The Mount Vernon Avenue/Arlington Ridge Road bridge between Arlington and Alexandria will be closed during upcoming construction beginning Saturday (May 16).
The bridge will be fully closed in both directions during construction hours from Saturday, May 16 to Saturday, May 23. Closures will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. There will be no construction or bridge closure on Sunday, May 17.
The Alexandria City School Board unanimously approved an amended memorandum of understanding with the Alexandria Police Department last Thursday (May 7) to provide school resource officers at the city’s high school and two middle schools.
The previous MOU between ACPS and APD, approved in June 2023, was set to expire June 30. The school system continued using the 2023–2025 MOU, which was extended several times while the new agreement was being revised. The updated MOU was approved without discussion and now goes to City Council for approval.
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.
Here are the basic features of wills and trusts:
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.
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…)
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On May 11, 1749, colonial Governor William Gooch designated sixty acres of land adjacent to a small bay along the Potomac River in Northern Virginia as the site for a new settlement to be called Alexandria … John West, Fairfax County surveyor, assisted by 17-year-old George Washington, laid out 60 acres for creation of the new town and lots were auctioned off in July 1749.” [Historic Alexandria]
Chamber ALX to Host City Council Breakfast — “Join us for an inside look at Alexandria’s future as City Council members unpack the newly adopted City budget, highlight key investments, and share updates on major initiatives already underway. Learn how local priorities are shaping decisions and driving progress across neighborhoods, services, and community development efforts.” [Chamber ALX]
Alexandria City Public Schools staff are decrying the short notice given over an increase to their health insurance premiums, just a day before the month-long open enrollment period.
In an April 30 email, thousands of ACPS staff and retirees were told that health insurance premium rates will increase by 16% for UnitedHealthcare customers and by 8.9% for Kaiser Permanente customers, and that the changes will result in higher employee contributions. Employees who don’t go through the open enrollment process by 11:59 p.m. May 31 will lose their healthcare coverage.
Join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon at the BlackRock Center for the Arts as Cruise Planners Beth & Rod present a special travel-inspired matinee featuring the beloved film Under the Tuscan Sun.
Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Lorelai is looking for a new home.
The 67-pound, two-year-old pup with a reddish-brown coat also likes to take her stuffed animals on walks, according to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Lorelai came to AWLA’s shelter at 4101 Eisenhower Avenue as a stray.
The Alexandria City School Board honored the school system’s 2026 Principal and Teacher of the Year during its meeting last night (Thursday).
This year’s accolades were bestowed to Jeanette Vinson, principal of George Washington Middle School, and Deedra Robinson, an educator at Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School. The School Board celebrated their dedication while recognizing teachers of the year from every public school in Alexandria.
When the weekend arrives, brunch has become a staple for Alexandrians looking to enjoy a meal out. The city is home to a variety of restaurants serving everything from eggs Benedict and omelets to chicken and waffles and French toast.
Here are the nominees for “Best Brunch Spot in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your go-to brunch? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for the Best Lawn Care Service in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Breakfast Spots in Alexandria. The results are now official:
The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a voter-approved Democratic congressional redistricting plan, delivering another major setback to the party in a nationwide battle against Republicans for an edge in this year’s midterm elections.
The court ruled 4-3 that the state’s Democratic-led legislature violated procedural requirements when it placed the constitutional amendment on the ballot to authorize mid-decade redistricting. Voters narrowly approved the amendment on April 21, but the court’s ruling renders the vote’s result meaningless.
Alexandria will host a pre-construction meeting on Monday (May 11) ahead of several months of planned construction on a section of Route 1 in Old Town.
The city says that its South Patrick Street Median Improvement Project will “improve pedestrian safety and improve connectivity between the Southwest Quadrant neighborhood and Old Town Alexandria east of South Patrick Street (US Route 1).” The project, totaling nearly $4.3 million, is expected to break ground on June 1 and wrap up in late January 2027, according to a meeting description.
