News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jul 10, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Friday 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 — Jul 10, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Alexandria birthday fireworks show leads July 10-12 weekend events (557 views)
  2. Poll: The best food truck in Alexandria (456 views)
  3. School Board elects two Alexandria City High School alumni as chair and vice chair (375 views)
  4. Duke Street Transitway project nears full funding with $15M more from NVTA (366 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Police: Alexandria child with gun in backpack was left by mom at Reagan National Airport (24360 views)
  2. More details released on $35K jewelry smash-and-grab in Old Town (7205 views)
  3. Alexandria to celebrate its 277th birthday and America’s 250th with fireworks (6164 views)
  4. Alexandria to rededicate street to honor church founder instead of Confederate leader (3318 views)
  5. Alexandria entrepreneur launches app to help men beat the ‘friendship recession’ (3230 views)
  6. UPDATE: Fireworks suspected in fire that displaced ARHA residents in Braddock Metro neighborhood (2956 views)
  7. New school boundaries and walk zones go into effect in Alexandria (2704 views)
  8. JUST IN: Resident revived, taken to hospital amid house fire in North Ridge (2605 views)
  9. 25-year APD veteran Courtney Ballantine now leads Georgetown University Police Department (1509 views)
  10. French restaurants in Alexandria line up special menus, events for Bastille Day (1447 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

⛈️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with rain likely in the afternoon and a high near 85°F. Winds from the north at 5 to 7 mph and a 60% chance of rain, with under a tenth of an inch of new rainfall, though higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms. In the evening, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 8 PM, tapering off to a chance until 11 PM, with a low around 68°F. Light northeast winds and similar precipitation conditions as throughout the day are expected. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.”
– Mark Twain

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

News

From Capitol Hill to Richmond: Inside the political reset of Alexandria Del. R. Kirk McPike

By James Cullum
Del. R. Kirk McPike in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

After climbing through Alexandria’s political spheres, it’s almost as if R. Kirk McPike is starting over.

The new 5th House District delegate to Virginia’s General Assembly resigned his seat on the Alexandria City Council just before winning a special election in February to fill the seat vacated by now-state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39). In order to comply with state law, the Democrat also had to quit his full-time job as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA).

Go to From Capitol Hill to Richmond: Inside the political reset of Alexandria Del. R. Kirk McPike Read more
Around Town

Alexandria birthday fireworks show leads July 10-12 weekend events

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria’s birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A fireworks show tops the list of events happening around Alexandria for the city’s birthday weekend.

While many communities around the D.C. region held their fireworks last week, Alexandria’s event falls on the weekend after July 4. This year, Alexandria celebrates its 277th birthday and America’s 250th birthday. Alexandrians have the option to attend the full event with performances and vendors at Oronoco Bay Park or catch the fireworks in a less crowded spot.

Go to Alexandria birthday fireworks show leads July 10-12 weekend events Read more
News

Duke Street Transitway project nears full funding with $15M more from NVTA

By James Cullum
Duke Street and Cameron Station Boulevard (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, on Thursday (July 9) unanimously approved a $15 million allocation toward the Duke Street Transitway Project.

With the allocation, NVTA has funded $102 million for the $102.5 million project, which will add more than four miles of bus rapid transit lanes along Duke Street between the King Street-Old Town Metro station and the city’s border with Fairfax County near the former Landmark Mall site. The project has been in the works for years and is in the design phase. The estimated completion date for the new lanes is Dec. 31, 2029.

Go to Duke Street Transitway project nears full funding with $15M more from NVTA Read more
News

Sidewalk closure for City Hall renovation project extended through rest of July

By Emily Leayman
Construction progress at City Hall and Market Square, June 25, 2026 (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Pedestrians will have to keep taking a detour when walking around Alexandria City Hall and Market Square.

The city government extended the north sidewalk closure in front of City Hall along King Street between N. Royal and N. Fairfax Streets through July 31. The sidewalk has been closed since June 15 for City Hall and Market Square renovations.

Go to Sidewalk closure for City Hall renovation project extended through rest of July Read more
Opinion

Poll: The best food truck in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

From producing viral food creations to feeding the masses during outdoor festivals, food trucks serve Alexandria with a variety of cuisines on wheels.

Here are the nominees for “Best Food Truck in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your go-to food truck? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Pool in Alexandria is now closed after two weeks of voting. Results will be shared next Friday.

Three weeks ago, we voted on the Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant in Alexandria. The results are now official:

  1. The Garden 
  2. Port City Brewing Co.
  3. Vola’s Dockside Grill
News

School Board elects two Alexandria City High School alumni as chair and vice chair

By James Cullum
Chris Harris (on right) was elected chair and Alex Crider Scioscia was elected vice chair of the Alexandria City School Board on July 9, 2026 (via ACPS/Facebook)

The Alexandria City School Board on Thursday (July 9) unanimously elected new leadership for the next year.

Without opposition, School Board Member Christopher Harris was elected as chair, and Alexander Crider Scioscia was elected vice chair. Both are graduates of Alexandria City High School (when it was T.C. Williams High School), and the one-year appointments went into effect in the beginning of Thursday night’s meeting.

Go to School Board elects two Alexandria City High School alumni as chair and vice chair Read more
News

Morning Notes for July 10, 2026

By ALXnow.com
An Alexandria firefighter giving away play fire helmets at Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Reminder on Alexandria and USA Birthday Celebration — “The Alexandria and USA Birthday Celebration is set for Saturday, July 11 at Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street). This year’s event celebrates Alexandria’s 277th birthday and America’s 250th. The free party includes music by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and Decades Band, remarks by Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, poetry reading by Alexandria Poet Laureate Cristi Donoso, local vendors, cupcakes distributed by City Council members and a grand finale fireworks display over the Potomac River.” [ALXnow]

Virginia Returns to No. 3 on Top States for Business Ranking — “Virginia has been named the country’s top state for business a record six times, most recently in 2024 — before dropping to fourth in 2025, its worst showing since 2018. CNBC tied much of that slide, and Virginia’s still-middling economy score, to the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce — layoffs concentrated in Arlington and the rest of Northern Virginia. Virginia ranked 23rd for its economy this year and 26th for cost of doing business.” [ARLnow]

Go to Morning Notes for July 10, 2026 Read more
News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jul 9, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Thursday 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 — Jul 9, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. French restaurants in Alexandria line up special menus, events for Bastille Day (592 views)
  2. WEATHER ALERT: Heavy rainfall risk from storms brings Flood Watch in Alexandria (366 views)
  3. Morning Notes for July 9, 2026 (330 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 90°F. There will be a west wind at 5 to 7 mph. Overnight, there’s a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, with isolated showers possible afterward. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 71°F and a light west wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
– Mahatma Gandhi

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

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