Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
While its current CEO is on probation and under investigation for living in a public housing property under his management, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority is being led by an interim CEO, ALXnow has confirmed.
Last month, ALXnow reported that ARHA CEO Erik Johnson was living in an ARHA property, prompting the Alexandria City Council to call for an independent investigation. ARHA has since confirmed that its Deputy Executive Director Rickie C. Maddox is currently working as the organization’s interim CEO.
Gabrielle Berg, Northern Virginia Tennis for Fun Chapter Founder, 2026 Youth Leader of the Year Awardee
Khoi Truong, Lake Braddock Boys Tennis Coach, 2026 Coach of the Year Awardee
Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (ret.), 2026 Tennis Creates Impact Honoree
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.
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins addressed community concerns about the city’s use of Flock Safety surveillance cameras during a live one-on-one discussion with ALXnow on Tuesday, providing clarification and further details on Wednesday that new Virginia laws prevent the technology from being misused by federal immigration enforcement.
The mayor’s clarification came in response to a resident’s question about whether the Alexandria Police Department should discontinue its contract with Flock Safety, an AI surveillance company that has faced scrutiny over potential misuse by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Thursday, Sept. 4, the 247th day of 2025. There are 118 days left in the year.
☀️ Today’s weather: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 87 degrees. South wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
High school students from across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region are invited to participate in Dialogue for Democracy at George Mason University!
Hosted by the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, this event offers high school students an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about democracy, civic engagement, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.
Flooding on lower King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)
Alexandria is seeking public feedback in a survey to understand the impact of flooding throughout the city.
The survey will close by the end of September, and is part of the city’s first-ever Flood Resilience Plan. The survey asks people who live and work in Alexandria if they’ve experienced flooding, the frequency and location of flooding events, if their health has been impacted by flooding, an estimate of expenses from flooding impacts, and more.
The Nightmare On The Avenue pop-up bar at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)
The annual Nightmare on the Avenue Halloween pop-up bar will soon be reopening at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray.
With new spooky interior decorations, food and drink menus, owner Bill Blackburn of the Homegrown Restaurant Group is aiming to reopen sometime next weekend — between Friday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 14.
The deadline to apply for the 2025 Fall Community Fire Academy is Sept. 20, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)
The Alexandria Fire Department will soon open its doors to the public as part of its free eight-week fall fire academy.
The deadline is Sept. 20 (Saturday) to apply for the hands-on program, which runs from Oct. 6 to Nov. 10, and space is limited to 12 participants who are at least 18 years of age. The classes are held on Mondays from 6 to 9 p.m., and participants can expect to learn about fire safety, the history of the department, daily life within AFD, and more.
Walking along the Potomac River at Founders Park in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)
Volunteer Alexandria has released its latest roundup of community service opportunities, featuring everything from reading tutoring for elementary students to emergency preparedness training.
The nonprofit organization, which serves as Alexandria’s volunteer matching service, connects residents with meaningful ways to contribute to their community through its regular “hotlist” of opportunities.
