News | ALXnow - Part 630

Alexandria schools still face gaps in reading proficiency, suspensions and more

Published September 12, 2022 at 1:30PM

Students return to George Washington Middle School, August 24, 2021 (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Beyond just low test scores, a city report on issues of suspension, reading rates and more shows that the city schools still face issues of severe racial disparity.

The City of Alexandria’s Children & Youth Community Plan 2025 (CYCP) was earlier this year, highlighted that while there has been some progress in areas like drop-out rates, suspensions have gone up at Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) and the city has failed to meet reading proficiency standards for non-white students since 2016.

Alexandria’s community level goes from ‘Medium’ to ‘Low’

By James Cullum

Published September 12, 2022 at 10:45AM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has returned Alexandria’s community level from “Medium” to “Low.”

The city had a Medium community level since April, and the city now joins its regional counterparts in Fairfax, Loudoun and Arlington Counties with the Low designation.

One injured after shots fired in Arlandria Sunday night

By James Cullum

Published September 12, 2022 at 9:45AM | Updated September 12, 2022 at 1:35PM

A person was shot in the 3800 block of Old Dominion Boulevard on Sunday, September 11, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

A man was shot in Arlandria on Sunday night, according to Alexandria Police.

The incident occurred at around 7:30 p.m. in front of an apartment building in the 3800 block of Old Dominion Boulevard. A 50-year-old man was shot and transported to George Washington University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published September 12, 2022 at 5:00AM

The Washington Monument visible from the banks of the Potomac in Old Town North (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria bakery’s royal connection — “Queen Elizabeth II’s visits to the D.C. region throughout her long life were always showstoppers, but it was her first visit to the area — as a princess in 1951 — that became the claim to fame for one Alexandria bakery.” [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Monday — Rain starting in the afternoon. High of 82 and low of 72. Sunrise at 6:49 am and sunset at 7:23 pm. [Weather.gov]

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published September 9, 2022 at 3:45PM

Another week down at ALXnow.

The big stories this week was a pair of dangerous situations in public places, with injuries at AMC Hoffman Center after a man walked into a theater and threatened the crowd and a man arrested for pulling out a gun outside a West End club.

ACPS focusing on staff and student absenteeism

By James Cullum

Published September 9, 2022 at 11:05AM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools wants to get student and staff absenteeism under control.

A quarter of Latino students at ACPS were chronically absent last school year, and so were 16% of Black students and 22% of economically disadvantaged students, according to data presented to the School Board at a recent work session.

Alexandria launches new interactive map for flood mitigation projects

By Vernon Miles

Published September 9, 2022 at 9:40AM

Interactive flood mitigation map (image via City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria has launched a new interactive map that lets locals keep track of flood mitigation projects around town.

The interactive map shows all 35 ongoing projects around town, as well as two recently completed ones and seven future projects.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published September 9, 2022 at 5:00AM

A bird searches for snacks in Old Town North (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Local leaders react to Queen Elizabeth II’s death — “Now state and local leaders are remembering the monarch, who died today at age 96.” [ARLnow]

It’s Friday — Clear throughout the day. High of 79 and low of 64. Sunrise at 6:46 am and sunset at 7:28 pm. [Weather.gov]

These two popular Alexandria art festivals are just around the corner

By James Cullum

Published September 8, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated September 9, 2022 at 1:23PM

Fall is art season in Alexandria.

Two popular art festivals are on the horizon — the 20th Annual Alexandria Old Town Art Festival on September 17 and 18, followed by Art On The Avenue on October 1 in Del Ray.

Sunday fundraiser on the waterfront to provide healthy meals for Alexandria firefighters

By James Cullum

Published September 8, 2022 at 2:15PM

An Alexandria Fire Dept. truck heads to a call (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Firefighters aren’t the best eaters, and an upcoming fundraiser aims to give Alexandria’s first responders healthier options.

The Alexandria Fire Foundation is hosting the fundraiser, which includes freebies for kids and adults and raffles for Washington Wizards and Washington Nationals games. It will be held at Waterfront Park (1 Prince Street) on Sunday, September 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Alexandria man arrested for allegedly brandishing handgun outside West End nightclub

By James Cullum

Published September 8, 2022 at 1:00PM

A 35-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond for allegedly brandishing a handgun outside a nightclub in the West End on Sunday, September 4.

No one was injured and nothing was stolen in the incident, which occurred at around 2 a.m. in the 600 block of S. Pickett Street. Multiple witnesses told police that they saw the suspect pull out a handgun, according to Alexandria Police.