Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins will join ALXnow for her live one-on-one monthly virtual video conversation on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m.

Our “Ask The Mayor” series provides Alexandria residents with regular opportunities to hear directly from Mayor Gaskins on pressing city issues and to submit their questions for consideration (submit your questions below).


U.S. Rep. Don Beyer introduced legislation Friday that would allow federal employees to withdraw up to $30,000 from their retirement accounts without penalties during the ongoing government shutdown, offering potential relief to thousands of Northern Virginia workers facing missed paychecks.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act would waive the 10% early withdrawal penalty that federal workers under age 59 currently face when making hardship withdrawals from their Thrift Savings Plan accounts. The bill would also allow employees to restore withdrawn funds to their retirement savings later.


Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood was packed with art lovers for the 30th annual Art on the Avenue festival in Del Ray on Saturday (Oct. 4).

Hundreds of juried artists sold their work, live music was performed on four stages and the event and its founder Pat Miller were recognized by Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th), Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley.


Pro-Palestinian activists plan to rally at Market Square on Sunday before walking to press U.S. Sen. Mark Warner to end American weapons shipments to Israel.

The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 4 p.m., according to organizers. After a short walk from the meeting point to the final location, participants will remain stationary, organizers said.


Virginia families buying health insurance through the state marketplace face monthly premium increases of hundreds — and in some cases more than $1,000 — if enhanced federal subsidies expire, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine warned Friday.

The Democratic senators called the newly released projections from the state’s Health Benefit Exchange a “grim new forecast for Virginia” in a statement decrying the ongoing federal government shutdown and Republican inaction on preserving health care tax credits.


Fragrance boutique Arielle Shoshana is planning to open across the street from City Hall in Old Town in November.

The company planned to open at 313 Cameron Street over the summer, and has a sign on the door with a QR code. The code leads to the company website with the message, “After 10 years as D.C/’s first niche fragrance boutique, Arielle Shoshana is bringing out curated collection of exceptional, exclusive fragrances to Cameron Street!”


U.S. Rep. Don Beyer on Friday released a webpage with resources for federal workers and contractors affected by the partial government shutdown that began this week.

Beyer represents Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Alexandria and has one of the highest concentrations of federal employees and contractors in the nation. More than 72,000 of his constituents work directly for the federal government, with thousands more employed as government contractors.


By STEPHEN GROVES, MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hopes for a quick end to the government shutdown faded Friday as Democrats refused to budge in a Senate vote and President Donald Trump readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government.


Welcome to Friday, Alexandria. Here’s a look at the top stories of the week.

ALXnow’s top story this week is on the man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on September 22 and later died at George Washington University Hospital. Metro Transit Police stated at the time that the man had trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation revealed that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders: a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.


The city has mailed second-half 2025 real estate tax bills to property owners and mortgage companies, with payment due Monday, November 17, the city announced Friday.

The 2025 real estate tax rate for the calendar year is $1.135 per $100 of assessed value.


Biscoff is living up to his cookie-inspired name — he’s sweet, he’s a crowd-pleaser, and he’s impossible not to love.

The 3-year-old large breed dog at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) is eager to find a home where he can enjoy all the best parts of fall in Alexandria, from crunching through leaf piles to going on long neighborhood walks.


View More Stories