News | ALXnow - Part 131

Expect increasing clouds and a high near 59 with a northwest wind around 6 mph. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy and have a low around 42, accompanied by calm wind. 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

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

Old Town property dispute, Alexandria firm wins DHS contract lead ALXnow’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published October 24, 2025 at 3:30PM

510 Wolfe Street in Old Town (courtesy photo)

It’s the end of the week, Alexandria. Here’s a look at ALXnow’s top stories.

The most-read story this week is about the potential sale of two large Alexandria properties that could settle millions owed to the government by real estate developer and former Connection Newspapers CEO Peter Labovitz.

Pedestrian struck by vehicle on Russell Road, woman suffers head injuries

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 24, 2025 at 1:46PM

Russell Rd is closed between High St and Braddock Rd as officers investigate a pedestrian struck by a vehicle that remained on scene. (via APD)

Russell Road was closed Friday afternoon as police investigated a crash involving a pedestrian struck by a vehicle whose driver remained at the scene.

An adult female was transported to a hospital with significant head injuries, and a child was also taken to a medical facility as a precaution, according to Alexandria Police.

America 250 sculpture approved for Alexandria courthouse courtyard

By James Cullum

Published October 24, 2025 at 1:15PM

A rendering of the America 250 sculpture that will be erected in front of the Alexandria courthouse in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Sandy Williams IV’s proposal for an art installation in Alexandria to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was approved this week by the city’s Commission for the Arts.

The work, entitled “10:00,” will feature 600 limestone rulers stacked into a 40-inch-by-48-inch-by-50-inch box. Williams has calculated that if you walk at a pace of 1 mile per hour, you cover 17.6 inches every second. Every ruler in the piece will be 17.6 inches long, and Williams says that it takes about 10 minutes (600 seconds) to read the Declaration.

Frost advisory issued for Alexandria, surrounding areas

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 24, 2025 at 12:30PM

The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for Alexandria from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (via National Weather Service)

The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for Alexandria and surrounding areas in effect from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday.

Temperatures as low as 33 degrees will result in frost formation, according to the weather service.

Real estate firm Carr Properties wins Alexandria’s top archaeology award

By James Cullum

Published October 24, 2025 at 12:15PM | Updated October 28, 2025 at 12:21PM

View of the Alexandria Canal lock number 4, looking east from North Pitt Street (via City of Alexandria)

D.C.-based real estate investment company Carr Properties has been awarded Alexandria’s top archeology award.

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the City Council will announce the award and commend the company for its “commitment to the highest quality archaeological preservation at the site of the Alexandria Canal in Old Town North,” according to a proclamation. Carr Properties partnered with the city after uncovering part of Alexandria’s history as it worked to redevelop a 1980s-era office building into a mixed-use apartment building.

Alexandria City Council to consider flood mitigation grant, parking enforcement review at Tuesday meeting

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 24, 2025 at 9:15AM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria City Council will meet Tuesday for its regular legislative session, with agenda items ranging from flood preparedness funding to an update on the city’s parking enforcement pilot program.

The meeting begins with a closed executive session at 5:30 p.m., followed by the public session at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 301 King St.

Morning Notes for October 24, 2025

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 24, 2025 at 7:15AM

Visitors explore the new plaza on Saturday, October 18th (image courtesy of the Old Town North Alliance)

On This Day in History: Belle Pre Glass Company Plant Burns Down Under Mysterious Circumstances — On this date in 1921, the abandoned Belle Pre Glass Company plant on Madison Street burned down under mysterious circumstances—just one day before the four-acre property was set to be sold. Once one of America’s largest milk bottle manufacturers, Belle Pre opened in Alexandria in 1902 and employed over 250 workers at its peak before filing for bankruptcy in 1912. [Historic Alexandria]

FCPD: Hit-and-Run Victim Was Alive Before Being Hit by Fairfax Police Car — A Fairfax County police officer remains on restricted duty after striking a hit-and-run victim with his police cruiser last month in Hybla Valley. Alexandria resident Trina Jones, 62, who was crossing Richmond Highway outside the Mount Vernon Crossroads shopping center, was first struck by an unknown driver who fled the scene before being hit by the police cruiser on Sept. 24. [FFXnow]

Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team, Community Lodgings top Chamber ALX’s Best in Business Awards

By James Cullum

Published October 24, 2025 at 4:00AM | Updated October 24, 2025 at 5:46AM

Lance Collins, the vice president and executive director of Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus, with his launch team at the Chamber ALX's Best in Business Awards, Oct. 23, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Since it was announced in August, it was no surprise that the Chamber ALX‘s 2025 Business Leader of the Year Award was presented Thursday night (Oct. 23) to the Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team.

Still, there were a number of other contentious business awards, and ALXnow was at the Westin Alexandria Old Town (400 Courthouse Square) to see them handed out. Below are the winners of the micro, small, medium, large, rising star, non-profit, and overall businesses of the year in Alexandria.

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Oct 23, 2025

By ALXnow.com

Published October 23, 2025 at 8:30PM

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 — Oct 23, 2025.

7:25 am: Morning Notes for October 23, 2025 | 🗣️ Comments
8:19 am: Alexandria celebrates 26th annual Lights On Afterschool event tonight | 🗣️ Comments
9:00 am: StepALIVE! walkathon raises $125,000 for food, housing assistance | 🗣️ Comments
10:15 am: AFD rescues pinned driver after West End crash | 🗣️ Comments
12:00 pm: Beyer, Warner, and Kaine decline pay during shutdown | 🗣️ Comments
1:00 pm: Alexandria traffic board to consider pay-by-phone parking, speed limit cuts | 🗣️ Comments
1:33 pm: Senate rejects bills to pay federal workers during government shutdown | 🗣️ Comments
2:00 pm: New West Alexandria Transit Center to open Nov. 2, replacing Landmark facility | 🗣️ Comments
2:45 pm: Warner urges Trump to “stay home” and resolve shutdown | 🗣️ Comments
3:00 pm: City postpones Lee Street repaving to preserve Halloween tradition | 🗣️ Comments
3:30 pm: Alexandria City Council sets Nov. 1 budget retreat | 🗣️ Comments
3:45 pm: USPTO to lay off 126 workers at Alexandria headquarters in December | 🗣️ Comments
4:45 pm: Alexandria City Council hosting town hall Nov. 5 | 🗣️ Comments
6:24 pm: Alexandria’s 4,400 SNAP families to receive November benefits under state emergency declaration | 🗣️ Comments

Here are today’s most-read articles:

USPTO to lay off 126 workers at Alexandria headquarters in December (1436 views)
AFD rescues pinned driver after West End crash (798 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

5:00 pm: Duncan Library’s Tales of Terror

🌥️ Friday’s forecast

Clouds will increase throughout the day, reaching a high temperature near 61. A light west wind will shift to the northwest at 8 to 13 mph in the morning and may gust up to 22 mph. By Friday night, skies will be mostly clear and the temperature will drop to around 39, accompanied by a northwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.”
– Malala Yousafzai

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Virginia Democrats will try to reshape US House districts in counter to Trump’s redistricting push

By The Associated Press

Published October 23, 2025 at 7:34PM | Updated October 24, 2025 at 5:00AM

FILE - The state and U.S. flags fly over the Virginia State Capitol as the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly gets underway, Jan. 10, 2024, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

By OLIVIA DIAZ and DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Democrats are taking steps to redraw their state’s U.S. House districts, hoping to boost their party’s chances in next year’s midterm elections and counter President Donald Trump’s push for more partisan districts in Republican-run states.