News | ALXnow - Part 145

Bail granted for groomer accused of abusing dogs in Alexandria

Published August 4, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated August 4, 2025 at 1:28PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria man charged with felony animal abuse was granted bail on July 24 (Thursday), despite objections from the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Kevin Malik Sanders was granted a $10,000 bail on personal recognizance and goes to court for a three-day jury trial starting Feb. 2, 2026, according to the Alexandria Clerk of Court. The 29-year-old was arrested on July 21, 2025, after the death of a three-year-old Golden Retriever named Abigail at Your Dog’s Best Friends (2000 Richmond Highway) on July 12, 2024. He was charged with four Class 1 misdemeanors and one count of felony animal abuse. The Commonwealth’s Attorney released allegations of abuse in an effort to keep him behind bars (see below).

Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility celebrating one-year anniversary on August 29

By James Cullum

Published August 4, 2025 at 11:30AM | Updated August 4, 2025 at 7:49PM

The swimming pool at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus, May 29, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Sometimes getting all wet can be exactly what you need.

On Friday (Aug. 29), Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility. The family friendly event will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and includes free activities, live music and giveaways.

Alexandria firefighters help extinguish commercial building blaze in Alexandria area of Fairfax County

By James Cullum

Published August 4, 2025 at 10:30AM

The Alexandria Fire Department helped extinguish a fire in the 5400 Block of Oakwood Road in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County on Aug. 1, 2025 (via IAFF Local 2141/Facebook)

No injuries were reported in a commercial building fire in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County on Friday morning (Aug. 1).

The Alexandria Fire Department assisted the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department extinguish the blaze in a small building, which was reported at around 6 a.m.

Notes: Miracle League of Alexandria to honor first responders at 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 4, 2025 at 8:00AM

Miracle League of Alexandria Hosts Annual “First Responders” Day Game – September 21, 2024

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Monday, Aug. 4, the 216th day of 2025. There are 149 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 86 degrees. Calm wind becoming east around six mph in the afternoon. Increasing clouds tonight, with a low around 66. Light and variable wind.

Senator Mark Warner spearheads bipartisan efforts to boost U.S. housing supply

By Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury

Published August 4, 2025 at 5:23AM | Updated August 4, 2025 at 7:31AM

Senator Mark Warner during media availability on Thursday, July 31.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, recalls how over the years, he and colleagues in Congress used to say “we’re gonna get to housing next, we’re gonna get to housing next.” But it never really came, he said, and now “housing shortages are a real crisis.”

Last week, he called himself and his colleagues out for “kicking the can on housing” since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Though he and others had introduced proposals, the proposals haven’t always succeeded. But he’s encouraged this year, as a package of housing bills he helped craft advanced unanimously through the Senate’s Banking Committee.

Notes: Alexandria celebrates 251 years of firefighting history at annual festival

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 3, 2025 at 8:00AM

2025 Friendship Firehouse Festival (Photo provided by Office of Historic Alexandria)

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Sunday, Aug. 3, the 215th day of 2025. There are 150 days left in the year.

On this day in, 1950, Alexandria residents began complaining about a bad taste in the local drinking water. According to Historic Alexandria, “Alexandria Water Company soon officials determined the cause to be chemicals that had been dumped into a storm sewer by men at Cameron Station, the U.S. Army’s Quartermaster Depot. The affected water had to be drained from the water company’s reservoir and the City’s water supply was impacted for a week”.

Broken altimeter, ignored warnings: Hearings reveal what went wrong in DC crash that killed 67

By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer

Published August 2, 2025 at 8:08PM | Updated August 3, 2025 at 7:05AM

National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, on monitor left, swears-in the witnesses from left: Dan Cooper, Sikorsky Aircraft, Lance Gant, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Army CW4 Kylene Lewis, Steve Braddom, U.S. Army, and Scott Rosengren, U.S. Army, during the NTSB fact-finding hearing on the DCA midair collision accident, at the National Transportation and Safety Board boardroom, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Over three days of sometimes contentious hearings this week, the National Transportation Safety Board interrogated Federal Aviation Administration and Army officials about a list of things that went wrong and contributed to a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet colliding over Washington, D.C., killing 67 people.

The biggest revelations: The helicopter’s altimeter gauge was broken, and controllers warned the FAA years earlier about the dangers that helicopters presented.

Notes: Alexandria offers summer weekend mix of markets, music, and family fun

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 2, 2025 at 7:30AM

Shopping in Old Town Alexandria (via Visit Alexandria)

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋Today is Saturday, Aug. 2, the 214th day of 2025. There are 151 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Increasing clouds, with a high near 82 degrees. East wind 5 to 7 mph.

Veteran federal judge T.S. Ellis III, who presided over trial of Trump aide Paul Manafort, has died

By MATTHEW BARAKAT Associated Press

Published August 1, 2025 at 5:25PM | Updated August 2, 2025 at 7:06AM

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

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Federal judge T.S. Ellis III, whose legal scholarship and commanding courtroom presence was evident in numerous high-profile trials, has died after a long illness. He was 85.

Ellis oversaw the trials of former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former U.S. Rep. William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson as well as the plea deal of “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh across a judicial career that lasted more than 35 years.

Alexandria police officer charged with reckless driving after pursuit collision

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 1, 2025 at 4:57PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Alexandria police officer has been charged with reckless driving following a vehicle collision that occurred during a pursuit of a stolen vehicle in June.

Officer Damon Frazier was served a summons for reckless driving, a Class 1 misdemeanor, after the Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney reviewed the June 14 incident, according to a Friday press release from the Alexandria Police Department.

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published August 1, 2025 at 3:00PM

Phase 1 of the project is expected to last for one year. During this period, bridge traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction while both southbound lanes are under construction. (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria residents are bracing for significant transportation disruptions as construction begins on the long-awaited Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge project, which will require a two-year timeline and has already garnered nearly 7,000 page views from concerned commuters.

Meanwhile, congressional representatives are pushing back against a federal USDA relocation plan that could impact the city, drawing substantial community attention with over 6,000 views.