Alexandria’s City Council set a one-cent ceiling for the city’s real estate tax rate on Tuesday night.
City Councilman John Taylor Chapman made the motion to increase the ceiling, which is not the final adopted tax rate. While City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposed $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget has no tax increase, the one-cent ceiling gives the city more options in crafting the budget, which is set for a final council vote on April 29.
Several openings of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge are planned tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday to allow passage of a tugboat.
The drawbridge will open for the tugboat “Recoil” at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday and again when it returns around 11 p.m., according to a city government advisory. Capital Beltway drivers should expect delays and follow posted traffic advisories during the drawbridge openings.
There will be a town hall meeting next week to discuss January’s sewage spill in the Potomac River, Mayor Alyia Gaskins has announced.
On Jan. 19, a collapsed pipe caused hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater to flow into the Potomac, prompting the Virginia Department of Health to issue a recreational water advisory. That advisory was partially lifted earlier this month when VDH found that bacteria concentrations were “at levels acceptable for all recreational water use.”
The eighth annual public art installation at Alexandria’s Waterfront Park is set to open next week.
Artist Alicia Eggert’s “Now or Never” installation will have an opening reception Saturday, March 21, from 1-4 p.m. at Waterfront Park (1 Prince Street). Artist remarks will happen at 1:30 p.m.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On March 11, 1790, several months after his return from France where he succeeded Benjamin Franklin as Minister of France, Thomas Jefferson was feted at Wise’s Tavern, located on the northeast corner of Cameron and North Fairfax Streets. Immediately upon his return, President Washington had requested Jefferson to accept the post of Secretary of State, which he accepted. He was sworn in just eleven days after the Alexandria celebration and served as the nation’s top diplomat until the last day of 1793.” [Historic Alexandria]
Budget Public Hearing on Saturday — “Make your voice heard! If you missed Monday’s Public Hearing, you have another chance this week to speak to City Council this Saturday.” [City of Alexandria]
Good Tuesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 10, 2026.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
Expect rain chances before 3pm and after 4pm, partly sunny skies, and a high near 82 degrees. South winds will range from 6 to 11 mph, gusting up to 22 mph, with a 50% precipitation chance. Wednesday evening brings a slight chance of rain before 7pm, increasing after 8pm along with cloud cover and a low around 51 degrees. South winds will pick up to 11-15 mph, gusting up to 25 mph, and a 70% chance of precipitation. Anticipate new precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
“Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.”
– Roy T. Bennett
Thanks for reading!
Critics of Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey asked City Council last night (Monday) to withhold his funding unless he stops voluntarily transferring inmates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
More than two dozen speakers appeared before City Council at its public hearing on City Manager Jim Parajon’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. For nearly a year, activists have protested against ASO’s transferring of Alexandria inmates to ICE custody via the agency’s detainers and administrative warrants.
A new plaque honoring past arborists has been installed at Alexandria’s Fort Ward Park, adding to the existing Charles W. Hendryx Memorial.
City of Alexandria’s Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities spokesperson Catrice Callands confirmed to ALXnow a new plaque was added to the Fort Ward Arborist Memorial. The arborists honored on the plaque are Gregory A. Kernan, Jennifer Hollings, Tere O’Rourke, John Noelle and John Marlin.
Alexandria’s annual Adopt-a-Park program is returning this spring, bringing community groups together to beautify the city’s parks and open spaces.
The program is kicking off with a celebration hosted by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities from 6-7:30 p.m. next Wednesday, March 18 at 2900 A Business Center Drive. The event is an opportunity for applicants and groups to connect with fellow volunteers, meet city staff, review updated procedures, get supplies and ask questions about the program.
A dead raccoon found in Old Town last week has tested positive for rabies, according to the Alexandria Health Department.
The animal was recovered after two people reported being bitten by a raccoon in Old Town last Tuesday. It’s not confirmed if the raccoon was responsible for one or both of the attacks, “but the location and aggressive behavior line up with how a rabid raccoon in that area might act,” AHD said in an announcement yesterday (Monday).
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On March 10, 1965 construction began to implement the controversial Gadsby’s Urban Renewal Project, in the heart of downtown Alexandria. approved by City Council in a close 4-3 vote. In the early 1960’s “urban renewal” in the United States focused largely on the demolition and reconstruction of deteriorated downtown areas, rather than the restoration of historic buildings to revitalize city centers, a concept that emerged a decade later. In Alexandria, renewal was originally proposed for a twelve block area further west along King Street, but ultimately moved east, centered on the area around Gadsby’s Tavern, City Hall and Market Square.” [Historic Alexandria]
AG Condemns Anti-Redistricting Mailers — “A political action committee opposing Virginia’s April 21 redistricting referendum is facing sharp criticism after sending mailers to voters over the weekend that invoke imagery and language from the civil rights movement — a tactic voting rights advocates and state officials say distorts history and risks misleading voters. The mailers, distributed by a group called Democracy and Justice PAC, led by former GOP Delegate A.C. Cordoza, feature black-and-white imagery reminiscent of 1960s civil rights demonstrations … Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, the state’s first Black attorney general, said the mailers draw on a painful chapter of American history that should not be used as a political tool.” [Virginia Mercury]
