Don Beyer | ALXnow

Rep. Beyer pushes for more AI transparency after Scarlett Johansson controversy

Published May 21, 2024 at 3:55PM

Rep. Don Beyer, of Virginia's 8th District, speaks to supporters on election night at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray, Nov. 8, 2022 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) is doubling down on a push for new transparency standards after a controversy surrounding OpenAI and actress Scarlett Johansson.

OpenAI claimed its new ChatGPT assistant, which sounded eerily similar to Johansson, wasn’t based on Johansson despite the actress saying the company previously tried to hire her for the chatbot. Further adding to evidence that it was, in fact, based on Johannsson’s voice was OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posting a one-word reference to the 2013 movie Her, which notably features Johansson playing an AI.

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Beyer votes for Ukraine funding, against Israel military aid

By ALXnow.com

Published April 23, 2024 at 3:30PM

Rep. Don Beyer, of Virginia's 8th District, speaks to supporters on election night at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray, Nov. 8, 2022 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Congressman split his votes on security funding bills for U.S. allies over the weekend.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) voted for bills to aid the defense of Ukraine, which is under Russian invasion, and Taiwan, which is under the threat of Chinese military action. He voted against defense aid for Israel, which is battling Hamas in a bloody conflict that has killed scores of civilians on both sides.

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Notes: Rep. Don Beyer enrolls at George Mason University to learn about artificial intelligence

By ALXnow.com

Published April 12, 2024 at 9:17AM

Rep. Don Beyer, of Virginia's 8th District, speaks to supporters on election night at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray, Nov. 8, 2022 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, partly sunny skies, and a high around 68. Breezy conditions will prevail, featuring a west wind at 14-24 mph and gusts up to 43 mph; there’s a 40% chance of precipitation. Friday night will see scattered showers, mainly before 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low near 52. The breeze will continue with a west wind at 21 mph and gusts reaching 39 mph, accompanied by a 30% chance of precipitation.

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Alexandria mayoral candidate Steven Peterson is a political newcomer and he’s coming out swinging

By James Cullum

Published April 5, 2024 at 10:45AM | Updated April 6, 2024 at 4:39PM

Alexandria mayoral candidate Steven Peterson with his wife, Martha (Courtesy photo)

Steven Peterson is like no other Democrat running for office in Alexandria, and he wants to be the mayor.

From his opinions on racial undertones killing the Potomac Yard arena deal to wanting to reverse a slew of zoning reforms approved last year by City Council, one thing is crystal clear: Peterson is unfiltered.

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Rep. Beyer secures federal funding for four projects in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 7, 2024 at 3:30PM

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 2, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is getting $3.5 million in federal funds to pay for public safety, transit, affordable housing and flooding infrastructure projects, Northern Virginia Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) announced today.

“Even in the minority amid a divided and chaotic Congress, I am laser focused on helping my constituents and benefitting Northern Virginia,” Beyer said in a statement.

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Check out our photos of the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published December 4, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated December 4, 2023 at 9:36PM

Santa Claus waves at the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 9:35 p.m.) It was overcast and cool — the perfect weather for the Campagna Center’s 52nd Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.

The parade is one of the most popular events in the city, bringing thousands of participants, including Irish dancers, historic reenactors and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums. It is considered the highlight of a weekend full of events.

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Ribbon cut at Metro’s new technology hub in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood

By James Cullum

Published October 27, 2023 at 2:50PM

Public officials and Metro employees cut the ribbon at the new Metro Integrated Command and Communications Center in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (staff photo by James Cullum)

Like trains pulling into a station, regional transportation leaders converged in Alexandria today to cut the ribbon at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s new technology hub, the Metro Integrated Command and Communications Center (MICC).

The new 14-story MICC, located at 2401 Mill Road in the city’s Carlyle neighborhood, will hold up to 1,400 Metro staffers, and is home to the system’s data center, cybersecurity operations, bus and rail video teams, communications, and administrative support.

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Rep. Beyer secures millions in funding for Alexandria affordable housing and police body-worn cameras

By Vernon Miles

Published December 27, 2022 at 11:45AM

The Alexandria Police Department and local non-profits are getting a federal funding boost as part of the new omnibus funding bill.

Rep. Don Beyer (D) who represents the 8th District highlighted a few of the benefits to Alexandria in the FY 2023 omnibus bill approved on Friday.

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Inova Alexandria Hospital celebrates 150th anniversary

By James Cullum

Published December 12, 2022 at 4:00PM

(Left to right) Mayor Justin Wilson, Council Member Alyia Gaskins, Inova Alexandria Hospital President Dr. Rina Bansal, Inova President Dr. J. Stephen Jones, Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, Vice Mayor Amy Jackson, Rep. Don Beyer and Council Member Canek Aguirre at the 150th birthday celebration for Inova Alexandria Hospital. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Inova Alexandria Hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary on Monday with local elected officials.

The hospital was founded in 1872, in the wake of a typhoid outbreak. It is Virginia’s oldest continuously operating community hospital.

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Alexandria’s Democrat Congressman Don Beyer overwhelmingly wins fifth term in Congress

By James Cullum

Published November 9, 2022 at 10:45AM | Updated November 22, 2022 at 10:43PM

Rep. Don Beyer, of Virginia's 8th District, speaks to supporters on election night at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray, Nov. 8, 2022 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Democrat Congressman Don Beyer was easily reelected to his fifth term in office on Tuesday.

Beyer won the race for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District with 73% of the vote (188,285 votes) against Republican Karina Lipsman with 25% (64,503 votes) and less than 2% (3,764 votes) for Independent candidate Teddy Fikre, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

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Beyer airplane noise bill becoming law as part of CHIPS Act

By ALXnow.com

Published August 11, 2022 at 1:00PM

At Gravelly Point, a man in a folding chair reads a book as planes land outside Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is addressing a key constituent concern — airplane noise — through the just-signed CHIPS Act.

The $280 billion bill is primarily focused on boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing, but contains other scientific research provisions. Among them is wording from Beyer to “bolster NASA’s efforts to reduce emissions from the aviation industry while also reducing the impact of airplane noise in airport-adjacent communities.”