News | ALXnow - Part 125

Alexandria man sentenced to 1 day in $4M COVID fraud scheme

Published September 26, 2025 at 4:30PM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 5:09PM

The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

An Alexandria man received a sentence of just one day behind bars for his role in a $4 million scheme that defrauded a federal COVID-19 relief program, according to a press release received from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia, on Friday.

Carl Pierre, 37, received the sentence in May for helping orchestrate a scam that exploited the Paycheck Protection Program through a fitness center that never opened to the public. His co-conspirators received longer sentences when they faced U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles on Thursday.

Federal layoff impact, fatal shooting, Metro incident top Alexandria news this week

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2025 at 3:30PM

City of Alexandria (Photo credit Hover Solutions for Visit Alexandria)

Our top story this week is on a new report that Alexandria is among the hardest-hit localities affected by the Trump administration’s layoffs of federal workers. According to a new Brookings Institution report, Alexandria and its neighboring jurisdictions saw sharp unemployment increases. More than 13,000 federal workers live in Alexandria, and more than 76,000 federal employees live in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and parts of Fairfax County, according to U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8).

“I do worry that might be a sign of the sort of federal government cuts causing people to feel they need to leave the city,” Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley said in a City Council meeting on Sept. 9.

Visit Alexandria expands tourism focus beyond Old Town with new neighborhoods initiative

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 2:30PM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 4:27PM

Visit Alexandria's new Neighborhoods Hub features an interactive map and enhanced storytelling to promote communities beyond Old Town. (Screenshot: VisitAlexandria.com

Visit Alexandria announced a comprehensive neighborhoods initiative designed to distribute tourism’s economic benefits across all areas of the city while encouraging visitors to explore beyond the traditional Old Town corridor.

The initiative centers on a new Neighborhoods Hub on the organization’s website, featuring an interactive map, enhanced content, embedded videos, and expanded storytelling about Alexandria’s diverse communities, Claire Mouledoux, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Alexandria, said during the organization’s annual meeting Sept. 25.

Local nonprofit teams with Home Depot to make repairs to Alexandria elementary school

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2025 at 1:30PM

Rebuilding Together DC - Alexandria and Home Depot employees at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology, Sept. 25, 2025 (image via Facebook)

Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology just got a little upgrade, courtesy of nonprofit Rebuilding Together DC – Alexandria and Home Depot.

On Thursday, the elementary school at 3600 Commonwealth Avenue got help with painting, minor construction projects, rebuilding the school’s library, and assembling furniture, according to ACPS.

VDOT seeks public input on South Van Dorn Street improvements near Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 12:45PM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 4:47PM

Give Input on South Van Dorn Street STARS Study (via VDOT)

The Virginia Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback on a study examining potential safety and traffic improvements along South Van Dorn Street in Fairfax County, including the section that connects directly to Alexandria’s city limits.

The STARS (Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions) study encompasses a 2.5-mile section of South Van Dorn Street, from Telegraph Road to the Alexandria boundary, and three-quarters of a mile of Franconia Road, between Grovedale Drive and South Van Dorn Street.

Civil War Artillery Day at Fort Ward canceled due to rain forecast

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2025 at 12:30PM

Fort Ward (photo via Visit Alexandria)

The Civil War Artillery Day at Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled due to a rainy weather forecast.

“Historic Alexandria regrets that it has to cancel this weather-dependent event,” the Office of Historic Alexandria said in an email. There is a 60% chance of rain on Saturday.

Alexandria tourism taxes hit record $88M, fund city services

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 11:30AM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 4:30PM

Shopping in Old Town Alexandria (via Visit Alexandria)

When visitors dine at Alexandria restaurants, stay in local hotels, or shop along King Street, they’re helping fund essential municipal services through the taxes they pay.

Alexandria’s tourism industry generated $88 million in consumption tax revenue during fiscal year 2025, a $2 million increase from the previous year, as visitor spending reached $1 billion for the first time in the city’s history. These taxes on sales, meals, and lodging from visitors traveling more than 50 miles to the city directly support the city’s core services.

Outgoing NOVA Parks director wins prestigious Pugsley Medal for conservation work

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2025 at 11:00AM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 12:25PM

NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert with the Pugsley Medal (courtesy image)

Outgoing NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert received the prestigious Pugsley Medal earlier this month for his dedication to conservation, promotion and development of public parks.

Gilbert was nominated for the Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal by late Northern Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11). The award was presented Sept. 17 by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, and is recognized as the the most prestigious recognition for the promotion and development of public parks in the country, according to AAPRA. He has been executive director of NOVA Parks for 20 years and will be succeeded by former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson on Oct. 6.

Student brandishes knife at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, no injuries reported

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2025 at 10:00AM

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

A student brandished a pocket knife during a classroom argument Thursday at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, but no one was injured, school officials said.

Teachers quickly separated the students involved in the dispute, and school resource officers responded immediately, Harrell said. The incident occurred in a second-floor classroom shortly before noon, according to radio dispatches.

Starbucks closes at least one Alexandria location as part of national restructuring

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 9:45AM

Starbucks at King & Union (Screenshot via Google Maps)

A Starbucks location in Old Town will reportedly close today as part of a sweeping national restructuring effort announced by CEO Brian Niccol on Thursday.

The Starbucks at King & Union streets — located at 100 S. Union Street — will close permanently on Friday, according to customers who visited the location. The closure comes as part of Starbucks’ plan to close roughly 400 underperforming stores across North America, representing about 1% of the company’s locations.

Alexandria tourism hits $1 billion milestone for first time in city’s history

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 26, 2025 at 9:08AM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 4:32PM

Alexandria's tourism industry reached the historic $1 billion milestone in visitor spending for the first time in 2024. Credit: Visit Alexandria

Alexandria’s tourism industry reached an unprecedented milestone in 2024, generating more than $1 billion in visitor spending for the first time in the city’s history, Visit Alexandria announced Thursday during its annual meeting at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center.

The historic achievement represents an 8% increase from $941 million in visitor spending in 2023 and marks a dramatic recovery from pandemic lows of $445 million in 2020. Alexandria’s growth rate outpaced both Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole, according to data released by the tourism organization.