News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 17, 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 — Apr 17, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Italian restaurant Valletta Port permanently closes in Old Town North – Italian restaurant Valletta Port permanently closes in Old Town North (2788 views)
  2. Three people and dog rescued by AFD from stalled elevator in West End – Three people and dog rescued by AFD from stalled elevator in West End (1280 views)
  3. Poll: The best playground in Alexandria (1192 views)

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

  1. UPDATED: Death investigation underway at park in Old Town (19425 views)
  2. Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark marks topping-out milestone (5634 views)
  3. Motorcyclist dies in I-495 crash near Telegraph Road: state police (5446 views)
  4. Tenants sought for affordable units at two apartment complexes in Alexandria (4191 views)
  5. USPTO cafeteria reopens to the public with chef-curated menus (4029 views)
  6. Child struck by vehicle near William Ramsay Elementary School (3486 views)
  7. Community meeting lined up for power plant site’s mixed-use plan in Old Town North (2910 views)
  8. Family-owned bakery Eclairons flourishes at new location in Old Town (2862 views)
  9. Pedestrian struck during fire response in Landmark area (2222 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

🌤️ Saturday’s forecast

Mostly sunny with a high of 82°F and east winds at 6 to 10 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. Showers likely Saturday night after 2 a.m., with increasing clouds and a low of 52°F. Winds will shift from southeast to northeast, gusting up to 20 mph. There’s a 60% chance of rain, with less than a tenth of an inch expected. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
– Steve Jobs

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

City Council to hold public hearings on Sunday parking fees, more budget decisions

By James Cullum
An Alexandria parking enforcement vehicle (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council has a full docket at its upcoming meeting Saturday as final budgetary decisions approach.

City Council will conduct a number of public hearings, including setting the real estate and personal property tax rates for the next fiscal year, additions and deletions to City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposed $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget, an increase to the stormwater utility fee, new parking fees and the addition of paid metered parking on Sundays.

Go to City Council to hold public hearings on Sunday parking fees, more budget decisions Read more

Three people and dog rescued by AFD from stalled elevator in West End

By James Cullum
AFD rescued three people and a dog from a stalled elevator in the 4600 block of Duke Street, April 17, 2026 (via IAFF Local 2141/Facebook)

The Alexandria Fire Department rescued three people and a dog this morning (Friday) from a stalled elevator in a high-rise condominium building in the West End.

AFD was called just after 4:30 a.m. to a report of three people and a dog stuck in a blind shaft elevator near the fourth floor of a 16-story building in the 4600 block of Duke Street.

Go to Three people and dog rescued by AFD from stalled elevator in West End Read more

Morning Notes for April 17, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Blooming tree at Potomac Yard Park (staff photo by James Cullum)

Early Voting Deadline Is Saturday — “All registered voters in Virginia are eligible to vote early. The deadline to cast an early ballot in person is Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 5 p.m.” [Office of Voter Registration & Elections]

Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Wife Dead in Murder-Suicide — “Fairfax, 47, shot and killed his wife, 49-year-old Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, before turning the gun on himself inside the family’s home in the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive [in Annandale], the Fairfax County Police Department confirmed.” [FFXnow]

Go to Morning Notes for April 17, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 16, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Thursday 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 16, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Motorcyclist dies in I-495 crash near Telegraph Road: state police (5895 views)
  2. Child struck by vehicle near William Ramsay Elementary School (4251 views)
  3. Morning Notes for April 16, 2026 (2472 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌦️ Friday’s forecast

There is a 30% chance of showers mainly before 11 a.m., followed by mostly sunny skies with a high near 83°F. Winds will come from the northwest at about 7 mph. Overnight, expect mostly clear conditions with a low around 62°F and light, variable winds. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

At Harvard leadership forum, Mayor Gaskins recounts confronting property manager

By James Cullum
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaking at a JFK. Jr. Forum with Mayor Dada Sello Morero of Johannesburg, South Africa, and Executive Mayor Regina Romero of Tucson, Ariz., April 14, 2026 (courtesy of Mayor Alyia Gaskins)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins says her participation in a recent gathering of local leaders around the world at Harvard University was “transformative” and shared a story about confronting a property manager over mold.

From April 12-14, Gaskins was included in the ninth cohort of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, joining leaders from 45 cities and 16 countries to exchange insights on local governance. She now says that the initiative has inspired her to focus more of her efforts on workforce development. Alexandria was also chosen for an “innovation track,” through which city staff will have the opportunity to learn how to better use data and innovation to work with residents and employers to enhance existing workforce strategies and explore new ones.

Go to At Harvard leadership forum, Mayor Gaskins recounts confronting property manager Read more

Child struck by vehicle near William Ramsay Elementary School

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

An 11-year-old boy suffered non-life threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle at an intersection near William Ramsay Elementary School in the West End on Wednesday evening, according to Alexandria Police Department radio dispatches.

The incident occurred just after 6 p.m. in the 5700 block of Sanger Avenue near the intersection with Derby Court. The driver of the vehicle that struck the child stayed at the scene, according to the radio dispatches.

Go to Child struck by vehicle near William Ramsay Elementary School Read more

Braddock Road Metro kiss-and-ride overhaul heads to public hearing next week

By Emily Leayman
Braddock Road Metro station proposal (via WMATA)

The proposed redesign of the kiss-and-ride area at the Braddock Road Metro to accommodate future redevelopment is heading to a public hearing Monday, April 20.

The 21-space kiss-and-ride area at the 3.6-acre Metro-owned site would be replaced with 14 to 18 pickup and drop-off spaces on E. Braddock Road and N. West Street. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority proposes to reconfigure the five-bay bus loop at the existing location, eliminating a recirculation lane and adding a future signal where the bus bay meets E. Braddock Road. The 65 bicycle racks, six double-sided bicycle lockers and an on-site Capital Bikeshare station would remain.

Go to Braddock Road Metro kiss-and-ride overhaul heads to public hearing next week Read more

Motorcyclist dies in I-495 crash near Telegraph Road: state police

By Emily Leayman
Virginia State Police cruiser (staff photo)

A motorcyclist died in a crash on the Capital Beltway yesterday (Wednesday) near Alexandria, according to Virginia State Police.

State troopers responded around 3:52 p.m. to a collision between a 2005 Suzuki motorcycle and pickup truck on eastbound I-495 just west of Telegraph Road (Exit 176). Bystanders attempted to provide aid to the motorcyclist, who was found lying in the roadway by state troopers.

Go to Motorcyclist dies in I-495 crash near Telegraph Road: state police Read more

Morning Notes for April 16, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Cycling at Potomac Yard Park (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On April 16, 1789, George Washington ‘…bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to private life, and to domestic felicity’ on a weeklong journey to his inauguration in New York as the nation’s first President. Along the way, Washington was feted by the people of Alexandria on April 19, with other public celebrations occurring in Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia and Trenton upon his arrival in those cities. He finally reached Manhattan on April 23 and one week later was sworn in as POTUS at Federal Hall on Wall Street, now the site of the New York Stock Exchange.” [Historic Alexandria]

Pilots Admonished for Animal Noises on Air Traffic Control Audio — “The animal sounds heard over an air traffic control frequency were not from a cat loose on the plane, but human pilots making animal noises. The meowing occurred over an air traffic control frequency at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on April 12.” [ABC News]

Go to Morning Notes for April 16, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 15, 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 — Apr 15, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. JUST IN: Death investigation underway at park in Old Town (1620 views)
  2. Tenants sought for affordable units at two apartment complexes in Alexandria (733 views)
  3. Sunday paid parking proposal opposed by majority of Alexandria City Council (585 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 92°F and a light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 69°F. There’s a 30% chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m., with winds shifting from southwest at 6 to 8 mph to west after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”
– H. Jackson Brown Jr.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

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