News

Inova Alexandria Hospital gets top designation for maternity care in new national ranking

By James Cullum
Inova Alexandria Hospital (Image via Inova Alexandria Hospital/Facebook)

Inova Alexandia Hospital has been named one of the top hospitals in the country for maternity care in an annual ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

Alexandria’s hospital at 4320 Seminary Road was joined in the publication’s Fifth Annual 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list by its sister hospitals, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and Inova Loudoun Hospital. The facility was recognized as a birthing-friendly hospital, a designation measured by C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates and birthing-friendly practices, among other measures.

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Morning Notes for December 11, 2025

By ALXnow.com
The Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Dec. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Tonight: ACPS Facilities Renaming Hearing — An Alexandria City School Board hearing will be held from 5-6 p.m. in the School Board Meeting Room at 1340 Braddock Place and is available via livestream and Zoom. An agenda and further information on the district’s Identity Project 2025 are available on the Alexandria City Public Schools website. Afterward, the board will host an add/delete session for its proposed Capital Improvement Program. [ACPS]

Trash Collection Reminder — “On Thursday, Dec. 11, the City of Alexandria will slide trash collection by one day to Friday, Dec. 12 due to operational changes. Recycling, yard waste, and curbside composting will not be impacted. Residents with trash pickup regularly scheduled on Thursdays should place bins out for collection on Friday, December 12.” [Alexandria T&ES]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Dec 10, 2025

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 — Dec 10, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria City Council ends impasse, approving police union’s collective bargaining salary increase (2111 views)
  2. Ameratu Kamara appointed as Alexandria’s new Independent Policing Auditor (792 views)
  3. Gov.-elect Spanberger taps Alexandria Sheriff for transition committee (472 views)
  4. ACPS student performance holds steady behind state levels, new data shows (376 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies with a high temperature near 37 degrees and northwest winds blowing at 13 to 15 mph, occasionally gusting up to 29 mph. Cloud cover will increase during Thursday night, bringing the temperature down to around 27 degrees while a gentle west wind blows at 5 to 9 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

ACPS student performance holds steady behind state levels, new data shows

By Katie Taranto
Alexandria City High School's graduation at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena, May 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Student achievement across Alexandria City Public Schools appears to be hovering steady compared to last year, according to new state data, but the district’s numbers still linger behind the commonwealth.

In the 2024-2025 school year, 62% percent of ACPS students passed state reading tests, up one percentage point from the year prior, according to Virginia Department of Education’s accountability system, the School Performance and Support Framework.

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More Alexandria residents seek tax assistance amid ‘sluggish’ economy

By Katie Taranto
City Manager Jim Parajon provides a city economic update to City Council, Dec. 9, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria residents have continued to seek out local tax assistance as the city’s economy reels from federal layoffs, rising living costs and increased unemployment.

Alexandria has currently provided a total of 95 car tax payment plans averaging some $1,053 each, in addition to 12 real estate payment plans that average $4,189 per year.

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Gov.-elect Spanberger taps Alexandria Sheriff for transition committee

By James Cullum
Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey at the swearing in of Police Chief Tarrick McGuire, Dec. 10, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey has been named to Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s Transition Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Policy.

Casey was notified last week in an email from Spanberger’s staff that he was named to the committee and assigned to its eight-member Criminal Justice/Corrections Subcommittee.

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Alexandria’s public housing authority struggles with budget uncertainty

By James Cullum
ARHA properties in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s public housing authority is struggling to put together its budget in the wake of the recent government shutdown.

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority has a goal of submitting its budget to its Board of Commissioners next month, ARHA’s Chief Financial Officer Sheila White told the board on Monday night.

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Ameratu Kamara appointed as Alexandria’s new Independent Policing Auditor

By Katie Taranto
Ameratu Kamara speaks at her appointment as Alexandria's Independent Policing Auditor on Dec. 9 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Ameratu Kamara has been appointed as Alexandria’s second Independent Policing Auditor.

Kamara was first appointed as the city’s acting auditor in January following the December 2024 death of former auditor Kim Neal, who had fulfilled the role since its commencement in 2022. City Council unanimously appointed Kamara to the role during its legislative meeting last night (Tuesday).

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Alexandria City Council ends impasse, approving police union’s collective bargaining salary increase

By James Cullum
Dozens of Alexandria Police Department officers attended City Council's public hearing on collective bargaining with the department's union on Tuesday night, Dec. 9, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council ended the collective bargaining impasse regarding three outstanding issues between the Alexandria Police Department’s union and the city late last night (Tuesday).

In a meeting at City Hall that lasted until 11:30 p.m., Council decided in favor of the Alexandria chapter of the Southern States Police Benevolent Association’s request for $10.2 million in increased salaries for APD officers, sergeants and lieutenants over the next three years, while backing the city’s positions on pay parity and an annual $1,200 longevity bonus for those sworn staffers.

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Morning Notes for December 10, 2025

By ALXnow.com
Holmes Run trail in December 2025 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

VRE Names New President — “Virginia Railway Express will soon have new leadership at the helm, with Katie Choe stepping in as its next chief executive officer as the system accelerates its shift from a commuter-focused rail service to expanded operations beginning in January.” [Virginia Mercury]

APD Story Updated — A story published Monday was updated with a table reflecting the city of Alexandria’s most recent collective bargaining offer to the Virginia Police Benevolent Association from the time of publication. Another story regarding last night’s City Council resolution hearing is forthcoming. [ALXnow]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Dec 9, 2025

By ALXnow.com

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 — Dec 9, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. ‘Ten Thousand Villages’ store in Old Town to rebrand as ‘The World Crafted on King’ (467 views)
  2. Gaskins discusses the future of Alexandria’s affordable housing with Atlantic editor (363 views)
  3. Amid staffing issues, Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire touts crime reduction in first year (338 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌦️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect rain between 8am and 2pm, with cloudy skies and a high near 45. There will be south winds of 11-14 mph, gusting up to 25 mph, and a 40% chance of precipitation. The night will be mostly cloudy, with lows around 32 and west winds of 10-13 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
– Oprah Winfrey

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

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