News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Feb 20, 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 — Feb 20, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Measles case may have led to exposures at Alexandria office building (595 views)
  2. ACPS board member Booz visits Minneapolis to create ICE response resources for schools (427 views)
  3. Proposed parking removal, bike lanes on Braddock Road spur debate before traffic board review (271 views)

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

  1. Alexandria Health Department advises of measles case at more N. Va. locations (2710 views)
  2. Carlyle restaurant ‘Whiskey & Oyster’ plans to close permanently at the end of the month (2527 views)
  3. City Council candidates spar in second debate before Democratic firehouse primary (2255 views)
  4. Democratic City Council candidates lay out differences in first forum in Del Ray (2006 views)
  5. No injuries reported after overnight fire and evacuation at Landmark high-rise (1445 views)
  6. Daniel O’Connell’s celebrating 20th anniversary in Old Town this month (1196 views)
  7. Spanish immersion child care to open at Landmark Mall redevelopment (1181 views)
  8. Listing of the Day: 1700 Dewitt Ave (1148 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛅️ Saturday’s forecast

The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny with temperatures reaching around 53°F and a northwest wind at 6 mph. For Saturday night, anticipate a 50% chance of rain starting after 1am, which may mix with snow after 4am. The sky will become increasingly cloudy as temperatures drop to approximately 35°F, accompanied by a light northeast wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”
– Alexander Graham Bell

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

Visit Alexandria launches locally inspired ‘Unlock Your Story’ marketing campaign

By James Cullum
Alexandria town crier Ben Fiore-Walker rings in the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Visit Alexandria‘s newest marketing campaign is tapping into the stories behind businesses, tourist attractions and unique personalities.

From now until June, the Unlock Your Story campaign will tell stories all over Alexandria, focusing on the city’s history, small attractions, and unique small businesses, artists and entrepreneurs. The promotion follows Visit Alexandria’s Best Kept Shh! campaign, which launched three years ago and positioned Alexandria as the region’s best kept secret.

Go to Visit Alexandria launches locally inspired ‘Unlock Your Story’ marketing campaign Read more

Proposed parking removal, bike lanes on Braddock Road spur debate before traffic board review

By Emily Leayman
The location of Braddock Road parking and lane changes approved by the Traffic and Parking Board (City of Alexandria)

Some residents have pushed back on proposed lane changes and parking removals on Braddock Road ahead of the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board’s review on Monday.

The changes are being proposed on the major route between West Street near the Braddock Road Metro and Russell Road in the Del Ray and Rosemont neighborhoods. The city has worked on the Braddock Road Corridor Improvements project since last year as a response to concerns from Alex311, the 2023 Safe Routes to School walk audit at George Washington Middle School and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Go to Proposed parking removal, bike lanes on Braddock Road spur debate before traffic board review Read more

African American History Division director discusses ways to explore Alexandria’s vast history

By ALXnow.com
Alexandria Black History Museum (image via City of Alexandria)

Audrey Davis, the first director of the African American History Division in the Office of Historic Alexandria, is at the forefront of preserving and showcasing the city’s Black history.

Black History Month has brought music, historical discussions and exhibits, displays of student art and so much more to Alexandria this month, commemorating a vast history spanning hundreds of years, from the 18th century to the Civil Rights Movement and present day.

Go to African American History Division director discusses ways to explore Alexandria’s vast history Read more

Two Alexandria students honored for winning George Washington essay contest

By James Cullum
Garrett Wagman of George Washington Middle School (on left), a George Washington re-enactor and David De Costa of Bishop Ireton High School won the 2026 George Washington Legacy Foundation Essay Contest, and were presented with $500 checks at the annual Friendship Firehouse breakfast in Old Town, Feb. 16, 2026 (courtesy photo)

Two Alexandria students were recently awarded $500 prizes for their submissions to the 2026 George Washington Legacy Foundation Essay Contest.

Garrett Wagman of George Washington Middle School and David De Costa of Bishop Ireton High School won the middle school and high school contests, which were open to all students in the city. This year’s 700-to-1,000-word essay contest focused on America’s 250th anniversary and Washington’s role in uniting the colonies.

Go to Two Alexandria students honored for winning George Washington essay contest Read more

ACPS board member Booz visits Minneapolis to create ICE response resources for schools

By James Cullum
Alexandria School Board Member Kelly Carmichael Booz in Minneapolis, Minnesota (courtesy image)

Alexandria City School Board member Kelly Carmichael Booz visited Minnesota last week as part of a project to inform educators on how to respond to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.

Booz, who is from Minneapolis, visited the Twin Cities from Feb. 9-13, in the wake of the fatal ICE shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good and the widely reported drawdown of ICE agents there. Her project, a report for the American Federation of Teachers, aims to offer “resources and trainings” for school districts and unions on what to do when ICE enters their communities, she told ALXnow.

Go to ACPS board member Booz visits Minneapolis to create ICE response resources for schools Read more

ACPS board approves $406M budget, but uncertainty remains over city funding

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria School Board meeting in 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board approved the school division’s 2027 budget yesterday (Thursday), but challenges surrounding city funding and employee health care costs remain before the final version is adopted in June.

The bulk of the Alexandria City Public Schools’ $406.5 million combined funds budget includes the $374.5 million operating budget, as well as school nutrition funds, grants and a special projects fund. The operating budget itself is a 3.7% increase from the last budget.

Go to ACPS board approves $406M budget, but uncertainty remains over city funding Read more

Measles case may have led to exposures at Alexandria office building

By Katie Taranto
2800 Eisenhower Avenue (via Google Maps)

An Alexandria office building is one of several potential measles exposure sites in Northern Virginia confirmed by state health officials last night (Thursday).

People in the office building, located at 2800 Eisenhower Avenue, could have been exposed to measles between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The office was reported as an exposure site in connection with two new measles cases in the region.

Go to Measles case may have led to exposures at Alexandria office building Read more

Morning Notes for February 20, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Birds at Waterfront Park (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On February 20, 1755 General Edward Braddock arrived at Hampton, Virginia to command British forces against New France in the American colonies. Less than two months later, on April 15 he met with five colonial governors at the Congress of Alexandria, held at the home of John Carlyle. Braddock had hoped to raise funding from the colonies to finance the French and Indian War, but was rebuffed in his efforts by the governors, who demanded that the United Kingdom honor its past promises of financial support. The meeting was one of the first instances of tension over taxation between the Americans colonies and Britain.” [Historic Alexandria]

Firehouse Primary Tomorrow, Online Voting Available — “The Alexandria Democratic Committee will hold an unassembled caucus, also known as a firehouse primary, [for Alexandria City Council] on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM.” Voting will be available at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center or online, for voters who register by 5 p.m. today (Friday). [Alexandria Democratic Committee]

Go to Morning Notes for February 20, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Feb 19, 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 — Feb 19, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Carlyle restaurant ‘Whiskey & Oyster’ plans to close permanently at the end of the month (1555 views)
  2. No injuries reported after overnight fire and evacuation at Landmark high-rise (760 views)
  3. Grand reopening weekend will bring tastings to ‘The World Crafted on King’ in Old Town (603 views)
  4. New wellness studio plans spring opening in Braddock neighborhood (408 views)
  5. Pedestrian safety project at two Alexandria schools slated to receive $2M in federal funds (382 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌦️ Friday’s forecast

Expect rain mainly before 10am, accompanied by areas of fog lasting until noon, with the day’s high temperature reaching around 57°F. The east wind, blowing at 5-8 mph, will shift to southwest in the afternoon; there is a 90% chance of precipitation, potentially amounting to less than a tenth of an inch of new rain. As for Friday night, skies will be mostly clear and the low temperature will be around 40°F, with a west wind of 6-8 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!

City Council candidates explain more policy stances in forum ahead of Democratic primary

By Katie Taranto
Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations hosts a City Council candidate forum (photo courtesy of James Minichello Photography)

Democratic candidates for Alexandria City Council shared their views on economic development, traffic and parking, housing growth and more during a forum last night (Wednesday).

The event was hosted by Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations at Immanuel Church on the Hill ahead of Saturday’s Democratic firehouse primary. About two dozen people turned out and several more attended via Zoom to the event, which was moderated by Bill Rossello, president of the Seminary Hill Association.

Go to City Council candidates explain more policy stances in forum ahead of Democratic primary Read more
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