Alexandria West

11 students earn high school diplomas at Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center

Published June 17, 2026 at 2:45PM

Graduation day at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center, June 17, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Eleven residents at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center in Alexandria’s West End marked a significant milestone as they were presented with their high school diplomas today (Wednesday).

The graduation event was attended by family members, NVJDC residents and staff, as well as City Councilwoman Sandy Marks and Alexandria City School Board Chair Michelle Rief. The jail’s state-operated school is managed by Alexandria City Public Schools, which provides licensed staff to teach 10-to-18-year-old children brought in from across Alexandria, Arlington County and the city of Falls Church.

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UPDATED: Driver arrested after stabbing following hit-and-run in Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2026 at 2:10AM | Updated June 15, 2026 at 8:44AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A man was stabbed in the abdomen and neck in Arlandria early Saturday morning (June 13) after an apparent hit-and-run, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

The 20-year-old victim called 911 around 12:45 a.m. to report that he was stabbed by the driver of a white Chevrolet cargo van in the 800 block of W. Glebe Road, and that the driver fled the scene. The victim told police the suspect’s Virginia license plate number, and a license plate reader tracked the van nearly four miles away in the 4800 block of Kenmore Avenue in the city’s West End.

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Increased building heights, more housing areas considered in Duke Street Land Use Plan

By James Cullum

Published May 27, 2026 at 3:45PM

Traffic on Duke Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Increased building height allowances and new areas for housing and open space along Duke Street are among the changes Alexandria staff plan to propose in the updated Duke Street Land Use Plan.

Alexandria City Council received an update Tuesday (May 26) on the plan, which will guide city officials in the development of the Duke Street corridor from the former Landmark Mall to Alexandria Union Station. The proposal includes areas deemed “opportunity sites” in industrial areas that city staff wants to redevelop, adding more housing supply and open space, with building heights of up to 150 feet.

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JUST IN: Jury finds Alexandria man guilty of manslaughter in West End shooting

By James Cullum

Published May 26, 2026 at 2:05PM | Updated June 4, 2026 at 2:30PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A jury has found Damontie Earl James guilty of voluntary manslaughter when he shot and killed his former roommate Kory Anding in an apartment in Alexandria’s West End.

James, 27, has been held without bond since his arrest following the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Kory Anding at James’ sister’s apartment at 3450 Berkeley Street on Oct. 25, 2025. Anding was the father of two children with James’ sister. James claimed he shot Anding in self-defense. James was also found guilty of unlawful shooting in an occupied building and not guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a murder.

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NEW: Alexandria man claims self-defense in fatal West End apartment shooting

By James Cullum

Published May 22, 2026 at 11:15AM | Updated May 22, 2026 at 5:26PM

A male was shot in an apartment at 3450 Berkeley Street on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

This story has been updated to provide the latest timeline on the jury verdict.

A 27-year-old Alexandria man charged with first-degree murder in the death of his former roommate has pleaded not guilty and now awaits a jury’s verdict.

Around Town

Alexandria’s annual community cookout series launches today

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2026 at 10:00AM

Community Cookouts (via City of Alexandria)

The 19th annual Alexandria Community Cookout series launches today (Thursday), bringing weekly events with free food, activities and giveaways across the city.

More than 50 city agencies and nonprofits are participating in the weekly cookouts, which are expected to reach thousands of Alexandria residents this spring and summer. The first cookout, delayed by yesterday’s weather, will take place on its rain date today at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center from 6-7:30 p.m.

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Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark marks topping-out milestone

By James Cullum

Published April 14, 2026 at 11:45AM

Inova Hospital Center staff and public officials at the topping out ceremony of Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark, April 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark’s sprawling new complex reached a milestone on Monday, as the final structural beam was put into place.

Current and former city leaders joined Inova’s top executives for the topping-out ceremony, which was an hour after the topping out of the Inova Franconia-Springfield Healthplex (6361 Walker Lane) in the Franconia area of Fairfax County.

Around Town

Code Ninjas Alexandria to host casting call for Netflix show

By Emily Leayman

Published April 9, 2026 at 10:30AM

Code Ninjas Alexandria will host a casting call for children's Netflix competition series "Schooled" (courtesy of Code Ninjas Alexandria)

An Alexandria learning center has been chosen to host an open casting call for a new Netflix children’s competition show.

Code Ninjas Alexandria will serve as a casting site for “Schooled,” a national competition series created by Mark Rober, a former NASA engineer who worked on the Mars Curiosity rover and now runs an engineering school called CrunchLabs Academy.

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Police investigate after shots fired in Alexandria West

By Emily Leayman

Published April 3, 2026 at 11:15AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

No injuries have been reported after gunshots were fired in the Alexandria West neighborhood yesterday (Thursday), according to police.

Officers responded to the shots fired report in the area of Reading Avenue and Winston Court around 7 p.m. Police radio dispatches indicate officers received multiple calls about a group of males wearing hoodies, other dark-colored clothing and ski masks fleeing the area of the Shops at Mark Center shopping center. One caller reported hearing at least three gunshots.

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Alexandria asks NVTA for nearly $37M to fund transportation projects

By James Cullum

Published April 2, 2026 at 1:45PM

Traffic backup heading eastbound along Duke Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria is seeking more than $36 million to fund two transportation projects as part of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority‘s six-year program.

The total funding amount in NVTA’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Six Year Program is $1.265 billion. Alexandria’s share includes $15 million for bus rapid transit improvements in the second phase of the Duke Street Transitway, and $21.86 million for pedestrian and bicycle improvements at Eisenhower Avenue and S. Van Dorn Street. NVTA adopts its six-year program every two years, allocating regional tax revenues to multimodal transportation projects.

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City Council candidates to debate Wednesday in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum

Published March 23, 2026 at 12:30PM

(Left to right) City Council candidates Sandy Marks, Frank Fannon and Alison O'Connell (via West End Business Association)

Three candidates vying for an open seat on City Council will participate in a forum Wednesday (March 25) in Alexandria’s West End.

ALXnow is moderating the West End Business Association forum, which will be held at Feru Bar and Restaurant (512 S. Van Dorn Street, Unit D) from 5-7 p.m. The free event is open to the public and will feature Democratic candidate Sandy Marks and independent candidates Alison O’Connell and former City Councilman Frank Fannon.