News | ALXnow - Part 252

Alexandria Superintendent spells out ways ACPS can and can’t protect students from ICE

Published January 28, 2025 at 11:40AM | Updated February 11, 2025 at 4:02PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt delivers her fiscal year 2026 Combined Funds Budget to the Alexandria School Board, Jan. 23, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With President Donald Trump removing restrictions preventing Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from raiding schools, Alexandria Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt laid out the ways Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) are protected from ICE but also exceptions families should be aware of.

The message comes after a full-throated rebuke of ICE activities at school to the fullest extent allowable by law by Fairfax County Public Schools leadership. Kay-Wyatt’s message similarly noted that the schools can help shield children to an extent, but reaffirmed that ACPS “is obligated to comply with all lawful orders and warrants from any law enforcement entity, including ICE.

Notes: Old Town North Chinese restaurant displaced by development reopening tomorrow in Pentagon City

By ALXnow.com

Published January 28, 2025 at 10:05AM

Mixian noodles from Yunnan by Potomac (courtesy of Yunnan by Potomac)

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunny skies and a high around 50 degrees during the day, accompanied by breezy northwest winds at 7-12 mph, increasing to 15-20 mph in the afternoon, with potential gusts up to 34 mph. For Tuesday night, partly cloudy conditions will persist, with a low of 32 degrees. The light and variable wind will become southwest at 5-9 mph after midnight.

26 Alexandria restaurants compete in ‘GW Cherry Challenge’ before George Washington Birthday Parade

By James Cullum

Published January 28, 2025 at 8:30AM

George and Martha Washington at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 19, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

George Washington’s cherry-filled past will be celebrated this month with the second annual GW Cherry Challenge.

The challenge is sponsored by George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate and requires participating venues to create the best “cherry-oriented appetizer, entrée, beverage, or dessert,” according to organizers.

JUST IN: Three teenagers charged with murdering Alexandria man and wounding two others

By James Cullum

Published January 27, 2025 at 4:44PM

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire, with Assistant Police Chief Raul Pedroso, and Samuel Ward of the ATF, speaks at a press conference on Jan. 27, 2025, to announce arrests in the homicide that occurred in the 1200 block of Wythe Street in the Braddock neighborhood on Sept. 19, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Three teenagers have charged in the fatal shooting of Alexandria resident Kwakia Frazier and wounding two others, the Alexandria Police Department announced today.

A 16-year-old and two 17-year-old suspects have each been charged with murder by mob and two counts of malicious wounding by mob.

New Japanese restaurant files permit to replace troubled Yates Pizza Palace space on Duke Street

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated January 27, 2025 at 7:26PM

3006 Duke Street on Jan. 27, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Japanese restaurant Umiya could be opening in a location previously haunted by a ghost kitchen and the pizza palace that never was.

Umiya Alexandria Inc. filed a permit to open a full service restaurant at 3006 Duke Street, offering Japanese sushi, seafood and grilled food.

Ting Internet says it ‘has temporarily paused fiber deployment’ in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2025 at 1:15PM

Ting Internet team on-site in Alexandria, Virginia (image courtesy Ting Internet)

Ting Internet, once seen as a possible competitor to the stranglehold of companies like Comcast on Alexandria customers, has told ALXnow it has “temporarily paused fiber deployment” in Alexandria.

Ting Internet was one of two companies, along with Lumos, approved by the City Council to piggyback off broadband internet service cables the City was laying down for a new municipal network. The goal was to offer more competition to Comcast. While Lumos’ Alexandria plans didn’t take off, Ting started offering fiber internet in March 2023 in the Del Ray, Beverly Hills, North Ridge, and Lynhaven.

Pro-Palestine groups in Old Town protest ‘dangerous’ bills in the Virginia General Assembly

By James Cullum

Published January 27, 2025 at 11:15AM

Salma Jahani, an organizer with Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights, speaks against a number of bills in the General Assembly at a protest outside City Hall in Old Town, Jan. 25, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A number of pending bills in the Virginia General Assembly reward Israel and threaten Palestinian supporters, according to protestors outside Alexandria’s City Hall on Saturday afternoon.

The weather was near freezing as more than 50 protestors held signs, chanted and spoke out against legislation that they say targets Palestinian solidarity and activism, in addition to free speech and academic freedom. The effort was organized by three groups seeking a ceasefire in Gaza — Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights, Arlington for Palestine, and the George Mason University Coalition for Palestine.

Notes: Man who kidnapped and robbed couple south of Alexandria sentenced to 108 months of federal prison

By ALXnow.com

Published January 27, 2025 at 10:00AM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: Expect partly sunny skies to transition to full sun, as temperatures reach a high near 50 degrees. Calm winds will pick up from the southwest, ranging from 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Into Monday night, anticipate increasing cloudiness and a low temperature of around 31 degrees. Southwest winds will blow at 7 to 11 mph, with gusts potentially reaching 21 mph.

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published January 24, 2025 at 2:45PM

Chalk messages adorn concrete barriers outside Judy Lowe Park, which is near the home of Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria tie-in with some of the national news this week was the number one story on ALXnow.

Last year during the campaign season, after assassination attempts against then candidate Donald Trump, the Secret Service requested Alexandria close Judy Lowe Neighborhood Park in Alexandria because then Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance lived adjacent to the park.

Virginia Theological Seminary defends alumna Bishop for asking President Trump for mercy at Washington National Cathedral

By James Cullum

Published January 24, 2025 at 1:15PM

Bishop Marianne Budde speaks at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 22, 2025 (via Facebook)

Virginia Theological Seminary is defending one of its former students, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington Marianne Budde, for recently confronting President Donald Trump at Washington National Cathedral.

In a sermon on Tuesday, Budde asked Trump to have mercy on “gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.” She also called on Trump to have mercy on communities “whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.”

Alexandria Superintendent proposes budget with higher pay for school staff and more security

By Vernon Miles

Published January 24, 2025 at 11:45AM | Updated January 24, 2025 at 5:43PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt delivers her fiscal year 2026 Combined Funds Budget to the Alexandria School Board, Jan. 23, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools’ (ACPS) new proposed budget comes with a raise for school district employees and more security for the schools.

At a budget presentation last night, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt proposed a budget that’s a 4% increase over the current fiscal year’s budget. That increase includes a full-step increase for all eligible staff at the beginning of the contract year and an additional step increase to increase maximum pay, though ACPS staff on a Facebook page for school faculty noted that this doesn’t come with a cost of living adjustment.