News

Alexandria intervenes in proposed Dominion Energy, NextEra merger case

By Emily Leayman
A Dominion Energy lineman lifts himself up to work on a power line in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in North Augusta, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr., File)

The City of Alexandria is formally intervening in the proposed merger of Dominion Energy with Florida-based NextEra Energy under consideration by state and federal regulators.

The city government has filed as a participant in the case under review by Virginia’s State Corporation Commission. Along with the SCC, the $67 billion merger proposal is under consideration at the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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Delivery truck hits power line, sparking fire behind Shoppes at Foxchase

By James Cullum
Fire behind the Shoppes at Foxchase in Alexandria’s West End on Aug. 25, 2026 (via AFD/Facebook)

No injuries were reported after a delivery truck driver hit a power line behind a shopping center in Alexandria’s West End on Tuesday night (Aug. 25), sparking a fire that destroyed a pickup truck, two dumpsters and fencing.

The fire was reported behind the Harris Teeter (4641 Duke Street) at the Shoppes at Foxchase just before 9 p.m. and was extinguished an hour later. The fire started after the driver of a tractor-trailer making a delivery in the rear of the Harris Teeter “accidentally struck an electrical service drop,” according to the Alexandria Fire Department. No buildings were damaged.

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Morning Notes for August 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Bronze statue of a man in old-fashioned clothing sitting on a bench beside a brick wall. A cane rests in his hand near brick steps and railings.
A statue of George Washington outside 305 Cameron Street, where Washington was feted by Alexandria gentlemen on Dec. 31, 1783 to celebrate his return from the Revolutionary War (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “One August 26, 1948, the Alexandria Citizen’s Band was honored to win first prize in a competition held at the Virginia State Fireman’s Convention. The local band, a community organization comprising volunteer members who bring musical entertainment to Northern Virginia, Alexandria, and the DC Metro area, still plays a summer concert series annually at Alexandria’s Market Square and at community special events. The band was organized in 1912 and is one of the oldest community bands in the country.” [Historic Alexandria]

ICE Reveals 2 Alexandria Arrests in Regional Operation — “DHS named 10 of the 1,328 people it said were arrested. Two were arrested in Alexandria, according to the department, which did not say how many arrests were made in the city overall or in any other jurisdiction. The department said Angel Gabriel Ortiz-Hernandez, of Guatemala, has been arrested on charges of rape of a mentally incapacitated victim and two counts of aggravated sexual battery of an incapacitated victim. It listed no convictions for him. It said Rowan Andrew Brown, of Jamaica, has convictions for identity theft, kidnapping an adult and illegal re-entry, and has been arrested on a fraud allegation.” [Alexandria Brief]

Go to Morning Notes for August 26, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 25, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Group of students in purple shirts playing saxophones outdoors, part of a school band.

Good Tuesday 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 — Aug 25, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Some Amtrak trips to run from Alexandria instead of D.C. for nine days in October (1125 views)
  2. Alexandria police bust man allegedly selling guns and marijuana on Instagram (752 views)
  3. Alexandria school meal prices jump more than usual this school year (495 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌤️ Wednesday’s forecast

Today will be mostly sunny with a high of around 88°F. Winds will be calm, shifting to the south at 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Tonight, expect mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m.; the low will be around 71°F, with a south wind at 9 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
– Arthur Ashe

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

UPDATED: AFD extinguishes small fire on Metro tracks at Braddock Road station

By Emily Leayman
White metro SUV in the foreground on a city street, with a blue-yellow bus and concrete building behind, shaded by trees on a sunny day.
Braddock Road Metro station on Aug. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

An apparent small fire on the Metro tracks prompted an emergency response at the Braddock Road Metro station Tuesday evening.

The Alexandria Fire Department was called to the station (700 N. West Street) around 5:14 p.m. According to radio dispatches, a Metro supervisor called 911 to report potential wood burning on Track 2. Units found an apparent smoking crosstie and did not believe Metro had to shut down the electrified third rail.

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Alexandria police bust man allegedly selling guns and marijuana on Instagram

By James Cullum
Collage showing cash spread on a car seat, a firearm in the car, a white car on the road, cracked dirt ground, a car dashboard with cash stacks, and a hand holding bundled money; caption reads 'She nice and clean today'
APD discovered photos of firearms, cash and marijuana allegedly sold from an Alexandria man's Instagram account (via APD)

A 23-year-old Alexandria man faces felony charges after allegedly selling guns and marijuana on Instagram.

The suspect was arrested in May after a five-month investigation by the Alexandria Police Department, in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Service, according to a recently unsealed search warrant affidavit. APD found that multiple packages containing pounds of marijuana were sent from Arizona and California to the suspect at an address in the 1300 block of Cleveland Street in Alexandria’s North Ridge-Rosemont neighborhood.

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Some Amtrak trips to run from Alexandria instead of D.C. for nine days in October

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria Amtrak station platform (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Alexandria Union Station will be busier than usual for nine days in October as it replaces D.C.’s Union Station for some Amtrak trips.

Amtrak announced Monday that it will be replacing aging track components for nine days, prompting a service suspension at the control point between D.C. and Virginia. Work will start after service ends on Friday, Oct. 16 and be completed before morning service on Monday, Oct. 26.

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Alexandria school meal prices jump more than usual this school year

By James Cullum
Packed lunches at T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School), March 16, 2020. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools is increasing the cost of breakfast and lunch at the elementary and middle schools that charge for meals.

Starting this school year, the cost of breakfast will rise by 25 cents (to $2.35 for all grade levels), and lunch will jump 50 cents (to $3.75) for students in kindergarten to fifth grade, and will cost $3.95 for students in grades 6 to 8, according to ACPS.

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Old Town North Alliance names three finalists to design arts and cultural district banners

By Emily Leayman
Sculptor Christian Benefiel’s art installation in Old Town North (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Old Town North Alliance is one step closer to developing branding for the neighborhood’s new arts and cultural district.

The alliance’s board of directors named three artists as finalists in the Old Town North Arts and Cultural District Banner Design Project. They will be subject to a public vote to determine the winning artist.

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Alexandria’s Breast Cancer Collective keeps focus on patient outcomes after rebranding

By Emily Leayman
The Walk to Bust Cancer (courtesy of Breast Cancer Collective)

Nearly a year after rebranding as the Breast Cancer Collective, the Alexandria-based organization is preparing for major fundraisers in the fall to continue its work to make breast cancer screenings and treatments accessible.

The collective officially announced its rebranding as the Breast Cancer Collective last October. The name change from the National Breast Center Foundation sought to clear up confusion with other national breast cancer entities.

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Morning Notes for August 25, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Group of young musicians in purple shirts playing trumpets and saxophones outdoors by a brick building.
The Alexandria City High School Marching Titans, Aug. 24, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

How Alexandria Pursued Gas Leaf Blower Ban without State Law — “[Former Attorney General Jason] Miyares, a Republican, acknowledged that the General Assembly had voted down legislation giving local governments express authority to regulate leaf blowers, but cited case law in rejecting any inference of legislative intent from those outcomes as speculative. Alexandria, he concluded, was clearly within its rights to ban the equipment. Alexandria used that green light to amend its noise ordinance in May of 2025 and begin an 18-month phaseout of gas leaf blowers. A full prohibition is set to take effect on November 17, 2026.” [Virginia Mercury]

Acting Superintendent on Biggest Challenge of This School Year — “With the reality of maintaining a variety of rising costs, including healthcare premiums and other operating variables, the school division is expecting another challenging budget year. While maintaining our focus on supporting students, staff and our schools, investing in recruitment and retention remains critical to ensuring ACPS can continue to attract and retain the talented educators and staff who serve our students each day.” [WTOP]

Go to Morning Notes for August 25, 2026 Read more
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