Around Town

Meet Carbunco, a small dog who brings big energy.

Carbunco would make an ideal companion for families looking for a smaller dog. This dog just shy of 2 years old has a black coat with white markings and weighs 13 pounds.  He walks well on a leash and will happily chase a ball, play with toys or follow his favorite people around.


News

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt will resign on Oct. 1, the Alexandria City School Board announced Thursday night.

The announcement was made during Thursday night’s School Board meeting. Kay-Wyatt will continue in the role into the new school year as new school attendance boundaries are implemented at Alexandria City Public Schools.


Sponsored

Many people who look into estate planning ask, “What is the difference between wills and trusts?” While both wills and trusts deal with estate planning, they serve different purposes. In this post, the legal team of PJI Law, PLC, estate planning lawyers from Fairfax, VA, outline the key principles of wills, trusts, and their role in asset protection.

Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell

Here are the basic features of wills and trusts:

A Will

  • Only comes into effect once the will maker is deceased
  • States who will receive the decedent’s assets
  • Appoints an executor to carry out the decedent’s wishes
  • Is potentially contestable and must go through probate, a legal examination by the court

A Trust

  • Can take effect immediately after its creation
  • Allows a person or an institution (a “trustee”) to hold assets for beneficiaries
  • Can distribute property before or after the trustor’s passing
  • Can be irrevocable or revocable/changeable
  • Assets in trust generally avoid probate

While we recommend that everyone have at least a will (whether or not you also have a trust), trusts aren’t strictly necessary for all individuals. Trusts are particularly helpful for individuals who have assets that are potentially going through probate, own property across several states, or have minor children.

Wills: the Basics of Estate Planning

A will, also known as a last will and testament, is a legal document specifying how the will maker wishes to handle asset distribution and other affairs after their death. A will typically includes all of the principal’s assets, such as real estate, vehicles, and other property, and usually a list of debts. A will may also provide directions for a funeral or memorial service.

Usually, every will must go through a probate court before execution. In some states, it may be possible to avoid probate under specific conditions. Certain assets, such as insurance policies and retirement accounts, may, if planned properly, pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate. (more…)


News

Representatives Question Legality of HUD Move to Alexandria — Three Senate Democrats sent a letter to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner demanding answers by April 10 about the agency’s move from D.C. to Alexandria. [Washington Business Journal]

Van Dorn Street Bicyclist and Pedestrian Upgrades Proposed — “The City of Alexandria seeks community input on design concepts for bicycle and pedestrian improvements along S Van Dorn Street between Eisenhower Avenue and McConnell Avenue. The core purpose of the project is to better accommodate people walking and biking along the corridor and improve safety, comfort, and connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians.” [City of Alexandria]


News

Good Thursday 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 26, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. DEVELOPING: Hit-and-run pursuit leads to driver arrest on I-495 in Alexandria (2186 views)
  2. ACPS plans to make April election day a student holiday (1288 views)
  3. Three candidates for Alexandria City Council clash at West End forum (721 views)
  4. Del Ray’s Little Birdie aims to elevate the chicken sandwich this June (647 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

🌧️ Friday’s forecast

Expect rain throughout the day with temperatures dropping to 49°F by 5 PM and north winds up to 23 mph. There’s an 80% chance of rain, with 0.1 to 0.25 inches expected. Rain is likely in the evening, mainly before 7 PM, with skies turning partly cloudy overnight and a low of 33°F. Winds will decrease slightly to 18 mph, with a 60% chance of additional light rain. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!


News

Clear distinctions were made Wednesday night among the three candidates running in the April 21 special election for an open seat on the Alexandria City Council.

For an hour and a half on Wednesday night, Democratic candidate Sandy Marks and independent candidates Alison O’Connell and Frank Fannon discussed a wide range of topics, including taxes, the controversial bike lane proposal for Braddock Road, the pump station at Waterfront Park, federal immigration enforcement and more.


News

Speed limits on Edsall Road and S. Pickett Street in the West End will be reduced from 35 to 25 mph in April.

The reduction will apply to the full length of Edsall Road from S. Pickett Street to the city limits, and Yoakum Parkway between Stevenson Avenue and Edsall Road.


News

Alexandria spent $9.7 million on the Jan. 25 snow storm response, the bulk of which was attributed to outside contractors brought in due to the challenges of clearing “snowcrete.”

The winter storm brought about 8 inches of snow followed by hours of sleet and freezing rain that created a solid layer of ice on top. According to an after-action report presented to City Council Tuesday, contract services cost the city $8.4 million. City labor cost about $600,000, while materials, supplies, food and lodging for employees cost $700,000.


News

A hit-and-run pursuit led to a crash and driver’s subsequent arrest in the Alexandria section of the Capital Beltway this morning (Thursday), Virginia State Police say.

The crash shut down all southbound I-495 lanes near Van Dorn Street, leading to backups stretching as far as 12 miles, according to an NBC4 report.


Around Town

The owners of a popular all-day brunch restaurant in Del Ray have a new concept with chicken on their minds.

Matthew Sloan and Eric Brannon are currently asking the city’s permission for 10 outdoor dining seats at their new restaurant, Little Birdie. The space at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue was formerly occupied by Benny DiForza’s Pizza, which opened in February 2024 and closed last October.