Daily Brief | April 24

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Friday, April 24 — the 114th day of 2026, with 251 days left in the year.

5,803 neighbors are receiving this newsletter this morning. 200 of them are paid members, making it — and everything else we do — possible. Join them.

So. A Georgia congressman wants to give Alexandria back to D.C.

Rep. Rich McCormick filed legislation Thursday after the redistricting vote, proposing retrocession of Alexandria and Arlington to the District. Mayor Gaskins shared our story on Instagram last night with a simple message: "And this will not be happening." Meanwhile, Maryland's General Assembly is studying whether D.C. should retrocede to them instead. It's been a week.

On this day in 1940, the Robert Robinson Library opened its doors to Alexandria's African American community — just eight months after one of America's first sit-in demonstrations at the segregated Alexandria Library on Queen Street. The building now houses the Alexandria Black History Museum.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. High near 83 degrees. The half-marathon takes over Old Town Sunday morning — plan accordingly.

Of note - 10,000 Maniacs were scheduled to perform at The Birchmere on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend. Those shows were canceled on April 8 because a band member needs surgery.

Here's what you need to know today

~ Ryan

This newsletter, and The Alexandria Brief, are (always) a work in progress. If something's missing, something's too much, or you've got a story idea — tell me. Reply to this email or reach me at ryan@alexandriabrief.com.

1️⃣ Superintendent, ACPS board head back to the budget with a $5.6M gap to close; Kay-Wyatt to present adjusted plan May 7

Alexandria City School Board Meeting Room (ACPS)

The Alexandria City School Board is heading back to the drawing board on its FY27 budget after the Alexandria City Council declined to close a $5.6 million funding gap in its add-delete process, with Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt scheduled to present an adjusted spending plan May 7.

The board heard sustained public comment on the process Thursday, with six of the seven community members who addressed members urging them to protect middle school sports, world language programs and educator compensation. The meeting also included a wide-ranging recap of the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session, a first-year update on the division's Social Emotional Learning plan, and confirmation that the long-awaited police partnership agreement has been sent back to division counsel for additional revisions.

2️⃣ Hi-Tide tiki pop-up drops anchor on the Old Town waterfront

Cocktails are the centerpiece at Hi-Tide Tiki Pop-Up (Vola's Dockside Grill)

A tiki bar has taken over a corner of the Old Town waterfront for the summer.

The Hi-Tide Tiki Pop-Up Bar opened on Thursday inside Vola's Dockside Grill at 101 N. Union St., following a preview night Wednesday. The seasonal concept from Alexandria Restaurant Partners will run through Aug. 31, trading Vola's usual dockside feel for carved wood, flickering candlelight and a Polynesian-inspired menu of rum drinks and shareable plates.

3️⃣ Alexandria City Council to take up tall ships, $20M housing bonds Tuesday, formalize FY 2027 budget Wednesday

Tall-ships festival funding, $20M Ladrey bond deal headline Tuesday's agenda as council prepares to formalize FY 2027 budget the next night (City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council will meet on consecutive nights next week, taking up a three-day tall-ships festival and a $20 million senior housing bond deal Tuesday night during their regularly scheduled legislative meeting before formally adopting a fiscal 2027 operating budget and setting the city's real estate tax rate Wednesday.

The legislative meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 28 in the council chamber at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive. Budget and tax rate adoption follows at 6 p.m. on April 29 in the first-floor community conference room at the same address.

4️⃣ Pedestrian struck in overnight King Street crash; fifth pedestrian incident Alexandria police have posted about this month

Alexandria Police Department has responded to at least six accidents involving pedestrians in April. (Alexandria Police Department)

This story was updated throughout the day on Thursday with additional details and safety guidance from the Alexandria Police Department.

A section of King Street was closed late Wednesday and into early Thursday after a pedestrian was struck in a hit-and-run. It is the fifth pedestrian-involved incident the department has posted about on its social media accounts this month.

APD posted on its official account at 2:39 a.m. that the 2200–2300 block of King Street was closed while officers investigated, and asked drivers to avoid the area.

In a statement to The Alexandria Brief Thursday afternoon, APD communications manager Tracy Walker said officers responded at about 11 p.m. Wednesday to the 2200 block of King Street for a report of a person in the roadway. They found an adult man who had been struck by an external component of a passing vehicle, believed to have been traveling eastbound on King Street, Walker said. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition. The driver initially left the scene and later returned, according to the statement. The department's Crash Reconstruction Team is investigating.

In Thursday's statement, Walker said APD is increasing high-visibility traffic enforcement at multiple intersections in North Old Town, targeting speeding, failure to yield, and distracted driving. She described the effort as proactive and said it is not related to the ongoing crash investigation.

Walker also said the week's incidents were a reminder that roadway safety is a shared responsibility, and she offered guidance for pedestrians and drivers.

5️⃣ What's happening in Alexandria this weekend: April 24-26

2025 PNC Alexandria Half (Swim Bike Run Photo/Erin Sutherland)

Alexandria celebrates Earth Month with a packed weekend of environmental action and spring traditions, from hands-on stream monitoring at Taylor Run to Drug Take Back Day events across the city. The weekend features major community gatherings, including the 20th Annual MV Big Flea, Del Ray GardenFest with the Ellen Pickering Award presentation, and the PNC Alexandria Half-marathon winding through Old Town.

Here's a look at everything on the calendar this weekend.

📰 In brief

A wage theft enforcement bill carried by Del. Alfonso Lopez has been signed into law. (Read more)

Heidi Haggerty Wagner, principal of Alexandria's Early Childhood Center, is among 25 building-level leaders across Virginia named to the inaugural class of the state's Principals of Distinction. (Read more)

The ACPS Governance Committee has sent the police MOU back for changes. The board vote is now scheduled for May 7. (Read more)

Six Alexandrians will be honored next month at The Chamber ALX's Community Champions Honors, with four additional public safety awards still to be announced. (Read more)

The National Park Service began resurfacing the George Washington Memorial Parkway on Thursday, launching a project that will reshape commutes and crosswalks between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and First Street in Alexandria through June. (Read more)

Liam Doussard, a guest contributor, argues in the Theogony that one-party control in the Alexandria government faces growing pushback. (Theogony)

The Alexandria Police Department welcomed children to APD on Thursday for Bring Your Child To Work Day. (APD/FB)

Sheriff Sean Casey and the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office celebrated staff accomplishments with an employee awards ceremony on April 21. (ASO)

The Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary met on Thursday with Mayor Alyia Gaskins "for a warm and constructive conversation". (Virginia Theological Society)

A Washington, D.C.-based influencer is under fire after posting a video that appears to show the aftermath of a fatal crash in Alexandria, including a clip of the victim's body. (People)

🗞️ Region

The Va General Assembly convened for a special session on Thursday to finalize the state’s $212 billion budget, but recessed after just a few hours without a deal. (Read more)

President Donald Trump is having the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool coated in a swimming pool surface hued in “American flag blue". (Read more)

The Washington, DC, metropolitan area lost 103,900 jobs from January 2025 to January 2026. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

🏀 Sports

The Washington Commanders picked up Ohio State LB Sonny Styles with the 7th pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. (Read more)

The Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 7-2 on Thursday for their eighth win in nine games. The Nationals have lost five of seven. (Read more)

Former ACHS Titan and point guard of the University of Mary Washington men’s basketball team, Kye Robinson, helped his team beat Emory University, securing a championship title. (Theogony)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Isolated showers between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 83 degrees. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 50%.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms tonight before 11 p.m., then isolated showers after 5 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54 degrees. East wind 5 to 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:18 a.m., sunset at 7:53 p.m. 13 hours & 34 minutes of sun. High tide at 2:52 a.m. & 3:09 p.m. Low tide at 9:14 a.m. & 10:02 p.m. The moon phase is a First Quarter Moon.

🗓️ Things To Do

11 a.m.: Helles is back at Port City Brewing Company
5 p.m.: Comic Book Pop-Up at Aslin ALX
5 p.m.: Banned Book Speakeasy at The Study at Morrison House
6 p.m.: Lynn Boggess Solo Exhibition & Opening Reception at Principle Gallery
7:30 p.m.: Alexandria City High School's Titan Theatre will present "Anastasia: The Musical" at ACHS

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Chris Timbers at 9 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Timmie Metz Band at 9 p.m.
Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
Daniel O'Connell's: The Dad Guys at 9:30 p.m.
Del Ray Public House: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Epicure on King: Live music at 6:30 p.m.
Evening Star Cafe: Full Wunder at 8:30 p.m.
Galactic Panther: Sam. Avi & Friends presents The Loop of Life Birthday Talent Show at 7:30 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Bobby Crim at 6 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 7:30 p.m.
Lost Boy Cider: Sara Delaney at 7 p.m.
Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
Murphy’s Pub: Luke James Shaffer & Rook Richards at 9 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Shovelhead, From Age of Fire, and Thrash Metal Killers at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
St. Elmo's Del Ray: Poetry Open Mic Night at 7 p.m.
The Birchmere: 10,000 Maniacs at 7:30 p.m. (canceled)
The Garden Del Ray: Broken Filter Comedy Show at 8 p.m.
The Light Horse: Retropop at 9:30 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

5:30 p.m.: VIRTUAL: Legislative Subcommittee Meeting - City Council Legislative Subcommittee and City Staff review General Assembly bills
(Full details and calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

9 a.m.: Exhibit: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka - The Struggle and Beyond at Local History/Special Collections
10 a.m.: Book Sale - Friends of Duncan Library at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
10:15 a.m.: Baby Storytime at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
2 p.m.: Musical Movement at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
(Full details and calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

No meetings are scheduled
(Full details and calendar)

ACHS Titans Sports

TBD: Outdoor Track: Girls and Boys Varsity Invitational - 132 Penn Relays at University of Pennsylvania
5:45 p.m.: Lacrosse: Boys JV Game vs. West Potomac at West Potomac High School
6 p.m.: Lacrosse: Girls JV Game vs. West Potomac at Alexandria City High School - Minnie Howard Campus
6:30 p.m.: Baseball: Varsity Game vs. South County at Frank Mann Field
6:30 p.m.: Baseball: JV Game vs. South County at South County High School
6:30 p.m.: Softball: Varsity Game vs. South County at Alexandria City HS - Witter Field
6:30 p.m.: Softball: JV Game vs. South County at South County High School
7:15 p.m.: Lacrosse: Boys Varsity Game vs. West Potomac at West Potomac High School
7:30 p.m.: Lacrosse: Girls Varsity Game vs. West Potomac at Alexandria City High School - Minnie Howard Campus
(Full details and calendar)