The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners voted during a special meeting on Wednesday to terminate CEO Erik Johnson, effective immediately, ending a weeks-long controversy over his unauthorized stay in a public housing unit.
The decision comes as an independent investigation into Johnson’s actions continues, according to a statement released by the board on Friday.
Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 82 degrees. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 59 degrees. East wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Visit Alexandria’s President & CEO Todd O’Leary leads with the belief that travel is a force for good, inspiring visitors to deepen their travel experiences by connecting with Alexandria’s myriad stories. That’s why 2026 National Travel and Tourism Week (May 3-9, 2026) isn’t just any week. It’s a time to reflect and celebrate the important role that tourism plays in bringing people together across cultures and geographies, creating shared understandings and memories that last a lifetime. This year’s theme, “Postmarked: Essential,” takes on special significance as Alexandria prepares to host several major events this summer, bringing the stories of our local community onto the world stage.
“This year’s National Travel and Tourism Week celebrations seem particularly fitting, given all the momentum we’re seeing in Alexandria’s hospitality industry,” said Visit Alexandria’s President & CEO Todd O’Leary. “As tourism grows in importance here, the dividends from visitor spending support our small business owners and ultimately our residents. Visit Alexandria is proud of the work done by our local industry to keep this city top of mind for domestic and international travelers.”
Last fall, Visit Alexandria announced that Alexandria’s tourism spending from travelers residing more than 50 miles away grew to $1 billion for the first time in history during calendar year 2024. Additionally, Fiscal Year 2025 city consumption tax revenues reached a record $88 million—supporting core city services, saving the average Alexandria household $832 annually, and sustaining more than 5,700 local jobs.
In conjunction with this year’s America 250th commemorations, Alexandria will host programs, exhibitions, historic tours and signature events, including the three-day Sails on the Potomac festival—all of which showcase Alexandria’s renowned historic character and ever-evolving progressive nature. As Alexandria continues to make waves on the world stage, especially as a destination for sports tourism, the city will serve as the official Team Base Camp for the Croatian National Football Team, a FIFA top ten ranked team, during the World Cup. With state-of-the-art facilities, a wide range of accommodations, a wealth of visitor experiences and incredible transportation access, Alexandria’s prominence in sports tourism is growing. (more…)
The Alexandria City School Board voiced significant concerns Thursday about a city proposal to transition high school students from school buses to public transit, with several members calling for scaled-back pilot programs or questioning the timing of such a significant change.
During a work session at 1340 Braddock Place, board members weighed City Manager James Parajon’s recommendation to implement a three-phase plan moving high school students to DASH buses beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
You don’t need Spanish to know how to party.
Saturday, May 9th | 7 PM – 2 AM
Editor’s Note: All three business sale listings mentioned in this story were removed from BizQuest, BizBuySell, and LoopNet shortly after publication of this story on September 11, 2025.
Lost Boy Cider was listed for sale with an asking price of $1.5 million, according to professional business listings that appeared on BizQuest, BizBuySell, and LoopNet. The listing information was identical across all three business sale platforms.
Join us for an evening of made-up-on-the-spot improv comedy! We’ll be calling on you to give us suggestions for a totally unique show that’ll never be seen again!
Show is 18+ recommended. Tickets are free, with a $10 suggested donation.
Virginia is moving to ensure residents have quick access to the latest COVID-19 vaccines ahead of the fall respiratory illness season, with State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton signing a statewide standing order this week that expands pharmacy vaccination authority.
The order, signed Tuesday and announced Thursday, allows pharmacists across Virginia to administer the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine formulation to residents 65 and older, as well as adults aged 18-64 with underlying medical conditions, without requiring individual prescriptions.
Registration opens September 24 to see Emmy and Grammy Award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns unveil his latest documentary series at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.
Burns will offer remarks and share clips from the six-part series “The American Revolution” on Oct. 29. The event runs from 5 to 8:15 p.m. on the estate’s 12-acre bowling green, with the film preview starting at 6:15 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs, as seating will not be provided, according to Mount Vernon.
Alexandria Police have cleared the scene in the 400 block of North West Street and reopened the area to traffic after finding no illegal amounts of hazardous materials, authorities announced Thursday evening.
The street closure, which had been in effect since late afternoon, was lifted around 8:09 p.m., according to a police social media update.
A popular Massachusetts-based fast-casual organic restaurant has filed paperwork to open at 400 King Street in Old Town.
Life Alive Organic Cafe has filed a special use permit application to open in the space formerly occupied by Long and Foster Realtors. The building is currently home to The Alexandrian Old Town Hotel at 480 King Street and Southern restaurant King & Rye, near City Hall at 301 King Street. Life Alive is planning on a 3,000-square-foot, 97-seat restaurant to be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Systems Planning & Analysis announced Thursday it will expand its Alexandria headquarters and create 1,200 new jobs over the next five years as part of a $46.9 million investment across Northern Virginia.
The defense contractor, which has operated from Alexandria since its founding in 1972, purchased its 239,000-square-foot office building at 2001 N. Beauregard Street and plans extensive renovations to create what CEO Rich Sawchak described as “a modern, collaborative workspace.”
