News

JUST IN: Fired ARHA CEO sues organization, alleging misleading statements over termination

By James Cullum
Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The former CEO of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority is now suing the organization for millions of dollars in damages, according to paperwork filed yesterday (Thursday) in the Alexandria Circuit Court.

ARHA fired Erik Johnson in September after it was revealed that he and his family were living in an Old Town ARHA property. In the new filing, Johnson alleges that ARHA facilitated his move into the property and was trying to protect itself by pleading ignorance when it sent ALXnow a statement claiming it was unaware he lived there.

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St. Rita’s 5K returns tomorrow, prompting some Potomac Yard road closures

By Katie Taranto
St. Rita Catholic School 5K (photo via Saint Rita Catholic Church/Facebook)

The annual St. Rita 5K returns tomorrow morning (Saturday), leading to some road closures in and around Potomac Yard.

The annual road race raises funds for St. Rita Catholic School’s classrooms, teachers and appreciation events for educators. The morning kicks off with a 1K “fun run” race at 8 a.m., before the main 5K race at 8:30 a.m. near George Washington Middle School at 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue.

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Morning Notes for November 14, 2025

By ALXnow.com
A flock of geese in flight near Cameron Run (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On Nov. 14, 1854, the Alexandria Common Council prohibited construction of new wooden buildings in certain parts of town. Decades of devastating fires causing huge property damage were routine in Alexandria, and fears of a rapidly spreading fire that would cause a great loss of life were well founded. Sadly, just months later a massive conflagration at existing buildings along King Street killed seven firemen, who were later memorialized with an obelisk at Ivy Hill Cemetery.” [Historic Alexandria]

Free Paper Shredding Tomorrow — “In honor of America Recycles Day, the City of Alexandria’s Resource Recovery Division will host a free shredding event for residents on Saturday, Nov. 15. Residents are invited to bring eligible materials to the parking lot of 3871 Mt. Vernon Avenue (MOM’s Organic Market) from 9 a.m. to noon for secure, sustainable shredding and disposal.” [City of Alexandria]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Nov 13, 2025

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 — Nov 13, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Mayor Gaskins, City Council ask sheriff to cease voluntary inmate transfers to ICE (1076 views)
  2. Federal judge in Alexandria orders release of three immigrants arrested by ICE (811 views)
  3. Officials break ground on railway improvement projects at Alexandria Amtrak station (651 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect a sunny day with a high of around 58 degrees and a west wind of 6 to 9 mph. For Friday night, the weather will be mostly cloudy with a low of approximately 43 degrees, accompanied by calm wind conditions. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Health Department issues rabies alert after fox tests positive near Rosemont

By Katie Taranto
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (Credit: Alexandria Health Department)
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

The Alexandria Health Department is issuing a warning to residents after a fox spotted near Rosemont over the weekend tested positive for rabies.

The now-deceased fox came into contact with a person and a dog near Rosemont on Sunday, Nov. 9, according to AHD. In a release today (Thursday), the department said it is working with the exposed parties on “safe next steps” and warning of “an increased risk of rabies exposures in the community.”

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Federal judge in Alexandria orders release of three immigrants arrested by ICE

By James Cullum
The statue of Justice outside the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A federal judge in Alexandria this week ordered the release of three young male immigrants from United States custody as part of a class action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia.

In the case Sarmiento et al. v. Perry et al., it was announced Tuesday that two brothers from El Salvador, ages 19 and 20, were ordered to be released by U.S. District Court Judge Anthony J. Trenga, following their ICE arrests in Stafford County this past August.

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Officials break ground on railway improvement projects at Alexandria Amtrak station

By Katie Taranto
Officials toss ceremonial dirt at a groundbreaking at the Alexandria Amtrak station (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

City leaders and various transportation officials broke ground yesterday (Wednesday) on a bundle of improvement projects at Amtrak’s Alexandria Union Station.

Four upcoming projects seek to expand passenger and freight rail service at Alexandria Union Station at 110 Callahan Drive, while improving safety for passengers and the city. The projects coincide with VPRA’s Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative, which aims to expand the state’s rail service by separating passenger and freight trains and building new infrastructure.

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World champion sprinter Noah Lyles named a ‘Living Legend of Alexandria’

By James Cullum
Awardee Noah Lyles at the Living Legends of Alexandria award ceremony, Nov. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

World champion sprinter Noah Lyles joined the ranks of a privileged few last night (Wednesday) when he was formally named a Living Legend of Alexandria.

Lyles and 11 other Alexandrians were recognized with the annual honor during a ceremony at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

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Mayor Gaskins, City Council ask sheriff to cease voluntary inmate transfers to ICE

By Katie Taranto
A letter signed by 26 local organizations and leaders demanding Sheriff Sean Casey end voluntary collaboration with ICE was delivered to the Alexandria Sheriff's Office on Tuesday. (Courtesy ICE Out of Alexandria)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins and the City Council are calling on the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office to stop transferring inmates to immigration enforcement unless required by law.

Following months of pressure from activists critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement — including a protest during an Oct. 18 public hearing — Gaskins and the Council publicly asked Sheriff Sean Casey to stop transferring Alexandria inmates to ICE custody via the agency’s detainers and administrative warrants.

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New data: Alexandria eclipsed D.C. region in home cost by square footage last month

By Scott McCaffrey
Real estate home interior (via Kenny Eliason/Unsplash)

Homes that sold across Alexandria in October garnered the highest per-square-foot price of any jurisdiction in the metro area for the month.

City sellers pocketed, on average, $516 per square foot for their properties, according to new data from Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service.

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Morning Notes for November 13, 2025

By ALXnow.com
Deep orange fall colors in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On Nov. 13, 1873, the Alexandria City Council granted permission to the Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company, created in 1845 by inventor Samuel Morse, to run its lines through Alexandria providing instant communication for the first time from New York all the way to Richmond.” [Historic Alexandria]

House Passes Bill to End Shutdown — “The compromise funds three annual spending bills and extends the rest of government funding through Jan. 30. Republicans promised to hold a vote by mid-December to extend the health care subsidies, but there is no guarantee of success.” [The Associated Press]

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