News | ALXnow - Part 843

Alexandria Sheriff: Jailed ‘QAnon Shaman’s’ Organic Food Request is Normal

Published February 9, 2021 at 4:30PM | Updated February 10, 2021 at 3:55PM

“Since he has been placed here, I have received numerous inquiries from people wanting further explanation,” Lawhorne told ALXnow. “We are used to addressing special diets. We also deal with hunger and hydration strikes every day. We got asked by the U.S. Marshal’s if our food vendor Aramark could comply with the court order, and we said yes.”

The 33-year-old Chansley gained notoriety for his outlandish outfit during the Jan. 6 siege at the U.S. Capitol. He is one of 43 people charged with interference with law enforcement, weapons crimes, threats or property crimes but not conspiracy or assault. He went on a hunger strike while in custody in Arizona, and reportedly lost 20 pounds before his transfer to a facility in D.C. Earlier this month, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that he be fed organic food.

Just In: Police Reveal Suspect Photos After Car Stolen From Old Town Gas Station

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2021 at 3:15PM | Updated February 10, 2021 at 3:57PM

Alexandria Police released photos of two suspects they say stole an SUV from a city resident while she was pumping gas at the Liberty gas station in Old Town on Sunday afternoon.

Police said that security cameras caught the suspects stealing the white 2017 Lexus GS400 from local business owner Allison Priebe on Sunday at around 1 p.m. at the gas station at 700 S. Patrick Street.

Mark Center Office Building Sold for $71.7 Million

By Vernon Miles

Published February 9, 2021 at 2:30PM | Updated February 11, 2021 at 12:11PM

(Updated 2/11) One of the prominent office buildings in the Mark Center, 2001 N. Beauregard, has been sold for $71.7 million to a Mexican real estate investment firm..

The Mark Center is a West End office park that served as a hub for Department of Defense offices before 2005 Base Realignment and Closure forced many of those offices to relocate to more secure facilities.

Sarah Bagley Files Paperwork to Run for City Council

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2021 at 1:30PM | Updated February 9, 2021 at 2:52PM

Community activist and attorney Sarah Bagley just filed paperwork to run for City Council.

Bagley, who launched a campaign Facebook page and website, filed her paperwork to run in the June 8 Democratic primary with the city’s registrar on Feb. 5.

City Council Receiving Torpedo Factory ‘Action Plan’ Tonight

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2021 at 11:45AM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria city staff are proposing that the Torpedo Factory Art Center undergo a transformation. The city, which took over the waterfront attraction in 2016, is looking at a new jurying process for artists, installing pop-up shops and restaurants, a renovated first floor with family-friendly “make-it spaces” and more educational experiences.

The “Action Plan for Vibrancy & Sustainability at Torpedo Factory Art Center” is the culmination of multiple city reports on how to improve the facility, which traditionally sees more than a half a million visitors annually. Staff say that 24- month short-term and five-year long-term plans have been developed to take care of immediate and long-term needs.

Mayor: Brace Yourselves, It Could be End of Summer Before City Moves into Next Vaccine Phase

By Vernon Miles

Published February 9, 2021 at 10:30AM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said in a recent virtual town hall that Alexandrians should prepare for the fact that it could be several months before the city moves out of phase 1B.

The problem: there just aren’t enough vaccines.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2021 at 9:00AM

City Wants Feedback on Paving Schedule — “The City will be paving: *Braddock Road (from King Street to Russell Road) *Montrose Avenue (from East Raymond Avenue to Richmond Highway) *Richenbacher Avenue (from North Van Dorn Street to North Pickett Street) …and we would like your feedback!” [Twitter]

Collective Bargaining Ordinance Proposed In Alexandria — “Collective bargaining had existed in 19 Virginia localities, including Alexandria, until a 1977 Virginia Supreme Court ruling stopped local governments from collective bargaining with their employees. On May 1, 2021, A Virginia law will take effect allowing counties, cities and towns to adopt ordinances to recognize labor unions or employee associations as a bargaining unit and enter into collective bargaining.” [Patch]

Superintendent: Sports Start Again at ACPS Next Week

By Vernon Miles

Published February 8, 2021 at 4:30PM

Fall sports are back at ACPS starting next week.

Superintendent Gregory Hutchings made the announcement official at a School Board meeting last Thursday, but said that students and parents shouldn’t expect it to look like it used to.

Local Business Owner Robbed of Car While Pumping Gas at Old Town Gas Station

By James Cullum

Published February 8, 2021 at 3:30PM

Police car lights (file photo)

Allison Priebe was pumping gas at the Liberty gas station at 700 S. Patrick Street in Old Town on Sunday afternoon when somebody drove off in her car.

Hundreds of people have since reached out to Priebe, who owns Queen Bee Designs in Old Town, after she posted about the incident on Facebook.

City Councilman’s Virtual Super Bowl Party Ambushed by Racists and Nazi Trolls

By Vernon Miles

Published February 8, 2021 at 2:30PM

What was meant to be a fun, wholesome Super Bowl watch-party with City Councilman John Chapman this weekend was briefly derailed as the meeting was stormed by newcomers with Nazi profile pictures spouting racist slurs.

The meeting was hosted as part of Chapman’s reelection campaign. The event was open to the public and had fairly lax restrictions on who could speak.

ACPS Releases Semifinalist Names for T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School Renaming

By James Cullum

Published February 8, 2021 at 1:15PM

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Congressman John Lewis and 1972 Titan Petey Jones are just a few names that have made the latest cut in the rename process for T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School.

The semifinalist names for the schools have been selected, and ACPS has launched another set of polls to further slim down the selection. The polls close on Feb. 19 and the top three names from each poll will be presented to the School Board for final consideration on March 4. There will be a public hearing on March 18, and then the Board will vote on the names on April 8.