News | ALXnow - Part 153

Alexandria man charged with sexually assaulting 2 students at Edison High

Published October 1, 2025 at 1:30PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An instructional assistant at Thomas Edison High School, located at 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria (Fairfax County), has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two students.

Derrick Burroughs, a 40-year-old Alexandria man, was arrested after Child Protective Services received two referrals that two students were “inappropriately touched,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department. Burroughs, an instructional assistant with Fairfax County Public Schools since 2023, was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties by a custodian. He was released after posting a $3,000 bond, according to FCPD.

Alexandria businesses offer discounts for federal workers during government shutdown

By James Cullum

Published October 1, 2025 at 12:30PM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 12:54PM

via Made In ALX/Instagram

Several Alexandria businesses are offering discounts and freebies to federal employees affected by the government shutdown.

Made in ALX (415 King Street) is offering discounts on workshops, has items on sale, and is putting out one of their artists’ 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles for anyone to work on during regular business hours. “I’m in a federal family, and have gone through several shutdowns in the past,” Beth Lawton, a cofounder of Made In ALX, told us. “I know firsthand how stressful it is, and if we can make things easier on people affected this year, we’re happy to do that.”

Alexandria moves forward with next phase of Confederate street renamings

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 11:30AM

The committee proposes rededicating Calhoun Avenue, currently named for a major in the Confederate army, to Robert Calhoun Avenue. Robert "Bob" Calhoun was a former Alexandria City Council member. (via Google Maps)

The Alexandria City Council’s Naming Committee is moving forward with plans to rename or rededicate four streets currently named for Confederate military leaders, focusing on honoring local historical figures and civic leaders instead.

Councilman John Chapman presented the committee’s Phase 2 recommendations during Tuesday’s council meeting, outlining proposed changes for Calhoun Avenue, Stevens Street, Frost Street, and Iverson Street. The changes are part of an ongoing effort to address street names established by a 1953 ordinance that required north-south streets to be named after Confederate leaders.

Alexandria receives state planning award for AlexWest Small Area Plan

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 10:21AM

The American Planning Association (APA) presented the Virginia Plan of the Year Award to the City of Alexandria for the AlexWest Plan Legislative Meeting. A proud moment for staff, who are pictured with members of APA and City Council. (Photo by Ryan Belmore/ALXnow)

Alexandria officially received the 2025 Virginia Plan of the Year Award on Tuesday for its AlexWest Small Area Plan, with state planning officials presenting the honor to the City Council more than three months after it was announced in June.

Nick Rogers, president-elect of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association, and Sophie Huemer, chair of the chapter’s 2025 awards committee, made the formal presentation during Tuesday night’s council meeting. Huemer is also the director of the Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design Services at Alexandria City Public Schools.

Alexandria City Council signals support for $150K study of alternative pump station site

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 9:15AM

AWA presentation slide showing aerial view with pump station relocated to 1 Prince Street (Screenshot of Alexandria Waterfront Alliance presentation)

Alexandria City Council signaled support Tuesday night for spending $150,000 to study an alternative location for a controversial flood mitigation pump station. This move would pause current design work for several months.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins introduced the proposal during council member updates, explaining that the Waterfront Commission had recently requested staff examine 1 Prince Street as an alternative to the current Waterfront Park location.

Notes: Together Women Rise to mark International Day of the Girl Child at Alexandria event

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 8:20AM

Together Women Rise invites you to a special International Day of the Girl Celebration on October 11 in Alexandria. (via Together Women Rise)

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 71 degrees. Northeast wind 10 to 13 mph.Clear tonight, with a low around 52 degrees. Northeast wind around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening.

Alexandria mobilizes resources to help residents affected by federal shutdown

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 5:33AM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria officials are mobilizing resources to assist residents impacted by the federal government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, with City Manager James Parajon announcing comprehensive support services during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

“We have created a federal government shutdown information resource page on our website for the City of Alexandria,” Parajon said during his manager’s update at the council meeting. The shutdown began just hours after his comments, following Congress’s failure to reach a funding agreement by the midnight deadline.

What happens now that a government shutdown is underway

By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

Published October 1, 2025 at 12:33AM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 5:23AM

The Capitol is seen at dusk as Democrats and Republicans in Congress are angrily blaming each other and refusing to budge from their positions on funding the government, in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington is bracing for what could be a prolonged federal shutdown after lawmakers deadlocked and missed the deadline for funding the government.

Republicans supported a short-term measure to fund the government generally at current levels through Nov. 21, but Democrats blocked it, insisting the measure address their concerns on health care. They want to reverse the Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump’s mega-bill passed this summer and extend tax credits that make health insurance premiums more affordable for millions of people who purchase through the marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.

Government shutdown begins as nation faces new period of uncertainty

By The Associated Press

Published October 1, 2025 at 12:01AM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 5:15AM

The sunset is seen from the Capitol before Republican and Democratic news conferences about the government shutdown, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.

Alexandria restaurants offering ‘furlough freebies’ to impacted federal employees

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 10:10PM

A pulled pork sandwich at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray (via Facebook)

In the event of a government shutdown Wednesday, two Alexandria restaurants are offering impacted federal employees free food.

Pork Barrel BBQ (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue) and Sweet Fire Donna’s (510 John Carlyle Street) are offering a free pulled pork sandwich to federal employees who bring their IDs to the restaurant. The deal is limited to one sandwich per day per federal employee Monday through Friday. Both restaurants are owned by Bill Blackburn and “Mango” Mike Anderson of the Homegrown Restaurant Group.

Alexandria police locate missing 62-year-old man

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 30, 2025 at 5:45PM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 6:42PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A 62-year-old Alexandria man who had been missing since Tuesday morning has been safely located, police announced Wednesday evening.

Fecre Desta was found safe, according to the Alexandria Police Department, which thanked the community and media for their assistance in the search.