News

Sheriff blasts budget cut by City Council to study U.S. Marshals Service jail contract

By James Cullum
Sheriff Sean Casey speaks at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Alexandria's Market Square, Sept. 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Sheriff Sean Casey is criticizing a recent Alexandria City Council decision to take $200,000 from his budget for a jail operational efficiency study, while Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley says the city should reevaluate whether it wants to maintain a longstanding contract between the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service.

On Tuesday, City Council moved forward with a proposal by Bagley and City Councilman Abdel Elnoubi to conduct the study, despite objections from Casey and members of his staff. At last Saturday’s public budget hearing, Casey said his office cannot afford the $200,000 budget reduction and asked City Council, “Do you want to be in the jail business?”

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City Council special election winner Sandy Marks to be sworn in May 12

By James Cullum
Democrat Sandy Marks claims victory in the City Council special election (via James Minichello Photography)

Democrat Sandy Marks, the winner of the April 21 City Council special election, will be sworn into office Tuesday, May 12, according to the city.

Marks will get sworn in before City Council at some point during its legislative meeting at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive), the city confirmed to ALXnow. An exact time for the swearing-in ceremony has not been set, although it will be administered by Clerk of Court Greg Parks.

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Morning Notes for April 24, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Virginia Tech in the background of the Potomac Yard Shopping Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On April 24, 1940, the Robert Robinson Library opened its doors to the African American community, just eight months after one of America’s first “sit-in” demonstrations took place at the segregated Alexandria Library on Queen Street. The library was named after Robert H. Robinson, a former slave who became a pastor at a church on South Washington Street known today as Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church. The old Robinson Library building now houses the Alexandria Black History Museum.” [Historic Alexandria]

No Budget Deal as General Assembly Session Recesses — “The Virginia General Assembly convened for a special session Thursday to finalize the state’s $212 billion budget, but recessed after just a few hours without a deal, underscoring deep divisions within the Democratic majorities and leaving the spending plan unresolved. After a brief floor session, lawmakers left Richmond and returned to their districts, with no clear timeline for when negotiations might produce a compromise on the two-year spending plan.” [Virginia Mercury]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 23, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Thursday 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 — Apr 23, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Hit-and-run on King Street adds to string of pedestrian crashes in Alexandria – Hit-and-run on King Street adds to string of pedestrian crashes in Alexandria (2981 views)
  2. Tiki pop-up bar opens today at waterfront restaurant in Alexandria – Tiki pop-up bar opens today at waterfront restaurant in Alexandria (2713 views)
  3. GW Parkway resurfacing work on Alexandria section begins – GW Parkway resurfacing work on Alexandria section begins (2181 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛅️ Friday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny weather with a high near 81, although there is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms developing after 2 p.m. Winds will be from the northeast at 3 to 5 mph. Friday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 55 and a continued 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with southeast winds around 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.”
– Tony Robbins

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

City Council axes Sunday paid parking proposal, increases other parking fees

By James Cullum
Parking meter in Old Town (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Alexandria City Council torpedoed City Manager Jim Parajon’s plan for paid metered parking on Sundays, but balanced a $726,000 shortfall by raising parking meter fees from $1.75 to $2.75 and parking ticket fines from $40 to $55.

Last week, City Council directed Parajon to consider a number of alternatives to his Sunday parking plan. After deliberation, a majority of members endorsed Option E at Tuesday night’s add/delete work session, as the final touches are being put on the city’s $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. The move will generate $1.1 million in funding — covering an approximately $726,000 shortfall from removing the Sunday parking fee proposal and adding about $329,000 to the city’s general fund.

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Hit-and-run on King Street adds to string of pedestrian crashes in Alexandria

By James Cullum
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a hit-and-run on King Street on Wednesday night (April 22).

The Alexandria Fire and Police Departments received multiple calls around 11 p.m. reporting that a man had been struck by a vehicle near the intersection of King Street and Park Road in the Taylor Run neighborhood, near the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. The striking vehicle was described in radio dispatches as a Ford pickup truck of unknown color missing its passenger-side mirror.

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Spring2ACTion eclipses goal and raises $3.5 million for Alexandria nonprofits

By James Cullum
ACT for Alexandria staff in Old Town (via Act For Alexandria:Facebook)

ACT for Alexandria has done it again. On Wednesday, Spring2ACTion, the biggest day of giving in Alexandria, raised more than $3.4 million for 198 area nonprofits.

Spring2ACTion is the main annual fundraiser for most participating nonprofits. ACT for Alexandria eclipsed its $2.5 million goal for the event, which drew participation from more than 7,000 donors, 198 nonprofits and more than 60 businesses.

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GW Parkway resurfacing work on Alexandria section begins

By Emily Leayman
GW Parkway resurfacing (via National Park Service)

Resurfacing work on a section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Alexandria is beginning today (Thursday), the National Park Service says.

The latest repaving follows the first phase between Spout Run Parkway and Interstate 395 in Arlington. Crews will resurface the road and replace pedestrian crossing medians between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and First Street.

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Morning Notes for April 23, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Walking in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Judge Blocks Redistricting Election Result — A Tazewell Circuit Court judge blocked certification of Tuesday’s redistricting referendum, which voters approved. Attorney General Jay Jones vowed to appeal the order. [WJLA]

Alexandria Precinct Results on Redistricting Amendment — Precinct-level results are available for the redistricting question, which 78.89% of Alexandria voters cast a ballot in favor of. [Alexandria Living Magazine]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 22, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Wednesday 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 — Apr 22, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Two men charged after woman fights off armed robbery attempt in Braddock neighborhood – Two men charged after woman fights off armed robbery attempt in Braddock neighborhood (4497 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect sunny weather with a high around 81°F and a northwest wind blowing at 3 to 7 mph. By Thursday night, conditions will turn partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 58°F, accompanied by a light northwest wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
– Aristotle

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

PHOTOS: Ribbon cut at new high-end senior living community in Potomac Yard

By James Cullum
(Left to right) Silverstone Senior Living CEO Bobby Zeiller, property executive director Jamie Houston, City Councilman John Taylor Chapman and Chamber ALX CEO Joe Haggerty at the ribbon cutting for The Riviera senior community at 2700 Main Line Blvd in Potomac Yard, April 22, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The ribbon was cut at a new high-end senior living community today (Wednesday) in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.

The Riviera, a new 129-unit senior apartment building at 2700 Main Line Blvd, is located directly across the street from its sister community, The Landing, which opened in 2022. Both properties are owned by Texas-based Silverstone Senior Living.

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