News

ACPS Student Takes Virtual Learning to Space

By Vernon Miles

Andras Jacobson, a second grade student at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, will get a unique opportunity later this week to take some of his space questions to the experts: an astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station.

Jacobson, a space exploration enthusiast, is scheduled to take part in a discussion with NASA officials on Thursday, Dec. 3, according to ACPS. Jacobson will get to direct his question to astronaut Victor Glover. Jacobson’s mother reported that his question focused on how human muscular systems respond to conditions in space.

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Beyer Blasts Metro Plan to Cut Service and Eliminate Alexandria Stations

By Vernon Miles
King Street metro (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

With Alexandria poised to potentially lose two Metro stations due to funding cuts, Rep. Don Beyer issued a statement blasting the proposed cuts as “apocalyptic” and said Congress should rally to pass a new set of funding.

Proposed cuts include ending service after 9 p.m., ending weekend service, reducing the number of trains, and closing operations at 19 stations. Two of those stations, Eisenhower and Van Dorn Street, are located in Alexandria.

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Alexandria Announces Rolling Expansion of Bikeshare Program to the West End Next Year

By Vernon Miles

The City of Alexandria has announced that the Capital Bikeshare will be headed to the West End ahead of schedule starting early next year.

Bicycle use has increased regionally, to the point where it was difficult at times to get a bicycle in Alexandria. With hopes for a rebound in ridership in the coming spring, Alexandria said seven previously deployed stations still in good condition will be purchased and located in the West End. The purchase will accelerate the expansion of the program by several years, the city said.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

WMATA Considers Closing Two Alexandria Metro Stations — “The 19 stations that could face closure include those that are within one mile of other stations and those that are seeing the lowest usage. In Alexandria, that means the Eisenhower Station and Van Dorn Street station are on the list.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Local Program Supports Artists With Disabilities — “Coletta Collections, an artisan program for people with disabilities, is helping Alexandrians celebrate the holidays safely and sincerely.” [Zebra]

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New Report Recommends Making Voluntary Affordable Housing Contributions Mandatory in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

If you want to build bonus density, office-to-housing conversions, or continuum of care facilities in Alexandria, a new report says you should have to pony up a little extra cash to support affordable housing.

Trading density and other exceptions to zoning code for a contribution to the affordable housing fund has been a longstanding practice in Alexandria and other localities, but the new “Update to the City’s Affordable Housing Contribution Policies and Procedures” being presented at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting includes a recommendation push for that system to be codified.

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Del Ray Christmas Tree Lighting Scheduled This Week

By Vernon Miles
Christmas tree (via Sapan Patel/Unsplash)

Not long after Old Town Alexandria’s official tree lighting, Del Ray is planning to rally virtually for its own annual tree lighting ceremony.

The Del Ray tree lighting a virtual program this year and is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. The program is hosted by Visit Del Ray and will streamed via the Zebra Press website. The family-friendly show is scheduled to include Santa and a performance by the Alexandria Singers.

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Officials Debunk Conservative Study on Registered Alexandria Voters

By James Cullum

Mayor Justin Wilson says that a study by a conservative activist group alleging that 105% of the city’s voting population is registered to vote is “BS”.

Wilson wrote that a Judicial Watch study incorrectly calculated U.S. Census data from the American Community Survey (ACS) when it listed the city’s citizen voting age population at 105%, with 109,889 total registered voters and a total of 104,975 eligible voters. The study was picked up by Republican gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Amanda Chase, who said on social media that there needs to be “absolute integrity in our state electoral system.”

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