News | ALXnow - Part 785

Alexandria City Council to consider reallocation of School Resource Officer funding

Published June 22, 2021 at 9:35AM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council tonight will consider the official reallocation of nearly $800,000 in funding previously meant for the School Resource Officer program.

Council voted 4-3 in May to move the SRO funding to add mental health resources to ACPS, support staff to the Teen Wellness Center, hire an additional Behavioral Health Specialist to the Alexandria Crisis Intervention CoResponding Program Pilot. The SROs stationed inside T.C. Williams High School, Francis Hammond Middle School and George Washington Middle School have been reassigned to patrol.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2021 at 5:00AM

Alexandria City Hall was lit up for the weekend of Juneteenth 2021. (photo via Carol Jean Stalun Photography for Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria’s Noah Lyles tweets that upcoming 200 meter Olympic trial will be ‘disgusting’ — “For everyone who is worrying about my mental don’t worry I’m good. I gave my all and am healthy. Of corse I wanted to make the 100 but it wasn’t meant to be this year. But I will tell you this 200 will be disgusting.” [Twitter]

City Council approves outdoor dining area for Chadwicks — “Yesterday council approved our new outdoor dining area. Now we’ve just got to build it. We’ll see you later this summer for drinks on our new balcony.” [Facebook]

Alexandria under Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10 p.m.

By James Cullum

Published June 21, 2021 at 6:15PM

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Alexandria and the surrounding area that will be in effect until 10 p.m.

Isolated instances of flooding are possible, according to NWS.

City Council emphasizes marketing funding for Alexandria’s ‘Hot Girl Summer’

By Vernon Miles

Published June 21, 2021 at 4:15PM

City Council member John Chapman has the distinction, marked in the record, of being the first on the dais to use the phrase “hot girl summer” — and in the most unlikely of contexts.

Chapman’s millennial moment came through at the end of hours of public discussion on where the American Rescue Plan Act funding is going. No decision was reached at the City Council meeting this weekend — and final passage is scheduled for Tuesday, July 6 — but the City Council did indicate interest in emphasizing the city’s tourism and overall marketing in the funding package.

JUST IN: Thieves break into more than 60 vehicles in West End

By James Cullum

Published June 21, 2021 at 1:50PM

Alexandria Police are investigating thefts from more than 60 vehicles that were made between June 14 and 15 in the West End.

The thefts from 11 areas occurred in the overnight hours, and the suspects broke car windows, and stole wallets, keys, money, and other personal items.

T.C. Williams High School track stars win big at state championships

By James Cullum

Published June 21, 2021 at 1:00PM

For the second year in a row, T.C. Williams track and field stars Wisdom Williams has taken home the state championship in the shot put.

The Virginia High School League’s State Championships were held at Todd Stadium in Hampton, Virginia, on Saturday.

Alexandria songwriter Mia Humphrey wants to take you on an emotional journey

By James Cullum

Published June 21, 2021 at 10:45AM | Updated June 21, 2021 at 2:05PM

It wasn’t easy having a famous sister, and that’s why Mia Humphrey chose art over science.

The T.C. Williams High School graduate spent years pouring her soul into her red composition notebooks, and last fall released her first album “Project Red Notebook“. Put together, the songs read like a diary.

Council to transfer ownership of neighboring Douglas MacArthur Elementary School properties to City

By James Cullum

Published June 21, 2021 at 9:45AM | Updated June 22, 2021 at 3:15PM

The Alexandria City Council on Tuesday (June 22) will consider accepting the transfer of ownership of two residential properties that were acquired as part of the Douglas MacArthur Elementary School modernization project.

The two residential parcels on the western portion of the property are located at 1201 and 1203 Janney’s Lane. The parcels, which were approved by the School Board on June 3, include a single family home and an undeveloped parcel that add together to give Alexandria City Public Schools an additional 24,661 square feet of wiggle room.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 21, 2021 at 5:00AM

220-year-old garden wall at Lee-Fendall House collapses — “About 69 tons of 220-year-old bricks are lying in a pile behind the Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden after the property’s thick, historic garden wall collapsed following a torrential downpour earlier this month. This weekend, volunteers carefully moved bricks to make space for a temporary, protective wall around the rubble — and launched a fundraising campaign for the $125,000 or more it will take to rebuild the historic structure.” [Alexandria Living]

Retiring police chief to be recognized by City Council Tuesday — Retiring Police Chief Michael Brown will be recognized Tuesday by City Council, and the city proclamation says that Brown has “dutifully served for four-and one-half years.” [ALXnow]

Alexandria woman dies after veering off road on Interstate 95

By James Cullum

Published June 19, 2021 at 2:00PM | Updated June 23, 2021 at 3:12PM

An Alexandria woman died at the scene of a crash Friday, after veering her Dodge Ram off Interstate 95 in Hanover County and into a Volvo being repaired by its owner on the shoulder of the road. (Courtesy VSP)

A 54-year-old Alexandria woman died at the scene of a crash Friday, after veering her Dodge Ram off Interstate 95 in Hanover County and into a Volvo being repaired by its owner on the shoulder of the road. (Courtesy VSP)

“Candace S. Fields-Rogers, 54, of Alexandria, Va., was driving the Ram,” Virginia State Police reported. “She was wearing a seatbelt. She succumbed to her injuries onscene.”

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 18, 2021 at 3:30PM

It was a surprising week in Alexandria.

Our top story by far was on the venomous rattlesnake found in Old Town on Sunday. The timber snake, which also goes by the name American Viper, was discovered in the 400 block of Gibbon Street — a few blocks from the waterfront. It didn’t bite anyone, and was apprehended by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Animal Services team and later moved to a wildlife facility in Northern Virginia.