News | ALXnow - Part 314

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

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.

Notes: Del Ray restaurant and cocktail bar Zuki Moon to close today

By ALXnow.com

Published January 24, 2025 at 10:00AM

Del Ray cocktail bar Zuki Moon is closing (photo via Zuki Moon/Instagram)

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect a mostly sunny day with a high of 33 degrees and northwest winds at 5 to 9 mph. The night will be mostly clear with lows around 15 degrees. The northwest wind of approximately 5 mph will become calm after midnight.

Jefferson-Houston community rails against middle school conversion plans at School Board meeting

By Vernon Miles

Published January 23, 2025 at 9:10PM

Jefferson-Houston community member Sujata Mitra at a School Board meeting on Jan. 23 (staff photo by James Cullum)

At a School Board meeting tonight (Thursday), parents and other community members from Jefferson-Houston voiced strong opposition to plans to convert Jefferson-Houston and Patrick Henry, both K-8 schools, into a middle school and elementary school respectively.

The goal of the plan is to relieve overcrowding at Alexandria’s middle schools, though the conversions aren’t expected to take place until 2030 and 2032.

This week nearly 150 years ago, Alexandria ‘cracked down’ on children flying kites and playing marbles

By Vernon Miles

Published January 23, 2025 at 3:55PM

Children playing with marbles (image via James McNeill Whistler/Library of Congress)

The Office of Historic Alexandria’s weekly newsletter includes fascinating glimpses into the city’s history, and this week the newsletter explored a battle between city leadership and local children.

The Office of Historic Alexandria noted that the ban on public kite flying and marbles in 1876 came from Mayor Kosciusko Kemper, a former Confederate officer, after complaints from local businesses.

Alexandria to consider banning gas-powered leaf blowers

By James Cullum

Published January 23, 2025 at 3:05PM

Using a leaf blower on the snow on King Street, Feb. 18, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

In a bid to reduce noise and air pollution, the Alexandria City Council will consider a total ban of gas-powered leaf blowers in its meeting next Tuesday (Jan. 28).

City staff will present a number of options for Council to consider on the noisy machines, including a total ban, an ordinance change, and a multi-year phase-out period similar to the enforced bans in D.C. and Montgomery County. There is a $500 penalty for a violation in both localities.

Things To Do in Alexandria this Weekend: Jan. 24 – 26

By Ryan Belmore

Published January 23, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated January 23, 2025 at 2:42PM

The Washington Commanders Read program visited Mount Vernon Community School, Sept. 26, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Looking for plans this weekend in Alexandria? There’s something for everyone, from family-friendly activities and creative workshops to live music and lively entertainment. Whether you’re a foodie, music lover, or just looking for a place to cheer on the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Alexandria has you covered.

Dive into the complete list of events below, and don’t forget to submit your own happenings to ALXnow! Reminder – If you go to an event or show you read about here, be sure to tell the venue you read about it on ALXnow!

New VPRA work in Alexandria could bring long-awaited bridge and tunnel replacements

By Vernon Miles

Published January 23, 2025 at 11:50AM | Updated January 23, 2025 at 2:40PM

Telegraph Tunnel location (image via City of Alexandria)

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) has a series of capital projects in the region on the horizon could benefit rail service in the area but have some additional impacts for Alexandria specifically.

In a memo (page 9) from Hillary Orr to the Transportation Commission ahead of a meeting yesterday, Orr said the VPRA is working on installing a fourth track along the rail corridor between Witter Field in Alexandria and the Arlington Aquatic Center.