By SEUNG MIN KIM and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers have started, an attempt by President Donald Trump’s administration to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown dragged into a 10th day.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria has cancelled Sunday’s Paws in the Park festival due to an approaching nor’easter forecast to bring high winds and flooding to the area.
The free community event was scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park, featuring pet adoptions, live music, a costume contest, and vendors.
Game, set, Gala! On Saturday, Nov. 14, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s annual Tennis Creates Gala, presented by QTS, comes to The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, celebrating the transformative power of tennis.
The evening raises critical funds to make the sport accessible to all across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and eastern/southern West Virginia.
Every dollar goes back into local communities through programs like Girls Rule the Court™, which has served more than 2,000 girls, along with Junior Player Scholarships and Tennis in Schools. Gala funds also help restore public courts. Over the last three years, the Foundation has invested $505,000 across 17 public facilities.
Emceeing the evening is Emmy Award-winning ESPN journalist Malika Andrews, host of NBA Today and NBA Countdown, who joined ESPN’s tennis coverage this year for the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Andrews has pointed to the electric moment American tennis is having, with stars like the DMV’s own Frances Tiafoe reaching the 2026 US Open men’s semifinals, and says she’s grateful for the chance to support the sport at the local level.
Joining the celebration is new USTA CEO Craig Tiley, who took the helm of the national governing body in July after over 20 years at Tennis Australia. As he leads the USTA toward its goal of 35 million players by 2035, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation drives the grassroots work to grow the sport right here in the region.
The Foundation will present its Tennis Creates Impact Award to Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (ret.), 63rd Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, recognizing his leadership in fostering character, community, and well-being through tennis.
The heart of the night is the 2026 Tennis Creates Awards, honoring local changemakers. Alexandria’s Leigh Ann Jackson receives the Adult Leader Award for coaching Girls Rule the Court at Groveton Elementary, where she has served 130 students over five seasons and championed the program’s expansion to Hybla Valley.
Arlington’s Gabrielle Berg earns the Youth Leader Award for founding a Northern Virginia chapter of Tennis For Fun, which runs free year-round clinics for people with special needs in partnership with the Arlington YMCA. Burke’s Khoi Truong, head coach at Lake Braddock Secondary School, is the 2026 Coach of the Year.
They’ll be joined by fellow honorees Dr. Ellen Markowitz (Community Champion), James Skinner (Provider Champion), and Janelle Nichols (Tennis in the Classroom Awardee).
Tickets and tables are now available. Can’t make it? Make a gift to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation or bid in the silent auction to help put a racquet in the hands of the next generation of players.
The Tennis Creates Gala takes place Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA 22102.
For more information, visit TennisCreatesGala.com.
Just in time for the Halloween season, free fall movie nights are headed to Limerick Field (1800 Limerick Street) in the rear of AlexRenew headquarters.
A double feature will be presented on Saturday, Oct. 18, starting with Coco at 6 p.m., followed by The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 9 p.m. The movies are being presented by the Eisenhower Partnership, CatRad Creative, and AlexRenew, and water and Wegmans will donate popcorn.
Alexandria-based Systems Planning & Analysis has acquired Group W, a Vienna defense analytics company, in a deal that combines two prominent firms specializing in modeling and simulation for the Department of Defense.
The acquisition, announced Thursday, brings together companies with complementary expertise in defense wargaming and analytical tools used across military planning and operations. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"The Thirteen sings with striking color and richness" – The Washington Post
The critically acclaimed professional choir performs Brahms' genre-defying masterpiece, "Ein deutsches Requiem," in the composers own version for piano four hands with world-renowned pianist Brian Ganz and Eric Conway, paired with Margaret Bonds' Credo, set to a text by W.E.B. Du Bois and also accompanied by piano.
Twenty Old Town boutiques are falling into fashion with deals, giveaways, and more on Saturday (Oct. 11).
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the boutiques are featuring exclusive fall collections, interactive in-store activations, and seasonal bites and sips. Customers can also buy a seasonal tote from participating businesses, and enter to win a $1,000 gift card and Aiyana Atelier products, and a second prize of a $500 gift card at any participating boutique.
Alexandria residents will have the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused or expired medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, and Alexandria Health Department — in cooperation with the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria — will staff four drop-off locations across the city as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s nationwide initiative.
From boutique trick-or-treating to drag brunches and poison tours, Alexandria is pulling out all the stops for Halloween 2025. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities, pet parades, or adults-only thrills, the city’s packed calendar offers something for every ghoul and goblin.
Here’s your guide to the best Halloween happenings around the city.
By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Johnson is the speaker of a House that is no longer in session.
$84M Refinancing for Meridian at Eisenhower — Berkadia has arranged an $84.1 million loan for the refinancing of Meridian at Eisenhower, a 369-unit residential high-rise located at 2351 Eisenhower Ave. in Alexandria. Patrick McGlohn, Patrick Cunningham, Brian Gould, Hunter Wood, and Natalie Hershey of Berkadia arranged the 10-year loan on behalf of the borrower, Paradigm Development Co. LLC. The direct lender was not disclosed. [Rebusiness Online]
Alexandria Targets Crash-Prone Intersections — Alexandria is cracking down on serious crashes at several intersections this month. Officials are identifying so-called “crash corridors” in the city using data to figure out where the most serious collisions have occurred. The targeted areas include Duke Street and South Washington Street, Duke Street at Van Dorn Street, and King Street, where it meets I-395. [News4]
