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T&ES director recommends Russell Road alternative after board approves parking removals

Published August 10, 2026 at 1:45PM

Proposed area to remove on-street parking along Russell Road in Alexandria’s Rosemont/North Ridge neighborhoods (via City of Alexandria)

After the Traffic and Parking Board approved the removal of 20 parking spaces on Russell Road near Naomi L. Brooks Elementary in July, the director of Alexandria’s Transportation and Environmental Services is proposing a different option.

First reported by Alexandria Brief, T&ES director Leah Riley proposed Alternative C, which she says will minimize parking impacts while prioritizing pedestrian safety, neighborhood concerns and the Traffic and Parking Board’s request for more parking to accommodate school staff.

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Alexandria board OKs removing 20 Russell Road parking spaces, seeks solution for ACPS staff

By Emily Leayman

Published July 28, 2026 at 2:45PM

Proposed area to remove on-street parking along Russell Road in Alexandria’s Rosemont/North Ridge neighborhoods (via City of Alexandria)

Parking changes will be coming to Russell Road near Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School after action by the Traffic and Parking Board Monday.

The Traffic and Parking Board voted 5-2 to remove 20 parking spaces in several blocks of Russell Road. Board Member Dane Lauritzen made the motion to recommend more parking space removals than city staff had proposed. Staff’s proposal would have resulted in a net loss of two parking spaces.

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Bishop Ireton campers to fill box truck for Catholic Charities summer food drive

By James Cullum

Published July 23, 2026 at 1:45PM

Summer campers at Bishop Ireton High School fill up a truck with donated food for the Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project, July 10, 2025 (courtesy of Catholic Charities)

With food costs on the rise, Bishop Ireton High School summer campers are contributing to a local charity’s goal of collecting 25,000 pounds of food every month this summer.

The drive is part of the Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project‘s “Summer for Hungry Children” campaign. On Friday (July 24), kids participating in summer camp at Bishop Ireton High School will donate canned fruit, vegetables, peanut butter and other shelf stable items.

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New ACHS principal says administrators will focus on smartphone ban and attendance

By James Cullum

Published July 15, 2026 at 3:45PM

ACHS Principal Michael Burch talks to students, parents and administrators, July 15, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With a new principal at the helm, Alexandria City High School administrators will focus their efforts this school year on chronic absenteeism and implementing Virginia’s stricter ban against smartphones and other smart devices in schools.

On Wednesday morning (July 15), new principal Michael Burch told students, parents and administrators that he’s been sending out emails about the “bell-to-bell” phone ban signed into law by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

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Police: Alexandria child with gun in backpack was left by mom at Reagan National Airport

By James Cullum

Published July 6, 2026 at 2:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

More details have been released regarding an 8-year-old child who was found with a loaded handgun in his backpack after school in the Child Protective Services office at 4850 Mark Center Drive earlier this year.

On Monday, March 2, the child was found sitting alone at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after his mother was arrested for larceny, credit card theft and assault in another area of the airport, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Titans Robotics team members protest move to smaller space at Alexandria City High School

By James Cullum

Published June 19, 2026 at 3:45PM

ACHS rising senior Charlotte Ware asks the School Board for more space for Titan Robotics, April 11, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Members of Alexandria City High School’s award-winning Titan Robotics team are protesting a decision to move the team to a new, smaller dedicated classroom space at the King Street Campus.

Last September, the award-winning Titan Robotics team was informed they would have to divide their 4,000-square-foot space next to the school gym with a new carpentry program. The move took away an area the team used to test the robot they enter in regional and national competitions. Earlier this month, the team was told by an Alexandria City Public Schools facilities administrator that the carpentry program was expanding and that Titan Robotics would be moved to an unused 1,500-square-foot classroom on the ground floor of the King Street Campus.

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

By James Cullum

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.

Around Town

State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker co-founds maternity and kids’ consignment boutique in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated June 24, 2026 at 5:57PM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker reads a proclamation at Art on the Avenue in Del Ray, Oct. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) and her business partner are launching a new maternity and children’s consignment boutique in Del Ray this weekend.

Bennett-Parker and Allie Rubinoff, who both live in Del Ray, will launch Little Chickadee with a pop-up event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (June 13) at Gustave Boulangerie (2213 Mount Vernon Avenue). Bennett-Parker said that the boutique will operate mostly online from a space above Mulberry Lane.

Around Town

Ukulele Club strikes a chord at Alexandria’s William Ramsay Elementary

By James Cullum

Published June 4, 2026 at 9:15AM

The second grade Ukulele Club at William Ramsay Elementary School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Kids are clamoring to be part of the Ukulele Club at William Ramsay Elementary School.

The nine-week after-school program for second graders only started in the spring. With the end of the school year around the corner, the 15 kids in the club are rehearsing for an upcoming school assembly and a performance in front of their parents.

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Hammond Middle School receives donation of 500 filled backpacks for families in need

By James Cullum

Published May 28, 2026 at 1:45PM

United Way National Capital Area and Enterprise Mobility donated the backpacks to Francis C. Hammond Middle School on May 28, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Francis C. Hammond Middle School received a donation of 500 new backpacks today, which will be stuffed with school supplies for when students return for the 2026-2027 school year.

United Way National Capital Area and Enterprise Mobility donated the backpacks to the Title I school. United Way’s global headquarters are located in Alexandria.

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State health officials push safe swimming pledge after young child drownings rise in 2025

By Emily Leayman

Published May 21, 2026 at 2:45PM

Person swimming (photo via Brian Matangelo/Unsplash)

After pool drownings of children 5 and under reached a five-year high last year in Virginia, state health officials are urging families to take a “safe swimming pledge” as pools open for the season.

In 2025, there were 12 accidental drownings of children aged 5 and under in Virginia — more than the nine reported over the prior three years: three in 2024, two in 2023 and four in 2022. Virginia reported 473 drownings in all bodies of water between 2020 and 2024.