FILE - Salvage crews work on recovering wreckage near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Three days of investigative hearings on the deadly midair collision over Washington in January begin Wednesday and aim to reveal new insights into what caused the crash between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter that killed 67 people.
The National Transportation Safety Board will question witnesses and investigators about how the actions of the Federal Aviation Administration and its air traffic controllers and the Army may have contributed to the nation’s deadliest plane crash since November 2001. It’s likely too early for the board to identify the cause of the crash.
The relocations will continue through the end of 2025, with renovations set to begin in January 2026. More than 400 city employees will move from their existing offices to temporary or permanent spaces throughout Alexandria.
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.
The pre-construction period is expected to last two months. During this period, bridge traffic will be reduced to the outer lanes for work on the median. (via City of Alexandria)
Arlington County will begin reconstruction of the Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge over Four Mile Run in mid-August, launching a $23.8 million project expected to last two years.
The bridge is in poor condition, with the west side sidewalk already closed due to structural deficiencies. The joint capital improvement project between Alexandria and Arlington County will split costs evenly between the two jurisdictions.
Alexandria Restaurant Week will return Aug. 22-31, offering diners 10 days of special menus at dozens of restaurants throughout the city.
Participating restaurants across Alexandria’s neighborhoods will feature prix fixe dinner menus priced at $30, $40, or $50 per person for in-person dining. Fast casual establishments will also offer additional specials and discounts during the event.
Northern Virginia Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend and support our upcoming World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Traffic Victims.
World Day of Remembrance is an annual event where we honor those whose lives were prematurely ended after being struck by a person driving. This year is particularly painful and sad as we think about the recent death of a 13-year-old Frost middle school student who was struck and killed by a person driving a truck on Pickett Road. We will also honor the nearly 30 other people (as of today’s date) who have been killed on Northern Virginia streets while, walking, biking, or rolling since last year’s day of remembrance.
A paper calendar (Photo by Eric Rothermel on Unsplash)
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With just hours left to cast ballots, Smoking Kow BBQ has maintained a commanding lead throughout the two-week voting period, capturing nearly 32% of the vote with 617 supporters rallying behind their smoky specialties. The popular spot has clearly struck a chord with local diners craving authentic pulled pork and tender brisket.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins in Council Chambers, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Tuesday, July 29, the 210th day of 2025. There are 155 days left in the year.
☀️ Today’s weather: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97 degrees. Heat index values as high as 104. Light and variable wind. Partly cloudy tonight, with a low around 77 degrees. Light south wind.
Photo of Alexandria Aces advancing to 2025 Cal Ripken Sr. League Championship Series (Photo provided by Newport Gulls)
The Bethesda Big Train defeated the Alexandria Aces 15-3 Monday night at Frank Mann Field to sweep the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Championship Series and claim their third consecutive title.
The Big Train won their 12th championship in franchise history and fourth in five seasons with the two-game sweep. They opened the series with a 10-4 victory Sunday in Game 1.
Alexandria Library Director Rose T. Dawson (r) and John Page, Chair of the BCALA Awards Committee. (via Alexandria Library)
Alexandria Library Director Rose T. Dawson received the prestigious Trailblazers Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association at the organization’s annual conference in Philadelphia last month.
The award represents the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s highest honor, presented every five years to recognize pioneering contributions that have “blazed a trail” in the library profession. Dawson became the first black director of the Alexandria Library when she took the position in 2008.
