News | ALXnow - Part 198

Stardust Vintage & Gift opens in Del Ray

Published June 14, 2025 at 9:28AM | Updated June 14, 2025 at 9:46AM

Grand opening of Stardust Vintage & Gift (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Stardust Vintage & Gift officially opened its doors at 1904 Mount Vernon Avenue on Saturday (June 14), marking a new chapter for the Del Ray business community and its founder, Amy Eggers. The grand opening celebration brought together local officials, business leaders, and community members to commemorate the occasion.

The new shop, which replaces the former antique store La Brocante (now relocated next door), represents the culmination of Eggers’ long-standing vision for creating a unique retail space in the area.

Democrats squaring off in Virginia primaries say one name a lot: Trump

By Olivia Diaz | Associated Press/Report For America

Published June 14, 2025 at 7:25AM | Updated June 14, 2025 at 10:00AM

'I voted' stickers on Election Day in Alexandria, Nov. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) —Two Virginia Democrats are battling Tuesday to be their party’s nominee for attorney general. Yet, the name mentioned most in their campaigns is not that of their opponent, but rather a man who lives just over the Arlington Memorial Bridge: President Donald Trump.

The barrage of changes Trump has wrought to American culture in the first few months of his second White House residency has ignited the campaigns of Virginia Democrats Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor as they appeal unrelentingly to the most devout swaths of their base ahead of down-ballot primary elections. The primary will also determine the party’s nominations this year for lieutenant governor and some contested seats in the House of Delegates.

Notes: A Saturday of civic debate, jazz celebration, and solemn remembrance in Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 14, 2025 at 7:16AM | Updated June 15, 2025 at 6:57AM

The ALX Jazz Fest returns to Waterfront Park this weekend. (Photo via Visit Alexandria)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Saturday, June 14, the 165th day of 2025. There are 200 days left in the year. This is Flag Day.

On this day:

DEVELOPING: Flash Flood Warning issued for Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2025 at 8:27PM

Flooding on lower King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A Flash Flood Warning is in effect in Alexandria and the surrounding area until midnight.

The National Weather Service anticipates a burst of between one-and-three inches of rainfall an hour.

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated June 13, 2025 at 4:29PM

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement logo (via Facebook)

What a week it’s been in Alexandria. Here’s our recap of top stories.

ALXnow had its highest single-day visitor count ever on Thursday (June 12), with more than 53,000 views, following a report that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to deploy tactical units to Northern Virginia and four major cities across the country.

Volunteer Alexandria needs 40,000 pounds of canned food in July collection drive

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2025 at 3:00PM

via Volunteer Alexandria

Volunteer Alexandria has set a goal of collecting 40,000 pounds of canned food in July.

The organization’s third Food4ALX collection drive will donate the canned items to Hunger Free Alexandria’s food pantries and ALIVE!.

Alexandria City High School’s Gxrls Ultimate Frisbee Team competing in High School National Invite

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 13, 2025 at 2:30PM

Alexandria HS Gxrls Ultimate Frisbee (via alxgxrls.ultimate)

The Alexandria City High School Gxrls Ultimate Frisbee Team is making history this weekend as they compete in their first-ever High School National Invite tournament.

This prestigious event, featuring 32 of the nation’s top high school ultimate teams, is taking place Friday (June 13) and Saturday (June 14) in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Alexandria School Board makes elementary and middle school redistricting changes

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated June 13, 2025 at 2:26PM

Alexandria School Board meeting in 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It took months of community meetings and work sessions, and on Thursday (June 12), the Alexandria School Board approved redistricting maps for its elementary and middle schools.

The Board whittled down its choices to the Triangle 3 map for elementary schools and Option E for middle schools. Here’s what that means:

New flexible retail project launches on S. Pickett Street near Landmark development

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 13, 2025 at 1:30PM

550 S. Pickett Street in Alexandria is for lease (Rendering via Marcus Barnett)

A new retail project is launching this week at 550 S. Pickett Street in Alexandria, near the Landmark development.

Marcus Barnett’s development group is leading the charge on this 9,380-square-foot building that’s designed to be flexible for various uses.

Dozens attend second Alexandria City Council Town Hall of the year

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 13, 2025 at 12:45PM

Alexandria City Council Town Hall on June 12 (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Alexandria City Council held its second City Council Town Hall of the year on Thursday (June 12).

Approximately fifty people were present at the Charles Houston Rec Center Gymnasium as City Council members answered questions submitted by both the in-person and virtual audience.

Alexandria City High School Executive Principal Alexander Duncan III leaving to run Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated June 13, 2025 at 4:04PM

Executive Principal Alexander Duncan III at Alexandria City High School's graduation at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena, May 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After serving as the executive principal of Alexandria City High School for two years, on Thursday, Alexander Duncan III announced his departure, effective June 30.

Duncan said that he has accepted another role, and thanked staff in an email. Duncan was the ACHS Minnie Howard Campus administrator, and replaced ACHS Executive Principal Peter Balas after his departure in 2023. Duncan will start his new role as principal of Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington.