General Assembly

Alexandria City High School to start locking student phones in pouches in early 2027

Published November 12, 2026 at 1:45PM

People on smartphones (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City High School is planning to roll out phone pouches with magnetic locks for its students in January or February, Principal Michael Burch told ALXnow.

In August, ACHS started the 2026-27 school year with a “bell-to-bell” ban of smartphones and other smart devices. The number of policy violations has dropped from 179 in the first week of school to under 100 in most recent weeks. During the week of Nov. 2, 2026, the number of cellphones collected due to policy violations dropped to 48, Burch said.

News

City and ACPS team up to address Virginia’s school funding gap

By James Cullum

Published November 10, 2026 at 11:45AM

Students get on school buses at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria city government and its public school system are embarking on a six-month collaboration to develop recommendations for increased funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The team-up comes as the Virginia Department of Education is slated to start a two-year study on revamping the state’s formula for funding local K-12 public schools. VDOE will soon select a consultant and the project will begin in January.

News

Councilman seeks to bring downstate lawmakers aboard N. Va. transit to make case for funding

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 9, 2026 at 11:45AM

City Council member Canek Aguirre discusses proposed Route 7 bus improvements at a June 2026 community forum (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

An Alexandria City Council member has a way to convince downstate lawmakers of the importance of funding Northern Virginia transit.

Councilman Canek Aguirre wants to take them for a ride.

News

Alexandria City Council considers expanding helmet mandate for youth to e-scooters, e-bikes

By Emily Leayman

Published November 6, 2026 at 2:45PM

A previously submerged scooter at the Old Town waterfront (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Amid regional safety concerns about youth riding electric scooters and bicycles, Alexandria City Council will consider expanding the city’s helmet requirement for young riders.

According to city code, bicycle riders 14 and under are already required to wear a helmet. The city code update would apply the same rule to electric power-assisted bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, motorized skateboards and motorized scooters as well.

News

School funding formula overhaul, AI use guidance top ACPS requests to state legislators

By Emily Leayman

Published November 5, 2026 at 9:15AM

The Alexandria School Board at its meeting on Aug. 27, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Ahead of the next General Assembly session in January, Alexandria City Public Schools officials have some new and recurring priorities for state legislators on their minds.

Tonight (Thursday), the Alexandria City School Board will be asked to approve the legislative priorities for 2027. The item is on the board’s consent calendar for its 6 p.m. meeting.

News

UPDATED: Warner, Beyer claim reelection wins at Alexandria election night rally

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum

Published November 3, 2026 at 8:45PM | Updated November 3, 2026 at 10:42PM

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) speaks at his election night event at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Nov. 3, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) declared victories in their reelection bids during an election night event in Alexandria Tuesday night.

As polls closed at 7 p.m., the Associated Press called the race for Warner over Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa.

News

Alexandria City School Board weighs first raise since 2007, alongside major election overhaul

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated November 6, 2026 at 1:34PM

The Alexandria School Board at its meeting on Aug. 27, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Elected officials are considering major organizational changes for the Alexandria City School Board, including increasing pay for its members by 187% starting on Jan. 1, 2028.

Earlier this month, the School Board discussed increasing member pay from $15,000 to $28,000 on Jan. 1, 2028, and then by $5,000 every July 1 until members make $43,000 (a 187% total raise) in the 2031 fiscal year.

News

Alexandria leaders say proposal to merge local bus services is ‘problematic’

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 23, 2026 at 9:15AM

A DASH bus driver leaves the Braddock Road Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders have joined counterparts from across the region in voicing reservations about a proposed consolidation of local bus systems in Northern Virginia.

If enacted, the proposal would roll Alexandria’s DASH system into a broader future operation spanning two counties and two cities that would have a service area totaling about 450 square miles and a population of more than 1.5 million.

News

March starting in Alexandria to rally for Virginia data center moratorium

By Emily Leayman

Published September 23, 2026 at 1:45PM

A commercial building at Plaza 500 (via Google Maps)

Organizations and residents opposed to planned data center development just outside city limits are leading a march starting in Alexandria’s West End.

At 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, the march will run from Aslin Beer Company (950 S. Pickett Street) to the Plaza 500 center (6295 Edsall Road in Lincolnia) where data centers and a proposed substation are planned.

News

Bennett-Parker, McPike rally in Arlandria to restore voting rights to former felons

By James Cullum

Published September 8, 2026 at 3:45PM

State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) speaks at Tenants and Workers United about changing the state constitution to establish a permanent, automatic process to restore voting rights to individuals with past felony convictions, Sept. 8, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

State legislators representing Alexandria called on constituents today (Sept. 8) to support a referendum to restore voting rights to former felons.

In the city’s Arlandria neighborhood, state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) was flanked by Del. R. Kirk McPike (D-5) and nonprofit leaders joining Virginians for the Right to Vote in asking for support for her constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights for former felons without having to make a request to the governor.

News

Bennett-Parker, more lawmakers seek special session on Dominion-NextEra merger

By Emily Leayman

Published September 2, 2026 at 9:15AM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker speaking at a debate for Virginia’s 39th Senate District at Charles Houston Recreation Center, Jan. 12, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) and a handful of other Democratic lawmakers are calling on Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) to convene a special session in September on the proposed Dominion Energy and NextEra merger.