News

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On May 11, 1749, colonial Governor William Gooch designated sixty acres of land adjacent to a small bay along the Potomac River in Northern Virginia as the site for a new settlement to be called Alexandria … John West, Fairfax County surveyor, assisted by 17-year-old George Washington, laid out 60 acres for creation of the new town and lots were auctioned off in July 1749.” [Historic Alexandria]

Chamber ALX to Host City Council Breakfast — “Join us for an inside look at Alexandria’s future as City Council members unpack the newly adopted City budget, highlight key investments, and share updates on major initiatives already underway. Learn how local priorities are shaping decisions and driving progress across neighborhoods, services, and community development efforts.” [Chamber ALX]

Spanberger Signs Bills on Clean Water, Flooding — “On the banks of Aquia Creek in Stafford, Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday signed a slew of bills designed to protect Virginia’s clean water from harmful forever chemicals and aid communities as sea levels rise due to climate change … House Bill 237, sponsored by Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, directs agencies to additionally consider how wetlands may migrate.” [Virginia Mercury]

Housing, Swim School Planned in Del Ray — “Bonaventure Realty has finally closed the book on Mount Vernon Avenue. The Alexandria-based real estate investor has sold two major properties in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, 2525 Mt. Vernon Ave. and 2401-2419 Mt. Vernon Ave., to an affiliate of Sterling’s Ganges Property Group …  The plans [at 2525 Mt. Vernon Ave.] call for 25 short-term residential units on the second floor and a combination of a daycare, swim school and restaurant on the first floor.” [Washington Business Journal]

FBI Raids Sen. Louise Lucas’ Office — “Federal agents on Wednesday morning raided the Portsmouth office of state Sen. Louise Lucas, one of Virginia’s most powerful Democratic lawmakers, a representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigations confirmed Wednesday, after multiple news outlets reported an extensive law enforcement operation that included FBI agents, SWAT teams and court-authorized searches tied to several locations across the commonwealth.” [Virginia Mercury]

Alexandria Chef Wins ‘Chopped’ — “Alexandria chef Leigh Orleans is officially a Food Network champion. The local culinary talent won the Food Network competition series Chopped (Season 64, Episode 8), taking home the $10,000 grand prize after surviving all three rounds of the high-pressure cooking showdown and impressing judges with a creative dessert made from leftover ingredients.” [The Zebra]