News | ALXnow - Part 941

Activists Protest at Alexandria Home of Acting DHS Chief Chad Wolf

Published July 27, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated July 27, 2020 at 1:05PM

Dozens of protestors demonstrated outside the Alexandria home of acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on Sunday, and called for him to end actions against protestors throughout the country by federal agents.

“We live among the people who are wreaking havoc on this country,” one protestor said. “He goes out and commits these atrocities every day. He’s not elected. He’s not Senate confirmed. He is an acting appointee of Donald Trump… We will not be good Germans. We will not be the people who sat by and watched our neighbors commit these atrocities.”

COVID-19 Update: Deaths at 57, Case Count at 2,735 in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 27, 2020 at 10:20AM | Updated July 27, 2020 at 3:29PM

An Alexandria resident in their 50s reportedly died from COVID-19 over the weekend, marking the first death from the virus this month and putting the total death count at 57.

There are now or have been 2,735 cases of the virus in Alexandria, which is an increase of 176 cases since last Monday, July 20, according to the Virginia Department of Health. It had been nearly a month since the last reported fatality on June 29, and cases in the city surpassed the 2,500 mark on July 16 with 21 new cases.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 27, 2020 at 9:00AM

Survey Shows Discontent Among APD Officers — “A survey that the Times acquired from a former Alexandria Police Department officer revealed that several APD officers are unhappy with Police Chief Michael Brown and the culture of the department.” [AlexTimes]

Nearly 1K Families Supported in ALIVE! Food Distribution — “929 households were served at today’s ALIVE! Food Distribution! Thanks to all those from @Volalex, @AlexVASheriff, @AlexandriaVATES who helped in the hot weather today to supply groceries,(meat,eggs,produce and more) masks and hand sanitizer to people in need.” [Twitter]

Virginia Tech Wants Potomac Yard Metro Station to Include ‘VT’ Initials

By James Cullum

Published July 24, 2020 at 4:30PM

Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus could bring a wealth of economic sustainability to Alexandria, and now the school has requested that the future Potomac Yard Metro station include “VT” in its name.

If approved, the name of the station would be “Potomac Yard-VT.”

Resurfacing on West End of King Street to Start Next Week

By Vernon Miles

Published July 24, 2020 at 3:30PM

It’s been a bumpy ride for drivers on the West End traveling along King Street, but that should change after next week.

The City of Alexandria is planning to start resurfacing King Street between S. 28th Street and S. 25th Street, a portion of the street passing Array at West Alex and the busy intersection with S. Walter Reed Drive.

Alexandria Delegate Wants City to Fire Officials or Police Who Espouse QAnon Theories

By Vernon Miles

Published July 24, 2020 at 12:00PM | Updated July 24, 2020 at 1:02PM

Del. Mark Levine (file photo)

Edited 1 p.m. — Alexandria Del. Mark Levine (D) said the City of Alexandria can and should fire any police officers or officials that subscribe to QAnon theories — a fringe movement rooted in theories about pedophilia rings and the Deep State.

In a back and forth exchange on Facebook, Levine said anyone who has information about anyone in law enforcement espousing beliefs related to QAnon — mainly centered around unsubstantiated claims about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, pedophilia, and satanism worshipped at the highest echelons of power — should report it to their department head.

Memorial Walkway Planned to Commemorate 100 Year Anniversary of Parker-Gray High School

By James Cullum

Published July 24, 2020 at 10:25AM | Updated July 24, 2020 at 11:00AM

Alexandria’s Parker-Gray High School might be gone, but a new effort is underway to make sure it isn’t forgotten. To commemorate the 100 year anniversary of city’s former Blacks-only high school, a memorial walkway has been planned to grace the Alexandria African-American Hall of Fame at the former school site — now at Charles Houston Recreation Center.

Supporters can buy bricks that will be placed in the walkway outside Charles Houston to memorialize the students, parents and teachers who attended the school until it closed in 1979. The bricks range in price from $100 to $225 and support the Capital Youth Empowerment Program.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 24, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer Says Unemployment Lapse Inevitable — “We are out of time to extend enhanced unemployment benefits that tens of millions of Americans are depending on. Senate Republicans and the White House still can’t even start negotiating a compromise because they’re arguing with each other. A lapse looks unavoidable now. Ugh.” [Twitter]

COVID-19 Cases Increase by 21 — “The latest update from the City on COVID-19: Positive tests up 21 to 2,639 in the City; 7-day Positivity Rate is 6.7%; 0 new hospitalizations. Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]

BREAKING: Flooding Reported in Parts of City, AFD Responding to Multiple Emergency Calls

By ALXnow.com

Published July 23, 2020 at 8:45PM | Updated July 24, 2020 at 12:10AM

(Updated at 10 p.m.) The Alexandria Fire Department is responding to nearly a dozen calls throughout the city as it remains under a Flash Flood warning until 2:30 a.m.

“Right now we are on 11 different calls for public service for water-related emergencies,” Alexandria Deputy Fire Chief Brian Hricik told ALXnow.”It does not appear that any of them are people trapped in vehicles.”

Arch Campbell and the Future of Movies in Alexandria and Beyond

By James Cullum

Published July 23, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated July 23, 2020 at 5:47PM

The last movie Arch Campbell saw in the theater was Emma, and that was back in March. The last time the eight-time Emmy award-winning movie critic stayed away from a movie theater for so long was at least 60 years ago, Campbell told ALXnow in a recent interview.

With Alexandria’s movie theaters dramatically adjusted to the pandemic, audiences are forced to watch movies and shows on their phones and at home. With the recent shuttering of the Regal Potomac Yard and the AMC Hoffman Center 22 remaining temporarily closed, pickings are slim for Alexandria movie lovers.

Historic Old Town Home and Museum Reopens With Renewed Focus on Racial Injustice

By Vernon Miles

Published July 23, 2020 at 4:45PM

After months closed during the pandemic, the Lee-Fendall House and Garden (614 Oronoco Street) in Alexandria has reopened with new tours planned to focus on women and minorities throughout the home’s history.

The house, built in 1785, is a museum dedicated to covering the history of the families that owned the home and the slaves and servants that worked there over the years. In recent years, that has meant a renewed focus on learning more about the slaves that were forced to work at the house for the Lee family.