A 39-year-old Alexandria man skipped his court date this week after being charged with brandishing a firearm against his mother.
Linwood Gunter did not show up for court on Tuesday (Feb. 22), and his case is pending. He was arrested on the date of the incident, Feb. 8, and released on $1,000 bond the next day after receiving the brandishing charge.
Police identify Alexandria man killed trying to cross road in Fairfax County — “An Alexandria man has been identified as the pedestrian killed Saturday when he was struck by a car in the Lorton area near the former Lorton prison.” [Washington Post]
Alexandria first responders win historic vote; first VA public employees granted bargaining rights in four decades — “In a historic landslide victory, IAFF Local 2141 – the union representing firefighters, fire marshals and medics in Alexandria – has won an election to represent workers at the collective bargaining negotiating table.” [Zebra]
Update at 9 a.m. — Alexandria police said Duke Street has reopened in both directions of travel.
Rescue personnel are on scene of a multi-vehicle crash that sent at least three to trauma centers with serious injuries.
The rapid decline in Covid cases continues in Alexandria, but the transmission level remains high, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
There were 14 were cases of COVID-19 reported in the city today, according to VDH. That’s the lowest number of new daily cases since November 29, 2021, when 13 cases were reported.
A juvenile was arrested in connection to a report of shots fired in the West End on Sunday afternoon, according to the Alexandria Police Department.
The cherry blossoms are an annual regional highlight, and Visit Alexandria has announced a suite of new and returning events around the city to experience the season.
Guidance on exploring during cherry blossom season was a little more tepid last year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, but such concerns were notably absent from the this year’s announcement and downward-trending case counts.
Alexandria residents and workers are planning to rally at a City Council meeting tonight (Tuesday) to try and push the city to demand developers of the former GenOn power plant to go beyond current affordability plans.
In a release, local union and tenant organizations said the city should require commitments to higher-wage jobs and more housing.
The George Washington Birthday Parade returned to Alexandria on Monday after a two year hiatus. The streets of Old Town were lined with celebration for Washington’s 290th birthday.
Alexandria’s health care workers and first responders marched as parade grand marshals. The parade, which started at Gibbon and Fairfax Streets and snaked around City Hall, was attended by thousands. The event is the largest of its kind in the world honoring the founding father and first president.
Alexandria teen shot to death in D.C. — “According to a news release from D.C. police, officers responded to reports of a shooting in the unit block of Chesapeake Street in Southeast D.C. around 8:09 p.m., where they located Francis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a parked car.” [Alex Times]
Alexandria Schools start ‘Test to Stay’ program — “The new program will allow some students to return to school following five days of quarantine under a variety of conditions.” [Alexandria Living]
Some of the biggest stories this week in Alexandria concerned the question: how quickly should governments move regulations to pre-pandemic levels, if at all?
The biggest example this week was Gov. Glenn Youngkin signing a bill ending mask mandates in schools. Like with Youngkin’s opposition to the grocery tax, it’s not a fully partisan issue, with three Democrats in the state senate backing the plan. The bill is effective immediately, but schools have until March 1 to comply. Alexandria’s School Board has already scheduled a meeting to discuss compliance with the new rule.
(Updated 3 p.m.) Alexandria’s been a little more laisse faire about zoning restrictions in some ways for local businesses since the pandemic started, and a new amendment put forward by city staff could see that extend until the end of June.
Not long into the pandemic, the city approved a temporary relaxation of handful of ordinances to help make life a little easier for local businesses going through the worst throes of the pandemic’s economic impact.
