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ALXnow Daily Debrief for Sep 9, 2026

By ALXnow.com
ALXnow Daily Debrief header with a large American flag banner on a modern office building backdrop (Sep 9, 2026).

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 — Sep 9, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Cameron Run Regional Park employee arrested for allegedly robbing concession stand (1048 views)
  2. Alexandria looks to relieve businesses hurt by City Hall and Market Square renovation (633 views)
  3. ‘I do not think there’s a role for Flock’ in Alexandria, says Mayor Gaskins (626 views)
  4. Morning Notes for September 9, 2026 (545 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 89°F, a slight chance of showers early, and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with southwest winds at 6 to 8 mph. Thursday night will see showers and thunderstorms before 3am, then likely showers, with a low around 68°F and northwest winds at 3 to 5 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall between a quarter and half an inch possible. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

‘I do not think there’s a role for Flock’ in Alexandria, says Mayor Gaskins

By James Cullum
Group of diverse protesters seated in a room, holding signs opposing ALPRs with slogans like 'ALEXANDRIANS AGAINST ALPRS' while a camera stands on a tripod in the background.
Attendees at the Sept. 8, 2026 City Council meeting protesting Flock cameras (staff photo by James Cullum)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins told city leaders on Tuesday that she does not “see a role for Flock” cameras in Alexandria.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, two City Council members joined Gaskins in the sentiment after a presentation by Police Chief Tarrick McGuire on license plate reader (LPR) technology used in the city. The Alexandria Police Department has 61 license plate readers and other cameras along public roadways, according to Flock’s transparency portal.

Go to ‘I do not think there’s a role for Flock’ in Alexandria, says Mayor Gaskins Read more

Alexandria looks to relieve businesses hurt by City Hall and Market Square renovation

By James Cullum
Brick municipal building with a tall white steeple under renovation; construction barriers line the street in front of a fenced site.
City Hall renovations (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is looking for ways to relieve businesses from the years-long renovation impacts of City Hall and Market Square in Old Town.

With parking temporarily halted on the streets next to the property at 301 King Street, sidewalks closed and the sound of continual construction, businesses in a one-block radius of the building are feeling the effects.

Go to Alexandria looks to relieve businesses hurt by City Hall and Market Square renovation Read more

Federal leases and housing conversion push down Alexandria office vacancy rate

By Emily Leayman
The new U.S. Housing and Urban Development building, pictured with an America 250 flag, in the Carlyle neighborhood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Office vacancies are trending down in Alexandria, although Old Town and Old Town North are going against the trend.

That’s according to the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership’s Mid-Year Market Report released Tuesday (Sept. 8) looking at commercial real estate trends for the first half of the year through June 30, 2026.

Go to Federal leases and housing conversion push down Alexandria office vacancy rate Read more

Cameron Run Regional Park employee arrested for allegedly robbing concession stand

By James Cullum
Cameron Run Regional Park sign in a landscaped roundabout with trees and a parking lot behind it, under a blue sky
Cameron Run Regional Park at 4001 Eisenhower Avenue (via Google Maps)

An Alexandria juvenile was arrested for allegedly robbing the batting cages concession stand at Cameron Run Regional Park on Eisenhower Avenue.

Around 9:40 p.m. on Aug. 1, an employee at the concession stand heard a knock at the door, and when he opened it saw two people wearing all black clothing and black face masks, according to a recently unsealed search warrant affidavit. One suspect allegedly grabbed the cashier from behind to restrain him, while the second suspect went to the cash drawer and stole more than $200.

Go to Cameron Run Regional Park employee arrested for allegedly robbing concession stand Read more

Jean B. Reid Media Center dedicated at Alexandria school for longtime reading specialist

By Emily Leayman
Group photo in the Jean B. Reid Media Center lobby with a man in a wheelchair at center and smiling staff and visitors surrounding him.
The Jean B. Reid Media Center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School was dedicated on Sept. 8, 2026 (via ACPS/Facebook)

Alexandria City Public Schools carried out the third of four facility namings Tuesday (Sept. 8) — this time in honor of a longtime educator.

The Jean B. Reid Media Center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School was dedicated in honor of the educator who worked for the school system for 30 years. Reid was a reading specialist from 1971 until her 2001 retirement and held leadership positions at various schools.

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Morning Notes for September 9, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Modern office building with a large American flag banner covering its center, featuring a blue field with '250' and stars, under a blue sky with clouds
America 250 flag displayed on the new U.S. Housing and Urban Development headquarters building in Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

On This Day in Alexandria History — “On September 9, 1891, a large fire erupted at the southeast corner of Wythe and St. Asaph Streets, in one of the buildings operated as part of Portner’s Brewery, a massive beer and ale bottling and storage complex extending across several blocks bound by Washington, Pitt, Wythe and Pendleton Streets. The brewery was started in 1864 from humble beginnings out of the small grocery store operated by Robert Portner, a German-born immigrant who rose to become one of Alexandria’s most prominent citizens. By 1890, Portner’s business produced over 60,000 barrels of his special brews named Vienna Cabinet and Tivoli and was one of Northern Virginia’s largest employers.” [Historic Alexandria]

Goats Descend on All Veterans Park — “The City’s new four-legged landscaping crew has arrived! This hard-working crew of goats and sheep will be on site at All Veterans Park for a 5-to-10-day pilot project. They will be snacking on invasive kudzu, garlic mustard, and multiflora rose along Holmes Run.” [City of Alexandria/Facebook]

Go to Morning Notes for September 9, 2026 Read more

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Sep 8, 2026

By ALXnow.com
Blue city bus with white overlay text reading 'ALXnow Daily Debrief for Sep 8, 2026'

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 — Sep 8, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. UPDATE: Over 4K more lose power after earlier transformer-related outage in Alexandria (2805 views)
  2. Pedestrian dies after being struck on I-395 in Alexandria: state police (1551 views)
  3. Old Town townhouse proposal prompts debate over city’s development review process (791 views)
  4. Morning Notes for September 8, 2026 (635 views)
  5. ‘Halloweddings’ return to Old Town on Oct. 31 after selling out last year (297 views)
  6. Bennett-Parker, McPike rally in Arlandria to restore voting rights to former felons (277 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect sunny weather with a high near 88 degrees and a south wind blowing at 7 to 11 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 72 degrees. A southwest wind will continue at about 11 mph, with gusts reaching up to 20 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”
– John F. Kennedy

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

Bennett-Parker, McPike rally in Arlandria to restore voting rights to former felons

By James Cullum
Woman speaking at a podium with campaign signs reading Yes on 3 in the background; supporters stand behind her.
State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) speaks at Tenants and Workers United about changing the state constitution to establish a permanent, automatic process to restore voting rights to individuals with past felony convictions, Sept. 8, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

State legislators representing Alexandria called on constituents today (Sept. 8) to support a referendum to restore voting rights to former felons.

In the city’s Arlandria neighborhood, state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) was flanked by Del. R. Kirk McPike (D-5) and nonprofit leaders joining Virginians for the Right to Vote in asking for support for her constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights for former felons without having to make a request to the governor.

Go to Bennett-Parker, McPike rally in Arlandria to restore voting rights to former felons Read more

Old Town townhouse proposal prompts debate over city’s development review process

By Emily Leayman
Parking lot with several cars beside red brick buildings under a clear blue sky.
The parking lot of 330 N. Washington Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Old Town neighbors say a pending townhouse development application exemplifies why the city needs to better align the Board of Architectural Review process with development special use permit reviews.

The BAR continues to consider a concept review of Merion Row at 330 N. Washington Street, where the property owner seeks to build six three-story townhomes with rear-loading parking garages and rooftop terraces. The homes would take the place of two of the three drive-thru banking aisles at the Wells Fargo bank.

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‘Halloweddings’ return to Old Town on Oct. 31 after selling out last year

By James Cullum
Elizabeth Tedesco (as Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat) gets married to Bruce Brolle (a combination of Hercules and Hercule Poirot) by Alexandria Clerk of the Circuit Court Greg Parks in a "Hallowedding" at Gadsby's Tavern, Oct. 31, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After selling out last year, Halloweddings are returning to Alexandria.

On Halloween (Saturday, Oct. 31), Greg Parks, Alexandria’s Clerk of the Circuit Court, and his staff will don 18th century costumes to officiate the 20-minute ceremonies. Couples will need to make reservations using the QR code below and pay $75. They can show up in a costume of their choosing — Ken and Barbie, Batman and Catwoman, you name it.

Go to ‘Halloweddings’ return to Old Town on Oct. 31 after selling out last year Read more
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