News | ALXnow - Part 167

Notes: City to unveil draft principles for Duke Street development at community meeting

Published September 25, 2025 at 7:58AM

Duke Street and S. Reynolds Street (image via Google Maps)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Thursday, Sept. 25, the 268th day of 2025. There are 97 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11 a.m. and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82°F. South wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Alexandria woman dies in Hybla Valley after being struck by hit-and-run driver, police officer

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 25, 2025 at 5:45AM | Updated September 25, 2025 at 9:04AM

Through their investigation, detectives were able to obtain a picture of the Mercedes involved in the initial crash. (Credit: Fairfax County Police Department)

An Alexandria woman died Tuesday night after being struck by a hit-and-run driver and then by a responding police officer in Hybla Valley, the Fairfax County Police Department announced.

Trina Jones, 62, of Alexandria, was crossing Richmond Highway at Belford Drive, just outside the Mount Vernon Crossroads shopping center, when a southbound driver hit her around 8:39 p.m., according to a police news release. One of the officers responding to the scene then struck Jones while driving a marked police cruiser, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

Alexandria names Paul Stoddard planning and zoning director

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 24, 2025 at 6:30PM

City of Alexandria Names Paul Stoddard the new Planning & Zoning Director (Credit: City of Alexandria)

City Manager James F. Parajon announced Wednesday the appointment of Paul Stoddard as the new director of the Department of Planning and Zoning.

Stoddard brings experience as a city planner and will officially assume the role Monday.

DASH places 2 registered sex offenders on leave following ALXnow reporting

By James Cullum

Published September 24, 2025 at 6:00PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

Following Tuesday’s story about DASH hiring policies not prohibiting sex offenders, the transit agency has placed two employees on the Virginia State Police registry on administrative leave to “assess the rigor of our recruitment standards and ensure we meet the highest standards in providing safe, fair, and accessible transit to our community.”

ALXnow looked into DASH’s hiring practices after the Alexandria School Board discussed safety concerns about a proposal to transport Alexandria City High School students on DASH buses starting next school year.

Court continues The Garden’s eviction case to Oct. 10

By James Cullum

Published September 24, 2025 at 5:30PM

The Garden at 1503 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria General District Court held a preliminary hearing on Wednesday on the eviction lawsuit against the owners of a popular Beer Garden in Del Ray.

In late August, Jeremy Barber and Justus Frank, the owners of The Garden (1503 Mount Vernon Avenue) filed a lawsuit in the Alexandria Circuit Court against their landlord, who listed the property available for rent on Sept. 1. The landlord, Twenty-Third Street Corridor LLC, then filed an eviction lawsuit in General District Court. Barber and Frank want both cases heard simultaneously and contend that their case was filed before their landlord. The pair is trying to get their landlord’s case dismissed, and all parties will go back to General District Court on Friday, Oct. 10, Barber told ALXnow.

Aslin Beer Co. merges with NYC brewery, creates ‘Driven Collective’

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 24, 2025 at 4:30PM

Drinks at Aslin in Alexandria (photo via Aslin Beer Company - Alexandria/Facebook)

Alexandria-based Aslin Beer Co. announced on Monday that it is merging with New York City’s Torch & Crown Brewing Company to form Driven Collective, a move that positions the 10-year-old local brewery as the production hub for an expanded East Coast operation.

The merger comes as the craft beer industry faces widespread closures and consolidation, with Aslin and Torch taking what they call a “contrarian approach” focused on controlled growth and vertical integration, according to Brewbound and DCBeer.com.

Q&A: ACHS interim principal discusses 16-hour days, campus transitions, and supporting 4,000+ students

By James Cullum

Published September 24, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated September 24, 2025 at 4:44PM

ACHS Interim Principal Lance Harrell speaks at Alexandria City High School's 25th anniversary celebration of the film Remember The Titans, Sept. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Lance Harrell has a big job, overseeing Alexandria City High School, the largest high school in Virginia.

Harrell says he’s working 10- to 16-hour days, with the longest days being Fridays, when there are football games. “I think the biggest change is just the added hours that I’ve been working,” Harrell told ALXnow in an interview on Wednesday.

Federal downsizing hits Alexandria hardest among Virginia suburbs, study shows

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 24, 2025 at 2:36PM | Updated September 25, 2025 at 9:34AM

City of Alexandria (Photo credit Hover Solutions for Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria is among the Virginia suburbs experiencing the biggest increases in unemployment since the Trump administration began dramatic federal downsizing in January, according to a Brookings Institution report released Wednesday.

The report, “Early warning signs for the DC region’s economy amid federal downsizing,” identifies Alexandria alongside Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Loudoun County as jurisdictions where unemployment has risen most sharply. The pattern reflects that while higher concentrations of federal jobs are located in Washington, D.C., the vast majority of the region’s federal workers live in Virginia and Maryland suburbs, according to the researchers.

Alexandria expands school zone speed camera program to 6 locations

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 24, 2025 at 1:30PM

School Zone Speed Camera Program to Expand in 2025-26 School Year (Credit: City of Alexandria)

Alexandria will add three new school zone speed camera locations this fall, bringing the total number of monitored zones to six as the city works toward its Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and severe crashes by 2028.

The new cameras were installed at Alexandria City High School’s King Street campus on King Street between Quaker Lane and Scroggins Road, the school’s Minnie Howard campus on Braddock Road between Marlee Way and Marlboro Drive, and William Ramsay Elementary School on North Beauregard Street between North Morgan Street and Roanoke Avenue.

Tammy Mann and Carpenter’s Shelter to be honored at Departmental Progressive Club’s 98th anniversary reception

By James Cullum

Published September 24, 2025 at 1:00PM

Tammy Mann is stepping down as president and CEO of the Campagna Center (via Facebook)

The Departmental Progressive Club (411 Gibbon Street) will celebrate its 98th anniversary on Oct. 3 and present its annual community service awards.

The free event at the historic private club starts at 6 p.m. and includes the presentation of awards to Tammy Mann, former CEO of the Campagna Center, and to Carpenter’s Shelter. Guests are asked to RSVP online.

GOP state Sen. Reeves launches 2026 US Senate bid, aims to unseat Warner

By Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

Published September 24, 2025 at 12:05PM | Updated September 24, 2025 at 1:42PM

Virginia state Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, announced Wednesday he will run for U.S. Senate in 2026, challenging incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Warner. (Photo courtesy of campaign)

Virginia state Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, launched his campaign Wednesday for the U.S. Senate, setting up a high-stakes 2026 challenge to three-term Democratic Sen. Mark Warner.

Reeves made his announcement on social media, leaning heavily on his background in the military, law enforcement and the General Assembly.