News | ALXnow - Part 5

Alexandria man arrested with airsoft gun after alleged Safeway robbery

Published October 20, 2026 at 2:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A 33-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after allegedly robbing a West End grocery store with an air gun.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, the manager of the Safeway at 299 S. Van Dorn Street reported that two men walked into the store and waited at the customer service counter, where cigarettes are sold. The manager said that one of the men seemed drunk and displayed a firearm, assaulted him, and then stole a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of beer from the store, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

JUST IN: Alexandria activist Glen Pine challenging Del. R. Kirk McPike for Democratic nomination

By James Cullum

Published October 20, 2026 at 9:15AM

Alexandria activist Glen Pine is running for the Democratic nomination for Virginia's 5th District against Del. R. Kirk McPike (staff photo by James Cullum)

Democratic Socialist Glen Pine is running in next June’s Democratic primary for Virginia’s 5th District.

Pine has spent years organizing and protesting with Alexandrians for Palestinian Human Rights, DeFlock ALX and ICE Out of Alexandria, and says that an extensive door-knocking campaign, backed by a wide network of grassroots supporters, will help him beat incumbent Del. R. Kirk McPike.

Morning Notes for October 20, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published October 20, 2026 at 7:30AM

An Amtrak train in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Gets New Legislative Director — “City Manager James Parajon selected Fatimah Dandashi for the role following a national search. Dandashi brings experience in local and state government, including previous work with Fairfax County and the Virginia Senate. As Legislative Director, she will oversee the City’s intergovernmental affairs, advocate for state and federal funding, and work closely with City Council and City departments to advance Alexandria’s legislative priorities.” [City of Alexandria]

Mural Behind the Birchmere — “If you park behind the Birchmere this month, you may notice a plain concrete-block wall slowly turning into something else: an old Alexandria brick warehouse, complete with a loading dock, a paneled door and a couple of carpenters hard at work.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Oct 19, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published October 19, 2026 at 9:00PM

Good Monday evening, Alexandria. Here’s a look back at today’s most-read stories and a look ahead to tomorrow.

📈 Today’s most-read stories

🕗 More from today

Everything else we published today, Oct 19, 2026.

📣 Announcements

Alexandria Fitness Studio for People Over 50 Closes Fall Into Fitness Program in 11 Days
Revolutionary Fitness, the semi-private strength and longevity studio at 215 N. Payne St. in… [Announcement]

⭐ Featured events

Murder Mystery Night at Cherry on Top
Oct 22: Murder Mystery Night at Cherry on Top [Event]

🎭 Halloween Improv Comedy Show with the Auxiliary
Oct 24: Join the Auxiliary Improv for a night of Halloween-themed comedy in Old Town, Alexandria VA! [Event]

CatRad Halloween Eve!
Oct 30: Join us for our second annual CatRad Halloween Eve! A night of ghoulish fun, spooky treats… [Event]

Submit events, announcements, or home listings to ALXnow.

☀️ Weather update

Today: Alexandria saw a high of 70° at 4:35 p.m. (2° above normal), a low of 43° at 3:05 a.m., no rain and a peak gust of 17 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 48. North wind around 7 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The photo above is from the City of Alexandria’s marina webcam.

Thanks for reading!

PHOTOS: Alexandria ‘No Kings’ rally targets midterms and ballot amendments

By James Cullum

Published October 19, 2026 at 2:45PM

Del. R. Kirk McPike (D-5th), center, outside the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library for the fourth No Kings protest, Oct. 17, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With a focus on turning words into early votes, a fourth “No Kings” protest in Alexandria took place over the weekend.

On Saturday, protestors lined Duke Street outside Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke Street) holding signs criticizing the Trump administration and encouraging voters to cast early ballots in the run-up to the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The two-day event, organized by Indivisible Do Something Alexandria, was part of a nationwide “No Kings” day of action.

Additional early voting location opens in Alexandria as November election nears

By Emily Leayman

Published October 19, 2026 at 9:15AM

A voting sign at the Alexandria Registrar of Voters, 132 N. Royal Street, in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A second early voting location is open in Alexandria for the Nov. 3 election, which will decide congressional midterm elections and Virginia constitutional amendments.

Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke Street) opened for early voting Sunday (Oct. 18), supplementing the ongoing location at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections. Voter ID is required to vote in person, or voters can sign an ID statement affirming their identity. The deadline for early voting will be 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Morning Notes for October 19, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published October 19, 2026 at 7:30AM

Nightmare on the Avenue at the Del Ray Pop-up Bar (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On October 19, 1781, after eight years of conflict, British General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia and the American colonies finally secured their freedom from Great Britain. … As the Americans traveled southward before their Yorktown victory, thousands of soldiers camped in a large area just north of Oronoco Street in Alexandria along what is now called the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.” [Historic Alexandria]

Anti-immigrant Flyers — “Just weeks before the midterm elections, flyers that appear to target immigrants are raising concerns about possible voter intimidation in Alexandria, Virginia. The flyers discovered on dozens of car windshields Monday cite laws prohibiting non-citizens from voting in federal elections and included a hotline to report alleged immigration and voting violations.” [NBC4]

Interim CEO Roy Priest says he wants to get Alexandria’s public housing authority back on track

By James Cullum

Published October 16, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated October 16, 2026 at 9:03PM

Roy Priest, ARHA's interim CEO, speaks to residents at a forum at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, Oct. 7, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Roy Priest says he’s “somewhat surprised” to find himself working back in his old office.

Since taking over as the acting CEO of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority in July, Priest set a goal of getting the nonprofit’s operating and capital budgets approved by the end of the year. He’s also resurrecting ARHA’s previous strategic plan with some updates — all part of an effort to navigate Alexandria’s public housing authority into calmer waters as a new CEO will likely take over this spring.

DASH board mulls bus service cuts amid $2.4 million budget shortfall

By Emily Leayman

Published October 16, 2026 at 2:45PM

A DASH bus driver leaves the Braddock Road Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

As DASH Bus reels from a $3.3 million overspending error in the last fiscal year, the Alexandria transit agency is considering service changes to mitigate current budget challenges.

On Wednesday (Oct. 14), the DASH Board of Directors pre-authorized a package of service cuts. The changes are intended to address a $2.4 million shortfall in the current operating budget.

Morning Notes for October 16, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published October 16, 2026 at 7:30AM

Halloween decorations in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On October 16, 1824, the beloved Marquis de Lafayette arrived in Alexandria for an extended visit during his ‘Grand Tour of America,’ one of the social high points in history of the young nation he had so fervently fought for. The Alexandria Gazette of October 19, 1824, vividly described his entrance to the city: ‘Between twelve and one o’clock General LaFayette entered the line from the Potomac Bridge, under a salute of artillery from Capt. Williams’s company. Here he was met by General Walter Jones and suite…. LaFayette then entered a splendid barouche, drawn by four fine greys, [and escorted to Alexandria]…. The procession entered the town through Columbus Street, went through a part of King into Fayette…to Washington Street.” [Historic Alexandria]

Amtrak Service Adjustments to Happen on Five Days — “Work will start after service ends on Friday, Oct. 16 and be completed before morning service on Monday, Oct. 26. Work will be done at the ‘A-Interlocking’ track and control point within D.C.’s First Street Tunnel. The point controls routing of all Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express trains between D.C.’s Union Station and Virginia. During the work, two train lines will run in segments, with the southern segment starting or ending in Alexandria.” [ALXnow]

ACPS projects $17 million shortfall as budget talks start

By James Cullum

Published October 15, 2026 at 3:45PM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools faces a $17 million shortfall as it starts its 2028 fiscal year budget deliberations.

Dominic Turner, the school system’s chief financial officer, laid out a stark reality with rapidly rising expenditures on Wednesday night at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus.