News

Morning Notes for August 12, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Around Jones Point Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Special Meeting for School Board Tonight — “The Alexandria City School Board has scheduled a special called meeting on August 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. to convene a closed session to discuss a personnel matter.” [Alexandria City Public Schools/Facebook]

Youth Leadership Conference Continues — “The 2026 Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference will be held August 11-13 at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Dr.) This free event is open to rising 9th through 12th graders residing in the City of Alexandria. The Youth Leadership Conference empowers emerging young leaders by providing training opportunities and connecting them to resources in their community.” [City of Alexandria]

Go to Morning Notes for August 12, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 11, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 11, 2026 on a dark lake background with a small boat.

Good Tuesday 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 — Aug 11, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. South Korean coffee shop chain Twosome Place to open in Old Town (716 views)
  2. Founding Farmers plans on-site distillery at Alexandria location (571 views)
  3. Civil rights discussion to headline annual remembrance event for teen lynched in Alexandria (472 views)
  4. Alexandria teen’s Eagle Scout project focuses on teaching kids to protect waterways (451 views)
  5. Morning Notes for August 11, 2026 (448 views)
  6. A dozen Alexandria companies land on Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company list in 2026 (351 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛅️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 87°F, accompanied by a northwest wind at 3 to 6 mph. Wednesday night will have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., followed by a small chance of showers until 2 a.m. Skies will be mostly cloudy before clearing, with temperatures dropping to around 70°F and light winds from the west. The chance of precipitation is 20%. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
– Steve Jobs

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

UPDATED: AFD hazmat team contains apparent diesel spill in Hooffs Run

By Emily Leayman
Overgrown riverbank with reddish-brown water and a fallen branch partially submerged in the stream.
Hazmat spill in Hooffs Run, Aug. 11, 2026 (via Alexandria Fire Department/X]

An apparent diesel spill in Hooffs Run prompted a response by the Alexandria Fire Department Tuesday afternoon in the Carlyle area.

Around 3:32 p.m., units responded to Holland Lane and Jamieson Avenue for an investigation of a “reddish liquid” flowing downstream in Hooffs Run. The caller believed it may be heating oil entering the waterway around the bridge between the Public Storage building and Residence Inn, according to radio dispatches.

Go to UPDATED: AFD hazmat team contains apparent diesel spill in Hooffs Run Read more

A dozen Alexandria companies land on Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company list in 2026

By Emily Leayman
The Alexandria skyline viewed from Belle View (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria is still making a showing on the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list, but none of the companies are appearing near the top of the ranking.

Inc. came out with its annual ranking of America’s fastest-growing companies Tuesday (Aug. 11). A dozen Alexandria companies — seven in the city and five with addresses in Fairfax County — made the cut in 2026.

Go to A dozen Alexandria companies land on Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company list in 2026 Read more

Alexandria teen’s Eagle Scout project focuses on teaching kids to protect waterways

By Emily Leayman
Young woman in a tan Scout uniform standing in a sunlit forest, arms crossed, patches visible on the shirt.
Eagle Scout candidate and rising St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes senior Charlotte Barnes (courtesy of Charlotte Barnes)

When 17-year-old Charlotte Barnes observes the stormwater system, she understands it’s not just rainwater flowing underground but something that affects local waterways.

That thought inspired the rising St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes high school senior to make waterway health the focus of her Eagle Scout service project. Barnes created The River Rescue: A Coloring Book, a free educational resource to help elementary-aged children understand how litter on neighborhood streets can get into local streams, rivers, the Chesapeake Bay and beyond.

Go to Alexandria teen’s Eagle Scout project focuses on teaching kids to protect waterways Read more

Civil rights discussion to headline annual remembrance event for teen lynched in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Sign marking the lynching of Benjamin Thomas (image via City of Alexandria)

An NAACP official will be the keynote speaker of Alexandria’s annual remembrance event for one of its two documented lynching victims in city history.

The Alexandria Community Remembrance Project will host the “Civil Rights in Uncertain Times” conversation with Myesha Braden, deputy general counsel for the NAACP, from 7-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 at Shiloh Baptist Church (1401 Jamieson Avenue). Braden, a Tulane Law graduate, has worked on civil rights and has served in positions at the Department of Justice and in the nonprofit sector.

Go to Civil rights discussion to headline annual remembrance event for teen lynched in Alexandria Read more

Morning Notes for August 11, 2026

By ALXnow.com
As seen around Old Town Alexandria and Waterfront Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On August 11, 1885, the Alexandria Light Infantry returned home to Alexandria after attending the funeral of former President Ulysses S. Grant in New York City three days earlier. The unit arrived in Alexandria on the Steamship Excelsior.” [Historic Alexandria]

Police Chief to Attend Community Conversation in Del Ray — “The Del Ray Business Association and Del Ray Citizens Association invite you to join us for a conversation with Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire about the Alexandria Police Department’s Public Safety Framework and how we can continue building safe, vibrant neighborhoods together. On Tuesday, August 11, join us at 5pm at Piece Out and learn about APD’s G.R.E.A.T. Public Safety Framework, the department’s vision for the future of public safety, and how the framework’s five pillars support a collaborative approach to keeping Alexandria safe.” [Del Ray Business Association]

Go to Morning Notes for August 11, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 10, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow: Daily Debrief for Aug 10, 2026 over a city skyline with a King St-Old Town sign in the foreground.

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 — Aug 10, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria’s Amanda Congialdi, quarterback of the D.C. Divas, eyes a final title (506 views)
  2. Morning Notes for August 10, 2026 (486 views)
  3. T&ES director recommends Russell Road alternative after board approves parking removals (471 views)
  4. Mount Vernon Trail nominated for Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame (342 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms today, especially after 5 PM, with a high near 90°F and a northwest wind at 5 to 8 mph. Rainfall may reach up to a quarter of an inch, more during thunderstorms. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 1 AM, with a low around 72°F. It will be mostly cloudy, with winds shifting to the northwest after midnight, and similar rainfall amounts. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“What we think, we become.”
– Buddha

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Alexandria seeks resident input into next legislative agenda for 2027 General Assembly

By Emily Leayman
Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

The City of Alexandria is asking residents if and how it should change its legislative priorities for the next Virginia General Assembly session in 2027.

Because Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, localities can only use authority specifically granted by the General Assembly through a state law or city charter. The city sends requests to state lawmakers each year through its Legislative Agenda.

Go to Alexandria seeks resident input into next legislative agenda for 2027 General Assembly Read more

Police and fire presence at ACHS Minnie Howard Campus planned for emergency drill

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

Residents shouldn’t be alarmed when they see an increased police and fire presence at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus later this week.

The Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria City Public Schools and other emergency partners will hold an incident response drill at the campus (3775 W. Braddock Road) Thursday (Aug. 13). Expect police, fire and EMS vehicles and personnel to be in the area between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Go to Police and fire presence at ACHS Minnie Howard Campus planned for emergency drill Read more

T&ES director recommends Russell Road alternative after board approves parking removals

By Emily Leayman
Map showing Naomi Brooks school location along a vertical blue line between West Myrtle Street and West Maple Street, with a graduation cap icon marking the site.
Proposed area to remove on-street parking along Russell Road in Alexandria’s Rosemont/North Ridge neighborhoods (via City of Alexandria)

After the Traffic and Parking Board approved the removal of 20 parking spaces on Russell Road near Naomi L. Brooks Elementary in July, the director of Alexandria’s Transportation and Environmental Services is proposing a different option.

First reported by Alexandria Brief, T&ES director Leah Riley proposed Alternative C, which she says will minimize parking impacts while prioritizing pedestrian safety, neighborhood concerns and the Traffic and Parking Board’s request for more parking to accommodate school staff.

Go to T&ES director recommends Russell Road alternative after board approves parking removals Read more
View More Stories