News

ARHA wants community input on Ladrey Senior High-Rise project in Old Town North

By James Cullum
A rendering of the Ladrey High-Rise on Fairfax Street (via ARHA)

Residents and neighbors of the Ladrey Senior High-Rise in Old Town North will get a chance later this month to chime in its proposed redevelopment.

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) wants to demolish the existing 11-story, 170-unit affordable public housing apartment building at 300 Wythe Street and the former ARHA headquarters at 600 N. Fairfax Street and replace them with an L-shaped 270-unit, six-story affordable building at Fairfax and Wythe Streets. It is also proposed to be further reduced to five stories at Fairfax and Pendleton Streets and have an underground parking garage with 120 spaces.

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News

Alexandria City Public Schools report shows progress in standardized testing

By Vernon Miles
George Mason Elementary School Principal Christopher Finan with students on the first day of school, August 21, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The test results are in. For the most part, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) students did better on Standards of Learning (SOL) testing this year compared to the previous school year.

It’s a small but positive sign of progress at a time when the school division sorely needs some good news.

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News

Notes: New Woodrow Wilson Bridge Express Lanes have Metro-compatibility in mind

By ALXnow.com
Woodrow Wilson Bridge Express Lanes (image via VDOT)

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

⛅️ Today’s weather: Expect a mostly sunny day with a high near 92°F and a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Fog may be present before 9am, with calm winds becoming south 5-8 mph in the afternoon. On Friday night, the chance of precipitation increases to 60%, with showers and thunderstorms likely between 9pm and 3am. The night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 71°F and southeast winds of 5-7 mph. New rainfall amounts range between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

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Announcement

Real stories. Real people. Real connection. A community conversation on mental health.

By Rock Recovery

Mental health shapes how we lead, love, work, parent, communicate, and show up in the world—yet too often, these conversations stay hidden.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, join local nonprofit Rock Recovery for Strength Not Stigma—an unforgettable evening of honest conversation, community, and impact.

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News

EXCLUSIVE: City manager’s office stripped grievance panel’s authority amid police hiring controversy

By James Cullum
The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

For the last year, Alexandria Police Department Capt. Monica Lisle has been embroiled in a promotion controversy. 

Lisle, who is a white, gay woman, says that the hiring process for the open assistant police chief position was faulty from the start. After going through the city’s administrative procedures to contest her disqualification from promotion, a grievance panel determined that she’d been harmed in the hiring process and ordered her promotion.

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News

What’s Up in Alexandria This Weekend: September 8-10

By Ryan Belmore

(Updated 4:15 p.m.) The celebration of all things cocktail kicks off on Friday with the start of Old Town Cocktail Week across Alexandria. There will be seminars, themed events, and celebrations to engage with local establishments and the burgeoning cocktail culture during Old Town Cocktail Week.

For the little ones, and kids of all ages, the city is bringing its vehicle fleet out to Chinquapin Park for Tons of Trucks 2023 on Saturday.

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News

Fall Festival planned at Southern Towers this weekend with music, food and a free check-up

By Vernon Miles
Southern Towers residents wait for the bus. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Alexandria is hosting Fall Festival this weekend with a moon bounce, hot food, and everyone’s favorite fair activity: free health screenings.

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is leading the event in the parking lot of Southern Towers (5067 Seminary Road) from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9.

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News

Alexandria City Council to consider permanently allowing big events on consecutive weekends

By James Cullum
Handing out flags at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 3, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After a busy spring and summer, the Alexandria City Council will consider permanently changing its special event policy to allow for large events with 500+ people on consecutive weekends.

City Council approved a waiver earlier this summer, as well as last year, allowing for large events on consecutive weekends. They will consider the permanent change in a meeting on Tuesday (Sept. 12).

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