On This Day in Alexandria History — “On Dec. 16, 1766, George Washington was elected a Trustee of the Town of Alexandria. At the time, Washington was a young man of 34 years, but double the age he was when he first help lay out the plan for the city in 1749. Married and owner of the Mount Vernon estate by 1766, Washington was an established and socially prominent planter in Fairfax County, and on paper one of Virginia’s wealthiest citizens. But recognizing the importance of diversification, that year he started switching Mount Vernon’s main cash crop away from the exportation of tobacco to Britain to the production of wheat and other grain crops that could be grown, milled and sold within the American colonies.” [Historic Alexandria]

Fatal Monday Crash Near ALX Under Investigation — “One person has died and three other people were injured this morning (Monday) in a crash involving a taxi, a Metrobus and a van on Richmond Highway in Groveton. Police received multiple calls reporting a crash in the 6300 block of Richmond Highway shortly after 10 a.m., Fairfax County Police Department Capt. Jesse Katzman said in a media update around 1 p.m.” [FFXnow]


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 — Dec 15, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. New Old Town affordable housing building and 640-unit Potomac Yard project receive approval (526 views)
  2. Morning Notes for December 15, 2025 (420 views)
  3. Free Lyft rides available in Alexandria beginning Friday through New Year’s Day (413 views)
  4. Alexandria launches updated Alex311 customer service portal, app (313 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 37 degrees, accompanied by light and variable winds. The night will be mostly clear, with lows around 28 degrees, and a south wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!


A proposal to create a new City Council/School Board subcommittee focused on Alexandria City Public Schools’ capacity challenges has won the support of a local advocacy group.

Save Jefferson-Houston (Save JH), which opposes the Alexandria City School Board’s plans to convert two K-8 schools into a middle school and elementary school, has voiced support for the proposal, which was offered by ACSB members Ryan Reyna and Kelly Carmichael Booz during a Capital Improvement Program work session last week.


Two proposed housing developments in the city of Alexandria are officially allowed to move forward after receiving City Council’s approval during its Saturday meeting.

A 640-unit, multi-building project in southern Potomac Yard and a 145-unit affordable housing redevelopment in Old Town each received unanimous approval for development special use permits (DSUPs) after advancing through the Planning Commission earlier this month.


Free Lyft rides are returning to Alexandria and the D.C. area starting this Friday and lasting through New Year’s Day.

Lyft rides totaling up to $15 will be available free of charge from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. nightly through Thursday, Jan. 1. The rides are courtesy of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s SoberRide initiative, which aims to combat drunk driving.


There’s something different, a little more polished, about the morning announcements at Alexandria City High School these days.

Students and Alexandria City Public Schools leadership were on-hand last Friday for the opening of the newly renovated television studio for ACHS’ TV and Media Production class. With top notch equipment to boot, the new studio looks like something out of CNN, offering students real-world experience in television production, including directing, operating cameras and creating educational content.


Alex311, the city of Alexandria’s customer service program, has a new look.

The program announced the launch of its new portal today (Monday), with the latest version of its mobile app debuting next Monday, Dec. 22. The updates promise easy access and quicker navigation.


The city of Alexandria is hoping to update its environmental standards for new developments, with a proposal slated for review by the Planning Commission and City Council next month.

Released last week, the proposed Green Building Plan establishes new criteria for private and public developments in aspects like renewable energy usage and wastewater infrastructure. It serves as an update to the city’s 2019 Green Building Chapter, which currently “relies heavily on prescriptive third-party sustainability certifications with specific ‘performance points’ identified for each certification option,” according to the city.


Menorah Lighting in Old Town Tonight — A 6-foot menorah lighting and Hanukkah festival will include latkes, hot chocolate, doughnuts, live music and more. The celebration is put on by Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington and starts at 6 p.m. at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street. [Eventbrite]

APD Shares Hanukkah Message — “As members of our community begin the Festival of Lights, we extend our warmest wishes for peace, resilience, and hope. We recognize that celebrations may feel different during times of uncertainty and violence around the world. Please know that the safety and well-being of our community remain our priority. Your Alexandria Police Department is committed to ensuring everyone can observe their holiday traditions safely and without fear. If you see or experience anything concerning, please report it. We are here for you. Chag Sameach.” [Alexandria Police Department]


Alexandria woke up to a light blanket of snow this Sunday morning, prompting road treatments and some event cancelations in the city.

The National Weather Service reported one inch of snow in Alexandria this morning, as farmers’ markets in the West End and Old Town North were canceled due to the weather. Alexandria City Public Schools also canceled all school-sponsored activities scheduled before noon on school grounds.


The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a fatal crash at King Street and S. Taylor Street that took the life of a man this morning (Saturday).

Around 8 a.m., APD shut down a portion of King Street between Menokin Drive and N. Quaker Lane to respond to the two-vehicle crash. Two men were injured and transported to a hospital, where one of them later died.


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