of precipitation is 60%, with similar expected rainfall. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

Land use attorney Mary Catherine Gibbs sworn in as Alexandria General District Court judge

By James Cullum
Circuit Court Judge Mary Catherine Gibbs (on right) receives her commission from Governor Abigail Spanberger by Mayor Alyia Gaskins (via Alyia Gaskins/Instagram)

Longtime land use attorney Mary Catherine Gibbs was sworn in as Alexandria’s newest General District Court judge for the 18th Judicial District.

Gibbs was sworn in Thursday night (June 25) to a six-year term by retired Circuit Court Judge Nolan B. Dawkins. Mayor Alyia Gaskins presented Gibbs with her commission from Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

Go to Land use attorney Mary Catherine Gibbs sworn in as Alexandria General District Court judge Read more

Accelerated National Maritime Museum plan takes shape as Tall Ship Providence suspends operations

By James Cullum
The U.S. Maritime Museum is planning to open at 1 Prince Street (the green roof buildings) in Old Town (via U.S. Maritime Museum Foundation)

After news broke this week that the Tall Ship Providence was suspending operations, a nonprofit aimed at creating a national maritime museum along the Alexandria waterfront has gone public.

Marion Smith, president of the United States Maritime Foundation, told ALXnow the organization has entered into a legal agreement with the property owner at 1 Prince Street and is currently fundraising and looking for a second location for additional programming nearby. He also said the foundation is working to acquire the Tall Ship Providence Foundation’s floating pier, the Tall Ship Providence itself and take over its entire operation at Waterfront Park after signing a memorandum of understanding to do so by 2028.

Go to Accelerated National Maritime Museum plan takes shape as Tall Ship Providence suspends operations Read more
View More Stories