On This Day in Alexandria History — “On February 19, 1885, a fatal train crash occurred at Four Mile Station when two trains collided near the Alexandria canal. Virginia Midland passenger train traveling north and a southbound Baltimore & Potomac train crashed around 10 p.m. and resulted in the deaths of at least seven people.” [Historic Alexandria]

Lawmakers Push For Potomac Spill Plan, Transparency — “Congressional lawmakers from Maryland and Virginia are pushing for a “rigorous” environmental remediation plan, public briefings and continued bacteria monitoring in the wake of last month’s spill of millions of gallons of sewage into the Potomac River. The lawmakers’ letter to DC Water, the owner of the broken pipe, comes amid continued sparring between President Donald Trump (R) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) about who’s responsible for the devastating sewage leak.” [Virginia Mercury]


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 — Feb 18, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. City Council candidates spar in second debate before Democratic firehouse primary (693 views)
  2. Daniel O’Connell’s celebrating 20th anniversary in Old Town this month (527 views)
  3. Water main relocation planned on Commonwealth Avenue ahead of flood mitigation work (400 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌧️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect rain to begin mainly after 3pm with foggy areas clearing by 9am and a high near 48°F. An east wind of 5 to 10mph accompanies an 80% chance of precipitation, with potential rainfall between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. Thursday night continues with rain and patchy fog both before midnight and after 1am, with a low around 42°F, east wind 6 to 9mph, and a 100% chance of precipitation. New rainfall may reach a quarter to half an inch. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
– Winston Churchill

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!


Sparks flew last night (Tuesday) as City Council candidates debated topics like immigration enforcement and budgeting at the Departmental Progressive Club in Old Town.

The event was hosted by DPC and the Alexandria branch of the NAACP, and it was the second debate in two days for the five Alexandria Democrats vying for their party’s nomination in the upcoming Feb. 21 firehouse primary. Independent candidate Frank Fannon, a former Republican member of City Council, also participated and received significant pushback from several candidates for his opinions on governance, housing and immigration.


A teacher at Alexandria City High School has been awarded a $5,000 grant to create a project commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year.

ACHS math teacher Essie Jones is one of 51 educators nationwide to be selected for a Teaching America250 Award. The grant will allow her to “design and implement an engaging learning experience that helps students explore the history of America’s founding and the ideals of the Declaration of Independence,” according to Alexandria City Public Schools.


A water main relocation project is coming to a stretch of Commonwealth Avenue in and around Del Ray, where one of the city’s biggest flood mitigation projects is planned.

Virginia American Water, the city’s drinking water utility, said it is starting a water main relocation on Commonwealth Avenue. The work is taking place between the 3700 block of Commonwealth Avenue and Ashby Street, and is intended to make space for new, larger stormwater pipes as part of the city’s Commonwealth, Ashby, Glebe Flood Mitigation Project in northern Del Ray.


Senate Passes Bill Restricting Local ICE Activity — “The Virginia Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would place hefty guardrails on any proposed 287(g) agreements allowing local law enforcement to carry out federal immigration functions … ‘I’m seeking to give some comfort to thousands of men, women and children in the Commonwealth who are living in fear that federal agents might send them or their family members to a country they fled, or a country they have never been to,’ said Democratic state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim, who put forward the bill.” [ARLnow]

Ramadan Mubarak — “Muslims worldwide will begin daily fasting from dawn to sunset as Ramadan starts, marking a period of worship, reflection and charity. The holy month, the ninth in the Islamic lunar calendar, brings families together for meals to break the fast.” [AP]


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 — Feb 17, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria Health Department advises of measles case at more N. Va. locations (766 views)
  2. Democratic City Council candidates lay out differences in first forum in Del Ray (722 views)
  3. Former Councilman Frank Fannon runs as independent in City Council special election (688 views)
  4. PHOTOS: The George Washington Birthday Parade returns to Old Town (473 views)
  5. Morning Notes for February 17, 2026 (371 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌥️ Wednesday’s forecast

There is a slight chance of rain after 2pm, with fog expected before 9am, followed by mostly cloudy conditions and a high temperature near 58°F. Southwest winds will be 5 to 10 mph, with gusts of up to 20 mph, and a 20% chance of precipitation. For Wednesday night, the clouds will gradually clear, leading to a low temperature around 43°F. Southwest winds initially at 5 to 8 mph will turn calm after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”
– Milton Berle

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!


Five Democratic candidates for an open seat on the Alexandria City Council participated in their first forum together on Monday night in Del Ray.

The Del Ray Business Association’s forum was held in a packed house at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub (2300 Mount Vernon Avenue). All five candidates running in the firehouse primary on Feb. 21 participated in the event and discussed a wide array of issues affecting Del Ray in particular and the city in general.


The Alexandria Learning Cooperative wants to expand into a full-time private school and move operations to Fairlington United Methodist Church.

The school has submitted a special use permit application to transition from a homeschool cooperative into a full-time private school for up to 75 students. The move means renting out three classrooms at Fairlington UMC and expanding its current two-day-a-week program to allow for full-time Montessori-inspired classes for kids ages 5 to 9, where students learn at their own pace in mixed-age classes.


Alexandria’s real-estate market started the year with lower year-over-year sales and mixed results on sales prices.

A total of 98 residential properties went to closing last month, down 20.3% from 123 in January 2025, according to figures reported Feb. 10 by MarketStats by ShowingTime.


The Alexandria Health Department is advising residents of another measles case, the seventh in the Northern Virginia region.

An adult who recently traveled abroad was diagnosed with measles after visiting a local grocery store and two Inova facilities, according to the Virginia Department of Health.


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