Alexandria experienced a nearly 13% rise in Part 1 crime so far this year, with larcenies jumping 23%.
Part 1 crimes, or crimes against people, include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft. There have been 2,692 total Part I incidents so far this year, a 13.5% increase over the 2,371 total incidents reported until this point last year, according to the Alexandria Police Department Crime Dashboard.
After a brutal heat wave this summer, the National Weather Service (NWS) said temperatures swung wildly to the coolest August low temperature in 20 years this morning.
The NWS said temperatures around the region dropped into the 40s and 50s, with D.C. experiencing a low temperature of 59 degrees, making it the coolest August low temperature in 20 years.
What do the Bradlee Shopping Center, Winkler Botanical Preserve, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office all have in common?
Well, the headline sort of gives away the answer, but: all three were among locations in Alexandria honored in last week’s 2024 Beautification Awards.
Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of about 78 degrees. Wednesday night remains mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 55 degrees.
The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) — now with a new CEO — will be going public with ambitious expansion plans next month.
There’s a lot in ARHA’s FY 2025 Five-Year Plan. A lot of it is vague statements about reaffirming the organization’s commitment to providing public housing and continuing mixed-income partnerships, but the plan also provides details about some specific plans to expand the public housing authority’s footprint in the city.
Dust off those dancing shoes and get your yeehaw on: Lost Boy Cider is kicking off its monthly line dancing event tomorrow.
The event is scheduled to run from 6:30-9:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) at Lost Boy Cider (317 Hooffs Run Drive).
Complete with chalkboard walls and plenty of chairs, a creative production studio is opening in Del Ray on Friday with a focus on writing.
Owner Ashley Wood worked for 14 years as an analyst for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, but after giving birth to her daughter Lily in 2022, she became burned out from the rigor of the job. Earlier this year, she left the security of working for the federal government to pursue her passion — creating a community of creative writers.
A historic scavenger hunt and more are coming to Alexandria.
Nearly 200 years ago, the Marquis de Lafayette made a historic comeback to Alexandria. The former major general and aide de camp to Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War was given a hero’s welcome when he spent a year visiting 24 U.S. states with his son, Georges Washington Louis Gilbert de La Fayette.
Reminder: Do not stop on King Street to drop your kids off.
King Street and Braddock Road run right in front of the Alexandria City High School and Minnie Howard campuses. Alexandria Police Department (APD) is reminding drivers that both are busy streets and it’s an unsafe area to stop. APD has also stepped up traffic enforcement in those areas with the start of the school year.
Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of about 77 degrees and a northwest wind blowing at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. Tuesday night remains mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 56 degrees, accompanied by a north wind at around 7 mph.
Fast food is poised to get a little faster in Alexandria’s West End, as a new drive-thru is being proposed for a McDonald’s on Duke Street.
It’s not a big change, but the McDonald’s restaurant at 3510 Duke Street is asking the city to approve a special use permit to build a third drive-thru window with a canopy, as well as construction of a new sidewalk in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
