News | ALXnow - Part 832

City and Environmental Activists Get Into the Mud on Taylor Run Restoration Debate

Published March 8, 2021 at 2:30PM | Updated March 9, 2021 at 9:27AM

(Updated 3/9/21) Under growing pressure from local environmental activists like the Environmental Council of Alexandria to halt the planned Taylor Run Stream Restoration, city staff have fired back with a 10-page response to criticisms of the project.

Opponents say the city is overstating the level of pollution in the creek and the proposed overhaul of the stream bed would damage the health of the watershed by removing foliage, though the city says many of the trees being removed are dead and that more will be replanted.

Alexandria Police Arrest Seven People and Seize Drugs, Guns and Cash

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2021 at 1:30PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police arrested seven people and seized $158,000 in cash, guns and drugs last week, as part of an ongoing investigation that resulted in eight search warrants being executed in the region.

Police would not reveal the identities of the suspects arrested or any further details, and only listed what was seized in a Friday press release. Seized items included:

BREAKING: King Street Closed Around Train Station for Suspicious Package

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2021 at 11:40AM | Updated March 8, 2021 at 12:06PM

(Updated at 11:50 a.m.) Alexandria Police have reopened the area of King Street between Callahan Drive and Daingerfield Road after investigating a report of a suspicious package.

Police closed the area near the King St-Old Town Metro Station and the city’s Union Station after a report earlier of a suspicious package around 11:35 a.m.

Tobacco and Vape King Shop Robbed Saturday Night

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2021 at 11:30AM

Alexandria Police are investigating a robbery that occurred at the Tobacco and Vape King store at 408 E. Glebe Road was robbed on Saturday night.

Police said a suspect walked into the shop on Saturday night and demanded money. The suspect, who fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash, did not present a weapon or imply that he had a weapon, according to police.

Seven More COVID-19 Deaths, City Wants 80% Over Age of 16 Vaccinated by July 31

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2021 at 10:30AM

There have been seven more coronavirus-related deaths in Alexandria, bringing the death toll from the virus to 126.

Alexandria’s caseload now stands at 10,456. That’s 114 more cases since this time last week, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2021 at 9:00AM

Northam Remarks on a Year of Coronavirus — “For far too many people, life will never be the same again. It has been a hard year, but I have been encouraged by the strength of Virginians in every corner of our Commonwealth.” [Patch]

Beyer Remarks on a Year of Coronavirus — “A year ago today Virginia’s first case of coronavirus was confirmed at Ft. Belvoir in Fairfax County. I remember it like it was yesterday, a frightening time. We’ve lost so many people since then, as the country endured misery and hardship. But we are going to beat this virus.” [Twitter]

ALXnow’s Top Stories This Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 5, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated March 6, 2021 at 10:32PM

Danielle Romanetti (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) (photo via Peter Velz/Twitter)

What a busy week in Alexandria.

Our top story this week was on Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Old Town shop fibre space on March 3. It was Harris’ first official visit outside of the White House since she was inaugurated, and she spoke about the American Rescue Plan with shop owner Danielle Romanetti.

Battle Royale: Princess Street Development Duel Returns to City This Month

By Vernon Miles

Published March 5, 2021 at 2:45PM

Move over Meghan Markle, there’s a Princess scandal in town.

The long back-and-forth saga over a new trio of new homes is scheduled to continue later this month when the applicant returns to the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, March 17.

City Council and School Board Budget Talk Gets Territorial Over School Resource Officers

By James Cullum

Published March 5, 2021 at 1:15PM | Updated March 5, 2021 at 1:59PM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

A conversation over School Resource Officers (SROs) in Alexandria City Public Schools got heated on Wednesday night, as School Board members asked City Council to respect their decision renewing the bi-annual memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the police department.

City Councilman Canek Aguirre brought up the subject at Wednesday’s joint budget meeting with the School Board.

Mayor on COVID: We’re in a Good Spot, Keep It Up

By Vernon Miles

Published March 5, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated March 5, 2021 at 11:49AM

Ladrey resident received his second vaccine shot on Saturday, February 20, at a vaccination POD (point of dispensing) event at the high-rise’s community room. (Photo via ARHA)

Post-holidays, Mayor Justin Wilson said in a town hall last night that Alexandrians have done a good job adhering to COVID restrictions and it’s shown in slowly declining deaths and hospitalizations.

On paper, Alexandria has seen its death toll increase over the last week to a total of 123 deaths, but the Alexandria Health Department and Wilson noted that this was due to figures from the holidays being adjusted to include additional deaths believed to be caused by COVID-19.

Alexandria Drive-In Donates $20K to Scholarship Fund

By James Cullum

Published March 5, 2021 at 10:30AM

All proceeds from the Alexandria Drive-In go to charity, and on Thursday (March 4) the nonprofit cut a check for $20,700 to the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.

“I have never been more inspired with this community coming together as we did with the Alexandria Drive-In,” said Alexandria Drive-In founder Kelly Grant, who is a partner at Alx Community. “Its impact will have a ripple effect on our community for years to come; this check of over $20,000 is just the start. We are proud to help so many young students receive college scholarships and be able to reach their full potential.”