News | ALXnow - Part 112

Alexandria receives state planning award for AlexWest Small Area Plan

Published October 1, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 10:21AM

The American Planning Association (APA) presented the Virginia Plan of the Year Award to the City of Alexandria for the AlexWest Plan Legislative Meeting. A proud moment for staff, who are pictured with members of APA and City Council. (Photo by Ryan Belmore/ALXnow)

Alexandria officially received the 2025 Virginia Plan of the Year Award on Tuesday for its AlexWest Small Area Plan, with state planning officials presenting the honor to the City Council more than three months after it was announced in June.

Nick Rogers, president-elect of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association, and Sophie Huemer, chair of the chapter’s 2025 awards committee, made the formal presentation during Tuesday night’s council meeting. Huemer is also the director of the Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design Services at Alexandria City Public Schools.

Alexandria City Council signals support for $150K study of alternative pump station site

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 9:15AM

AWA presentation slide showing aerial view with pump station relocated to 1 Prince Street (Screenshot of Alexandria Waterfront Alliance presentation)

Alexandria City Council signaled support Tuesday night for spending $150,000 to study an alternative location for a controversial flood mitigation pump station. This move would pause current design work for several months.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins introduced the proposal during council member updates, explaining that the Waterfront Commission had recently requested staff examine 1 Prince Street as an alternative to the current Waterfront Park location.

Notes: Together Women Rise to mark International Day of the Girl Child at Alexandria event

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 8:20AM

Together Women Rise invites you to a special International Day of the Girl Celebration on October 11 in Alexandria. (via Together Women Rise)

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 71 degrees. Northeast wind 10 to 13 mph.Clear tonight, with a low around 52 degrees. Northeast wind around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening.

Alexandria mobilizes resources to help residents affected by federal shutdown

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 5:33AM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria officials are mobilizing resources to assist residents impacted by the federal government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, with City Manager James Parajon announcing comprehensive support services during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

“We have created a federal government shutdown information resource page on our website for the City of Alexandria,” Parajon said during his manager’s update at the council meeting. The shutdown began just hours after his comments, following Congress’s failure to reach a funding agreement by the midnight deadline.

What happens now that a government shutdown is underway

By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

Published October 1, 2025 at 12:33AM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 5:23AM

The Capitol is seen at dusk as Democrats and Republicans in Congress are angrily blaming each other and refusing to budge from their positions on funding the government, in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington is bracing for what could be a prolonged federal shutdown after lawmakers deadlocked and missed the deadline for funding the government.

Republicans supported a short-term measure to fund the government generally at current levels through Nov. 21, but Democrats blocked it, insisting the measure address their concerns on health care. They want to reverse the Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump’s mega-bill passed this summer and extend tax credits that make health insurance premiums more affordable for millions of people who purchase through the marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.

Government shutdown begins as nation faces new period of uncertainty

By The Associated Press

Published October 1, 2025 at 12:01AM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 5:15AM

The sunset is seen from the Capitol before Republican and Democratic news conferences about the government shutdown, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.

Alexandria restaurants offering ‘furlough freebies’ to impacted federal employees

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 10:10PM

A pulled pork sandwich at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray (via Facebook)

In the event of a government shutdown Wednesday, two Alexandria restaurants are offering impacted federal employees free food.

Pork Barrel BBQ (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue) and Sweet Fire Donna’s (510 John Carlyle Street) are offering a free pulled pork sandwich to federal employees who bring their IDs to the restaurant. The deal is limited to one sandwich per day per federal employee Monday through Friday. Both restaurants are owned by Bill Blackburn and “Mango” Mike Anderson of the Homegrown Restaurant Group.

Alexandria police locate missing 62-year-old man

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 30, 2025 at 5:45PM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 6:42PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A 62-year-old Alexandria man who had been missing since Tuesday morning has been safely located, police announced Wednesday evening.

Fecre Desta was found safe, according to the Alexandria Police Department, which thanked the community and media for their assistance in the search.

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans cuts ribbon at new shop on N. Kings Highway

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 5:30PM

(Left to right) Sofiya’s mother, Ron’s mother, Sofiya Parker, Ron Parker, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, Chamber ALX CEO Joe Haggerty (courtesy photo)

There’s officially a new coffee shop in the Alexandria area.

The ribbon was cut at a new PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans franchise at 6220 N. Kings Highway, Alexandria (Fairfax County) on Saturday, Sept. 27. On hand at the event were owners Ron and Sofiya Parker, the family, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, and Chamber ALX CEO Joe Haggerty. The coffee shop officially opened in July.

Alexandria to cut ribbon on RiverRenew Plaza along Potomac River in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 4:30PM

The ribbon cutting for the RiverRenew Plaza at 501 N. Union Street will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 (via AlexRenew)

AlexRenew will cut the ribbon on the new promenade at RiverRenew Plaza on Oct. 18 at Pendleton and N. Union Streets in Old Town.

The new plaza at 501 N. Union Street sits atop AlexRenew’s RiverRenew project, which will divert millions of gallons of raw sewage from the Potomac River via a 2.2-mile-long underground tunnel that’s been under construction for four years. Speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony include Mayor Alyia Gaskins, AlexRenew Board Chair John Hill, AlexRenew CEO Justin Carl, and Waterfront Commission Chair Louise Roseman.

Del Ray restaurant employee suspended after customer reports hidden bathroom camera

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated October 2, 2025 at 3:20PM

Gustave Boulangerie and Brasserie at 2213 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Facebook)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a report that an employee at a popular Del Ray bistro recorded customers using the bathroom on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Karim Mashmour, the owner of Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie (2213 Mount Vernon Avenue), states that the employee has been suspended pending the outcome of the APD’s investigation, while police indicate that it is an ongoing investigation and that no charges have been filed.