A new kayak launch now open at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria is one of 11 projects that earned a Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award from Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
The Four Mile Run Conservancy, in partnership with the city, completed the public kayak and canoe launch with a 187-foot raised boardwalk ramp, 775-square-foot floating dock, a roller-entry launch, wheelchair transfer platform and 30-foot gangway. It is the city and region’s first ADA-accessible paddling access to the Potomac River.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On March 26, 1839, the Alexandria Lyceum Company and the Alexandria Library Company formally announced plans to join together in sharing a new Greek Revival-style building at 201 S. Washington Street. Alexandria’s Lyceum was modeled after the American lyceum (ly-SEE-um) movement which began in the 1820s with Josiah Holbrook, who admired various institutions in England that had been established for public education.” [Historic Alexandria]
Police In-Custody Death Final Report Delayed — “A final update to the Independent Policing Auditor’s investigation was expected at the March 4 Independent Community Policing Review Board meeting. But, auditor Ameratu Kamara said she found out the night of March 3 that she was unable to share her findings, since they were based on a draft report.” [Alexandria Times]
Good Wednesday 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 — Mar 25, 2026.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
- ACPS prepares to move 800+ students for redistricting effort (1448 views)
- New plan unveiled after National Park Service sinks pump station at Waterfront Park (961 views)
- Arlandria apartment condemned, two people displaced after kitchen fire (856 views)
- Entrepreneur seeks to bring community center to Virginia Tech building in Old Town (642 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
🌤️ Thursday’s forecast
Expect mostly sunny weather with temperatures reaching a high of around 75°F. Winds will be from the southwest at 10 to 13 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph. Thursday night will bring increasing clouds and a low of about 57°F, along with a slight chance of rain before 7 p.m. and a more significant chance after 2 a.m., with a 50% chance of precipitation. Southwest winds will continue at 10 to 13 mph, with gusts reaching up to 22 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
– Buddha
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading!
Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire received praise from City Council Tuesday night for a 30% overall crime reduction in 2025.
In a presentation to City Council, McGuire said that violent crime went down an average of 29%, a difference of 111 offenses. Overall property crime was down by an average of 30%, a difference of more than 1,300 offenses.
Raise a glass to culture and camaraderie at the 2026 whisky tasting event. Guests will enjoy a guided tasting across the whisky regions of Scotland, gaining insights into the craftsmanship and culture behind each pour. This informative program will help you learn all about the rich tapestry that is Scotch whisky, enable you to sample five different whiskies from across Scotland, and provide an opportunity to ask questions and share personal insights. VIP ticket holders will receive two additional exclusive samples of rare whiskies. All attendees will take home a souvenir Glencairn glass, perfect for continuing their whisky journey. Tickets are $100 for VIP or $75 for general admission (listed as a separate event on Alexandriava.gov/Shop), with hors d’oeuvres included. Wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for non-whisky drinkers. A raffle will also be held with prizes, with tickets available for cash purchase at the event. Minimum age: 21. All proceeds support the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee and its mission to support the educational and cultural exchanges between Alexandria, VA and her sister cities of Dundee, Scotland and Helsingborg, Sweden.
Please note: You do not need to print off tickets. Your name will be on the registration list for the event.
Alexandria City Council directed staff on Tuesday to pursue a new preferred option to combat flooding along the Alexandria waterfront — one that does not involve a pump station.
City staff presented the council with a number of options in the wake of the National Park Service’s denial last month of the city’s plan to build a pump station at Waterfront Park. The city’s preferred option, Option 3, is an enhanced gravity storm sewer system, with “automated back flow prevention devices.” Option 3 also means that infrastructure improvements to Point Lumley Park and the bulkhead would be deferred.
Alexandria City Council approved a $4 million loan yesterday (Tuesday) for Naja, the second and final phase of Housing Alexandria’s affordable housing project being built at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Glebe Road in Arlandria.
The $4 million City Housing Opportunities Fund loan is the final installment of the city funding package for Sansé and Naja, which will have 495 affordable housing units and more than 20,000 square feet of commercial space. City Council also approved $400,000 in rental subsidies for eight units at Naja. Before Tuesday’s approval, the city’s funding support for the project had totaled $79.7 million, according to a city staff memo.
Two people were displaced after a fire was extinguished in an Arlandria apartment Tuesday evening, according to the Alexandria Fire Department.
AFD responded at around 6:30 p.m. to a kitchen fire on the first floor of a three-story apartment building in the 3800 block of Milan Drive. No injuries were reported, and no neighboring apartments were affected by the fire, according to the fire department.
Alexandria City Public Schools is preparing to move hundreds of students and reassign staff as part of its redistricting process beginning in July.
The school system has been working on the transition since the Alexandria City School Board approved the plan last June. On Thursday (March 26), ACPS staff will update the board on the plan, which will shift 860 students to new schools in the coming school year.
A three-story Virginia Tech building in Old Town may soon be repurposed into a community center through the work of a Del Ray entrepreneur and creative.
Ashley R. Wood, the founder and author behind the arts-focused workspace Soulo Studios at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue, is working to bring her next endeavor to life: Lily’s Garden Creative and Cultural Community Center. The prospective center, named after Wood’s 4-year-old daughter, would open at 1021 Prince Street, which is currently part of Virginia Tech’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center.
