News

Morning Notes for October 31, 2025

By ALXnow.com
Halloween on Lee Street in Old Town, Oct. 31, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria: Museum Hiring — “On October 31, 1850, the Alexandria Council passed a resolution requiring trustees of the Alexandria Museum to hire a ‘suitable person for preservation and exhibition.’ The museum was located in City Hall, which was destroyed by fire in 1871. [Historic Alexandria]

Happy Halloween! — “The city does not set an official trick-or-treating time. Residents and motorists should expect kids and families traversing the neighborhoods throughout Friday evening.” [ALXnow]

Go to Morning Notes for October 31, 2025 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Oct 30, 2025

By ALXnow.com
Watching Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger speak at Los Tios in Del Ray, Oct. 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Thursday 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 — Oct 30, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Ken Burns unveils new documentary series ‘The American Revolution’ at Mount Vernon (945 views)
  2. Old Town North developments to be highlighted in annual walking tour (876 views)
  3. Morning Notes for October 30, 2025 (740 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies and a high near 59, accompanied by a breezy west wind blowing at 15 to 20 mph and gusting up to 38 mph. For Friday night, the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 42. The west wind will remain persistent, blowing at 8 to 11 mph and gusting as high as 24 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
– Wayne Gretzky

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Poll: Spanberger holds 10-point lead as Virginia early voting surges past 1 million

By Ryan Belmore
A voting sign at the Alexandria Registrar of Voters, 132 N. Royal Street, in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Democrat Abigail Spanberger holds a 10-point lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, according to a new Roanoke College poll released Thursday, as early voting surges across the commonwealth with just days remaining before Election Day.

The survey shows Spanberger, a former U.S. representative, leading 51% to 41% among likely voters, with just 4% undecided. The poll of 1,041 likely voters, conducted Oct. 22-27, has a margin of error of 4.05 percentage points. Spanberger’s advantage represents a 3-point increase from the college’s August poll, according to the Virginia Mercury.

Go to Poll: Spanberger holds 10-point lead as Virginia early voting surges past 1 million Read more

Spanberger rallies with Latino legislators in Del Ray ahead of Election Day next week

By James Cullum
Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger speaks at Los Tios in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood, Oct. 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger appeared in a “Latinos for Spanberger” rally today (Thursday) in Alexandria.

Spanberger spoke at a packed event at Los Tios (2615 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray, flanked by Latino legislators Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Del. Alfonso Lopez D-Virginia House District 3), and City Council Member Canek Aguirre. Spanberger has a 10-digit lead against her opponent, Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, according to a recent Roanoke College poll.

Go to Spanberger rallies with Latino legislators in Del Ray ahead of Election Day next week Read more

Ken Burns unveils new documentary series ‘The American Revolution’ at Mount Vernon

By James Cullum
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns talks about his documentary 'The American Revolution' at Mount Vernon, Oct. 29, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Emmy and Grammy Award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns unveiled his latest documentary series, “The American Revolution,” at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate on Wednesday.

The filmmaker spoke in a panel discussion before sharing an outdoor preview of the new six-part series, which features George Washington and his pivotal role in winning the Revolutionary War. Episodes will air on PBS at 8 p.m. nightly from November 16 to 21.

Go to Ken Burns unveils new documentary series ‘The American Revolution’ at Mount Vernon Read more

Old Town North developments to be highlighted in annual walking tour

By James Cullum
Plans for Robinson Terminal North (via City of Alexandria)

An annual walking tour with Old Town North’s Urban Design Advisory Committee this month will highlight several new developments in the area.

During the walk on Wednesday, Nov. 12, city staff will provide participants with information on the mixed-use development project at Robinson Terminal North, redevelopment of the Montgomery Center and the Ladrey Apartments, among other developments.

Go to Old Town North developments to be highlighted in annual walking tour Read more

Morning Notes for October 30, 2025

By Ryan Belmore
Rendering of DASH electric bus charging station at 3000 Business Center Drive (via DASH)

On This Day in Alexandria: Leon Day, Negro League Star, Born in Alexandria — On Oct. 30, 1916, Leon Day, a star baseball player in the Negro League, was born in Alexandria, where his father Ellis worked in a glass factory. Day was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on March 7, 1995, and died six days later. [Historic Alexandria]

City Council Supports Expanding Parking Enforcement Pilot Program — Alexandria City Council unanimously expressed support Tuesday night for expanding the city’s parking enforcement pilot program after data showed substantial improvements in citation rates, response times, and revenue collection since contractors began supplementing city staff in December 2023. [ALXnow]

Go to Morning Notes for October 30, 2025 Read more

AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Virginia on Election Day

By The Associated Press
Campaign signs for Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Democratic challenger Jay Jones appear outside the elections office for the City of Fairfax, Va., Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert Yoon)

By ROBERT YOON Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Virginia will elect its first woman as governor Tuesday as Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger look to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Voters will also decide races for lieutenant governor, attorney general and the state House of Delegates.

Go to AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Virginia on Election Day Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Oct 29, 2025

By ALXnow.com

Good Wednesday 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 — Oct 29, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria braces for SNAP transition as state announces emergency food program (592 views)
  2. Morning Notes for October 29, 2025 (440 views)
  3. Alexandria City Council approves $513,000 for paratransit program after staff presents cost-saving measures (396 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌧️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect rain and a potential thunderstorm before 1pm, followed by possible showers between 1pm and 2pm, with a high of 66 degrees. Southeast winds of 13-15 mph will turn south in the afternoon, with gusts up to 24 mph. There is a 90% chance of precipitation, with half to three-quarters of an inch of rainfall possible. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with a low of 47 degrees and west winds of 9-11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”
– Dalai Lama

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Alexandria City Council unanimously backs expansion of parking enforcement pilot

By Ryan Belmore
A parking meter in Old Town Alexandria on King Street

Alexandria City Council unanimously expressed support Tuesday night for expanding the city’s parking enforcement pilot program after data showed substantial improvements in citation rates, response times, and revenue collection since contractors began supplementing city staff in December 2023.

The pilot program, which deployed contractors to enforce parking along King Street and adjacent blocks in Old Town, has increased monthly citywide citations by 61%, from approximately 5,000 to nearly 8,000, according to a presentation by Deputy City Manager Yon Lambert at the Oct. 28 council meeting.

Go to Alexandria City Council unanimously backs expansion of parking enforcement pilot Read more

Alexandria to host open house on N. Columbus Street sewer project

By James Cullum
The 600 block of N. Columbus Street (via Google Maps)

Alexandria is hosting a pre-construction open house for the upcoming N. Columbus Street sanitary sewer project in Old Town West.

Construction on the $1 million project is expected to begin in December at the 600 block of N. Columbus Street and last until November 2026. City plans entail disconnecting the area’s sewer line from the combined sewer and connecting to a separated sewer line.

Go to Alexandria to host open house on N. Columbus Street sewer project Read more
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