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Capitol officer who committed suicide was from Alexandria — “Very sad news: @MikevWUSA @wusa9 reports MPD Officer Kyle DeFreytag died by suicide in July after defending the US Capitol on January 6. His obituary says he was a hiker, drummer, motorcyclist, and resident of Alexandria, who served with MPD for five years” [WUSA9]

Alexandria, neighboring health directors recommend wearing face masks indoors — “Today, all five Northern Virginia Health Directors issued a joint letter of interim recommendations for mask wearing in Northern Virginia. The letter was issued by Health Directors from the City of Alexandria, as well as Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties to Northern Virginia Mayors, Chairs and Chief Administrative Officers with the recommendation that individuals wear masks while indoors in government and other public settings, regardless of vaccination status.” [City of Alexandria]


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After years of legal wrangling and pandemic pressures, the controversial halal slaughterhouse at 3225 Colvin Street quietly opened on Wednesday, July 28. There is no discernible smell of chickens in the air yet, and there are hundreds in cages in a back room.

The D.C. Poultry Market is now open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is giving away two free chickens per customer for the first two days that it is open.


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If you’re a fan of squirrels, you’ll love Bobby, the two-year-old gray chinchilla. Weighing in at just over one pound, this lovable rodent is looking for a new home in Alexandria via the Animal Welfare League.

“Because of their thick fur, chinchillas don’t bathe, at least in water,” AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter told ALXnow. “Instead, chinchillas should take dust baths several times a week to keep their coats clean.”


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Kitties Chenille and Raven are inseparable, and they’re up for adoption as a pair via the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Raven is a male brown tabby and Chenille is a black short-haired female. The kittens are four months old and aren’t related by blood, and quickly became best friends after moving into the AWLA.


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Pepper the tricolor guinea pig is very sweet, and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is trying to find him a new home.

“Pepper is a clever guy who loves toys and entertainment, including wood and cardboard toys to chew, equipment for exercise, and, of course, a hiding hole for sleeping and spying,” said AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter.


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Alexandria Hospital President Dr. Rina Bansal asks residents to get vaccinated — “A healthy person can get COVID and survive, and if you have already had it, you may still have the antibodies to keep you safe for a period of time. But what about your community? It may not be readily apparent that a family member, friend or neighbor has an underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk for hospitalization or even death from COVID-19. Your choice to not be vaccinated isn’t just putting you at risk, it can impact so many others around you.” [ALXnow]

Historic Building that inspired ‘Mercy Street’ to be private residence, museum offices — “The building was converted into the Mansion House Hotel and served as a Union Hospital during the Civil War. Green and the hospital were depicted in the TV drama series “Mercy Street,” which aired on PBS from 2016-2017. NOVA Parks has owned the property since 1970, using it as office space and leasing the rest of the space to other companies. In 2019, NOVA Parks announced that it was marketing the sale or lease of the building.” [Alexandria Living]


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