News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow branding with 'Daily Debrief for Aug 26, 2026' over a brick-walled street with statues and steps.

Good Wednesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 26, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. How a write-in campaign made Chadwicks the best bar in Alexandria poll winner (675 views)
  2. Alexandria intervenes in proposed Dominion Energy, NextEra merger case (565 views)
  3. Political operative from Alexandria pens debut thriller novel, plans launch at Elaine’s Literary Salon (538 views)
  4. Lanes reopen after crash backs up traffic on southbound I-395 in Alexandria (466 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

🌦️ Thursday’s forecast

Showers and thunderstorms are possible, mainly after 2pm, with some storms potentially severe. Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 90, with south winds at 7 to 10 mph and a 30% chance of rain. Thursday night, there’s a greater chance of showers and thunderstorms, especially before midnight, with a low around 69. The sky will be mostly cloudy, winds will become calm, and the chance of rain is 50%. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
– Arthur Ashe

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

News

Lanes reopen after crash backs up traffic on southbound I-395 in Alexandria

By James Cullum
Busy multi-lane highway with heavy traffic and orange construction/cone barriers blocking some lanes, an emergency vehicle present.
Crash on I-395 southbound at Little River Turnpike on Aug. 26, 2026 (via VDOT)

A driver was reportedly injured in a two-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 395 near the Duke Street/Little River Turnpike exit Wednesday afternoon.

The crash between a black SUV and a tan Toyota sedan was reported just after 3:45 p.m. Alexandria police and fire responders cut off traffic in the third and fourth lanes near the righthand shoulder of the roadway. The crash occurred just before exit 3 on I-395.

Go to Lanes reopen after crash backs up traffic on southbound I-395 in Alexandria Read more
Sponsored

Local business is what makes Alexandria, Alexandria

By Jordan Ciminelli
Image from Local business is what makes Alexandria, Alexandria

The corner coffee shop. The family dentist. The realtor who knows every block. They’re a part of what makes Alexandria feel like home. The same neighbors who read ALXnow every day aren’t just part of the community, they’re looking to support it, one local business at a time.

Since 2019, ALXnow has been Alexandria’s go-to source for local news, now reaching 400,000 readers a month. People come here for what’s happening around the city, and along the way, they discover the businesses that serve it.

Advertising here feels different, and readers tell us so: according to our 2025 reader survey, 84% say they like seeing local ads on ALXnow, and 43% have taken action after seeing one. When businesses appear alongside the news your neighbors trust, it becomes part of the community conversation rather than an interruption to it.

There are a few ways to take part, whether you want to introduce your business, promote an event, or tell your story. And because ALXnow is independent local journalism, your support also helps keep Alexandria informed.

If you’ve been thinking about reaching your neighbors, we’re glad to help you find the right fit.

Explore every option at lnn.co/advertise, email [email protected], or call 703-348-0583.

News

ACPS leaders tout SOL testing gains, but some student groups lag behind

By James Cullum
Front and side view of a yellow school bus with 'SCHOOL BUS' sign, parked on a street near a brick building; another bus is in the background.
School bus outside Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools officials are touting improvements in standardized testing results from the Virginia Department of Education.

VDOE’s annual SOL standardized test results showed ACPS improved across all content areas divisionwide in the 2025-26 school year, increasing 9% in history (to 71%), 5% in mathematics (to 59%), 3% in science (to 56%) and 1% in reading (to 63%).

Go to ACPS leaders tout SOL testing gains, but some student groups lag behind Read more
News

Alexandria intervenes in proposed Dominion Energy, NextEra merger case

By Emily Leayman
A Dominion Energy lineman lifts himself up to work on a power line in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in North Augusta, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr., File)

The City of Alexandria is formally intervening in the proposed merger of Dominion Energy with Florida-based NextEra Energy under consideration by state and federal regulators.

The city government has filed as a participant in the case under review by Virginia’s State Corporation Commission. Along with the SCC, the $67 billion merger proposal is under consideration at the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Go to Alexandria intervenes in proposed Dominion Energy, NextEra merger case Read more
Event

College Counseling Workshop — Saturday, August 29, 10:15-11:30

College Sage logo in green text with three stylized leaves on the right.

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Website Contact

Learn how to make your essay stand out in the competitive college application process. Workshop led by Sheila McGrory, College Counselor with the College Sage. For seniors and accompanying parent in Old Town Alexandria. Free but register by emailing [email protected] for specific location and more details.

Go to College Counseling Workshop — Saturday, August 29, 10:15-11:30 Read more
Around Town

How a write-in campaign made Chadwicks the best bar in Alexandria poll winner

By James Cullum
Man with beard wearing a navy Chadwick's shirt sits at a bar, a glass of water with lemon on the counter nearby
Trae Lamond, owner of Chadwicks at 203 The Strand in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Chadwicks in Old Town recently won a write-in effort to be named the winner in ALXnow’s Best bar in Alexandria poll.

With only 15 spots available, Chadwicks (203 The Strand) wasn’t listed in the poll, which was held July 31 to Aug. 14. Owner Trae Lamond says that what followed was a grassroots effort for customers to cast write-in votes. After duplicate votes were excluded, Chadwicks edged out the competition and won the poll.

Go to How a write-in campaign made Chadwicks the best bar in Alexandria poll winner Read more
News

Delivery truck hits power line, sparking fire behind Shoppes at Foxchase

By James Cullum
Fire behind the Shoppes at Foxchase in Alexandria’s West End on Aug. 25, 2026 (via AFD/Facebook)

No injuries were reported after a delivery truck driver hit a power line behind a shopping center in Alexandria’s West End on Tuesday night (Aug. 25), sparking a fire that destroyed a pickup truck, two dumpsters and fencing.

The fire was reported behind the Harris Teeter (4641 Duke Street) at the Shoppes at Foxchase just before 9 p.m. and was extinguished an hour later. The fire started after the driver of a tractor-trailer making a delivery in the rear of the Harris Teeter “accidentally struck an electrical service drop,” according to the Alexandria Fire Department. No buildings were damaged.

Go to Delivery truck hits power line, sparking fire behind Shoppes at Foxchase Read more
Around Town

Political operative from Alexandria pens debut thriller novel, plans launch at Elaine’s Literary Salon

By Emily Leayman
Man in a dark green button-up shirt leans on a railing in an alley, looking solemnly at the camera.
Author Matt Lavoie (via Matt Mendelsohn)

Alexandria resident Matt Lavoie has spent decades working as a policy expert and political operative in D.C., and now he has taken that experience to pen and paper.

Lavoie’s thriller novel “Main Street Fringe” will be released by Level Best Books on Sept. 1. This is Lavoie’s first novel, following the story of a Virginia State Police detective going “undercover” as himself to pursue a violent conspiracy group, putting his own family at risk.

Go to Political operative from Alexandria pens debut thriller novel, plans launch at Elaine’s Literary Salon Read more
News

Morning Notes for August 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Bronze statue of a man in old-fashioned clothing sitting on a bench beside a brick wall. A cane rests in his hand near brick steps and railings.
A statue of George Washington outside 305 Cameron Street, where Washington was feted by Alexandria gentlemen on Dec. 31, 1783 to celebrate his return from the Revolutionary War (staff photo by James Cullum)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “One August 26, 1948, the Alexandria Citizen’s Band was honored to win first prize in a competition held at the Virginia State Fireman’s Convention. The local band, a community organization comprising volunteer members who bring musical entertainment to Northern Virginia, Alexandria, and the DC Metro area, still plays a summer concert series annually at Alexandria’s Market Square and at community special events. The band was organized in 1912 and is one of the oldest community bands in the country.” [Historic Alexandria]

ICE Reveals 2 Alexandria Arrests in Regional Operation — “DHS named 10 of the 1,328 people it said were arrested. Two were arrested in Alexandria, according to the department, which did not say how many arrests were made in the city overall or in any other jurisdiction. The department said Angel Gabriel Ortiz-Hernandez, of Guatemala, has been arrested on charges of rape of a mentally incapacitated victim and two counts of aggravated sexual battery of an incapacitated victim. It listed no convictions for him. It said Rowan Andrew Brown, of Jamaica, has convictions for identity theft, kidnapping an adult and illegal re-entry, and has been arrested on a fraud allegation.” [Alexandria Brief]

Go to Morning Notes for August 26, 2026 Read more
News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 25, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Group of students in purple shirts playing saxophones outdoors, part of a school band.

Good Tuesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 25, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Some Amtrak trips to run from Alexandria instead of D.C. for nine days in October (1125 views)
  2. Alexandria police bust man allegedly selling guns and marijuana on Instagram (752 views)
  3. Alexandria school meal prices jump more than usual this school year (495 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

🌤️ Wednesday’s forecast

Today will be mostly sunny with a high of around 88°F. Winds will be calm, shifting to the south at 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Tonight, expect mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m.; the low will be around 71°F, with a south wind at 9 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
– Arthur Ashe

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

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