News | ALXnow - Part 182

This Week in Alexandria: Alexandria & USA Birthday Celebration, Pipes & Drums concert, and live music galore

Published July 7, 2025 at 11:00AM

Alexandria's 275th birthday celebration along the waterfront in Old Town, July 13, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

This week brings Alexandria’s biggest celebration of the year as the city marks its 276th birthday alongside America’s 249th on Saturday, July 12 at Oronoco Bay Park. The free waterfront event features the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, fireworks at 9:30 p.m., and birthday cupcakes distributed by City Council members.

The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. with DJ Geena Marie, followed by Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Alexandria Poet Laureate Maria Cristina Donoso at 7:30 p.m. The evening builds to a grand finale with fireworks and ceremonial cannons by the Presidential Salute Battery. Port City Brewing will sell craft beer on-site, while food trucks line Pendleton Street and local vendors showcase their wares in a curated arts area.

Two hospitalized after July 4 crash near Woodrow Wilson Bridge

By James Cullum

Published July 7, 2025 at 10:00AM

Two people were injured in a crash on I-95 N near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Alexandria on July 4, 2025 (via IAFF Local 2141/Facebook)

Two people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a three-vehicle crash near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Alexandria on Friday, July 4.

The crash was reported at around 11:45 a.m. on the northbound through lanes of Interstate 95 just before the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Two people in a silver Nissan were injured, and one person had to be extricated from that vehicle, according to dispatch reports.

ACPS aims to collect 3,500 backpacks in back-to-school drive

By James Cullum

Published July 7, 2025 at 9:15AM

Backpacks bound for K-2 kids (Photo via ACPS/Facebook)

Alexandria City Public Schools has launched its annual Backpack & School Supply Drive with the goal of collecting 3,500 backpacks by Monday, Aug. 4.

Groups can arrange a pickup of large donations to the school system, and individuals can drop off backpacks and supplies Monday through Thursday at Alexandria City High School (3330 King Street) and Mount Vernon Community School (2601 Commonwealth Avenue).

Notes: Alexandria to unveil 2025 Health Report at community event Tuesday

By ALXnow.com

Published July 7, 2025 at 8:00AM

Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Good Monday morning, Alexandria! Today is Monday, July 7, the 188th day of 2025. There are 177 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers likely before 11 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89 degrees. Calm wind becoming northeast around six mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 60%—new rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

Notes: Alexandria to hold community meeting for Mount Vernon Trail sidewalk expansion

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 6, 2025 at 7:37AM

Mount Vernon Trail Improvements at East Abingdon Drive (via City of Alexandria)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Sunday, July 6, the 187th day of 2025. There are 178 days left in the year.

🌦️ Today’s weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91 degrees. Calm wind becoming south at 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Isolated showers and thunderstorms tonight before 3 a.m., then isolated showers after 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 74 degrees. Southeast wind 3 to 8 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%.

Police investigating death on N. West Street

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 5, 2025 at 7:48PM | Updated July 7, 2025 at 6:28AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Alexandria police are conducting a death investigation in the 500 block of N. West Street, prompting a significant police presence in the Old Town area Saturday evening.

The Alexandria Police Department announced the investigation in a social media post at 7:28 p.m., stating that officers were on the scene but emphasizing “there is no active threat” to the public.

Notes: Fourth of July weekend brings historic tours, live music, and family fun to Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 5, 2025 at 8:30AM

A street lined with American flags in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Saturday, July 5, the 186th day of 2025. There are 179 days left in the year.

🌦️ Today’s weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77 degrees. Light and variable wind becoming south 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Partly cloudy tonight, with a low of around 66 degrees. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Governor Youngkin taps four more Alexandria residents for state board positions

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 4, 2025 at 8:00AM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks speaks at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday (July 3) a new round of administration and board appointments that includes four Alexandria residents, continuing a recent trend of Northern Virginia appointments to state positions.

The latest Alexandria appointments include Douglas W. Domenech to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, Dr. Edwin J. Feulner to the Board of Visitors of Mount Vernon, S. Lawrence Kocot to the Board of Pharmacy, and W. Patrick Wilson to the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission.

Notes: New Virginia laws take effect this week, impacting Alexandria residents

By ALXnow.com

Published July 4, 2025 at 7:17AM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Good Friday morning, Alexandria! Today is Friday, July 4, the 185th day of 2025. There are 180 days left in the year. This is Independence Day.

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Mayor Gaskins condemns federal SNAP cuts as “cruel” policy

By ALXnow.com

Published July 3, 2025 at 8:28PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins in Council Chambers, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins sharply criticized the Trump administration’s decision to slash $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next decade, calling the cuts to food benefits for working families, seniors and children “not just bad policy” but “cruel.”

The cuts are part of President Donald Trump’s tax legislation that passed Congress by razor-thin margins—51-50 in the Senate with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote, and 218-214 in the House.

Alexandria Health Department gets $120K from City Council after losing federal grant

By James Cullum

Published July 3, 2025 at 5:30PM

Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

City Council has released more than $120,000 in reserve funding to the Alexandria Health Department.

On Tuesday (July 1), Council approved the one-time funding to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan, immigrant and refugee resource programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. AHD lost the funds, which were from a federal COVID-19 grant earlier this year.