ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Federal judge T.S. Ellis III, whose legal scholarship and commanding courtroom presence was evident in numerous high-profile trials, has died after a long illness. He was 85.
Ellis oversaw the trials of former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former U.S. Rep. William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson as well as the plea deal of “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh across a judicial career that lasted more than 35 years.
An Alexandria police officer has been charged with reckless driving following a vehicle collision that occurred during a pursuit of a stolen vehicle in June.
Officer Damon Frazier was served a summons for reckless driving, a Class 1 misdemeanor, after the Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney reviewed the June 14 incident, according to a Friday press release from the Alexandria Police Department.
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…)
Alexandria residents are bracing for significant transportation disruptions as construction begins on the long-awaited Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge project, which will require a two-year timeline and has already garnered nearly 7,000 page views from concerned commuters.
Meanwhile, congressional representatives are pushing back against a federal USDA relocation plan that could impact the city, drawing substantial community attention with over 6,000 views.
Ghost Limb is a timely and haunting examination of authoritarianism set during Argentina’s Dirty War that draws poetic inspiration from the Persephone and Demeter myth. When Consuelo’s son is “disappeared” by the military, she discovers a psychic link between her injured arm and her tortured child-and races to find him before it’s too late.
Performance Days and Times
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce will host its 2025 Legislative Reception on Thursday, Sept. 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Alexandrian in Old Town Alexandria.
The annual event will bring together chamber members and guests with elected officials for networking in what organizers describe as a “relaxed and elegant setting.” The chamber will also release its 2026 Legislative Agenda during the reception.
Come celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s War for Independence with renowned music historians David & Ginger Hildebrand for performances of special period music. The Hildebrands will don period attire to discuss and perform music associated with Alexandria’s sister cities: Caen, France; Dundee, Scotland; Helsingborg, Sweden; and Gyumri, Armenia. Scottish music was especially influential in the American colonies, and once the French joined the Revolutionary cause there were musical celebrations for Generals LaFayette, Rochambeau and other French leaders. This concert event is part of the “Alexandria commemorates America’s 250” campaign. David & Ginger specialize in researching, recording, and performing early American music. Since 1980 they have presented concerts and educational programs throughout the country and abroad at museums, historic sites, schools and universities. Mount Vernon, The National Gallery of Art, The National Archives, and Colonial Williamsburg are among their many past sponsors.
Tickets are $20.
Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Friday, Aug. 1, the 213th day of 2025. There are 152 days left in the year.
⛈️ Today’s weather: Scattered showers, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77 degrees. North wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Alexandria firefighters responded to an apartment fire Thursday evening in the 5400 block of Sheffield Court, according to Alexandria Firefighters Inc. IAFF Local 2141.
Engine and Truck 208 arrived first on scene and found smoke showing from a terrace-level apartment. Crews located a fire in the living room and successfully extinguished the blaze.
The City of Alexandria has extended the deadline for its Duke Street Corridor community poll until Aug. 18, officials announced Thursday.
The poll, which launched as part of an 18-month planning process that began June 9, has already drawn more than 800 participants, according to the city. The planning effort covers the Duke Street Corridor from Alexandria Union Station to Van Dorn Street at the future Landmark/West End development.
The Real Housewives of Potomac just wrapped its 10th season, and the Alexandria-based production crew will soon send all its footage for editing in New York City.
ALXnow sat down for a few minutes with the show’s production manager Juancarlo Morales. While the show is filmed in and around the Town of Potomac, Maryland, since April, Morales and his crew of about 30 producers and video production specialists have lived in apartments in Potomac Yard and worked out of The Link coworking office (215 N. Payne Street) in Old Town.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced legislation today requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to identify themselves and remove masks during routine immigration enforcement activities, citing concerns about unidentified officers conducting operations across Virginia communities.
The bill, co-sponsored with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), establishes the same identification standards for ICE agents that currently apply to state troopers, sheriffs and local police officers. Warner says the legislation responds to increased ICE presence in Virginia and repeated instances of masked agents causing panic during arrests.
