News

Morning Notes for May 28, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Boats at the Old Town Waterfront (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Memorial Dedication for DCA Plane Crash Victims on June 1 — “The City of Alexandria, in partnership with Representative Don Beyer, invites the community to a memorial honoring the 67 lives lost in the January 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision. Located along the Potomac River at Rivergate City Park, the memorial was designed with input from families and loved ones to create a space for reflection, remembrance, and community connection.” [City of Alexandria/Facebook]

Self-Driving Cars Transported to Alexandria — “In a public meeting last week with a Virginia Department of Transportation working group, Waymo policy adviser Rich Harrington said that Waymo vehicles had touched down in Alexandria and would soon come to Arlington, both just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Moving from mapping to a full-blown robotaxi service takes 12 to 18 months and ‘a lot of money,’ he told state government officials.” [WIRED]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for May 27, 2026

By ALXnow.com

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 27, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria kicks off World Cup welcome with Croatian cultural celebration at Waterfront Park (658 views)
  2. Morning Notes for May 27, 2026 (470 views)
  3. Old Town businesses host ‘Analog Bag Weekend’ for screen-free hobbies (271 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect a sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 79°F. Winds will come from the north at 7 to 11 mph, with gusts up to 21 mph. The night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 56°F and a north wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.”
– Chris Grosser

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Increased building heights, more housing areas considered in Duke Street Land Use Plan

By James Cullum
Traffic on Duke Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Increased building height allowances and new areas for housing and open space along Duke Street are among the changes Alexandria staff plan to propose in the updated Duke Street Land Use Plan.

Alexandria City Council received an update Tuesday (May 26) on the plan, which will guide city officials in the development of the Duke Street corridor from the former Landmark Mall to Alexandria Union Station. The proposal includes areas deemed “opportunity sites” in industrial areas that city staff wants to redevelop, adding more housing supply and open space, with building heights of up to 150 feet.

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Alexandria’s D-Day commemoration moves to new location during City Hall construction

By Emily Leayman
World War II reenactors at a past D-Day commemoration at Market Square (via Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee)

Alexandria’s annual D-Day Commemoration won’t be skipped this year even as City Hall and Market Square construction moved it out of its normal location.

The 16th Annual D-Day Commemoration will take place from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, May 31 at Carlyle Square (300 John Carlyle Street). Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, Council Member John Taylor Chapman, Council Member Jacinta Greene and representatives from the French and British embassies, the U.S. military and veterans organizations are expected to provide remarks.

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City Council briefed on student questioning, privacy rules in new ACPS agreement with APD

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

On Tuesday (May 26), Alexandria City Council was briefed on changes to the recently approved memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Alexandria Police Department and Alexandria City Public Schools.

As no action was required from City Council Tuesday, City Council members did not formally endorse the updated MOU approved earlier this month by the School Board. ACPS previously extended the 2023–2025 agreement while the city’s School Law Enforcement Partnership subcommittee, which is made up of members of City Council, the School Board and APD staff, finalized the new language.

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City Council considers special committee to discuss School Board election reform, more ACPS funds

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria City Council on May 12, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council took a step Tuesday (May 26) to consider changes to the School Board’s terms and the size of the nine-member board. The council is also considering using potential contingent funds that will be available in the new fiscal year to fund Community in Schools of Northern Virginia at Alexandria City Public Schools.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins received support from a majority of City Council members on the proposal to form an ad hoc committee on election reform. City Council’s request will direct City Manager Jim Parajon to prepare a resolution to create the committee that two City Council members would be in. Gaskins said the committee’s scope would allow it to look at staggered terms and other election reform items such as board size, timing of terms or representation. The two City Council members would work with two School Board members to bring forward election reform recommendations.

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Morning Notes for May 27, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Scenes from Old Town as a storm front bringing rain and high winds moves through the region (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Man Charged in Woodbridge Fatal Shooting — “Taiyon Damari Jackson, 20, of Alexandria, was arrested on May 21. William Latrale Lisenby, 23, of Lorton, was arrested on May 22. Both have been charged in the death of Frances Joseph Douglas, 42, of Bowling Green, on May 12.” [Old Town Alexandria Patch]

Next Metro Shutdown for Crystal City Station Project — On May 30 and 31, free shuttles will replace trains between Pentagon City and Reagan National Airport and the Crystal City station will be closed on the Blue and Yellow Lines. [WMATA]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for May 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Tuesday 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 26, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Fresh Market’s Alexandria store is staying put as other N. Va. location closes (1527 views)
  2. JUST IN: Jury finds Alexandria man guilty of manslaughter in West End shooting (1035 views)
  3. Morning Notes for May 26, 2026 (553 views)
  4. Alexandria releases draft Housing 2040 Plan ahead of public hearings (517 views)
  5. Alexandria journalist swaps news for retail with Made in ALX (481 views)
  6. Alexandria’s jobless count has remained above 3,000 for nearly a full year (457 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with patchy fog before 11am and a high near 80°F. Winds will be light and become westerly in the afternoon. Rainfall may range from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms are likely into the evening, tapering off around 11pm, with patchy fog developing until 1am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 64°F and winds shifting northwest after midnight. There’s a 60% chance of rain, with potential for similar rain accumulation as during the day. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.”
– Walt Whitman

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

JUST IN: Jury finds Alexandria man guilty of manslaughter in West End shooting

By James Cullum
The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A jury has found Damontie Earl James guilty of voluntary manslaughter when he shot and killed his former roommate Kory Anding in an apartment in Alexandria’s West End.

James, 27, has been held without bond since his arrest following the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Kory Anding at James’ sister’s apartment at 3450 Berkeley Street on Oct. 25, 2025. Anding was the father of two children with James’ sister. James claimed he shot Anding in self-defense. James was also found guilty of unlawful shooting in an occupied building and not guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a murder.

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Alexandria releases draft Housing 2040 Plan ahead of public hearings

By Emily Leayman
As seen at the 204-unit affordable housing apartment complex Samuel Madden Homes, Nov. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria has released its draft Housing 2040 Plan, which will set new housing goals for the next 15 years, ahead of June public hearings.

The Housing 2040 Plan is slated to replace the city’s current Housing Master Plan, which was first approved in 2013. That plan had a goal of producing and preserving 2,000 affordable housing units by 2025, and the city exceeded that goal when counting units under construction.

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Alexandria’s jobless count has remained above 3,000 for nearly a full year

By Scott McCaffrey
Job interview (via Tim Gouw/Unsplash)

The number of Alexandria residents among the ranks of the unemployed stayed above 3,000 for the 11th consecutive month in March, according to new state data.

The 3,333 Alexandrians reported as seeking work in March was up 14.8% from 2,902 a year before, according to figures reported May 19 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

Go to Alexandria’s jobless count has remained above 3,000 for nearly a full year Read more
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