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Alexandria’s teen pregnancy rate falling but numbers rising for Hispanic girls

Published July 31, 2023 at 2:35PM | Updated July 31, 2023 at 3:11PM

Alexandria's teen pregnancy rate (via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 3 p.m.) Alexandria’s teen pregnancy rate is falling, although Hispanic girls are disproportionately high, according to new data presented by the city.

The numbers are on the rise for Hispanic girls, with 22.4 pregnancies for every 1,000 female ages 15 to 17 reported in 2021, according to the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), part of the Department of Community & Human Services. That’s an 8% increase from the previous year, but still below the 26 pregnancies per 1,000 females reported in 2020.

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Tonight: Meet the two Mount Vernon Community School Principal finalists on Zoom

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2023 at 3:30PM

Mount Vernon Community School at 2601 Commonwealth Avenue in Del Ray (via Google Maps)

Tonight, residents can meet the two final candidates for the principal position at Mount Vernon Community School (2601 Commonwealth Avenue) on Zoom.

After tonight’s meet-and-greet, the finalists to lead the Del Ray school will interview with Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt on Thursday and the new principal is expected to be hired by the School Board in a special meeting on Thursday, July 20.

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Waldo is hiding in 25 Alexandria businesses

By James Cullum

Published July 7, 2023 at 10:45AM

Win prizes if you can spot Waldo at 25 Alexandria businesses (staff photo by James Cullum)

Where’s Waldo? Kids and parents with eagle eyes can spot him this month in 25 Alexandria businesses.

After you find Waldo at 10 businesses, spotters can collect prizes at Hooray for Books (1555 King Street) in Old Town. Collectors with at least 20 stamps on a passport (found at any participating business) can claim a Waldo temporary tattoo and store coupon.

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Sen. Tim Kaine visits Campagna Early Learning Center in Alexandria, talks debt ceiling fight

By James Cullum

Published May 26, 2023 at 3:00PM

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) tours the Campagna Center''s Early Learning Center at St. James on May 26, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia’s junior U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine was in Alexandria today to discuss early childhood education and said that the current debt ceiling fight in Washington should be wrapped up by the June 1 deadline.

Kaine and his staff took a field trip of sorts today, starting with a roundtable discussion in Arlington on the fentanyl crisis, followed by a tour of the Campagna Early Learning Center (5140 Fillmore Avenue) in Alexandria and ending with a meeting with women leaders in Falls Church.

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ACPS says long lines at high school are part of adjustments to new security measures

By Vernon Miles

Published May 16, 2023 at 3:30PM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) said long lines to get into Alexandria City High School (ACHS) are part of the growing pains as the system adjusts to new security measures.

Earlier this year, ACPS approved new security measures including metal detectors and handheld wand devices. The security measures were in response to several security issues at the school in recent years. Earlier this year, a teacher at ACHS’ Minnie Howard Campus seized a handgun from a student.

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ACPS unveils new two-year agreement with police department for school resource officers

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2023 at 3:30PM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

After years in development, a new agreement was released between Alexandria City Public Schools and the Alexandria Police Department to provide school resource officers (SROs) at the city’s high school and middle schools.

The new memorandum of understanding between ACPS and APD has been a long time coming. SROs were defunded by the City Council in last year’s budget, and Alexandria City Public Schools spent the first few months of the 2021-2022 school year without the officers in its high school and middle schools. The officers were returned after ACPS pleaded with Council for their return in the wake of multiple incidents with weapons in schools.

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Alexandria City Council wants to incentivize locals and businesses to get private security cameras

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated April 27, 2023 at 4:11PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Personal security cameras, speed cameras in school zones, summer youth employment programs and eviction prevention funding are just a few of the final additions included in the fiscal year 2024 budget by the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday.

Council approved funding a $20,000 program to encourage businesses and homeowners with a “small incentive” to set up security cameras to deter crime, as well as increase their coordination with the Alexandria Police Department.

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Alexandria Police unveil strategy to combat crime surge

By James Cullum

Published April 26, 2023 at 3:30PM

Suspect arrested after shooting near Braddock Road Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

Adding police presence to high-crime areas, putting more cops in communities and strategically placing mobile camera units are just a few of the initial strategies that the Alexandria Police Department is employing to confront a crime surge.

APD Assistant Chief Easton McDonald briefed City Council on the uptick on Tuesday night, and also said that there is an increase in juvenile crime and crimes being committed by young people.

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Survey: Majority of Alexandria students, teachers and parents support metal detectors in schools

By James Cullum

Published March 13, 2023 at 1:30PM

Advanced metal detectors will be used for a pilot program in two Alexandria City Public Schools locations as part of a pilot program (via ACPS)

A new survey shows widespread support for the installation of metal detectors within Alexandria City Public Schools.

There were 4,374 respondents to the survey, which ACPS opened on Feb. 24 and closed on March 8. Included in the survey were 1,181 students, 609 staff, 2,295 family/guardians, and 289 community members. About 85% of survey respondents supported using weapons screening equipment in all or some schools, and 58% of respondents want the metal detectors in every school.

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17-year-old arrested after fight at McDonald’s in the Bradlee Shopping Center

By James Cullum

Published February 6, 2023 at 10:45AM

A 17-year-old male was arrested after a fight inside the McDonald’s (3646 King Street) in the Bradlee Shopping Center on Jan. 24 (Tuesday).

The incident occurred inside the restaurant after school at around 3:30 p.m., according to the Alexandria Police Department. The teen was charged with assaulting a police officer, trespassing and obstruction of justice.

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Alexandria teens make suggestions for city to help on youth safety issues

By Vernon Miles

Published February 1, 2023 at 2:00PM

Police at the Bradlee Shopping Center where 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez was fatally stabbed on May 24, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Seven months after Luis Mejia Hernandez was fatally stabbed in a brawl at the Bradlee Shopping Center McDonald’s, the city has made some progress on putting together a series of teen-led recommendations for preventing future violence.

Some of the initial suggestions coming out of those focus group meetings, though, are a little generalized. They include things like encouraging the city to listen to youth voices more and build better partnerships.