At a City Council meeting last week, City Council member Abdel Elnoubi and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley introduced a proposal that could change the way Alexandria City High School students get to school.
Elnoubi and Bagley, with the unanimous backing of the City Council, asked staff to explore the utilization of the DASH bus network to transport for high school students, eliminating the need for school buses at the high school level.
ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at Mount Vernon Community School on Nov. 15, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt will unveil her fiscal year 2026 budget this week, and the city is asking the school division to keep the budget increase over last year’s budget modest.
In his budget presentation to the City Council in November, City Manager Jim Parajon outlined a 2%, or $5.5 million, combined funds budget increase for ACPS amounting to $278.5 million.
This recurring Most and Least Expensive Home feature is sponsored by Adrianna Vallario of Compass. Based in the North Ridge area of Alexandria City, Adrianna is more than just a real estate agent – she is a trusted advisor, relocation expert, and community advocate.
In October 2026, 26 detached homes sold, 50 condos sold, and 41 townhomes sold. Detached home sales are down 40% when compared to the same time period last year, condos are down 52%, and townhomes are down 18%.
Student at new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus (photo via Virginia Tech News/Instagram)
Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunny conditions and a high of about 21 degrees, but be prepared for wind chill values as low as -3. Northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph will become lighter in the afternoon. The night will see partly cloudy skies and a low around 12 degrees, accompanied by calm winds.
Reserve your spot for an after-hour event with multi-disciplinary artist Sky Hopinka, Thursday, Nov. 5, 6–9 PM. Experience monumental nature-inspired artworks in the Water’s Edgeexhibition, make your own artwork to take home at the National Museum of the American Indian.
Sky Hopinka’s photo and video art—including This is a mnemonic for Truman Lowe in the museum’s collection—shares Truman Lowe’s interest in Indigenous homelands, cultural knowledge, and traditional practices. Hopinka contributed to the exhibition catalog for Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe, writing on Lowe’s lasting impact on his work. Hopinka joins the museum for this special after hours event featuring a screening of three of his short video works followed by a discussion with Rebecca Head Trautmann, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art and exhibition curator, along with art-making activities, and time to enjoy Lowe’s work currently on view. Sky Hopinka has been widely recognized for his experimental short films and photo-based works. A MacArthur Fellow, Guggenheim Fellow, and Forge Project Fellow, his work has been shown in major film festivals, museums, and international exhibitions and is in numerous prominent museum collections. Hopinka is currently an assistant professor in the department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies at Harvard University.
Cora Kelly Elementary School, 3600 Commonwealth Avenue, on Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Alexandria City Public Schools will open two-hours later tomorrow (Wednesday) than usual thanks to extreme cold temperatures.
Alexandria and its neighbors are under a cold weather advisory tonight and tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service warned of wind chill around five degrees below zero.
If you are interested in learning more about Continuing Care Retirement Communities (also known as "Life Plan Communities"), whether for yourself or for a loved one, please join our free workshop on Wednesday, November 4 from 5:00-7:00 at the Arlington office of Long & Foster. We are hosting this workshop in conjunction with Lisa Bates of the Williamsburg Landing community, which is a particularly excellent model of the way these communities work, and one you may wish to consider!
– How do Continuing Care Retirement Communities work? – What do they offer? – How much do they cost, and what are the financial models offered? – How do you how to evaluate them, and choose the one that's right for you? – How do you make a plan for a move like this? – How do you handle a lifetime's worth of possessions?
A DASH bus on King Street near Alexandria City High School, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Alexandria City High School (ACHS) students’ days of taking the school division’s yellow school buses to and from school may be numbered.
A memo from new City Council member Abdel Elnoubi and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley asks city staff to explore the feasibility of transitioning transportation of high school students to the city’s DASH bus network.
Chalk messages adorn concrete barriers outside Judy Lowe Park, which is near the home of Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)
Del Ray officially lost one of its most famous residents this week, as Vice President JD Vance moved from his Del Ray home to the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory. The move also means that Judy Lowe Neighborhood Park at 1 E. Del Ray, which is next to Vance’s former home has reopened to the public.
The reopening of the park was announced on the city website. Moving trucks were spotted by an ALXnow tipster on Saturday, Jan. 18 — two days before the inauguration.
S'mores arrive at Cameron Run Regional Park, Jan. 21, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
A truck containing thousands of boxes of S’mores wouldn’t start this morning, holding up the annual troop pickup of cookie orders for the Girl Scouts Nations Capital at Cameron Run Regional Park (4001 Eisenhower Avenue).
Not to worry — the S’mores truck officially arrived and Girl Scout cookies of all varieties can now be found in and around Alexandria.
A train arrives at the King St-Old Town Metro station, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
❄️ Today’s weather: Flurries may occur after 10am, accompanied by cloudy skies and a high near 23, with a northwest wind at 3 to 7 mph. On Tuesday night, there is a slight chance of snow showers before midnight, followed by gradual clearing, a low around 9, and wind chill values as low as -3. Northwest winds will increase to 5-10 mph in the evening, and the chance of precipitation is 20%.
Attention all runners, joggers, and Army Navy fans!
Come join us on Saturday, 12 December 2026 for a fun run before the big game. The Army Navy Football Game is one of the greatest rivalries in college football, and what better way to kick it off than with a fun run sponsored by FAOA. FAOA supports active, retired, and civilian Foreign Area Officers around the globe. All proceeds go directly to funding FAOA programs to help and support our members.