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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jun 11, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Thursday 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 — Jun 11, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Croatia National Football Team welcomed to Alexandria as FIFA World Cup kicks off (822 views)
  2. State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker co-founds maternity and kids’ consignment boutique in Del Ray (801 views)
  3. Next Woodrow Wilson Bridge drawbridge opening set for tonight (651 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

Expect showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 PM, with some severe storms possible. The high will be near 95, and the heat index could reach 103, with west winds at 3 to 8 mph. There’s an 80% chance of rain, with new rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, higher in thunderstorms. In the evening, showers and thunderstorms will continue until about 8 PM, with lows around 67 and west winds at 6 to 8 mph. The chance of rain remains at 80%, with similar rainfall amounts expected. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.”
– Roy T. Bennett

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

NVTC seeks Alexandria input on Route 7 transit upgrades at listening tour stop

By Scott McCaffrey
City Council member Canek Aguirre discusses proposed Route 7 bus improvements (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Regional transportation officials brought their quest for input on ways to rejuvenate the Route 7 (King Street and Leesburg Pike) corridor to Alexandria on Tuesday (June 9).

“This, combined with other conversations, it’s really helpful,” said Vikram Sinha, a Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) senior program manager who leads the Envision Route 7 initiative.

Go to NVTC seeks Alexandria input on Route 7 transit upgrades at listening tour stop Read more

Croatia National Football Team welcomed to Alexandria as FIFA World Cup kicks off

By James Cullum
(Left to right) Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Kristijan Jakić, Igor Matanović and the team’s head of communications Tomislav Pacak speak at a press conference at Episcopal High School, June 10, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria welcomed the Croatia National Football Team on Wednesday as the FIFA World Cup begins.

The team is staying at Hotel AKA in Old Town North for the duration of the World Cup and will train at Episcopal High School. At Episcopal, Mayor Alyia Gaskins welcomed the team to town and City Council presented them with a commemorative ceramic bowl and a coin with the seal of the city. In turn, the team’s technical director gave the city a commemorative jersey, and then a crowd of hundreds watched as the players took to the field to practice.

Go to Croatia National Football Team welcomed to Alexandria as FIFA World Cup kicks off Read more

Next Woodrow Wilson Bridge drawbridge opening set for tonight

By Emily Leayman
A view of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge from Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge will have a drawbridge opening with impacts on Capital Beltway traffic for the second time this week, the Virginia Department of Transportation says.

The drawbridge will open multiple times between 10 p.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. Friday for maintenance work. Drivers should expect intermittent traffic stops during that timeframe. VDOT recommends using alternate routes due to anticipated delays.

Go to Next Woodrow Wilson Bridge drawbridge opening set for tonight Read more

Morning Notes for June 11, 2026

By ALXnow.com
The Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On June 11, 1904, the two youngest children of Thomas Hayden found a shell filled with dynamite in a junk pile near their home on the south side of Duke Street, between Lee and Union. Not knowing what the shell contained, and ignorant of the danger, the children dragged the large shell back to the yard of their home and began to beat it with a hammer in hopes of separating the lead pieces. Without warning the shell suddenly exploded, sending fragments in every direction, blasting through nearby fences and sheds, and sending them skyward to land several blocks away. Amazingly, the Hayden children, both within close proximity to the lethal compound, escaped injury, and no other residents were hurt in the incident.” [Historic Alexandria]

Community Meeting on Proposed Parking Conversion to Park — “The City of Alexandria is proposing a new pocket park on Clifford Avenue in Del Ray by transforming an existing parking island into a welcoming neighborhood green space. The project aims to improve walkability, strengthen neighborhood connections, expand access to open space, and provide environmental benefits through added trees and green infrastructure. Join the community meeting to learn more and share your input on the park design and features.” [City of Alexandria]

Go to Morning Notes for June 11, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jun 10, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Wednesday 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 — Jun 10, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Hotel AKA to be rebranded into a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel (1005 views)
  2. APD to focus on Alexandria’s crime hotspots in new safety plan (888 views)
  3. First look: Inside Old Town’s newest ultra high-end townhomes (803 views)
  4. Morning Notes for June 10, 2026 (551 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny weather with a high of 96°F and heat index values reaching 104°F. There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 PM, with west winds at 5 to 8 mph. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 73°F and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Winds will calm to 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

APD to focus on Alexandria’s crime hotspots in new safety plan

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police Department officers at the unveiling of the Holland Lane Restoration Project, May 28, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Tuesday night, Police Chief Tarrick McGuire unveiled blueprints for the creation of the Alexandria Police Department’s new public safety plan.

McGuire told City Council the plan will be developed over the next year, and it includes the deployment of officers to crime hotspots identified by the city’s crime data. He said the plan is organized around five pillars — geographical policing and accountability, building relationships in the community, evidence-based strategies and enforcement, assessing crime data and using technology to reduce and enforce crime.

Go to APD to focus on Alexandria’s crime hotspots in new safety plan Read more

State budget impasse leaves uncertainty as Alexandria School Board lines up final budget

By Emily Leayman
Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt talks about a proposed policy change on student publications at the May 8, 2025, School Board meeting (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board held a work session yesterday (June 9) to decide adds and deletes from the budget before final approval, but the state budget impasse leaves future funding for compensation and other items unresolved.

Several of the 38 add/delete proposals that had at least four co-sponsors received support to be added into the Alexandria City Public Schools budget. The School Board will vote on the final budget tomorrow (June 11).

Go to State budget impasse leaves uncertainty as Alexandria School Board lines up final budget Read more

Hotel AKA to be rebranded into a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel

By James Cullum
Hotel AKA in Old Town North (via Google Maps)

Hotel AKA in Old Town North will transition into a Marriott Autograph Collection on June 17, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Electra American, which acquired the 180-room former Holiday Inn at 625 First Street in 2021, made the deal to change the hotel brand. The hotel was redesigned by Italian architect Piero Lissoni, then renovated and reopened as Hotel AKA in 2023.

Go to Hotel AKA to be rebranded into a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel Read more

Morning Notes for June 10, 2026

By ALXnow.com
The Tall Ship Providence sails on the Potomac River (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On June 10, 1919, Alexandria held a homecoming parade for local men who had served in the Great War. Several hundred men from Alexandria served in the war and nearly a hundred marched in the parade which at King and Patrick streets and ended at Washington and Prince streets. The band from Fort Myer and former members of the Alexandria Light Infantry were among those who participated in the procession.” [Historic Alexandria]

Alexandria Resident’s Hazardous Material Release in Storm Drain — “Ahmad Adawi, of Fairfax, and Suhib Derbas, of Alexandria, are accused of intentionally releasing hazardous substances directly into stormwater drains, the Arlington County Office of the Fire Marshal announced (Tuesday).” [ARLnow]

Go to Morning Notes for June 10, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jun 9, 2026

By ALXnow.com

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 — Jun 9, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria seeks $35M in VDOT grants for King Street, Mount Vernon Avenue projects (1042 views)
  2. Alexandria City Council to vote on relocating polling place after 63 years (845 views)
  3. Boutiques to hold ‘Shop the Checkers’ to welcome Croatian team to Alexandria (531 views)
  4. Morning Notes for June 9, 2026 (503 views)
  5. New coffee table book offers glimpse inside Old Town’s historic homes (502 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Wednesday’s forecast

Showers and thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, especially after 2 p.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 88°F. Winds will be from the south at around 9 mph, and there is a 50% chance of precipitation. Tonight, there’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m. The skies will clear up partially, with a low around 72°F and southwest winds of 3 to 6 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
– John Lennon

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

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