News

Alexandria man convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material while on supervised release

By Ryan Belmore
Police car lights (file photo)

An Alexandria man who was already under court supervision for a previous child pornography conviction has been found guilty of continuing to distribute and possess child sexual abuse material through a mobile messaging app.

Antonio Rudy Gonzalez, 41, was convicted Wednesday on two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession following a bench trial in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 40 years due to his 2013 conviction for similar crimes.

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News

Alexandria man arrested after gun brandishing at Groveton store

By James Cullum
A handgun retrieved by the Fairfax County Police Department that was allegedly used in a brandishing incident in the Groveton neighborhood, resulting in the arrest of an Alexandria man (via FCPD)

An Alexandria man was arrested Friday after allegedly brandishing a handgun at a store in the Groveton neighborhood of Fairfax County.

Fairfax County Police arrested Dorian Claytor Jr. after he allegedly brandished a black handgun inside a store in the 6300 block of Richmond Highway and then fled on foot Friday afternoon. Claytor was arrested soon afterward, and police later found a handgun hidden in an aisle of the store.

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A 5-Star workday in the heart of Old Town Alexandria

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News

Charles Barrett Elementary unveils new reading corner with Amazon, community support

By James Cullum
Amazon and Reading is Fundamental collaborated to make a new reading corner at Charles Barrett Elementary School, Sept. 18, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Charles Barrett Elementary School unveiled a new reading corner Thursday, funded by a $75,000 Amazon donation and community partnerships aimed at boosting student literacy.

The project, six months in the making, transformed a corner of the school library with custom murals by artist Shawn James, comfortable seating and hundreds of new books. Amazon also donated 500 backpacks filled with books and supplies, while Reading Is Fundamental contributed more than 1,000 books to the school library.

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Announcement

Made in ALX Launches Summer Art Camps

By Made in ALX

Creative activities help prevent learning loss by keeping young minds active, encourage healthier habits by reducing excess screen time, and strengthen essential skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and imagination.

It’s even better in a focused, supportive and positive environment, like the opportunities for kids at Made in ALX’s Summer Art Camps.

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News

Waterfront group proposes moving pump station to 1 Prince Street as city seeks design input

By Ryan Belmore
AWA presentation slide showing aerial view with pump station relocated to 1 Prince Street (Screenshot of Alexandria Waterfront Alliance presentation)

The Alexandria Waterfront Alliance proposed moving Alexandria’s controversial flood mitigation pump station from Waterfront Park to the long-vacant building at 1 Prince St., according to presentation materials from Tuesday’s Waterfront Commission meeting.

The unsolicited presentation to the Waterfront Commission included detailed architectural renderings showing how the pump facility could be integrated into the existing structure while creating space above for a maritime museum, education center or commercial development. The group argued the location would preserve the park while utilizing the building’s existing deep foundation piles.

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News

Notes: DASH throws block party today to thank riders for record ridership

By Ryan Belmore
DASH will host a block party on Sept. 18. (Credit: DASH)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Thursday, Sept. 18, the 261st day of 2025. There are 104 days left in the year.

☀️ Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 83. North wind 3 to 5 mph. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 62. Calm wind.

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News

City bans youth mentor from rec centers for second time

By James Cullum
Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Jackie Surratt, the founder of the Alexandria Fatherless Coalition nonprofit, has been banned from recreation centers in the city for a year.

It’s not the first time Surratt has been banned. In 2022, he admitted to stepping out of bounds when he yelled at a staffer at William Ramsay Recreation Center (5650 Sanger Ave.) for not observing pandemic-related rules while trying to play ping-pong, resulting in a two-year banishment. This time, he says that the most recent ban, which went into effect last month, is unjust. Surratt says he’s peaceful, and wants the ban lifted in order to administer his mentorship program to Alexandria boys. He’s taken his case to city leaders, City Manager Jim Parajon and City Attorney Cheran Ivery.

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News

Pampered Pet store and dog wash close in Belle Haven

By James Cullum
Pampered Pet Boutique & Barkery at 1612 Belle View Boulevard in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County is closed (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Pampered Pet Boutique & Barkery (1612 Belle View Boulevard) and its sister store Pampered Pet Bark Bath (1614 Belle View Boulevard) have permanently closed in the Belle View Shopping Center in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.

The boutique opened in 2021, and the dog bath opened last year.

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News

Virginia researchers link housing and education, offer policy insights through new website

By Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury
An aerial view of Project: HOMES' Bermuda Estates community in Chester in Chestefield County, south of Richmond. (Courtesy of Project:HOMES)

Over the summer, the University of Richmond launched the Live and Learn website, a new feature of a study examining the connection between housing segregation and educational inequality in Richmond and its surrounding areas released last year.

The new interactive site will help inform educators, experts, and policymakers about the local links between housing and education.

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News

Alexandria schools see dramatic drop in student arrests, quarterly data shows

By James Cullum and Ryan Belmore
Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools will present quarterly safety data to the School Board Thursday showing a dramatic decline in student arrests and court referrals, with 28 total cases during the 2024-25 school year compared to 69 the previous year.

The latest quarterly report covers 262 safety incidents between January and June, with 8 student court referrals and 6 arrests during the third and fourth quarters. This represents a 59% decrease from the 2023-24 school year.

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