News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Feb 20, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Friday 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 — Feb 20, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Measles case may have led to exposures at Alexandria office building (595 views)
  2. ACPS board member Booz visits Minneapolis to create ICE response resources for schools (427 views)
  3. Proposed parking removal, bike lanes on Braddock Road spur debate before traffic board review (271 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Alexandria Health Department advises of measles case at more N. Va. locations (2710 views)
  2. Carlyle restaurant ‘Whiskey & Oyster’ plans to close permanently at the end of the month (2527 views)
  3. City Council candidates spar in second debate before Democratic firehouse primary (2255 views)
  4. Democratic City Council candidates lay out differences in first forum in Del Ray (2006 views)
  5. No injuries reported after overnight fire and evacuation at Landmark high-rise (1445 views)
  6. Daniel O’Connell’s celebrating 20th anniversary in Old Town this month (1196 views)
  7. Spanish immersion child care to open at Landmark Mall redevelopment (1181 views)
  8. Listing of the Day: 1700 Dewitt Ave (1148 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛅️ Saturday’s forecast

The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny with temperatures reaching around 53°F and a northwest wind at 6 mph. For Saturday night, anticipate a 50% chance of rain starting after 1am, which may mix with snow after 4am. The sky will become increasingly cloudy as temperatures drop to approximately 35°F, accompanied by a light northeast wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”
– Alexander Graham Bell

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

News

Visit Alexandria launches locally inspired ‘Unlock Your Story’ marketing campaign

By James Cullum
Alexandria town crier Ben Fiore-Walker rings in the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Visit Alexandria‘s newest marketing campaign is tapping into the stories behind businesses, tourist attractions and unique personalities.

From now until June, the Unlock Your Story campaign will tell stories all over Alexandria, focusing on the city’s history, small attractions, and unique small businesses, artists and entrepreneurs. The promotion follows Visit Alexandria’s Best Kept Shh! campaign, which launched three years ago and positioned Alexandria as the region’s best kept secret.

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News

Proposed parking removal, bike lanes on Braddock Road spur debate before traffic board review

By Emily Leayman
The location of Braddock Road parking and lane changes approved by the Traffic and Parking Board (City of Alexandria)

Some residents have pushed back on proposed lane changes and parking removals on Braddock Road ahead of the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board’s review on Monday.

The changes are being proposed on the major route between West Street near the Braddock Road Metro and Russell Road in the Del Ray and Rosemont neighborhoods. The city has worked on the Braddock Road Corridor Improvements project since last year as a response to concerns from Alex311, the 2023 Safe Routes to School walk audit at George Washington Middle School and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Go to Proposed parking removal, bike lanes on Braddock Road spur debate before traffic board review Read more
News

African American History Division director discusses ways to explore Alexandria’s vast history

By ALXnow.com
Alexandria Black History Museum (image via City of Alexandria)

Audrey Davis, the first director of the African American History Division in the Office of Historic Alexandria, is at the forefront of preserving and showcasing the city’s Black history.

Black History Month has brought music, historical discussions and exhibits, displays of student art and so much more to Alexandria this month, commemorating a vast history spanning hundreds of years, from the 18th century to the Civil Rights Movement and present day.

Go to African American History Division director discusses ways to explore Alexandria’s vast history Read more
News

Two Alexandria students honored for winning George Washington essay contest

By James Cullum
Garrett Wagman of George Washington Middle School (on left), a George Washington re-enactor and David De Costa of Bishop Ireton High School won the 2026 George Washington Legacy Foundation Essay Contest, and were presented with $500 checks at the annual Friendship Firehouse breakfast in Old Town, Feb. 16, 2026 (courtesy photo)

Two Alexandria students were recently awarded $500 prizes for their submissions to the 2026 George Washington Legacy Foundation Essay Contest.

Garrett Wagman of George Washington Middle School and David De Costa of Bishop Ireton High School won the middle school and high school contests, which were open to all students in the city. This year’s 700-to-1,000-word essay contest focused on America’s 250th anniversary and Washington’s role in uniting the colonies.

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News

ACPS board member Booz visits Minneapolis to create ICE response resources for schools

By James Cullum
Alexandria School Board Member Kelly Carmichael Booz in Minneapolis, Minnesota (courtesy image)

Alexandria City School Board member Kelly Carmichael Booz visited Minnesota last week as part of a project to inform educators on how to respond to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.

Booz, who is from Minneapolis, visited the Twin Cities from Feb. 9-13, in the wake of the fatal ICE shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good and the widely reported drawdown of ICE agents there. Her project, a report for the American Federation of Teachers, aims to offer “resources and trainings” for school districts and unions on what to do when ICE enters their communities, she told ALXnow.

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News

ACPS board approves $406M budget, but uncertainty remains over city funding

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria School Board meeting in 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board approved the school division’s 2027 budget yesterday (Thursday), but challenges surrounding city funding and employee health care costs remain before the final version is adopted in June.

The bulk of the Alexandria City Public Schools’ $406.5 million combined funds budget includes the $374.5 million operating budget, as well as school nutrition funds, grants and a special projects fund. The operating budget itself is a 3.7% increase from the last budget.

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News

Measles case may have led to exposures at Alexandria office building

By Katie Taranto
2800 Eisenhower Avenue (via Google Maps)

An Alexandria office building is one of several potential measles exposure sites in Northern Virginia confirmed by state health officials last night (Thursday).

People in the office building, located at 2800 Eisenhower Avenue, could have been exposed to measles between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The office was reported as an exposure site in connection with two new measles cases in the region.

Go to Measles case may have led to exposures at Alexandria office building Read more
Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Drako, a playful companion

By Katie Taranto
Drako (courtesy of AWLA)

Meet Drako, a one-year-old pup at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria who is ready to explore the world with a new family.

Drako “would be a lovely companion on weekend road-trips and sniffy neighborhood walks,” an AWLA volunteer wrote. He’s also confident and easygoing around other dogs, and “never passed on making a new friend,” according to his pet profile.

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