Va. Officials Debate Data Center Tax Breaks — “Amid a growing national pushback on data centers, Virginia senators have voted to end a projected $1.6 billion annual tax break, requiring the industry to resume paying a minimum 5.3% sales tax. The proposal has left some opponents warning that it would bring construction of data centers in Virginia to a screeching halt.” [AP]
Snow Possible Today — “A powerful cold front sweeping through the region Thursday morning will flip the script quickly — sending temperatures tumbling from the 60s into the 40s before most people even finish their morning coffee … Thursday will start wet for the morning commute, with periods of rain moving through the region. As colder air pours in behind the front, that rain could briefly mix with or change over to wet snow during the afternoon hours, [7News First Alert Meteorologist Eileen] Whelan said.” [WTOP]
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 11, 2026.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
- Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge to open multiple times over next two days (743 views)
- Morning Notes for March 11, 2026 (392 views)
- ‘Now or Never’ art exhibit to open with reception at Waterfront Park in Alexandria (371 views)
- City Council sets one-cent tax hike as ceiling for budget talks (341 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
🌦️ Thursday’s forecast
Rain showers will transition to a mix of rain and snow by 2pm, with temperatures dropping to around 40°F. Expect breezy conditions with northwest winds at 14-21 mph and gusts up to 38 mph. Precipitation chances are at 90%, but snow accumulation should be minimal. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 33°F, northwest winds at 5-9 mph becoming calm after midnight, and gusts up to 18 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
– Steve Jobs
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading!
Nonprofit leader Wanda Pierce has been selected as the interim executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter, the organization announced today.
Pierce, the former CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation, started work yesterday (Tuesday), temporarily filling the vacancy recently left by former longtime Executive Director Shannon Steene. Pierce will manage Carpenter’s Shelter’s 64-bed Hoffman Center, as well as the 64-bed Alexandria Community Shelter on Mill Road as the organization’s board of directors conducts a national search for Steene’s replacement.
A new children’s book is highlighting the historic work of Samuel Wilbert Tucker, an attorney from Alexandria who pioneered one of the first library sit-ins against Jim Crow segregation.
“Fight for the Right to Read” tells the story of the Alexandria Library sit-in as Tucker, at age 26, led a group of five young Black men to enter the whites-only Alexandria Library on Aug. 21, 1939. Co-authors Jeff Gottesfeld, Michelle Y. Green and illustrator Kim Holt came to the Alexandria recently to discuss the September release and sign copies during Black History Month.
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’s City Council set a one-cent ceiling for the city’s real estate tax rate on Tuesday night.
City Councilman John Taylor Chapman made the motion to increase the ceiling, which is not the final adopted tax rate. While City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposed $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget has no tax increase, the one-cent ceiling gives the city more options in crafting the budget, which is set for a final council vote on April 29.
Several openings of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge are planned tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday to allow passage of a tugboat.
The drawbridge will open for the tugboat “Recoil” at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday and again when it returns around 11 p.m., according to a city government advisory. Capital Beltway drivers should expect delays and follow posted traffic advisories during the drawbridge openings.
There will be a town hall meeting next week to discuss January’s sewage spill in the Potomac River, Mayor Alyia Gaskins has announced.
On Jan. 19, a collapsed pipe caused hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater to flow into the Potomac, prompting the Virginia Department of Health to issue a recreational water advisory. That advisory was partially lifted earlier this month when VDH found that bacteria concentrations were “at levels acceptable for all recreational water use.”
The eighth annual public art installation at Alexandria’s Waterfront Park is set to open next week.
Artist Alicia Eggert’s “Now or Never” installation will have an opening reception Saturday, March 21, from 1-4 p.m. at Waterfront Park (1 Prince Street). Artist remarks will happen at 1:30 p.m.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On March 11, 1790, several months after his return from France where he succeeded Benjamin Franklin as Minister of France, Thomas Jefferson was feted at Wise’s Tavern, located on the northeast corner of Cameron and North Fairfax Streets. Immediately upon his return, President Washington had requested Jefferson to accept the post of Secretary of State, which he accepted. He was sworn in just eleven days after the Alexandria celebration and served as the nation’s top diplomat until the last day of 1793.” [Historic Alexandria]
Budget Public Hearing on Saturday — “Make your voice heard! If you missed Monday’s Public Hearing, you have another chance this week to speak to City Council this Saturday.” [City of Alexandria]
