News

An error with a speed camera in the West End is prompting police to dismiss and refund citations.

The Alexandria Police Department found a programming issue in the eastbound school zone speed camera on Seminary Road at Francis C. Hammond Middle School. A review determined 115 citations were given outside the enforcement period, which can only be school arrival and dismissal times under Virginia law.


News

The start of the 2026-27 school year is just around the corner in Alexandria.

The first day back for most Alexandria City Public Schools students is Monday, Aug. 24. That’s not the case for students and staff at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary, which started on July 27. Still, below are some important dates to be aware of, as the school system gets back into the swing of things.


News

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.


Around Town

Volunteers in Alexandria filled 2,300 backpacks with school supplies for distribution across the region today (Wednesday), in memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The backpacks will be sent to seven Title I middle schools in the area, including Francis C. Hammond Middle School. It’s all part of United Way National Capital Area’s Stuff the Bus campaign, which distributes the donated supplies in an effort to support local schools.


Around Town

Francis C. Hammond Middle School is among three regional venues that will host a new, co-ed youth hockey league led by the Washington Capitals in the new year.

Registration has opened for the team’s first-ever Capitals Street Hockey League (CSHL), intended for kids ages 5-12. The season’s eight weekends of games, lasting from March through May 2026, will take place at three venues, including the middle school at 4646 Seminary Road, according to a release.