News

Jones text scandal reshapes Virginia’s attorney general race — and tests Spanberger’s ticket

By Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury
Democrat Jay Jones speaks in Richmond during his 2024 campaign kickoff for attorney general. Jones is now facing bipartisan backlash over newly surfaced text messages containing violent remarks about a former Republican House speaker. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

When Virginia’s two attorney general candidates are set to meet Thursday at the University of Richmond for what is expected to be their only debate before Election Day, the focus will almost certainly fall on one thing — the scandal over Democrat Jay Jones’s recently leaked text messages to Republican Del. Carrie Coyner that sent shockwaves through Virginia’s 2025 election cycle.

Jones, a former state delegate from Norfolk, has apologized for sending messages that referenced shooting former House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah — comments that have upended the race and now threaten to define it.

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Va. gubernatorial candidates make case to build workforce at chamber conference

By Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury
Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger are the nominees for governor. Earle-Sears is the current lieutenant governor. Spanberger previously served in Congress. (Earle-Sears photo courtesy Virginia Lieutenant Governor’s Office, Spanberger photo courtesy U.S. House of Representatives)

As Virginia seeks to strengthen communities statewide and support economic growth, gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears presented their cases for why they should be elected to lead these efforts at the Virginia Education & Workforce Conference in Richmond on Tuesday.

The two candidates spoke to more than 400 attendees from business, education and policy backgrounds about the challenges and their respective plans during Tuesday’s conference at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, which focused on building a more skilled and competitive workforce. The event was co-hosted by the Virginia Chamber Foundation, Virginia Business Higher Education Council, VCF Workforce and Education Center and Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership.

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Alexandria reports weakening consumption taxes, declining hotel revenue

By Ryan Belmore
City Manager James Parajon presents the State of the Economy report to Alexandria City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria City Manager James Parajon presented a sobering economic outlook to the City Council Tuesday night, warning of troubling trends in unemployment, consumption taxes, and consumer confidence despite the city’s recent achievement of crossing $1 billion in visitor spending.

The monthly State of the Economy report, part of a series requested by Mayor Alyia Gaskins and members of the City Council, highlighted deepening concerns about national economic uncertainty and its local impacts as the city prepares for budget discussions.

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Oct 14, 2025

By ALXnow.com

Good Tuesday 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 14, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria repaves nine streets this week (591 views)
  2. Trump and budget chief Vought are making this a government shutdown unlike any other (436 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 70 degrees with a north wind at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. For Wednesday night, the skies will remain clear, and the temperature will drop to around 45 degrees. The north wind will persist at approximately 9 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”
– Indira Gandhi

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Eight Alexandria housing commissioners resign after Mayor, City Council demand their departure

By Ryan Belmore
ARHA properties in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

UPDATE (Oct. 15, 7:35 p.m.): Alexandria City Council unanimously appointed six new commissioners to the ARHA board during an emergency special meeting Wednesday night, with three seats remaining open for future appointments. Read the full story here: Alexandria City Council appoints six new ARHA commissioners day after mass resignations

Eight of nine Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority commissioners resigned Tuesday in response to a demand from Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Council that they step down by today’s deadline or face formal removal proceedings.

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Macy Gray to perform ‘On How Life Is’ 25-year anniversary show at Birchmere

By James Cullum
Macy Gray will perform at the Birchmere Music Hall on Nov. 4, 2025 (via Facebook)

Grammy winner Macy Gray is performing her greatest hits at The Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria next month, and spoke with ALXnow for a few minutes.

Gray is performing across the country this and next month on the final leg of an international tour marking the 25-year anniversary of the release of her hit album “On How Life Is”. The Nov. 4 concert is her second appearance performing in Alexandria, after she sang at The Birchmere in 2023, and she says she’ll be performing the entire album, plus a few covers and new songs.

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Alexandria Health Department urges residents to get vaccinated as respiratory illness season arrives

By Ryan Belmore
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (Credit: Alexandria Health Department)
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

The Alexandria Health Department is encouraging residents to get vaccinated and practice healthy habits as cold and flu season approaches, officials announced Tuesday.

As temperatures drop, health officials warn that respiratory illnesses, including influenza, RSV, and COVID-19, typically increase, potentially leading to serious health complications, missed work and school days, and hospitalizations.

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City Hall renovation plans head to review board

By James Cullum
A rendering of the proposed City Hall and Market Square renovation (via City of Alexandria)

With construction expected to start next year, plans to demolish and encapsulate City Hall are heading to the city’s Board of Architectural Review.

Development plans call for City Hall (301 King Street) to be gutted and for the demolition of the Market Square plaza and the underground two-level parking garage. The BAR will review the plans on Thursday (Oct. 16). If approved by City Council at a yet-to-be-scheduled meeting, the project will break ground in the second quarter of 2026 with a completion goal of 2028, according to the city.

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Trump and budget chief Vought are making this a government shutdown unlike any other

By The Associated Press
President Donald Trump listens during an event in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is making this government shutdown unlike any the country has ever seen, enabling his budget office a rare authority to pick winners and losers — who gets paid or fired — in an unprecedented restructuring across the federal workforce.

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Early voting turnout in Alexandria outpaces 2021 ahead of November election

By Ryan Belmore
A voting sign at the Alexandria Registrar of Voters, 132 N. Royal Street, in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Early voting turnout in Alexandria is running well ahead of the 2021 election cycle, with more than 9,600 ballots cast so far for the November general election.

As of Oct. 13, Alexandria has recorded 9,621 early votes, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project. At the same point in 2021 — 22 days before Election Day — the city had received just 5,434 early ballots, meaning current turnout is running 77% ahead of the 2021 pace.

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Alexandria repaves nine streets this week

By James Cullum
Paving Operations (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria is repaving several streets this week.

The city said that temporary “No Parking” signs will be displayed before work begins, and that businesses and residents in the affected areas got advance notice through project signs and letters. While street repavings are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment issues or utility work coordination, below is the listing of all the streets the city will repave between October 14 and October 17.

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