Alexandria Has a New Fire Chief — “After a nationally competitive recruitment effort, City Manager Mark B. Jinks has appointed Corey A. Smedley as fire chief for the City of Alexandria, effective immediately. Chief Smedley, who has served as acting fire chief since the retirement of Robert C. Dubé in June, will be the first African American to serve as permanent fire chief in Alexandria’s history.” [City of Alexandria]

Dog’s Artwork Sells at Auction — “A new artist has captured the attention of local art lovers selling 20 pieces of art in less than an hour at an auction. All it took has a little tail wagging, and the dog nicknamed Ricasso had a collection of masterpieces. Rico, a dog staying at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria for 15 months, raised more than $4,000 to help shelter pets like him at the sold-out Dec. 6 event.” [Patch]


A driver in Alexandria may have inadvertently contributed to a long-running fight to get the Appomattox statue commemorating Confederate soldiers removed from its pedestal.

Someone crashed into the statue at the intersection of S. Washington Street and Prince Street this weekend, Alexandria police confirmed to ALXnow.


The Safeway near the King/Braddock/Quaker intersection and the Bradlee Shopping Center was robbed early this morning morning, according to police.

Police spokesman Lt. Courtney Ballantine said the robbery took place around 3 a.m. at the Safeway at 3526 King Street.


Three elected officials visited businesses across Alexandria as part of an effort to drum up support for a paid family and medical leave bill.

Rep. Don Beyer, Del. Carroll Foy and State Sen. Jennifer Boysko — all Democrats — visited three businesses on Friday (Dec. 13) and spoke with business owners who were supportive of the bill. The trio visited Lori’s Table (1028 King Street), Bishop’s Boutique (815 King Street) and Let’s Meat on the Avenue (2403 Mount Vernon Avenue).


Electric scooters’ tempestuous relationship with Alexandria sidewalks has just come to an end.

At the City Council’s public hearing on Saturday, Dec. 14, the council voted to approve a second phase of the pilot program with a few notable changes from the current program.


Alexandria Among Most Festive Xmas Cities — Thanks in part of the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and the annual boat parade, Alexandria has made Wall Street 24/7’s list of the Most Festive Christmas Cities in the U.S. [24/7 Wall Street]

City Warns of PCP Overdoses — “The City of Alexandria has responded to eight overdoses related to suspected phencyclidine (PCP) use in the past two months, one of which was fatal. City officials are concerned about the potency and deadly nature of the PCP being distributed and used in the region.” [City of Alexandria]


(Updated 4:45 p.m.) If everything goes to plan, husband and wife team Jeffrey Jr. and Kelly Yates may finally be able to open the pizza restaurant that’s been “opening soon” since early 2014.

The dream of Yates Pizza Palace started in 2014 when Jeffrey Yates Sr., owner of the Yates Car Wash and recent purchaser of Table Talk (1623 Duke Street), purchased the space on the 3000 block of Duke Street that had been local pizza and pasta institution Generous George’s.


(Updated at 2:25 p.m.) Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg unveiled a new plan to cut carbon emissions at a campaign event in Alexandria this morning.

The billionaire owner of Bloomberg LP and former New York City mayor addressed a crowd of supporters and members of the media at Blackwall Hitch on the waterfront. Bloomberg was originally supposed to hold the event outside the gates of the GenOn power plant, but that plan was scuttled due to rain.


Update at 1:05 p.m. — Police are now investigating another report of gunshots heard along Richmond Highway, near Potomac Yard. Nothing has been found so far.

Update at 12:25 p.m. — The secured building status has been lifted, according to ACPS.


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