Daily Brief | July 1

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Wednesday, July 1, 2026 — and happy new fiscal year.

Today marks the start of FY 2027 for both the city and the commonwealth, along with the beginning of a wave of new Virginia laws taking effect on rules ranging from guns and schools to housing and wages.

Also today: AlexRenew's RiverRenew program officially comes online, meeting a state-mandated deadline and beginning the largest single upgrade to Alexandria's water quality in its history. Earlier this month, The Brief went 60 feet underground for a look at the 12-story pumping station and 2.2-mile tunnel that come online today. A 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting at the pumping station marks the moment.

Croatia's World Cup team landed safely in Toronto last night after nearly a month based in Alexandria, and takes on Portugal tomorrow at 7 p.m. at BMO Field in the Round of 32. For the fullest look at what the team's stay meant for the city, and vice versa, The Brief's coverage — from their hotel to the Episcopal High School training ground, the press availabilities, the players' final morning in the city, and the ripple effects for Visit Alexandria and the wider community — is the most in-depth reporting on the team's Alexandria stay anywhere.

Here's what's happening in Alexandria.

1️⃣ Heat Advisory takes effect at 11 a.m. Wednesday; NWS warns severe storms possible Friday through Monday as heat risk extends into next week

A DASH bus wrapped in a rainbow Pride design served as both a cooling center and a canvas for community chalk art during the 9th Annual Alexandria Pride on Saturday at John Carlyle Square Park. (Ryan Belmore/The Alexandria Brief)

Alexandria's Heat Advisory takes effect at 11 a.m. Wednesday and runs through 8 p.m. this evening, with the National Weather Service warning of heat index values up to 107 degrees during peak afternoon hours. The forecast high is 99 degrees, with a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms after 3 p.m.

The more concerning stretch begins Thursday morning. An Extreme Heat Watch runs from 11 a.m. Thursday, July 2 through 8 p.m. Friday, July 3, with dangerously hot conditions and heat index values up to 112. Air temperatures peak at 103 degrees Thursday and 104 degrees Friday. Overnight lows fail to provide meaningful relief, bottoming out at 80 degrees both nights.

The heat risk now extends through the weekend and into next week.

2️⃣ As Croatia leaves Alexandria, its players say what they'll miss: the people, the place, the month

Croatia midfielder Nikola Vlašić, who scored the winning goal against Ghana, speaks with reporters at Episcopal High School on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the team's last day based in Alexandria. (Ryan Belmore / The Alexandria Brief)

After nearly a month, Croatia's World Cup team trained at Episcopal High School for the final time Tuesday and prepared to leave Alexandria for good, bound for Toronto and a Round of 32 match against Portugal.

The Vatreni arrived in early June as a curiosity — one of the world's best soccer teams, setting up camp at a boarding school in a Northern Virginia city of 160,000. They leave as a team back in form, through to the knockout round, and, by their own account, fond of the place that hosted them.

Asked on the team's final morning in the city what they would take away, two players offered answers that had nothing to do with soccer.

3️⃣ City Council to weigh five-year extension for West End asphalt plant, testing 2027 closure promise

Virginia Paving's Alexandria Plant. (Virginia Paving)

Alexandria City Council tonight will decide whether to honor a 2019 promise to West End residents that Virginia Paving Company's asphalt plant would close by Jan. 1, 2027, or grant the company a five-year reprieve over the unanimous objection of its own Planning Commission.

Council will also take up the second reading and final passage of an ordinance formally rezoning the property at 1019 Cameron Street from CL/Commercial low to CD/Commercial downtown, completing action on Rezoning No. 2026-00001, which Council previously approved on June 13.

4️⃣ Crooked Beat Records announces new Del Ray location, just steps from incoming NRG record store

The exterior of 2101B Mount Vernon Ave. in Del Ray, the future home of Crooked Beat Records, which announced Tuesday it will reopen at the location this August. (Ryan Belmore/The Alexandria Brief)

Crooked Beat Records is returning to Del Ray.

The beloved independent vinyl shop announced Tuesday it will reopen at 2101B Mount Vernon Ave., just 128 feet from the record store that Neighborhood Restaurant Group announced the same day it plans to open this summer — setting the stage for what could become a vinyl destination block on Mount Vernon Avenue.

In a video posted to social media Tuesday afternoon, owner Bill Daly said a longtime supporter of the shop — a customer of nearly three decades — purchased a building and closed on it Tuesday, with Crooked Beat set to rent the space from her.

📰 In brief

AlexRenew's RiverRenew program comes online today, meeting a state-mandated July 1 deadline and beginning operations at the 12-story underground pumping station and 2.2-mile Waterfront Tunnel that together represent the largest infrastructure project in Alexandria's history. (The Brief)

Alexandria's civilian Independent Community Policing Review Board reconvenes virtually at 6 p.m. tonight to continue deliberations on the auditor's findings in the August 2025 in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II. Monday's three-hour hearing at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center saw members of Tucker's family address the board directly during public comment — naming officers and calling for criminal charges — while board members raised questions about the limits of their own authority under the city's four-year-old oversight system. The board voted to recess rather than adjourn, meaning the same meeting remains technically open. (The Brief)

Construction begins Monday, July 6, on King Street between West Braddock Road and Chinquapin Drive as part of a city project aimed at improving pedestrian, bicycle and transit safety near Alexandria City High School. (The Brief)

New rules on guns, schools, housing, wages and criminal justice begin rolling out across the commonwealth this week. (Virginia Mercury)

Drivers parking at metered spaces across Alexandria will pay more starting today as two changes approved by city council take effect with the new fiscal year. (The Brief)

Alexandria Fire Department to receive clean water upgrades through $30,000 grant secured by Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association. (City of Alexandria)

“The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will conduct routine live-fly exercises over the National Capital Region between June 30 and July 2 from midnight to 5:30 a.m. Expect low flying aircraft, loud noises. All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled”. (Alert DC)

"On July 1, 1958, more than 30 people were injured when two passenger trains collided at Union Station. A Seaboard Airline train was unloading passengers when a Chesapeake & Ohio streamliner came into the station on the same northbound tracks and rammed into the Seaboard." (Historic Alexandria)

Sports

Cade Civalli gave up one hit in seven innings and had a career-high 13 strikeouts in the Washington Nationals' 8-1 victory over the Red Sox on Tuesday night, snapping Boston's five-game winning streak. (The Brief)

Erling Haaland scored an 86th-minute winner as Norway edged Ivory Coast 2-1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, sending the Vikings through to a Round of 16 date with Brazil. Kylian Mbappé scored twice as France dispatched Sweden 3-0 at MetLife Stadium and moved to a Round of 16 matchup with Paraguay. Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout-round win with a 2-0 result over Ecuador at Estadio Azteca, with Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scoring in the first half.

The Alexandria Aces beat the Gaithersburg Giants 9-7 on Tuesday at Criswell Automotive Field, evening their season record at 12-12.

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Today: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Sunny and hot, with a high near 99 degrees. Heat index values as high as 108. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 77 degrees. South wind 5 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:46 a.m., sunset at 8:37 p.m. 14 hours & 50 minutes of sun.

High tide at 9:57 a.m. & 10:34 p.m. Low tide at 3:54 a.m. & 4:48 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: In-person early voting open at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 N. Royal Street)
7 p.m.: Murphy’s Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
Aslin ALX: Mahjong Night at 6:30 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
Evening Star Cafe: The What Have You Open Mic at 8:15 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Port City Brewing Company: Bluegrass Jam Night at 7 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
Southside 815: Rook Richards at 9:30 p.m.

🏛️ City & Schools

City Government: Open | Flag Status: Full Staff
Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
6 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open
9 a.m.: AlexRenew Pumping Station Ribbon Cutting at AlexRenew Education Center & Meeting Space
10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.: Memorial Pool Open
11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.: Warwick Pool Open
12 p.m.: Commission on Employment Executive Meeting (virtual)
6 p.m.: Independent Community Policing Review Board continued deliberations on the Tucker review (virtual)
6 p.m.: City Council Public Hearing at Del Pepper Community Resource Center
(City of Alexandria calendar) (ACPS calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

All day: PINGO! — Plastic Free Bingo at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:30 a.m.: Paleontology Playtime at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
11 a.m.: Just Babies — Solo Los Bebés at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
2 p.m.: Bar C Ranch — Amazing Adaptations at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
4 p.m.: Mad Science — Fire and Ice at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
5 p.m.: Learn to Sing the Music You Love — Pop, K-pop and More! at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
7 p.m.: Monthly Meditation with Yoga in Daily Life (virtual)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

⚽ Sports

12 p.m.: World Cup Round of 32 — England vs. DR Congo, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
1:35 p.m.: Washington Nationals at Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park
4 p.m.: World Cup Round of 32 — Belgium vs. Senegal, Lumen Field, Seattle
7 p.m.: Alexandria Aces at D.C. Grays, Robert J. Talbot Field at Catholic University
8 p.m.: World Cup Round of 32 — USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara

The Alexandria Brief

Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.

Publisher: Ryan Belmore. Send news and feedback to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.