By JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers provided few public signs of meaningful negotiations to break an impasse on reopening the federal government as the shutdown entered its sixth day on Monday, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying it was Democrats who needed to “stop the madness.”
There’s a new gym just off Duke Street in Alexandria.
Over the weekend, the ribbon was cut at KRISSFIT at 3014 Colvin Street, near the intersection of Roth and Duke Streets. The gym is owned by personal trainers Kriss and Viktoria Baychev, who specialize in core training, nutrition, strength training, endurance training, and bodybuilding.
Starting this month, Alexandria will begin eradicating invasive plants in the Wilkes Street Tunnel and at several city parks.
Residents and visitors can expect some temporary fencing around affected areas, as the city will be making herbicide treatments and other “control” methods. Some of the invasive species that will be eradicated include Japanese honeysuckle, tree of heaven, English ivy, mimosa trees, and Oriental bittersweet.
A local Muay Thai dojo recently moved to a new location in Alexandria.
Atlas Muay Thai Gym opened earlier this month in its new location at 2395 S. Dove Street. The gym opened in 2023 in a former CrossFit gym at 215 N. Payne Street, part of The Link coworking office, and is owned by Muay Thai world champion Amine “The Lion” Ballafrikh.
A local bakery just got a big order with a twist, literally.
Bread and Water Co. in the Belle View Shopping Center is now the pretzel maker for Capital One Arena. Throughout the hockey and basketball seasons, as well as during concerts and special events, customers can expect to find pretzels made by Bread and Water’s bakery in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.
The Alexandria Cider Festival will return to Lloyd House on Nov. 22, featuring Virginia cideries, live music, and historical context during the state’s annual Virginia Cider Week.
The Office of Historic Alexandria will host the event from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at 220 N. Washington St., in partnership with the Virginia Association of Cider Makers. Last year’s festival sold out.
What began as a quiet October Friday in Virginia politics erupted into a full-blown national scandal when screenshots of private, three-year old text messages showing Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones fantasizing about shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children were made public.
The National Review story revealed an August 2022 exchange between Jones — a former Norfolk delegate and one-time assistant attorney general — and Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield. In the texts, Jones described a scenario in which Gilbert “gets two bullets to the head,” followed by a wish that the Republican lawmaker’s children “die in their mother’s arms.”
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins will join ALXnow for her live one-on-one monthly virtual video conversation on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m.
Our “Ask The Mayor” series provides Alexandria residents with regular opportunities to hear directly from Mayor Gaskins on pressing city issues and to submit their questions for consideration (submit your questions below).
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer introduced legislation Friday that would allow federal employees to withdraw up to $30,000 from their retirement accounts without penalties during the ongoing government shutdown, offering potential relief to thousands of Northern Virginia workers facing missed paychecks.
The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act would waive the 10% early withdrawal penalty that federal workers under age 59 currently face when making hardship withdrawals from their Thrift Savings Plan accounts. The bill would also allow employees to restore withdrawn funds to their retirement savings later.
Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood was packed with art lovers for the 30th annual Art on the Avenue festival in Del Ray on Saturday (Oct. 4).
Hundreds of juried artists sold their work, live music was performed on four stages and the event and its founder Pat Miller were recognized by Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th), Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley.
Pro-Palestinian activists plan to rally at Market Square on Sunday before walking to press U.S. Sen. Mark Warner to end American weapons shipments to Israel.
The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 4 p.m., according to organizers. After a short walk from the meeting point to the final location, participants will remain stationary, organizers said.
