News

Accelerated National Maritime Museum plan takes shape as Tall Ship Providence suspends operations

By James Cullum
The U.S. Maritime Museum is planning to open at 1 Prince Street (the green roof buildings) in Old Town (via U.S. Maritime Museum Foundation)

After news broke this week that the Tall Ship Providence was suspending operations, a nonprofit aimed at creating a national maritime museum along the Alexandria waterfront has gone public.

Marion Smith, president of the United States Maritime Foundation, told ALXnow the organization has entered into a legal agreement with the property owner at 1 Prince Street and is currently fundraising and looking for a second location for additional programming nearby. He also said the foundation is working to acquire the Tall Ship Providence Foundation’s floating pier, the Tall Ship Providence itself and take over its entire operation at Waterfront Park after signing a memorandum of understanding to do so by 2028.

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Morning Notes for June 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com
View of the U.S. Capitol from Rivergate City Park along the Potomac River in Alexandria. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Maritime Museum on Alexandria Waterfront Sought — “The United States Maritime Foundation is under contract to acquire a site adjacent to Alexandria’s Waterfront Park at 1 Prince St. for the planned museum, expected to be around 50,000 square feet, per Marion Smith, the foundation’s president.” [Washington Business Journal]

Alexandria Resident Julie Carey Retires from NBC4 —”Raised in Iowa in a family of journalists, Carey has lived in Alexandria with her husband, a managing editor for Bloomberg. She has also been active as a volunteer in Alexandria Public Schools and within her church throughout her time in the community.” [The MoCo Show]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jun 25, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Thursday 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 — Jun 25, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. After BID failures, City Council looks for other options to support Old Town business corridor (878 views)
  2. Del Ray eatery gives free milkshakes to customers catching water balloons thrown from roof (730 views)
  3. Pak Soii Izakaya marks Del Ray opening with ribbon cutting today (518 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

There is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 5 p.m., with partly sunny skies and a high of 92°F. Southwest winds will be 6 to 8 mph. Friday night, there is a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., with patchy fog possible after 3 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low of around 70°F and variable winds. Rainfall may reach between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Alexandria City Council forms committee to consider School Board election reforms

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria City Council on May 12, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council voted Tuesday to create an ad hoc committee to discuss possible Alexandria City School Board election reforms such as terms and the size of the nine-member board.

City Council’s approval allows the committee to discuss term lengths, staggered term elections and overall board size and composition. The action comes after School Board Chair Michelle Rief requested the joint committee to seek city charter amendments on School Board terms. Specifically, the School Board is requesting moving members from three-year terms to four-year staggered terms, with one member from each of the three School Board districts being elected each year.

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Virginia American Water to relocate water lines due to Alexandria stormwater capacity work

By Emily Leayman
Water faucet (via Imani/Unsplash)

As Alexandria pursues stormwater capacity projects to combat flooding in the north end, its drinking water utility will begin water line relocation in early July.

During the week of July 6, Virginia American Water will start work to relocate water service lines and parts of existing 6-inch and 12-inch ductile iron pipe. The work will happen on W. Reed Avenue from Mount Vernon Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue.

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After BID failures, City Council looks for other options to support Old Town business corridor

By Emily Leayman
Shops in the 200 block of King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

After multiple failed attempts over the past decade to bring a Business Improvement District to Old Town, Alexandria City Council is asking for other strategies to give the corridor an economic boost.

On Tuesday (June 23), City Council endorsed a memo from Council Members Sandy Marks and John Taylor Chapman directing the city manager to assess “how we can address the needs of the Old Town business corridor a little more intentionally.” City staff will review existing research on services and financial investments the city is making in Old Town and alternative options to boost tax revenue.

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Morning Notes for June 25, 2026

By ALXnow.com
A sign supporting the U.S. World Cup team at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Latest Flood Action Alexandria Updates — “Check out the latest edition of the Flood Action Alexandria newsletter! Get updates on the Flood Resilience Plan, design plans for the Mt Vernon Dual Culvert Replacement project, and the Commonwealth, Ashby, Glebe Flood Mitigation project.” [Alexandria T&ES/X]

Landini Brothers and Oak Steakhouse Claim Wine Spectator Awards — Since 1981, Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards have recognized restaurant wine service with three award levels — the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award. Landini Brothers and Oak Steakhouse won the Award of Excellence. [Wine Spectator]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jun 24, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Wednesday 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 — Jun 24, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Outgoing ACPS superintendent takes sudden leave, designees appointed (1391 views)
  2. Body camera footage of Alexandria police shooting homicide suspect released (761 views)
  3. Alexandria fire chief reports morale boost, staffing gains with new 49-hour work week (643 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

The weather will be mostly sunny with a high of about 87°F, accompanied by a light south wind picking up to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. By Thursday night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low around 69°F and a south wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.”
– Napoleon Hill

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Alexandria fire chief reports morale boost, staffing gains with new 49-hour work week

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria Fire Chief Felipe Hernandez (on left) at APD’s Public Safety Summit, June 18, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Morale and staffing are improving at the Alexandria Fire Department after a 49-hour work week was implemented, according to an annual presentation to City Council by Fire Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr. yesterday (Tuesday).

AFD implemented the 49-hour work week in October 2025, reducing weekly hours from 56 as a strategy to improve retention and recruitment. The department achieves the 49 hours with a fourth-shift schedule and “debit day” system. That means firefighters work a 42-hour work week and work an extra day every 24 days to average 49 hours weekly.

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Outgoing ACPS superintendent takes sudden leave, designees appointed

By James Cullum
ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at Mount Vernon Community School on Nov. 15, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

As outgoing Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt takes an unexpected leave, the School Board has designated three administrators to handle her duties.

School Board Chair Michelle Rief announced in an email to ACPS families and staff that Kay-Wyatt is going on leave due “to a matter that arose unexpectedly.” On Tuesday night (June 23), the School Board appointed ACPS Chief of Staff Grace Taylor, Chief Accountability Officer Clinton Page and Chief Academic Officer Pierrette Finney as designees of the division superintendent.

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Body camera footage of Alexandria police shooting homicide suspect released

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police Department Chief Tarrick McGuire talks to reporters at APD headquarters about a May 18 fatal police shooting of a homicide suspect, June 24, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department today (Wednesday) released body camera footage from a fatal shooting of a homicide suspect in the city’s West End last month.

Police Chief Tarrick McGuire also publicly disclosed the names of the victim as 27-year-old Emily Ramirez and the suspect, her boyfriend, 38-year-old Hector Amaya. According to APD, Amaya allegedly shot Ramirez multiple times with a handgun before charging at police and being shot and killed by two APD officers. McGuire characterized the incident as a domestic violence situation and described Ramirez as a T.C. Williams High School graduate and beloved Alexandrian.

Go to Body camera footage of Alexandria police shooting homicide suspect released Read more
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