Alexandria City Public Schools is increasing the cost of breakfast and lunch at the elementary and middle schools that charge for meals.

Starting this school year, the cost of breakfast will rise by 25 cents (to $2.35 for all grade levels), and lunch will jump 50 cents (to $3.75) for students in kindergarten to fifth grade, and will cost $3.95 for students in grades 6 to 8, according to ACPS.


The Old Town North Alliance is one step closer to developing branding for the neighborhood’s new arts and cultural district.

The alliance’s board of directors named three artists as finalists in the Old Town North Arts and Cultural District Banner Design Project. They will be subject to a public vote to determine the winning artist.


Nearly a year after rebranding as the Breast Cancer Collective, the Alexandria-based organization is preparing for major fundraisers in the fall to continue its work to make breast cancer screenings and treatments accessible.

The collective officially announced its rebranding as the Breast Cancer Collective last October. The name change from the National Breast Center Foundation sought to clear up confusion with other national breast cancer entities.


How Alexandria Pursued Gas Leaf Blower Ban without State Law — “[Former Attorney General Jason] Miyares, a Republican, acknowledged that the General Assembly had voted down legislation giving local governments express authority to regulate leaf blowers, but cited case law in rejecting any inference of legislative intent from those outcomes as speculative. Alexandria, he concluded, was clearly within its rights to ban the equipment. Alexandria used that green light to amend its noise ordinance in May of 2025 and begin an 18-month phaseout of gas leaf blowers. A full prohibition is set to take effect on November 17, 2026.” [Virginia Mercury]

Acting Superintendent on Biggest Challenge of This School Year — “With the reality of maintaining a variety of rising costs, including healthcare premiums and other operating variables, the school division is expecting another challenging budget year. While maintaining our focus on supporting students, staff and our schools, investing in recruitment and retention remains critical to ensuring ACPS can continue to attract and retain the talented educators and staff who serve our students each day.” [WTOP]


Good Monday 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 — Aug 24, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria prioritizes tree management as it battles invasive spotted lanternflies (4453 views)
  2. Property owner wants to build six townhouses in Old Town bank parking lot (1311 views)
  3. Alexandria students begin school year with stricter cell phone rules, new boundaries (630 views)
  4. D.C. man faces felony charge after alleged $1K Old Town yoga store theft (603 views)
  5. Morning Notes for August 24, 2026 (505 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌥️ Tuesday’s forecast

There will be increasing clouds with a high of around 86 degrees and a northwest wind blowing at 5 to 8 mph. On Tuesday night, expect partly cloudy skies with temperatures dropping to about 64 degrees, and a light northwest wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
– Henry David Thoreau

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!


A D.C. man has been charged with felony grand larceny after allegedly stealing more than $1,000 of clothing from a popular yoga shop in Old Town last month.

The suspect was arrested on Friday, July 17, after being captured on surveillance footage allegedly stuffing Alo Yoga (814 King Street) merchandise into a white Nordstrom bag and fleeing the store without paying, according to a recently unsealed search warrant affidavit.


The owner of an Old Town office building is asking the city for permission to modify its parking lot to make space for six three-story townhomes.

Merion Group, the owner of 330 N. Washington Street, will present plans to the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, Sept. 16. The building is home to a Wells Fargo bank, and Merion Group wants to eliminate two of the three drive-thru banking aisles to make way for six three-story townhomes with rear-loading parking garages and rooftop terraces.


Alexandria City Public Schools welcomed students back for the first day of school today (Monday) as the district implemented a stricter student cell phone policy and new school boundaries.

More than 15,000 students started school at ACPS, from the incoming kindergarten class who will graduate in 2039, to the seniors graduating next year. Acting Superintendent Grace Taylor, Mayor Alyia Gaskins, School Board Chair Christopher Harris, Alexandria City High School Principal Michael Burch and Police Chief Tarrick McGuire visited classrooms at ACHS’s King Street Campus on the first day.


Alexandria officials are working to get to the root of the problem — literally — as they battle the ongoing influx of spotted lanternflies.

The city is among those across Northern Virginia working to cull tree-of-heaven, a tree species that serves as a host to the spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest that arrived in the U.S. from China in 2014 and has been wreaking havoc since.


On This Day in Alexandria History — “On August 24 and 25, 1874, about 50 teachers and other interested parties attended the Teachers’ Institute at the Peabody School building at King and Alfred streets. The superintendent of Alexandria’s schools addressed the audience as did educators from Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, speaking on topics such as ‘The Teaching of History’ and ‘School Hygiene.'” [Historic Alexandria]

First Day of School Today at ACPS — Monday, Aug. 24 marks the start of the school year for Alexandria City Public Schools students. ACPS has a back to school guide with information for the 2026-2027 school year. [ACPS]


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 — Aug 21, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Herd of goats recruited to tackle invasive plants in an Alexandria park (3288 views)
  2. Morning Notes for August 21, 2026 (575 views)
  3. Poll: The best live music venue in Alexandria (443 views)

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

  1. Alexandria teen pleads not guilty in manslaughter trial over fatal Potomac Yard Metro chase (6395 views)
  2. JUST IN: Thousands without power along Quaker Lane in Alexandria (6340 views)
  3. Elderly Alexandria woman loses $77K in scam involving multiple impersonators (6245 views)
  4. Van Metre buys land for 110 townhomes at Alexandria’s WestEnd development (5027 views)
  5. National Symphony Orchestra to utilize Alexandria venue amid Kennedy Center shutdown plans (3795 views)
  6. Long-awaited splash pad to open in Del Ray in early September, city says (3077 views)
  7. Alexandria teen found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in man’s death after Potomac Yard Metro chase (2902 views)
  8. Horror and sci-fi bookstore Long Dark House to hold grand opening in early September (2428 views)
  9. Developer wants Prince Street office conversion project to wrap by summer 2027 (1516 views)
  10. Alexandria’s Hypergoat Coffee Roasters is expanding with a second location in Del Ray (1504 views)
  11. Residents pack Beatley Library forum on Plaza 500 data center plans near Alexandria (1305 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

⛈️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 pm, followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms until 5 pm, with areas of fog in the morning. The high will be near 79°F with east winds at 3 to 7 mph. Rainfall could reach a quarter to half an inch, and there is an 80% chance of precipitation. Saturday night will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms from 8 pm to 11 pm, then isolated showers, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 68°F. Winds will be light and variable, with a 50% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
– Wayne Gretzky

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!


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