News

Morning Notes for January 5, 2026

By ALXnow.com
The Alexandria waterfront along the Potomac River (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On Jan. 5, 1874, the old George’s Tavern, also known as the Old English House on the northwest corner of Cameron and North Royal Streets, caught fire and was severely damaged, burned beyond repair. Seen in the background of this Civil War era photo of Union soldiers taken in front of Gadsby’s Tavern, the dormered building is further marked by a large horizontal sign extending over the public sidewalk reading ‘Restaurant.'” [Historic Alexandria]

Beyer Responds to Military Strike in Venezuela — “I’ve always opposed American attacks on Venezuela and I oppose them now. You don’t need sympathy for Maduro to grasp that attacking another country for unclear, shifting rationales without domestic support or a clear plan for the day after won’t make us safer. The Administration lied to Congress and launched an illegal war for regime change and oil. Foolhardy and wrong.” [Rep. Don Beyer]

Go to Morning Notes for January 5, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jan 2, 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 — Jan 2, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Winning $1M lottery ticket sold at Del Ray convenience store (4632 views)
  2. Median apartment rents in Alexandria post first year-over-year drop since 2020 (756 views)
  3. AFD battalion chiefs not entitled to overtime pay, appeals court rules (421 views)
  4. Morning Notes for January 2, 2026 (333 views)
  5. Christmas tree collection in Alexandria starts today (238 views)

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

  1. Undercover police arrest Woodbridge teen for drug and firearm possession in Alexandria (6601 views)
  2. Yellow Line extends service further into D.C. and Maryland (4552 views)
  3. ‘Wonder’ food hall plans grand opening next week in Potomac Yard (3989 views)
  4. Alexandria seeks to streamline office-to-residential conversions (2862 views)
  5. VDOT open house to discuss proposed upgrades to S. Van Dorn Street at Alexandria border (2437 views)
  6. After 50 years, Chris Collins wants dance studio to stay in Alexandria (2344 views)
  7. VSP: Suspect in stolen vehicle rammed trooper after attempted traffic stop in Alexandria (2070 views)
  8. Ulta Beauty ‘opening soon’ in Potomac Yard Center (1585 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

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

🌥️ Saturday’s forecast

The weather will be mostly cloudy with a high around 36 degrees and a light north wind. On Saturday night, there’s a slight chance of snow before 1am, followed by a transition from cloudy to partly cloudy skies and a low temperature near 27 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 20%, with calm winds throughout. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

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

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

AFD battalion chiefs not entitled to overtime pay, appeals court rules

By James Cullum
The Alexandria Fire Department responds to a blaze in the 100 block of E. Del Ray Avenue on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Battalion chiefs at the Alexandria Fire Department do not qualify for overtime wages, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled on Wednesday, siding with the city and affirming a lower district court’s 2023 judgment.

The plaintiffs, 10 current and former AFD battalion chiefs, had sued the department for unpaid overtime wages. Chief Judge Albert Diaz issued the deciding opinion in the case, stating that the chiefs were exempt from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act due to being “highly compensated employees,” a distinction that separates them from rank-and-file first responders under the city’s collective bargaining agreement.

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Median apartment rents in Alexandria post first year-over-year drop since 2020

By Scott McCaffrey
The Blake apartments (via The Blake/Facebook)

Alexandria closed out 2025 with median apartment rental rates down 2.5% from the start of the year — the first annual decline in five years.

The 2.5% dip is more than twice the rate of decline across the metro area, with Alexandria pushed down in part by a 1.1% drop in median rents from November to December.

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Christmas tree collection in Alexandria starts today

By Katie Taranto
The Christmas Tree lighting in Alexandria's Market Square, Nov. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s time to start taking those Christmas trees down.

Christmas tree collection in Alexandria starts today (Friday) and will last through Friday, Jan. 16. The city will pick up natural Christmas trees and wreaths at residents’ usual waste collection spots during their regularly scheduled collection.

Go to Christmas tree collection in Alexandria starts today Read more

Morning Notes for January 2, 2026

By ALXnow.com
The Mount Vernon Trail (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Old Town Food Pantry Meets Increasing Need — “The Diocese of Arlington’s annual report indicates 25,677 meals were served at Christ House in 2025, up about 25 percent from the previous year. John Croft, the director of Christ House, told Patch that an average 60 guests are coming in for meals, along with about 14 men served in Christ House’s transitional housing.” [Patch]

New VA Law Limits Teens’ Social Media Usage — “A new Virginia law that goes into effect Jan. 1 requires social media companies to limit kids’ usage to one hour each day … A group that lobbies on behalf of social media companies is trying to stop the law. The group is called NetChoice and it filed a lawsuit in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia just last month.” [NBC4 Washington]

Go to Morning Notes for January 2, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Dec 31, 2025

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 — Dec 31, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Yellow Line extends service further into D.C. and Maryland (988 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

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

I’m unable to provide the emoji without the forecast information. Please provide the details of the weather forecast so I can select the appropriate emoji. Thursday’s forecast

Apologies, but there was an error with the forecast. To ensure accuracy, please manually add the forecast information. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”
– Plutarch

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Yellow Line extends service further into D.C. and Maryland

By Katie Taranto
A train arrives at the King St-Old Town Metro station, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Metro riders on the Yellow Line can travel further into D.C. and Maryland beginning today (Wednesday).

The Yellow Line has extended with service to Maryland’s Greenbelt station for the first time since 2023, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Trains on that line previously ended service at Mount Vernon Square in D.C.

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SoberRide offering free Lyft rides in Alexandria for New Year’s Eve

By Katie Taranto
SoberRide vehicle (via Washington Regional Alcohol Program/Facebook)

SoberRide, the initiative that has been offering free Lyft rides home in the D.C. area this holiday season, will continue to operate for New Year’s Eve.

Rides will become available starting at 10 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) and lasting until 4 a.m. tomorrow. During that period, residents 21 and older can enter a promotional code into Lyft’s “Payment” tab to receive a ride home. Tonight’s promotional code will be posted at 9 p.m. on www.SoberRide.com.

Go to SoberRide offering free Lyft rides in Alexandria for New Year’s Eve Read more

Morning Notes for December 31, 2025

By ALXnow.com
First Night Alexandria (via Visit Alexandria)

ALX Venues Hosting NYE Festivities — “How are you ringing in the new year in Alexandria? A number of local bars and restaurants are doing it up in style on Dec. 31. From Old Town to Del Ray, Arlandria and the West End, here’s a roundup of shindigs that will send you into the early morning hours of 2026.” [ALXnow]

Reminder: Trash Collection Pushed Back — “The city of Alexandria will not collect waste on New Year’s Day, and the remainder of the week’s collection will follow a modified schedule. After Thursday, waste collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week, according to the city.” [ALXnow]

Go to Morning Notes for December 31, 2025 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Dec 30, 2025

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 — Dec 30, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Undercover police arrest Woodbridge teen for drug and firearm possession in Alexandria (2473 views)
  2. ‘Wonder’ food hall plans grand opening next week in Potomac Yard (1358 views)
  3. VSP: Suspect in stolen vehicle rammed trooper after attempted traffic stop in Alexandria (577 views)
  4. Realtors predict Alexandria will lead N. Va. in home value growth in 2026 (472 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌥️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect flurries and a slight chance of snow before 7am, followed by mostly cloudy skies becoming sunny later, with a high near 39 and southwest wind gusts up to 21 mph. Wednesday night brings more flurries and a low around 26, while New Year’s Day has flurries until noon, sunny skies, and a high near 33 with gusts up to 28 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

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