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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Oct 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published October 26, 2026 at 9:00PM

Good Monday evening, Alexandria. Here’s a look back at today’s most-read stories and a look ahead to tomorrow.

📈 Today’s most-read stories

🕗 More from today

Everything else we published today, Oct 26, 2026.

📣 Announcements

Alexandria Fitness Studio for People Over 50 Closes Fall Into Fitness Program in 11 Days
Revolutionary Fitness, the semi-private strength and longevity studio at 215 N. Payne St. in… [Announcement]

Army Navy Game Day 5k and 10k Run, sponsored by the Washington, D.C. Foreign Area Officers Association
Attention all runners, joggers, and Army Navy fans! Come join us on Saturday, 12 December 2026… [Announcement]

⭐ Featured events

CatRad Halloween Eve!
Oct 30: Join us for our second annual CatRad Halloween Eve! A night of ghoulish fun, spooky treats… [Event]

Imperium Open House: Discover a Smarter Way to Get Stronger
Nov 1: Explore a different approach to strength training at Imperium’s free open house in Old Town Alexandria. [Event]

Dialogue for Democracy
Nov 3: Dialogue for Democracy invites high school students from across the DMV to George Mason University. [Event]

How Retirement Communities Work – A Free Workshop
Nov 4: Interested in learning about how Continuing Care Retirement Communities work, but don’t know where to start? Join us on 11/4 to learn more! [Event]

Submit events, announcements, or home listings to ALXnow.

🌤️ Weather update

Today: Alexandria saw a high of 72° at 1:35 p.m. (6° above normal), a low of 46° at 3:55 a.m. and no rain.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 7 mph.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The photo above is from the City of Alexandria’s marina webcam.

Thanks for reading!

News

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

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2026 at 3:45PM

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 87% 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.

Does every will have to go through probate in Virginia?

By PJI Law

Published October 20, 2026 at 4:45PM

When a loved one passes away, families often face difficult decisions about funeral arrangements, finances, and the distribution of property. One common question is whether having a will automatically means the estate must go through probate.

Not necessarily. Whether probate is required in Virginia depends largely on how the deceased person’s assets were owned and whether those assets have another method of transferring to heirs or beneficiaries.

Understanding when probate is required—and when it can be avoided—can help families navigate estate administration with greater confidence.

What Is Probate in Virginia?

Probate is the legal process used to administer certain assets belonging to a deceased person, or decedent. In Virginia, probate generally takes place through the circuit court in the city or county where the decedent lived.

When probate is necessary, the court recognizes the will, if there is one, and appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. The personal representative is responsible for identifying and collecting assets, addressing valid debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining property according to the will or Virginia’s intestacy laws.

Importantly, having a will does not automatically mean every asset must pass through probate. A will generally controls probate assets, while certain property passes directly to another person through ownership arrangements or beneficiary designations.

When Is Probate Required?

Probate is generally necessary when someone dies owning assets in their individual name that do not have another method of transferring ownership.

Examples can include:

Real estate owned solely by the decedent
Bank accounts without joint ownership or beneficiary designations
Vehicles, jewelry, collections, or other personal property owned individually

In these situations, probate may be necessary to give the personal representative authority to transfer or distribute the property.

When Is Probate Not Required?

Some assets can transfer automatically after death and therefore may not need to pass through probate.

Jointly owned property: Assets held jointly with rights of survivorship generally pass to the surviving owner.

Beneficiary-designated accounts: Life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and certain bank accounts can pass directly to the beneficiaries named on the account.

Revocable living trusts: Assets properly transferred into a revocable living trust generally avoid probate because the trust owns the property rather than the deceased individual.

Virginia also provides a simplified option for certain small estates. Under Va. Code § 64.2-601, qualifying personal property valued at $75,000 or less may be transferred using a small estate affidavit rather than a full probate proceeding, provided the statutory requirements are satisfied.

This simplified procedure applies to qualifying personal property, not real estate, and can be particularly useful when an estate consists of modest assets such as a bank account or vehicle.

What Happens When Probate Is Required?

When probate is necessary, the personal representative must complete several steps before the estate can be closed. These typically include identifying and valuing estate assets, filing the required inventory, addressing creditor claims and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

Virginia also imposes deadlines for certain estate filings. The inventory generally must be filed within four months after qualification, while the first accounting is generally due within 16 months.

(more…)

News

‘No turn on red’ restrictions proposed for Old Town signalized intersections

By Emily Leayman

Published October 26, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated October 26, 2026 at 3:09PM

Fall colors along King Street near the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The ability to turn right on a red light could be eliminated entirely in Old Town.

The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board will vote Monday (Oct. 26) on whether to install “no turn on red” signage at all signalized intersections in the Old Town, Old Town North and Braddock/Parker-Gray neighborhoods. The changes would apply to traffic signals between First Street to the north, city limits to the south, the Potomac River to the east and railroad tracks to the west. There are about 100 signalized intersections within the project area.

Around Town

PHOTOS: Del Ray Halloween Parade marks 30th year

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2026 at 1:45PM

Shaggy, Scooby and the gang at the Del Ray Halloween Parade, Oct. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Heroes, villains and all in-between marched to the Alexandria City High School zombie band at Del Ray’s 30th annual Halloween parade on Sunday.

Thousands turned out for what USA Today has dubbed one of the 10 best Halloween parades in the country. The weather was crisp and cool, about 65 degrees and considerably cooler in the shade.

Event

Imperium Open House: Discover a Smarter Way to Get Stronger

November 1, 2026 11:00 am -2:00 pm

Event location

Imperium Strength & Longevity

323 S Washington St

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Add to Calendar

Curious about strength training but not sure where to start? Or perhaps you're looking for a more efficient alternative to traditional gyms?

Imperium Strength & Longevity invites the Alexandria community to an Open House on Sunday, November 1, from 11 AM to 2 PM.

News

Va. transportation chief pledges to minimize local impacts of I-495 Southside project

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 26, 2026 at 11:45AM

Approaching the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge on I-495 in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Virginia’s renewed efforts to win regional support for the contentious I-495 Southside Express Lanes project will focus more aggressively on minimizing negative consequences along the 11-mile route, the state’s top transportation official says.

“We will always look to reduce any of those types of impacts,” Secretary of Transportation Nick Donohue said at a meeting last Wednesday (Oct. 21) of the region’s Transportation Planning Board (TPB).

News

Fire at Alexandria residential building injures firefighter, displaces residents in 14 units

By Emily Leayman

Published October 26, 2026 at 10:00AM

Fire at 251 S. Pickett Street on Oct. 25, 2026 (via Alexandria Fire Department/Facebook)

Improperly discarded smoking materials were behind a Sunday fire that injured a firefighter and displaced residents from 14 apartments, according to the Alexandria Fire Department.

AFD responded around 9:03 a.m. Sunday (Oct. 25) to 251 S. Pickett Street, where visible fire and smoke were showing from the residential building. There were no resident injuries.

News

Southbound Holland Lane closes for tree planting work

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 26, 2026 at 9:15AM

Holland Lane crosswalk with a median (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria is planting some new trees in the medians along the recently reconfigured Holland Lane.

Excavation work to prepare for the four plantings will start today (Monday) and is expected to take four days, depending on the weather.

News

APD investigates graffiti targeting immigrants found on Mount Jefferson Park Trail

By Emily Leayman

Published October 26, 2026 at 8:30AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Graffiti appearing to target the immigrant community is being investigated on the Mount Jefferson Park Trail, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

Police believe the graffiti appeared between 11 p.m. Friday (Oct. 23) and 6:30 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 24) at multiple locations on the park trail. The graffiti contained the words “ICE,” “REPORT TO DEPORT,” and the phone number “1-866-DHS-2-ICE.”

News

Morning Notes for October 26, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published October 26, 2026 at 7:30AM

Nighttime city street lined with warm string lights on trees and brick buildings, with blurred car lights and a quiet sidewalk scene. — King Street in the Old Town Alexandria at night (licensed via Adobe Stock)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On October 26, 1955, the Alexandria City Council approved the rezoning of a residential section of North Washington Street to allow commercial construction. Before 1955, the area along downtown Alexandria’s main north-south thoroughfare, north of Cameron Street, was lined with elegant, rambling homes built in Georgian and Victorian styles.” [Historic Alexandria]

Traffic and Parking Board Meets Tonight — “The Traffic and Parking Board will hold its next public hearing on Monday, October 26 at 7 p.m. Docket materials have been posted for the upcoming meeting. At the public hearing, members of the public can weigh in on parking changes in Old Town, proposed No Turn on Red restrictions, the biennial taxicab review, and carshare policy update. This Traffic and Parking Board meeting will be held in person at 2900-B Business Center Drive and virtually via Zoom. To attend this meeting virtually, participants must register in advance by clicking here.” [City of Alexandria]

Reminder on King and Duke Streets Work Starting Today — “Bridge maintenance work will take place on the deck of the Duke Street bridge over the CSX railroad tracks beginning the week of October 26th. The work, performed by the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services Infrastructure Maintenance Division, should be complete by mid-November (weather permitting).” [City of Alexandria]

Carpenter’s Shelter Cook-Off Winners Named — “Alexandria’s love of food was on full display at the Carpenter’s Shelter Cook-Off, where area restaurants and bakeries competed for judges’ honors and popular votes—all for a cause that supports neighbors experiencing homelessness. The event featured dozens of live and silent auction items, giving attendees plenty to bid on while sampling offerings from restaurants, caterers and pop-ups.” [The Zebra]

Road Maintenance Set for This Week — N. Fayette Street (from Duke Street to First Street) is on the schedule for repaving this week, while asphalt patch work is scheduled for Mark Drive (3700 block), E. Glebe Road (first block), W. Glebe Road (200, 300, 400, and 800 blocks), Valley Drive (900 block), E. Oxford Avenue (100 block), E. Bellefonte Avenue (first block), E. Cliff Street (first block), Dawes Avenue (5000 block), King Street (2800 block), King Street Service Road (3600 block) and Seminary Road (4600 block). [Alexandria T&ES]

Operation Illumination Begins Tuesday — “🚶✨ This Pedestrian Safety Month, let’s help our community stay visible after dark! Operation Illumination starts on October 27, offering free reflective gear and safety accessories at participating locations across Alexandria. Be bright, be seen, and make every trip a safe one!” [Alexandria T&ES/X]

Volunteers Needed for ARHA Toy Distribution — “🚨❄️ Calling all volunteer elves! We need your help for the 2026 Santa’s Winter Wonderland toy distribution [3-9 p.m. Dec. 19 at Charles Houston Recreation Center] [Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority/X]

It’s Monday — Sunny with a high near 70 and calm winds becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Monday night will be clear with a low around 50, with calm winds becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight. [NWS]

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