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.
News
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This story has been updated to provide the latest timeline on the jury verdict.
A 27-year-old Alexandria man charged with first-degree murder in the death of his former roommate has pleaded not guilty and now awaits a jury’s verdict.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On May 22, 1802, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, wife of the nation’s first president, died of a severe fever at age 70, in the small, third-floor bed-chamber at Mount Vernon that she had moved to after her husband’s death in 1799. In the extended period of her bereavement, her health declined steadily, and a visitor to Mount Vernon in 1801 remarked, “She speaks of death as a pleasant journey.” Although technically America’s first “First Lady” that term was not in presidential jargon at the time George Washington served as Commander in Chief, and she was instead referred to simply as “Lady Washington.” A year after Washington died, his widow freed all slaves previously under his ownership and closed up their former bedroom on the second floor of the expansive residence, moving to a small room on the third floor. She was interred beside the “Father of Our County” on the grounds of the estate.” [Historic Alexandria]
Memorial Day Travel Forecast — “In its Memorial Day Weekend travel forecast, AAA said a record 45 million Americans are expected to travel 50 or more miles from home for Labor Day Weekend, Most of them — 39.1 million — will be driving. All modes of travel are expected to increase this year.” [Patch]
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 — May 21, 2026.
- 7:30 am: Morning Notes for May 21, 2026 | 🗣️ Comments
- 9:15 am: Little Birdie to offer sneak peek of menu at Del Ray Farmers’ Market | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:45 am: APD recovers video of sexual assault suspect allegedly spiking victim’s drink at Old Town bar | 🗣️ Comments
- 1:45 pm: Alexandria man claims ‘wrong house’ after alleged break-in at co-worker’s relatives’ home | 🗣️ Comments
- 2:45 pm: State health officials push safe swimming pledge after young child drownings rise in 2025 | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:45 pm: School Board asks City Council to redirect reserve funds to program for high-needs students | 🗣️ Comments
Here are today’s most-read articles:
- APD recovers video of sexual assault suspect allegedly spiking victim’s drink at Old Town bar (4232 views)
- Alexandria man claims ‘wrong house’ after alleged break-in at co-worker’s relatives’ home (1208 views)
- Little Birdie to offer sneak peek of menu at Del Ray Farmers’ Market (621 views)
- Morning Notes for May 21, 2026 (612 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
🌧️ Friday’s forecast
Expect rain before 5 p.m., followed by showers, with a high of around 61°F. East winds will be 9 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph, and an 80% chance of up to a quarter-inch of precipitation. Friday night will have showers until 11 p.m., then more rain, with a low of about 51°F, east winds at 8 to 13 mph, and a 100% chance of similar rainfall. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
– Albert Einstein
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading!
The Alexandria School Board is asking City Council to use emergency funds to help preserve a $350,000 program that supports high-needs students.
In a joint letter to City Council, Chair Michelle Rief said the School Board is navigating difficult choices between staff and programming cuts. The request comes after City Council approved its Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, leaving a $5.6 million gap for the school system’s proposed $12.7 million collective bargaining agreement. Proposed budget cuts to fill the gap include reducing the partnership with Communities In Schools of Northern Virginia (CIS NOVA), which provides 10 bilingual staffers at Alexandria City High School, Francis Hammond Middle School, Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 School and Samuel Tucker, John Adams and William Ramsay Elementary Schools.
After pool drownings of children 5 and under reached a five-year high last year in Virginia, state health officials are urging families to take a “safe swimming pledge” as pools open for the season.
In 2025, there were 12 accidental drownings of children aged 5 and under in Virginia — more than the nine reported over the prior three years: three in 2024, two in 2023 and four in 2022. Virginia reported 473 drownings in all bodies of water between 2020 and 2024.
An Alexandria man faces illegal entry and public intoxication charges after allegedly breaking into the Seminary Hill home of a co-worker’s relatives, rummaging around and stealing clothing, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.
On April 9, the homeowners provided police with video surveillance showing the suspect entering the home in the 200 block of N. Quaker Lane, as well as audio of him allegedly opening kitchen cabinets, according to the affidavit. The suspect was arrested less than a mile away on a public intoxication charge, a Class 4 misdemeanor with a $250 fine. He was later charged with entering a property to damage, a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
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More details have been released regarding the former D.C. police officer facing more than two dozen felony sexual assault charges in Alexandria.
Timothy Valentin, 30, of Fort Washington, Md., goes to court in August on charges of rape by force, rape by incapacitation and abduction with intent to defile after a sexual assault that allegedly occurred in the overnight hours between Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13, 2025.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On May 21, 1947, the Virginia Theatre located at 601 First Street was dedicated with a special ceremony. The program included official remarks, playing of the National Anthem, and the feature film “Carnival in Costa Rica.” With 1,200 seats, it was the largest theater in Alexandria at the time.” [Historic Alexandria]
Spanberger Approves, Rejects Set of Immigration Enforcement Bills — “The governor announced (Wednesday) that she has signed SB 352 and its House of Delegates companion HB 1482, which ban law enforcement officers from covering their faces, while vetoing legislation (SB 351 and HB 650) that would restrict federal immigration agents from conducting civil arrests in certain public places, including courthouses, schools and health care facilities.” [FFXnow]
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 — May 20, 2026.
- 7:30 am: Morning Notes for May 20, 2026 | 🗣️ Comments
- 9:15 am: Old Town North power plant redevelopment and funding plans heading to city review | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:45 am: Volunteers needed to help run four tall ship tours at festival next month in Old Town | 🗣️ Comments
- 1:15 pm: WEATHER ALERT: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Alexandria | 🗣️ Comments
- 1:45 pm: Alleged ‘campaign violations’ behind delay of Alexandria teachers union officer elections | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:30 pm: Alexandria transitions to electric leaf blowers ahead of citywide gas-powered device ban | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:45 pm: Driver arrested after alleged road rage incident in West End parking lot | 🗣️ Comments
Here are today’s most-read articles:
- Driver arrested after alleged road rage incident in West End parking lot (1553 views)
- Alleged ‘campaign violations’ behind delay of Alexandria teachers union officer elections (642 views)
- WEATHER ALERT: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Alexandria (562 views)
- Alexandria transitions to electric leaf blowers ahead of citywide gas-powered device ban (518 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- 2:30 pm: Flower Show Presented by Rock Spring Garden Club
- 6:00 pm: Original works by Inaugural Nepenthe artist Evelyn Dunphy from Maine
⛈️ Thursday’s forecast
Expect showers and possibly a thunderstorm today, with a high of around 67°F. Northeast winds will be 9 to 13 mph, and there is a 90% chance of rain, with new rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, potentially more in thunderstorms. Thursday night will be cloudy with showers likely before 11 p.m. and a slight chance after 5 a.m., with a low of around 54°F. Northeast winds will range from 7 to 10 mph, and there’s a 60% chance of rain with less than a tenth of an inch expected. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.”
– Steve Maraboli
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading!
A 27-year-old Alexandria man was arrested and charged with brandishing or pointing a firearm during what police are describing as a road rage incident in the West End.
Around 11:40 p.m. on Friday, April 24, the Alexandria Police Department responded to the Wendy’s restaurant at 229 S. Van Dorn Street to investigate a report of a brandished firearm, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. In the parking lot, the victim told police that the suspect — who was in a silver Toyota in the Wendy’s drive-thru when police arrived — had pointed a handgun at him while they were across the street in the parking lot of the Van Dorn Plaza.