News

Morning Notes for April 29, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Danny and Liz with Madison Street Tattoo present a check to AWLA's development operations specialist Sarah Manning and administrative specialist Vicki Smith (via AWLA)

Business Fundraiser for Animal Shelter — “Madison Street Tattoos’ ‘Tattoos for Rescues’ fundraiser on Saturday, April 25 was an immense success, bringing together animal lovers, artists, and the community for an unforgettable day in support of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). The event raised an astounding $12,100 to benefit animals and pet families in need. In addition, the shop also collected physical donations of pet food and supplies to benefit our in-shelter animals. Over the course of 10+ hours, five dedicated tattoo artists worked tirelessly, inking more than 50 participants. [Animal Welfare League of Alexandria]

Budget Adoption on Wednesday — “On April 29, the Alexandria City Council will vote on the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Budget, which begins July 1, 2026. Join us in person at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center or watch online at alexandriava.gov/Dockets.” [City of Alexandria]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 28, 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 — Apr 28, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. No bond for Alexandria man charged with ex-girlfriend&#8217 (3320 views)
  2. New Traffic and Parking Board member had testified against Braddock Road decision (1501 views)
  3. Morning Notes for April 28, 2026 (832 views)
  4. Old Town Pool replacement plans floating to Planning Commission (733 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect showers throughout the day, with a possible thunderstorm after 2 PM and a high of 69°F. Southeast winds will range from 6 to 10 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph. Rainfall could be between a quarter and half an inch, with a 90% chance of precipitation. Wednesday night brings a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, transitioning from cloudy to partly cloudy skies. The low will be around 51°F, and southeast winds will shift to northwesterly around 9 mph, with gusts again reaching 18 mph. Rainfall amounts may be similar to earlier in the day. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

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

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Old Town Pool replacement plans floating to Planning Commission

By James Cullum
Bird's-eye view rendering looking southeast at Old Town Pool from the parking lot (via City of Alexandria)

A proposal to completely replace the Old Town Pool and bathhouse and make landscape improvements is heading to the Alexandria Planning Commission.

On Tuesday, May 5, the Planning Commission will weigh in on the proposal by the city’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities to completely renovate the pool facility, to fully renovate the pool facility, which has not had a major update since it opened in 1975. The meeting follows a unanimous recommendation from the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, which endorsed the project in a letter to City Council.

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New Traffic and Parking Board member testified on Braddock Road changes for civic association

By Emily Leayman
The Traffic and Parking Board in March 2026 (via City of Alexandria)

A new Traffic and Parking Board member appointed by Alexandria City Council had testified on behalf of a citizens association on the Braddock Road changes the board approved in February.

Rosemarie Spano was appointed by City Council as a citizen member of the board on April 14. Spano replaces former Chair Ann Tucker, who had served on the board for 10 years and had her last meeting in March. Spano told ALXnow her term starts in May.

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Alexandria vies for ninth consecutive Condé Nast Traveler ‘Best Small Cities’ ranking

By Emily Leayman
The Alexandria waterfront along the Potomac River (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is vying for its ninth consecutive ranking in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. The city is nominated in the “Cities” category and hopes to retain its place among the “Best Small Cities in the U.S.”

Visit Alexandria, the city’s tourism organization, is asking for public support to keep Alexandria on the list. High-profile rankings in Condé Nast Traveler and other publications are one of the organization’s strategies to boost visitor-related tax revenues that fund core city services.

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Office of Historic Alexandria proposes fee changes for museums and services

By James Cullum
The Alexandria Lyceum (staff photo by Airey)

The Office of Historic Alexandria is proposing a host of fee changes to offset the rising cost of running museums, maintaining historic sites and providing programming.

City Council will consider the proposal at its meeting Wednesday (April 29), the same night the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget will receive final approval.

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No bond for Alexandria man charged with ex-girlfriend’s rape, strangulation

By James Cullum
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A 28-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after being charged with rape, strangulation, sexual battery and domestic assault and battery, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

The victim reported at Alexandria Police Department headquarters in the early morning of Tuesday, March 24, that she was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend the night before in the 5300 block of Knole Court in the Alexandria West neighborhood. The victim told police she was assaulted at around 11 p.m. after an argument with her ex-boyfriend, who is the father of their two children, according to the search warrant affidavit.

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Morning Notes for April 28, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Relaxing at Oronoco Bay Park (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On April 28, 1861, soldiers attended Sunday religious services with their companies. Mount Vernon Guards attended Methodist Protestant Church, Old Dominion Rifles attended Christ Church, Warren Rifles attended Grace Church, Fairfax Calvary attended Second Presbyterian, Alexandria Artillery attended First Presbyterian, Emmett Guards and Irish Volunteers attended St. Mary’s, and Washington Home Guards attended Methodist Episcopal Church.” [Historic Alexandria]

City Council Holds Legislative Meeting Tuesday — “The April 28, 2026 Legislative Meeting of the Alexandria City Council is being held in the City Council Chamber at Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive, Room 1305, Alexandria, Virginia 22311) and electronically.” [City of Alexandria]

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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 27, 2026

By ALXnow.com

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 — Apr 27, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. ‘Ridiculous,’ Mayor Gaskins calls GOP bill to return Alexandria and Arlington to D.C. (1770 views)
  2. Virginia Supreme Court hears challenge to voter-approved redistricting amendment (1467 views)
  3. Alexandria paralegal spends weekends leading tours of local Korean cuisine (997 views)
  4. Morning Notes for April 27, 2026 (886 views)
  5. Spring brings more wildlife calls in Alexandria as wildlife experts encourage hands-off approach (827 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

Showers are possible from late morning to afternoon, under mostly cloudy skies with a high near 65°F. Expect south winds at 5-10 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. The evening sees a slight chance of showers before 7pm and after 8pm, with a low of 52°F and southeast winds at 7 mph. Overall, the chance of rain is 40% during the day and 20% at night. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
– Joshua J. Marine

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

‘Ridiculous,’ Mayor Gaskins calls GOP bill to return Alexandria and Arlington to D.C.

By James Cullum
A sailboat on the Potomac River (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins is calling a congressional bill to make Alexandria and Arlington part of D.C. “silliness,” “ridiculous,” and a “huge distraction.”

In a recent Facebook post, Gaskins said U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick’s (R-Ga.) Make DC Square Again Act would upend the rights of residents in both jurisdictions. McCormick introduced the bill after the narrow passage of a statewide redistricting referendum on April 21, which gives Democrats the power to redraw congressional district maps for the 2026 midterm elections.

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Virginia Supreme Court hears challenge to voter-approved redistricting amendment

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press
Signs at Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray on Election Day, April 21, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Supreme Court judges on Monday questioned whether the state’s Democratic-led legislature complied with constitutional requirements when it sent a congressional redistricting plan to voters, in a case that carries high stakes for the balance of power in the U.S. House.

A Republican challenge to the redistricting plan, which could net Democrats four additional seats and won narrow voter approval last week, contends that the General Assembly violated procedural rules by placing the constitutional amendment before voters to authorize mid-decade redistricting. If the court agrees that lawmakers broke the rules, it could invalidate the amendment and render last week’s statewide vote meaningless.

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