health | ALXnow

Water Tests Shows Elevated Levels of Lead at Local Middle Schools

Published February 11, 2020 at 9:30AM

A survey of Alexandria City Public Schools’ drinking water sources has come back with relatively high levels of copper and lead in George Washington Middle School (1005 Mount Vernon Avenue).

Many of the schools had no outlets or very few that tested above action levels — amounts that require equipment replacement — for copper or lead. The EPA’s action levels for copper are 1.3 mg/L and much lower for lead, 0.015 mg/L. At T.C. Williams High School, 259 samples were collected and only four tested above actionable levels.

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One Year Later, How Medicaid Expansion Has Fared in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 17, 2019 at 3:35PM | Updated March 15, 2024 at 2:37PM

Nearly one year after the expansion of Virginia’s Medicaid benefits took effect, nearly 70 percent of eligible Alexandrians have signed up.

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Substance Abuse is Down, E-Cigarette Use Is Up Among Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 12, 2019 at 3:15PM | Updated December 13, 2019 at 8:42AM

(Updated 12/13) The results are in for the Department of Community and Human Services’ five-year study of the well-being of Alexandria’s children.

While much of the Children and Youth Master Plan’s five-year report showed improvement, there were several areas where the situation worsened, including abuse of e-cigarettes.

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Testing This Month to See if George Washington Middle School is Finally Mold-Free

By Vernon Miles

Published December 6, 2019 at 2:00PM | Updated December 6, 2019 at 2:47PM

George Washington Middle School (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It’s been a rough couple months for George Washington Middle School.

First, an old mold problem at the school resurfaced. Then there was the series of fire-related incidents at the school. School administration is hoping an environmental test can help provide a light at the end of the tunnel.

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Study Links Health Crises in Alexandria to Racial Inequity

By Vernon Miles

Published October 7, 2019 at 4:30PM

Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria’s efforts to build a healthier community has shone a light on inequity in the city.

From food insecurity to chronic illnesses, the Alexandria Health Department’s Community Health Assessment indicates that minority groups in the city are far more likely to be impacted by health issues than white residents.