News | ALXnow - Part 638

JUST IN: West Glebe Road bridge to completely close in two weeks

Published April 25, 2022 at 1:20PM

West Glebe Road Bridge (photo via Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services)

The West Glebe Road bridge over Four Mile Run will be closing completely in two weeks, and will remain closed to vehicles for nearly a year.

The circa-1956 bridge connects Arlington and Alexandria near the I-395/S. Glebe Road interchange. It has been deemed “structurally deficient” since 2018. A $10 million project to replace its deck and beams was approved by the Arlington County Board last April as part of a joint project with Alexandria. The project was slated to start this year, but in the meantime engineers have found “continued degradation of the bridge beams.”

Alexandria just eclipsed February with new cases of COVID-19

By James Cullum

Published April 25, 2022 at 10:50AM

It’s been a bad month for COVID-19 in Alexandria, as the number of new cases has eclipsed those reported in February, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

As of Sunday (April 25) there were 1,229 new cases reported this month, a 107% increase over the 593 cases reported in March. There were also 1,227 cases reported in February, which was a steep decline after a record-setting 12,822 cases in January.

UPDATED: Slaughterhouse mostly avoids ruffling feathers, but at least one violation reported

By Vernon Miles

Published April 25, 2022 at 9:45AM | Updated April 28, 2022 at 12:17PM

Chickens at the D.C. Poultry Market at 3225 Colvin Street. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Updated 4/28 — The City of Alexandria confirmed that, contrary to earlier comments from code enforcement, there was at least one complaint about the slaughterhouse. According to Alexandria communications officer Andrea Blackford:

Thank you for following up with us. There was a complaint about the Market in December 2021, which was followed up by a Zoning Inspector, who reported:

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published April 25, 2022 at 5:00AM

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

Morrison House Hotel reopens craft cocktail lounge — “The reimagined space features inventive cocktails inspired by literature and a menu of Modern American dishes with a Mesoamerican twist.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

It’s Monday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 74 and low of 55. Sunrise at 6:19 am and sunset at 7:56 pm. [Weather.gov]

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published April 22, 2022 at 3:30PM

The waterfront of Old Town, seen from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It’s been a busy week at ALXnow with lots of community discussion on issues like single-family zoning and new bus routes through North Old Town.

Alexandria also got a new permanent police chief when acting Police Chief Don Hayes, a longtime Alexandria police officer, got the job.

Amid transparency concerns, School Board forms school law enforcement partnership advisory group

By James Cullum

Published April 22, 2022 at 2:45PM | Updated April 22, 2022 at 3:55PM

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

The Alexandria School Board gave its blessing to Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. on Thursday night (April 21) to form an advisory group to make recommendations on the controversial school resource officer program within Alexandria City Public Schools.

The 16-person school law enforcement partnership (SLEP) advisory group will be made up of students, ACPS administrators, Alexandria Police and members of the community. The group will evaluate the partnership between ACPS and police for the school resource officer program, and also on school safety initiatives, and deliver a report in December.

APD: Woman used pepper spray in road rage incident in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 22, 2022 at 10:45AM | Updated April 22, 2022 at 12:29PM

An Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police are investigating a road rage incident where a female driver pepper allegedly assaulted two people in the 2800 block of Park Center Drive with pepper spray.

The incident occurred at around 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 14. The 28-year-old male victim and 49-year-old female victim were sprayed in the face and declined to go to the hospital.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published April 22, 2022 at 5:00AM

Virginia ABC changing some sales — “Virginia ABC stores are changing the system for selling certain high-demand products.” [WRIC]

It’s Friday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 72 and low of 53. Sunrise at 6:23 am and sunset at 7:53 pm. [Weather.gov]

City Council considering additional employee raise, hiring cops and adding speed cameras to budget

By James Cullum

Published April 21, 2022 at 3:35PM | Updated May 5, 2022 at 10:03AM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

More police officers, body worn cameras for cops and an additional raise for city employees are among the additions the Alexandria City Council hopes to adopt in their upcoming budget.

On Saturday (April 23), Council will hold a public hearing on their proposed additions and deletions to City Manger Jim Parajon’s fiscal year 2023 budget. The items under discussion will also be hammered out in a Council work session on (Tuesday) April 26 at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers.

DASH changes for Potomac Yard Metro create concerns for Old Town North residents

By Vernon Miles

Published April 21, 2022 at 2:30PM

DASH is making some changes to the bus network in Old Town, including one change that has residents concerned.

At a meeting of the Transportation Commission yesterday, DASH Director of Planning & Marketing Martin Barna outlined plans to adjust DASH service in coordination with the opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station. Among those changes is one Barna said has proven contentious to residents along the affected route.

Man faces multiple charges after woman strangled in North Ridge

By James Cullum

Published April 21, 2022 at 1:00PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 34-year-old Alexandria man was arrested for a domestic dispute with a woman on the evening of April 11 (Monday) in the city’s North Ridge neighborhood, and was charged with strangulation, assault and battery and public intoxication.

The incident occurred outside in the 1400 block of Dogwood Drive, and the 26-year-old female victim was injured and did not immediately seek medical attention after the incident, according to police.