News

City Council briefed on student questioning, privacy rules in new ACPS agreement with APD

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Tuesday (May 26), Alexandria City Council was briefed on changes to the recently approved memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Alexandria Police Department and Alexandria City Public Schools.

As no action was required from City Council Tuesday, City Council members did not formally endorse the updated MOU approved earlier this month by the School Board. ACPS previously extended the 2023–2025 agreement while the city’s School Law Enforcement Partnership subcommittee, which is made up of members of City Council, the School Board and APD staff, finalized the new language.

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City Council considers special committee to discuss School Board election reform, more ACPS funds

By Emily Leayman
The Alexandria City Council (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council took a step Tuesday (May 26) to consider changes to the School Board’s terms and the size of the nine-member board. The council is also considering using potential contingent funds that will be available in the new fiscal year to fund Community in Schools of Northern Virginia at Alexandria City Public Schools.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins received support from a majority of City Council members on the proposal to form an ad hoc committee on election reform. City Council’s request will direct City Manager Jim Parajon to prepare a resolution to create the committee that two City Council members would be in. Gaskins said the committee’s scope would allow it to look at staggered terms and other election reform items such as board size, timing of terms or representation. The two City Council members would work with two School Board members to bring forward election reform recommendations.

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Morning Notes for May 27, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Scenes from Old Town as a storm front bringing rain and high winds moves through the region (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Man Charged in Woodbridge Fatal Shooting — “Taiyon Damari Jackson, 20, of Alexandria, was arrested on May 21. William Latrale Lisenby, 23, of Lorton, was arrested on May 22. Both have been charged in the death of Frances Joseph Douglas, 42, of Bowling Green, on May 12.” [Old Town Alexandria Patch]

Next Metro Shutdown for Crystal City Station Project — On May 30 and 31, free shuttles will replace trains between Pentagon City and Reagan National Airport and the Crystal City station will be closed on the Blue and Yellow Lines. [WMATA]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for May 26, 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 — May 26, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Fresh Market’s Alexandria store is staying put as other N. Va. location closes (1527 views)
  2. JUST IN: Jury finds Alexandria man guilty of manslaughter in West End shooting (1035 views)
  3. Morning Notes for May 26, 2026 (553 views)
  4. Alexandria releases draft Housing 2040 Plan ahead of public hearings (517 views)
  5. Alexandria journalist swaps news for retail with Made in ALX (481 views)
  6. Alexandria’s jobless count has remained above 3,000 for nearly a full year (457 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with patchy fog before 11am and a high near 80°F. Winds will be light and become westerly in the afternoon. Rainfall may range from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms are likely into the evening, tapering off around 11pm, with patchy fog developing until 1am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 64°F and winds shifting northwest after midnight. There’s a 60% chance of rain, with potential for similar rain accumulation as during the day. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.”
– Walt Whitman

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

JUST IN: Jury finds Alexandria man guilty of manslaughter in West End shooting

By James Cullum
The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A jury has found Damontie Earl James guilty of voluntary manslaughter when he shot and killed his former roommate Kory Anding in an apartment in Alexandria’s West End.

James, 27, has been held without bond since his arrest following the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Kory Anding at James’ sister’s apartment at 3450 Berkeley Street on Oct. 25, 2025. Anding was the father of two children with James’ sister. James claimed he shot Anding in self-defense. James was also found guilty of unlawful shooting in an occupied building and not guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a murder.

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Alexandria releases draft Housing 2040 Plan ahead of public hearings

By Emily Leayman
As seen at the 204-unit affordable housing apartment complex Samuel Madden Homes, Nov. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria has released its draft Housing 2040 Plan, which will set new housing goals for the next 15 years, ahead of June public hearings.

The Housing 2040 Plan is slated to replace the city’s current Housing Master Plan, which was first approved in 2013. That plan had a goal of producing and preserving 2,000 affordable housing units by 2025, and the city exceeded that goal when counting units under construction.

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Alexandria’s jobless count has remained above 3,000 for nearly a full year

By Scott McCaffrey
Job interview (via Tim Gouw/Unsplash)

The number of Alexandria residents among the ranks of the unemployed stayed above 3,000 for the 11th consecutive month in March, according to new state data.

The 3,333 Alexandrians reported as seeking work in March was up 14.8% from 2,902 a year before, according to figures reported May 19 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

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Morning Notes for May 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com
A street lined with American flags in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On May 26, 1830, the United States Congress granted a Charter to the Alexandria Canal Company. The canal was proposed earlier that year by a group of Alexandria businessmen to link the communities of Georgetown and Alexandria, which at the time were both within the boundaries of the District of Columbia. When completed, the Alexandria Canal crossed the Potomac River in an aqueduct bridge over between Georgetown and Rosslyn, then ran on level ground seven miles to Alexandria, terminating in a large basin.” [Historic Alexandria]

Alexandria City Council Meeting Today — “Join us tomorrow night for a City Council legislative meeting at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center! See the full docket and links to watch online at alexandriava.gov/Dockets.” [City of Alexandria/Bluesky]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for May 22, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Friday 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 — May 22, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. NEW: Alexandria man claims self-defense in fatal West End apartment shooting (1872 views)
  2. Alexandria teachers union candidate disqualified less than 12 hours before officer elections (1231 views)
  3. Alexandria launches passport program to boost support for Duke Street businesses (555 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Old Town North power plant redevelopment and funding plans heading to city review (9385 views)
  2. UPDATE: Police fatally shoot suspect following shooting of female victim in Alexandria (9372 views)
  3. APD recovers video of sexual assault suspect allegedly spiking victim’s drink at Old Town bar (9319 views)
  4. Divided City Council upholds Braddock Road redesign after 11-hour hearing (5705 views)
  5. Driver arrested after alleged road rage incident in West End parking lot (5451 views)
  6. Italian restaurant and new café aim for early 2027 openings in Old Town North (5029 views)
  7. Alexandria man claims ‘wrong house’ after alleged break-in at co-worker’s relatives’ home (2692 views)
  8. ACPS enrollment projected to drop as Alexandria birth rates decline (1885 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌧️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect rain and areas of fog with a high near 61 degrees today and an east wind around 11 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%, with new rainfall between a quarter and half an inch likely. Rain continues into Saturday night, with a low around 55 degrees and an east wind of 6 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation remains high at 90%, with similar new rainfall amounts expected. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”
– Amelia Earhart

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

Alexandria teachers union candidate disqualified less than 12 hours before officer elections

By James Cullum
A second grade classroom at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School (staff photo by James Cullum)

A candidate for president of the Education Association of Alexandria was informed via Zoom that he was disqualified from the race less than 12 hours before the union’s officer elections, and that there was “not time” to go through a democratic process, according to audio obtained by ALXnow.

On Wednesday night (May 20), ACPS middle school teacher David Paladin-Fernandez was informed of his disqualification from the union president race. All candidates running in the election were on the call. Andrea Hill, chair of the EAA Credentials/Election Committee, told the candidates she had conducted an investigation and that the union’s executive committee had voted to disqualify Paladin-Fernandez.

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School Board approves 2026 ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame inductees

By James Cullum
Claire Constant, an Alexandria native and captain of the DC Power women's soccer team, scores (via DC Power FC/Instagram)

Alexandria native Claire Constant, captain of the DC Power women’s professional soccer team, is heading to the hall of fame.

The Alexandria City Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame, that is.

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