Congress | ALXnow

Beyer, Herring, Ebbin launch speaking tour to combat billions in threatened federal health care cuts

Published May 30, 2025 at 12:15PM

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) at the ribbon cutting for Metro's Integrated Command and Communications Center in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood, Oct. 27, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Facing billions in federal health care cuts in Virginia, Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8) is joining Virginia House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-4) and State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) next week for three in-person panel discussions across Virginia.

The $715 billion in federal health care cuts would impact Medicaid and Planned Parenthood. The trio of Northern Virginia legislators will hold their first panel at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 2, at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke St, Alexandria). The trio will then conduct similar panels later in the day in Norfolk and Richmond.

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Gerry Connolly, a Democratic congressman and fixture of Virginia politics, dies at 75

By Olivia Diaz | Associated Press/Report For America

Published May 21, 2025 at 9:10AM | Updated May 21, 2025 at 12:10PM

FILE - Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va. listens during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 10, 2014. Connolly, a Democratic congressman and fixture of Virginia politics, has died at age 75. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Gerald “Gerry” Connolly, an outspoken Democrat who sought key reforms in the federal government while bringing transformational development to his populous Virginia district, died Wednesday. He was 75.

Connolly, who most recently held a prominent position as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, served in Congress for more than 16 years.

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Rep. Gerry Connolly steps down as top Oversight Democrat and won’t seek reelection as cancer returns

By LEAH ASKARINAM and OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press

Published April 28, 2025 at 2:13PM | Updated April 29, 2025 at 7:58AM

FILE - Ranking member Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., speaks, April 19, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia announced on Monday he is stepping down as the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight Committee and will not be seeking reelection next year due to his cancer returning, ending his long career in public life.

“The sun is setting on my time in public service,” Connolly said in a statement. “With no rancor and a full heart, I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we’ve accomplished together over 30 years.”

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 25, 2025 at 3:30PM

NVTA BRT Action Plan - Potential Network (via NVTA)

Welcome to Friday’s weekly roundup of our top stories.

With ALXnow, it’s easy to catch up on the latest news in Alexandria. This week, we focused on coverage of our local, state, and federal governments. We also reported a lot of crime, including a homicide in the city’s West End.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 14, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated April 19, 2025 at 3:13AM

Proposed renovations show a Van Leeuwen ice cream shop at 400 King Street (via City of Alexandria)

What a busy week it’s been in Alexandria.

Our top story was on big changes planned for 400 King Street in Old Town. The building takes over an entire city block and is currently home to The Alexandrian Old Town Hotel at 480 King Street and Southern restaurant King & Rye.

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Congressman Beyer warns of devastating impact of Medicaid cuts

By Ryan Belmore and James Cullum

Published March 7, 2025 at 3:47PM | Updated March 7, 2025 at 6:18PM

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (center) hosting a roundtable discussion on the potential impact of Medicaid cuts, from his Old Town office, along with Del. Mark Sickles (D-17), on left, with Colleen Leners, the regional director of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Freddy Mejia, a policy director at The Commonwealth Institute and Mary Lee Ruby, March 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) is sounding the alarm about proposed Medicaid cuts that could have devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of Virginians who rely on the program for healthcare.

Beyer hosted a roundtable at his Alexandria office Friday with elected leaders, healthcare providers, advocates, and affected Virginians to discuss the potential impact of nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts proposed in a budget resolution passed by House Republicans last week.

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Mayor Alyia Gaskins says Alexandria needs to take ‘bold swings at economic development’

By James Cullum

Published January 6, 2025 at 2:30PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks after taking the oath of office, Jan. 2, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Without getting into specifics, Alexandria’s new Mayor Alyia Gaskins says that the city has to be intentional and take “big, bold swings at economic development.”

More than 80% of the city’s revenue comes from residential real estate taxes, versus about 19% from commercial properties. The issue was a major political conversation from council candidates leading up to the Democratic primary in June and general election last month.

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80% voter turnout expected on Election Day in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published November 5, 2024 at 10:02AM

Voting line at 6 a.m. at Cameron Station, Nov. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

About 80% of Alexandria voters are expected to turn out this Election Day, according to the city’s General Registrar and Director of Elections.

Registrar Angie Turner said that 80% of the city’s 99,369 registered voters are expected to vote.

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More than 15,000 Alexandrians have voted early so far in the 2024 general election

By James Cullum

Published October 17, 2024 at 3:35PM | Updated October 17, 2024 at 9:31PM

A voting sign at the Alexandria Registrar of Voters, 132 N. Royal Street, in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

With less than three weeks until election day on Nov. 5, more than 15,000 Alexandria residents have cast early and by-mail ballots, according to the city’s Office of Voter Registration and Elections.

On the ballot this year are nominees for president and vice president, U.S. Senate, Congress, Alexandria’s mayor, City Council and School Board.

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Alexandria charity gets $1.9 million in federal funds for substance abuse and mental health services

By James Cullum

Published October 9, 2024 at 9:00AM

Counterfeit OxyContin with fentanyl, also known as 'blues' (via Drug Enforcement Agency/Flickr)

An Alexandria charity has been awarded $1.9 million in federal funds to train behavioral health professionals to work with people suffering from racial disparities, drug addicts, and students with mental health disorders.

The funding was announced today in a joint statement by Virginia’s U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. It’s part of a $2.2 million package to fund education programs in Alexandria, Richmond and Harrisonburg.

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Pro-Palestine group hounds Alexandria Democrats and Sen. Tim Kaine at Torpedo Factory gala

By James Cullum

Published May 24, 2024 at 2:45PM | Updated May 24, 2024 at 7:15PM

Sen. Tim Kaine appeals to Alexandria Democrats at the ADC Rock the Blue Gala at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town, May 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After briefly shutting down a City Council meeting earlier this month, a group of pro-Palestine residents protested a gala headlined by Sen. Tim Kaine in Old Town.

Outside of the Alexandria Democratic Committee’s fundraiser gala at the Torpedo Factory Art Center Wednesday night, members of Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights chanted for lawmakers inside to publicly support a ceasefire resolution in Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas.