News

While thousands of mailed absentee ballots remain uncounted, Alexandria Democrats declared victory on election night.

Mayor-elect Alyia Gaskins said that when the provisional and mail-in absentee votes are tallied that the city’s Democratic candidates will make up the seven-person City Council.


News

Alexandria City Council Member Alyia Gaskins made history tonight by becoming the first Black woman elected mayor of the city.

Gaskins was surrounded by her City Council colleagues and Democratic supporters as she accepted the results at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray.


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

Voting lines aren’t long in Alexandria, and more than 66% of the city’s registered voters have already cast their ballots in the 2024 general election.

As of noon, 17,813 ballots were cast across the city’s 32 precincts. There were also 47,967 voters who voted early. The city’s registrar predicts an 80% turnout.


Event

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


News

Men claiming to be volunteers for Republican 8th District candidate Jerry Torres distributed fake sample ballots with the Arlington County Democratic Committee logo at at least one Alexandria polling location today.

The sample ballots — distributed outside of John Adams Elementary School — have all Democratic candidates marked except for Torres in the 8th District race, though Torres said the ballots did not come from his campaign.


News

About 80% of Alexandria voters are expected to turn out this Election Day, according to the city’s General Registrar and Director of Elections.

Registrar Angie Turner said that 80% of the city’s 99,369 registered voters are expected to vote.


News

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: Fog will clear by 8am, followed by mostly cloudy skies that will gradually become sunny, with temperatures reaching around 74°F. Expect a south wind at 5-13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 60°F and south wind of approximately 9 mph.


News

After nearly a year of campaigning, City Council Member Alyia Gaskins said on election day that she’s ready to be the next mayor of Alexandria.

Gaskins won the three-way Democratic primary for mayor in June, and faces no opposition in the general election. She will be the first Black woman elected mayor of the city.


News

Tired? There’s a new specialty coffee roaster in Old Town.

After launching at area farmers markets last year, Hypergoat Coffee Roasters formally opened at 215 N. Payne Street in August. The new business is the culmination of a decade-long hobby for married owners Rodrigo Ramos and Deborah Joos Tafner de Moraes.