News | ALXnow - Part 234

Notes: Celebrating Juneteenth in Alexandria

Published June 19, 2025 at 7:20AM | Updated June 19, 2025 at 8:27AM

Enjoy traditional African American storytelling and songs reflecting the journey toward freedom with the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices ensemble on Juneteenth at Market Square (via Visit Alexandria)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Thursday, June 19, the 170th day of 2025. There are 195 days left in the year. Today is Juneteenth.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m.. Increasing clouds, with a high near 94 degrees. Heat index values as high as 101. Southwest wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. 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.

Alexandria calls off Community Cookout at Patrick Henry due to weather

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 18, 2025 at 4:39PM

Alexandria community cookout (file photo)

Due to inclement weather, Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA) has been forced to cancel Wednesday’s (June 18) Community Cookout at the Patrick Henry Rec. Center (4643 Taney Ave.).

Celebrating its 18th Annual Community Cookout Series, this marks the fourth time this year that RPCA has had to cancel a cookout due to weather. With free food, games, and more, the annual series of cookouts began in late April, aiming to connect residents with their city government and leaders.

Two Men and a Truck Alexandria is collecting prom dresses for free fall giveaway

By James Cullum

Published June 18, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated June 18, 2025 at 7:41PM

Prom dresses (via ARLnow)

With the dress, shoes, hair, makeup, and transportation, prom can become quite expensive.

That’s why, all summer long, local movers Two Men and a Truck Alexandria are collecting gently used accessories at drop-off points around the city. On Sept. 14 (Sunday), the company is hosting a free prom dress and accessories giveaway at their warehouse at 5910 Farrington Avenue.

School Board Chair says Alexandria needs to figure out if single-principal model for Alexandria City High School is working

By James Cullum

Published June 18, 2025 at 2:45PM

ACHS Principal Alexander Duncan III is presented with a plaque by School Board Chair Michelle Rief at the ACHS Minnie Howard Campus ribbon cutting, May 29, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria School Board Chair Michelle Rief responded today to the stinging letter from the PTSA of Alexandria City High School laying out “serious concerns” with Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt and the school system’s central office.

While not naming Kay-Wyatt in the June 18 response, Rief wrote that the PTSA’s letter “rightly calls out the challenges that turnover can cause,” but listed several highlights from the school over the past year for context.

Department of Junking, an eco-friendly home clear-out business, opens in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published June 18, 2025 at 1:45PM

The Department of Junking is now open in Del Ray (via Dept. of Junking)

Want to get rid of extra furniture?

Rick Schneider of Magpie Reclamations (2020 E. Custis Avenue) in Del Ray recently launched a new home clear-out and junk removal service. The Department of Junking offers customers a complimentary consultation on transitioning their old furniture into the secondhand market, thereby diverting it from landfills.

City Council defers extension of building permit for seven-story apartment building across from Braddock Metro

By James Cullum

Published June 18, 2025 at 12:45PM | Updated June 18, 2025 at 3:14PM

The developer behind a seven-story apartment building in the Braddock area is asking the city for an extension of its developmental special use permit (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria City Council deferred a decision to extend the development special use permit (DSUP) for a seven-story, 180-unit mixed-use apartment building across the street from the Braddock Road Metro station.

The Council, last Saturday, unanimously extended the DSUP for the one-acre project at 727 N. West Street until its public hearing on October 18 (Saturday), giving developer West Street Acquisitions a few months to discuss stormwater issues with the city and conduct more community conversations with neighbors.

Ghazala Hashmi wins Democratic nomination for Virginia lieutenant governor

By Olivia Diaz | Associated Press/Report For America

Published June 18, 2025 at 11:01AM | Updated June 18, 2025 at 12:41PM

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The candidates for Virginia’s lieutenant governor are set to make history after Sen. Ghazala Hashmi won the Democratic nomination for the position on Wednesday.

Hashmi is the first Muslim and the first Indian-American to be nominated to appear on the ballot for a Virginia statewide office. She defeated five other candidates, including Democrat Levar Stoney by less than a percentage point, to secure the nomination in a razor-thin primary race. Stoney congratulated Hashmi on Wednesday in a concession statement.

Old Town sewer upgrade set for July, Wilkes Street Tunnel to close briefly

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 18, 2025 at 10:30AM

Alexandria is preparing to replace the old sewer pipes on the 500 block of South Lee Street. The project aims to boost capacity and prevent backups by replacing existing 6-inch and 8-inch pipes with larger 10-inch ones between Wilkes and Gibbon streets.

Set to kick off in July, this $250,000 upgrade is expected to take four months. City officials will share details at a community meeting for the South Lee Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project at City Hall on June 25, with a Zoom option available for those who cannot attend in person.

Center for Alexandria’s Children names Terri Cheshire its Executive Director

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 18, 2025 at 9:15AM

The Center for Alexandria’s Children Announces Terri Cheshire as Executive Director (via The Center for Alexandria's Children)

The Center for Alexandria’s Children has named Terri Cheshire as its new Executive Director.

Cheshire, who’s been serving as Acting Executive Director recently, got the job after a nationwide search. She brings more than two decades of experience in child welfare, forensic interviewing, and advocacy to the table.

With official results pending, Hashmi declares victory in Democratic lieutenant governor primary

By Samantha Willis, Virginia Mercury

Published June 18, 2025 at 8:40AM

Democrat Ghazala Hashmi was one of seven contenders vying to be Virginia’s next lieutenant governor. She remained the leading candidate, although official results of the race were not determined by Wednesday morning. (Photo courtesy campaign)

Richmond-based state Senator Ghazala Hashmi declared victory in Virginia’s Democratic lieutenant governor primary Tuesday night, although the official results of the six-way contest are yet to be determined.

As of Wednesday morning, Hashmi remained the frontrunner in the contest, with 27.49% of 477,845 votes total. Her closest competitors were former Richmond mayor Levar Stoney, with 26.65%, and Aaron Rouse, a state senator representing Virginia Beach who earned 26.16%.

Notes: How Alexandria voted in the 2025 June Democratic Primary

By ALXnow.com

Published June 18, 2025 at 8:00AM

Vote Here sign outside of Mount Vernon Recreation Center. Voters in Alexandria are participating in a Democratic Primary Election for Lt. Governor and Attorney General on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91 degrees. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning. The chance of precipitation is 40%.