News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Feb 9, 2026

By ALXnow.com

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 — Feb 9, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Buddhist monks share message of peace in Old Town during 2,300-mile pilgrimage (1426 views)
  2. New ‘Dive Bar’ theme coming to Del Ray’s Pop-Up Bar later this month (1345 views)
  3. Measles exposures reported at Reagan National Airport and on Yellow Line train (1101 views)
  4. Alexandria City School Board member suggests adding snow days after winter storm (1046 views)
  5. Mayor Gaskins gives endorsement to City Council candidate Roberto Gomez at kickoff event (588 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌤️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect partly sunny skies today, a high near 48, and a south wind at 3-7 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 35. The south wind will increase to 7-9 mph before turning northwest after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.”
– Walt Whitman

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Buddhist monks share message of peace in Old Town during 2,300-mile pilgrimage

By James Cullum and Katie Taranto
Lead monk Bhikkhu Pannakara talks to hundreds of people outside Christ Church in Old Town, on the final stretch of a 2,300-mile peace march, Feb. 9, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Hundreds gathered to see the group of Buddhist monks on a 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace” as they passed through Alexandria today (Monday).

Joined onstage by city officials, the group’s leader, the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, gave an address outside Christ Church, touching on themes of mindfulness and reflection in today’s heavily digital — and often divided — world.

Go to Buddhist monks share message of peace in Old Town during 2,300-mile pilgrimage Read more

Summer camp registration in Alexandria begins next week

By Katie Taranto
Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Registration starts next week for more than 50 summer camps and programs hosted by Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities.

This year’s camp offerings range from sports programs to culinary education, crafting, performing arts and academics. City residents can begin to register for summer 2026 programs at 9 a.m. next Wednesday, Feb. 18, with non-resident registration opening two days later.

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Ballots in Tuesday’s special election include races for State Senate, House of Delegates

By James Cullum
Casting a ballot at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center precinct on election day, Nov. 7, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Election Day is just around the corner in Alexandria. Here’s what to know about Tuesday’s special elections for State Senate and the House of Delegates.

Ballots tomorrow will include races for Virginia’s 39th District in the State Senate and 5th District in the House of Delegates. The following candidates are running.

Go to Ballots in Tuesday’s special election include races for State Senate, House of Delegates Read more

Mayor Gaskins gives endorsement to City Council candidate Roberto Gomez at kickoff event

By James Cullum
Mayor Alyia Gaskins greets City Council candidate Roberto Gomez on stage during a campaign kickoff event (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Mayor Alyia Gaksins endorsed Alexandria City Council candidate Roberto Gomez at his campaign kickoff in Landmark yesterday (Sunday).

About 50 people attended the event, which was the third Democratic campaign kickoff so far in the Feb. 21 firehouse primary. Five Democratic candidates are competing for the seat left by outgoing City Councilman R. Kirk McPike, whose resignation goes into effect today as he runs for Virginia’s 5th House District in tomorrow’s special election.

Go to Mayor Gaskins gives endorsement to City Council candidate Roberto Gomez at kickoff event Read more

Measles exposures reported at Reagan National Airport and on Yellow Line train

By Katie Taranto
Departure board at Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

New potential measles exposures in Northern Virginia were confirmed last week, following several cases in the region so far this year.

A preschool-age child and an out-of-state resident with measles recently traveled in Reagan National Airport and a Yellow Line Metro train, in addition to visiting a medical facility in Haymarket. Dates, times and exact locations of the potential exposure sites are listed below, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

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Alexandria City School Board member suggests adding snow days after winter storm

By Emily Leayman
Cora Kelly Elementary School, 3600 Commonwealth Avenue, on Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria City School Board member has proposed starting discussions to bring back traditional snow days, after school buildings were closed for more than a week in the aftermath of last month’s winter storm.

Board member Ryan Reyna called for a discussion on potentially building snow days back into the calendar and examining flexibility of winter break start and end dates for the 2028-2029 calendar during the School Board’s Feb. 5 meeting.

Go to Alexandria City School Board member suggests adding snow days after winter storm Read more

Morning Notes for February 9, 2026

By ALXnow.com
The Alexandria Lyceum (staff photo by Airey)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On February 9, 1862, Rev. K.J. Stewart of St. Paul’s Church was arrested by Union troops for omitting a prayer for President Abraham Lincoln during services. Within a couple months, St. Paul’s was converted into use as a Union hospital.” [Historic Alexandria]

Walk for Peace Happening Today — “The Walk for Peace is expected to enter Alexandria on the morning of Monday, Feb. 9 and will proceed northbound along George Washington Parkway. Intermittent lane closures along George Washington Parkway is expected, and traffic will be impacted. Expect delays, alter travel plans, and have an alternate route planned. This information is subject to change.” [APD]

Go to Morning Notes for February 9, 2026 Read more

Buddhist monks on 2,300-mile ‘Walk for Peace’ will pass through Old Town on Monday

By Katie Taranto and The Associated Press
Buddhist monks who are participating in the, "Walk For Peace," are seen with their dog, Aloka, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Saluda, S.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Alexandria will recognize a group of Buddhist monks on a 2,300-mile journey to D.C. on Monday as they near the end of their months-long “Walk for Peace.”

The group of monks, who began their pilgrimage on Oct. 26, 2025, at a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Texas, are expected to pass through Old Town on Monday and interact with passersby at Christ Church (118 N. Washington Street) around noon.

Go to Buddhist monks on 2,300-mile ‘Walk for Peace’ will pass through Old Town on Monday Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Feb 6, 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 — Feb 6, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. JUST IN: Hundreds of ACHS students stage walkout against ICE (1075 views)
  2. High Wind Warning issued for Alexandria on Saturday (651 views)
  3. Old Town protestors rally against Citizens Bank for dealings with ICE detention center contractor (595 views)
  4. Morning Notes for February 6, 2026 (588 views)

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

  1. CVS Pharmacy shutters in Potomac Yard, leaving a dozen remaining Alexandria locations (14972 views)
  2. King Arthur Baking Company plans new store and baking school in Old Town (9867 views)
  3. Alexandria man found guilty of felony animal abuse in dog death at Del Ray boarding facility (5605 views)
  4. Cafe in Del Ray makes Eater DC list of ’16 Best Coffee Shops Around D.C.’ (3552 views)
  5. Annual ‘Raclette Fest’ returns this month, celebrating melted tableside cheese in Del Ray (2242 views)
  6. Alexandria sidewalk enforcement resumes Tuesday, requiring snow removal within 72 hours (2204 views)
  7. ACPS will continue virtual learning Monday as crews remove ‘snowcrete’ at facilities (1989 views)
  8. Alexandria Health Department advises of potential exposures from another N. Va. measles case (1887 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies and a high temperature of 18 degrees, but wind chills could plunge as low as -8 due to strong northwest winds of 25 to 29 mph, and gusts reaching up to 60 mph. For Saturday night, the skies will be mostly clear with a low near 10, while wind chills could drop to -6. The blustery conditions continue with the northwest wind blowing at 15 to 24 mph, and gusts peaking at 43 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

JUST IN: Hundreds of ACHS students stage walkout against ICE

By James Cullum
Students participating in a walkout Feb. 6, 2026 (courtesy Rosemary Pereira-Kyle)

Around 250 to 300 students walked out of both campuses of Alexandria City High School today (Friday) to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The student-led walkout lasted from around 2:15 to 2:45 p.m., according to ACPS. The event happened less than a month after hundreds of people gathered at Four Mile Run Park Plaza to protest ICE, after an officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

Go to JUST IN: Hundreds of ACHS students stage walkout against ICE Read more
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