News

Health insurance premiums projected to rise for Virginia families if federal subsidies expire

By Ryan Belmore
Patient rooms at Inova Health Center - Oakville (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia families buying health insurance through the state marketplace face monthly premium increases of hundreds — and in some cases more than $1,000 — if enhanced federal subsidies expire, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine warned Friday.

The Democratic senators called the newly released projections from the state’s Health Benefit Exchange a “grim new forecast for Virginia” in a statement decrying the ongoing federal government shutdown and Republican inaction on preserving health care tax credits.

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Fragrance boutique to open in November on Cameron Street in Old Town

By James Cullum
Arielle Shoshana is coming to 313 Cameron Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Fragrance boutique Arielle Shoshana is planning to open across the street from City Hall in Old Town in November.

The company planned to open at 313 Cameron Street over the summer, and has a sign on the door with a QR code. The code leads to the company website with the message, “After 10 years as D.C/’s first niche fragrance boutique, Arielle Shoshana is bringing out curated collection of exceptional, exclusive fragrances to Cameron Street!”

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Beyer shares resources for federal workers affected by government shutdown

By Ryan Belmore
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) speaks at the Alexandria Democratic Committee’s Labor Day Picnic at The Garden Alexandria, 5380 Eisenhower Avenue, Sept. 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer on Friday released a webpage with resources for federal workers and contractors affected by the partial government shutdown that began this week.

Beyer represents Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Alexandria and has one of the highest concentrations of federal employees and contractors in the nation. More than 72,000 of his constituents work directly for the federal government, with thousands more employed as government contractors.

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Government funding vote fails again in Senate as hopes fade for quick end to shutdown

By The Associated Press
The Capitol is illuminated at sunrise to begin day three of a government shutdown, in Washington, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

By STEPHEN GROVES, MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hopes for a quick end to the government shutdown faded Friday as Democrats refused to budge in a Senate vote and President Donald Trump readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government.

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Metro chase death, hidden bathroom camera, homicide arrests lead this week’s top stories

By James Cullum
Suspected fare evaders captured chasing a man, who tried to elude them by jumping onto the tracks of the Potomac Yard Metro station before being struck by a train (via MTPD)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria. Here’s a look at the top stories of the week.

ALXnow’s top story this week is on the man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on September 22 and later died at George Washington University Hospital. Metro Transit Police stated at the time that the man had trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation revealed that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders: a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Alexandria mails second half real estate tax bills; payment due Nov. 17

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The city has mailed second-half 2025 real estate tax bills to property owners and mortgage companies, with payment due Monday, November 17, the city announced Friday.

The 2025 real estate tax rate for the calendar year is $1.135 per $100 of assessed value.

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Meet Biscoff, this week’s adoptable dog looking for an active Alexandria family

By Ryan Belmore
Biscoff (Credit: Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Biscoff is living up to his cookie-inspired name — he’s sweet, he’s a crowd-pleaser, and he’s impossible not to love.

The 3-year-old large breed dog at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) is eager to find a home where he can enjoy all the best parts of fall in Alexandria, from crunching through leaf piles to going on long neighborhood walks.

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HRP Group hosts public tours of former power plant site ahead of redevelopment approval

By Ryan Belmore
Tour attendees review renderings and plans for the Old Town North redevelopment, which includes affordable housing, retail space, and arts and cultural programming. (Photo by Ryan Belmore/ALXnow)

HRP Group will welcome 200 visitors during sold-out public tours of the former Potomac River Generating Station site this weekend, providing residents with a firsthand look at the 18.8-acre property before it is transformed into a mixed-use waterfront community.

The tours, held on Friday and Saturday, marked the latest community engagement effort as the developer pursues final approvals for the first phase of construction. HRP Group expects to begin demolishing the defunct coal-fired power plant in 2027, with the first residential buildings scheduled to open by 2029 or 2030.

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CommonWealth One to cut ribbon on new bank at Shoppes at Foxchase

By James Cullum
There's a new CommonWealth One bank at 4557 Duke Street in the Shoppes at Foxchase (via Google Maps)

CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union will cut the ribbon on its newest location in Alexandria on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The ribbon cutting will be held at 4557 Duke Street (in the Shoppes at Foxchase) from 4 to 5 p.m., and include the credit union’s CEO Frank Wasson, elected officials and representatives from the Chamber ALX. The event will be followed with a reception, and door prizes will be handed out.

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Edgar Allan Poe reenactment returns this month to Old Town

By James Cullum
David Keltz as Edgar Allan Poe (image via City of Alexandria)

It’s time to say “nevermore” again, because Edgar Allan Poe actor David Keltz is returning to Alexandria’s Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) Oct. 29 and 30.

Keltz will recreate Poe’s visit to the city before he died in 1849. The program will include recitations of Poe’s poems “The Raven” and “El Dorado,” as well as two chilling stories, according to the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA). The actor has been performing as Poe since 1991.

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