News | ALXnow - Part 215

Alexandria Fire Chief reports dramatic turnaround in employee retention after first year

Published July 2, 2025 at 10:15AM

Alexandria Fire Department Update on July 1, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria Fire Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr. delivered an upbeat assessment of the department’s transformation during his first year in office, reporting significant improvements in employee morale and retention that have addressed longstanding staffing challenges.

Speaking to City Council Tuesday night (July 1), Hernandez said the department’s monthly attrition rate has dropped from 3.3 employees to 1.1 over the past year, with four former employees returning to work. The 10-year average attrition rate stands at 2.1 employees per month.

Alexandria Police search for missing 82-year-old man

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 2, 2025 at 9:45AM | Updated July 2, 2025 at 12:19PM

Missing Senior Male (via Alexandria Police Department)

The Alexandria Police Department issued a missing person alert late Tuesday night for an 82-year-old man who was last seen in the area of 5837 Quantrell Avenue.

Alexander Polyak, 82, is described by police as 5 feet tall, weighing approximately 140 pounds, with blue eyes and white-gray hair. He was last seen wearing a green jacket, white shirt, gray pants, and white sneakers.

State of Health presentation reveals major disparities between Alexandria neighborhoods

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 2, 2025 at 9:00AM

State of Health Presentation. (screenshot)

The Alexandria Health Department presented findings from its comprehensive community health assessment to the Alexandria City Council Tuesday night (July 1), revealing stark health disparities between neighborhoods and outlining plans for a more targeted approach to community health improvement.

Dr. David Rose, Director of the Alexandria Health District and Alexandria Health Department, told the council that the extensive assessment revealed “large differences in health between our neighborhoods” and calls for collaboration “with the people most impacted to move the needle on health outcomes.”

Notes: Free Summer Concert Series features City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 2, 2025 at 8:00AM | Updated July 2, 2025 at 9:42AM

The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums at a celebration for Noah Lyles at Chinquapin Park, Sept. 22, 2024 (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Wednesday, July 2, the 183rd day of 2025. There are 182 days left in the year.

🌧️ Today’s weather: Showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. High near 84. Light and variable wind. The chance of precipitation is 80%—new rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

Alexandria outlines economic development roadmap following community summit

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 1, 2025 at 9:20PM | Updated July 2, 2025 at 5:55AM

Alexandria Economic Summit on May 8, 2025 (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

The Alexandria City Council received a comprehensive update on Tuesday night regarding the city’s May Economic Summit and the ongoing development of a strategic framework that will guide economic development efforts over the next five years.

Tracye McDaniel, President of TIP Strategies, presented findings from extensive community engagement efforts that reached over 840 community touchpoints through 75 roundtables or one-on-one interviews, 35 participants in pre-summit events, 530 survey respondents, and more than 200 summit participants at the May 8 event held at the Westin Alexandria.

Alexandria Police seek public help in series of indecent exposure incidents

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 1, 2025 at 8:38PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Alexandria Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in investigating multiple indecent exposure incidents that have occurred during early morning hours across three Alexandria neighborhoods.

The investigation appears to be connected to incidents ALXnow previously reported on June 25, when two indecent exposures occurred approximately half a mile apart in Rosemont during the early morning hours.

More than 2,800 Dominion Energy customers without power across Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 1, 2025 at 4:41PM | Updated July 1, 2025 at 4:57PM

Dominion Energy Power Outage Map on July 1, 2025 (screenshot)

More than 2,800 Dominion Energy customers in Alexandria are experiencing a power outage this evening (July 1).

Severe thunderstorms brought high winds and heavy rain to Alexandria on Tuesday afternoon.

Man arrested after attempted bank robbery in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published July 1, 2025 at 3:30PM

Jonathan Levar Robinson (via APD)

A 35-year-old man has been charged in connection to an attempted bank robbery in Old Town on Tuesday, June 24.

Jonathan Levar Robinson has been charged as the suspect wearing a mask, entering the M&T Bank at 833 S. Washington Street, passing the teller a note and demanding cash, according to the Alexandria Police Department. The incident occurred at around 9:30 a.m.

GloWell Hair Spa to hold ribbon cutting July 19 in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published July 1, 2025 at 3:00PM

GloWell Hair Spa is open at 712 N. Washington Street in Old Town (via Facebook)

A new hair spa will hold its ribbon cutting later this month in Old Town North.

GloWell Hair Spa officially opened in May at 712 N. Washington Street. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, spa owner Alleyah Miner, her staff, and visitors will formally cut the ribbon for the business.

NOW: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 1, 2025 at 2:52PM

Scenes from Old Town as a storm front bringing rain and high winds moves through the region in March 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Alexandria and the surrounding area.

The watch is in effect from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., as a large storm with 60-mile-per-hour wind gusts has been reported in Centreville and is moving northeast.

Warner, Kaine say GOP budget bill would strip insurance from 323,000 Virginians

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 1, 2025 at 2:30PM

(Left to right) Del. Charniele Herring, Lamice Albaayno, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Lance Collins, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia’s two Democratic senators voted against a Republican budget package that passed the Senate Tuesday morning in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after an all-night session.

The nearly 1,000-page legislation now returns to the House where its passage remains uncertain. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine released a joint statement opposing the measure.