After a contentious discussion, the Alexandria City School Board last night (Thursday) approved its $282.3 million Capital Improvement Program budget for fiscal years 2027-36.
The 5-4 approval of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s proposed budget comes in at $3.5 million below the recommended amount from City Manager Jim Parajon’s office. The CIP includes $23 million in funding for non-capacity projects next year, including $1.8 million in school bus/vehicle replacements, $1.8 million for emergency repairs and $1.3 million in curriculum and instruction materials. It also accounts for the $2 million development of the Alexandria City High School’s Chance for Change Academy.
The Alexandria Fire Department transported one person to the hospital after responding to an apartment fire in the Alexandria West area this afternoon (Friday).
The fire was reported at around 1:45 p.m. in a sixth-floor apartment at the 5140 Fillmore Avenue. Upon arrival, crews “initiated life-saving measures” for one person who was found unconscious and in cardiac arrest, before transporting them to a nearby hospital, according to a press release from AFD.
What did you read this past fall?
The Alexandria Library system shared its most-checked out books from mid-September through last week with ALXnow, with over a dozen fiction reads topping the charts. The library recorded a grand total of 1,811 check-outs of its top 20 titles during that period.
A 33-year-old Baltimore woman was arrested earlier this month after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of apparel from a yoga apparel store in Old Town.
The suspect was captured on security camera footage with two suspects taking approximately $8,000 worth of merchandise out of Alo at 814 King Street on Dec. 10. The woman was arrested attempting to enter a getaway vehicle as two others suspects fled on foot and were not arrested, according to an Alexandria Police Department announcement yesterday (Thursday).
Explore preschool & kindergarten options in Alexandria! Meet schools, ask questions & find the best match for your child’s early education.
Welcome to the Alexandria Preschool and Kindergarten Fair! Join us for a fun-filled event where parents can explore various preschool and kindergarten options for their little ones. Meet with representatives from different schools, ask questions, and gather information to make the best choice for your child's education. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the perfect match for your family! The fair is free to attend but advance registration is encouraged.
Fourteen Alexandria artists and groups have received nominations in a program recognizing musical talent across the D.C. area.
Alexandria’s nominees for the 37th Annual Wammie Music Awards represent several genres, from funk and folk and hip-hop and pop. The voting period for the 2026 awards is now open and will run through Jan. 15, ahead of the March 28 awards show in D.C.
Four facilities at Alexandria City Public Schools are getting new names to reflect beloved figures in the city, including a former mayor and a longtime teacher.
The Alexandria City School Board voted last night (Thursday) to rename the athletic field complex at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, ACHS’ Parker-Gray Stadium field, the Media Center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School and the courtyard at the Early Childhood Center. These are the newly approved facility names and their community namesakes.
Meet Diesel, a sweet, wrinkly-faced pup at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria who is ready to go home for the holidays with fur-ever humans.
The three-year-old cutie patootie is about 89 pounds, “with a heart to match his impressive physical presence,” according to an AWLA volunteer. The social pup is “full of love and curiosity.”
Spanberger, Dems Introduce Affordability Plan — “Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and Democratic leaders are rolling out what they call their ‘Affordable Virginia agenda,’ which describes how they’ll deliver on their key campaign promise: reducing costs in the state. It comes a day after outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin presented an upbeat picture of the Virginia economy and said lawmakers should be able to offer even more tax cuts.” [NBC4 Washington]
Lawmakers Plan More Enforcement on GW Parkway — “Rep. Don Beyer unveiled legislation (Wednesday) to authorize revenue generated by any speed cameras on roads maintained by the National Park Service, such as the GW Parkway, to be used for speed camera installations, maintenance and construction projects on those same roads … Separately, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) confirmed to FFXnow that he will reintroduce a bill in the Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 session authorizing local and state police to respond to traffic violations on the GW Parkway.” [FFXnow]
Good Thursday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
🕗 News recap
The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 18, 2025.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
- String of thefts at Old Town yoga apparel stores under police investigation (958 views)
- Winning $50K Powerball ticket purchased at Arlandria convenience store (886 views)
- Morning Notes for December 18, 2025 (350 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
⛈️ Friday’s forecast
Expect rain and potentially a thunderstorm before 1pm, followed by a slight chance of rain until 2pm. Temperatures will drop to around 38 by 5pm with breezy south winds between 15 and 23 mph, shifting west and gusting up to 47 mph. There is an 80% chance of precipitation, with amounts ranging from a quarter to half an inch. Friday night will be mostly clear and breezy, with lows around 27, west winds between 17 and 22 mph decreasing to 6 to 11 mph after midnight, and gusts up to 46 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
– Mark Twain
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading!
