Daily Brief | July 3

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Friday, July 3 — the day the heat peaks.

School Board Chair Michelle Rief gave The Brief an extensive on-the-record response covering the ACPS budget, the state of the collective bargaining agreement with teachers, and the superintendent transition.

And Croatia's World Cup ended last night in Toronto, closing a month unlike any other in Alexandria.

Meanwhile, an Extreme Heat Warning holds through the Fourth with a heat index up to 113 today — cooling centers, open pools, and the full weekend picture are all below.

Here's what's happening in Alexandria.

1️⃣ School Board chair addresses budget, unfinished CBA, superintendent transition

Michelle Rief, Chair of the ACPS School Board (ACPS School Board)

Alexandria's first-ever collective bargaining agreement with its teachers and staff has not been ratified and remains unfinished, School Board Chair Dr. Michelle Rief said, confirming the status of a deal that was a defining and contentious feature of the past school year.

In written responses to questions from The Alexandria Brief, Rief said the two sides reached a tentative agreement on the economic portions of a proposed contract but "have not yet reached a final agreement on the non-economic portions." She said ACPS expects to engage with the Education Association of Alexandria's newly elected leadership — the union is currently holding a leadership election — before negotiations continue.

The confirmation clarifies a question that had lingered since the spring, when ACPS and the EAA announced what was widely described as the division's first collective bargaining agreement. As Rief's response makes clear, what was reached was a tentative agreement contingent on funding and still incomplete on non-economic terms — not a finalized, ratified contract.

2️⃣ Croatia's World Cup ends in Toronto, closing an unlikely month in Alexandria

Croatia fell 2-1 to Portugal on Thursday night. (UEFA)

The team that made Alexandria its home for a month is out of the World Cup.

Croatia's tournament ended Thursday night in Toronto, where Portugal rallied for a 2-1 win in the Round of 32 on a stoppage-time header — and where a disallowed goal in the dying moments denied the Vatreni a dramatic equalizer. Portugal advances to face Spain in the Round of 16; Croatia goes home.

For Alexandria, it is the end of an unlikely chapter that began in early June, when Croatia set up its base camp at Episcopal High School and, over the following weeks, turned a Northern Virginia city into an unexpected World Cup outpost.

3️⃣ Dangerous heat continues through the Fourth of July as Alexandria's warning holds

Aerial of Alexandria (Phototreat/Getty Images)

Alexandria's dangerous heat will persist through the Fourth of July, with the National Weather Service keeping an extreme heat warning in effect for Friday and Saturday.

The warning runs each day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with heat index values of 110 to 113 expected. Friday is forecast to be the peak, with an air temperature near 102 and a heat index as high as 113. The Fourth will bring more of the same, with a high near 102 and a heat index up to 111. Overnight lows near 82 will offer little relief.

Forecasters warn the conditions are dangerous for anyone spending extended time outdoors, with heat-related illness a growing risk in the afternoon and early evening. A chance of showers and thunderstorms — about 30% after 3 p.m. Saturday — could bring some relief on the holiday, but also the risk of gusty storms.

4️⃣ What's happening in Alexandria this weekend: July 3-5

Close-up of an American flag hanging in the front garden of a townhouse in Alexandria. (Grace Cary/Getty Images)

It's going to be a dangerously hot holiday weekend. If you need to cool off, pools at Old Town, Memorial and Warwick are open, and Charles Houston and Patrick Henry recreation centers are serving as cooling centers from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. DASH is also running cooling buses at 417 King Street and the LA Mart parking lot at South Van Dorn and Edsall Road. All Alexandria museums are open with free admission for residents, and the Torpedo Factory has A/C and art from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

Sports fans have plenty to watch this weekend. The Washington Spirit host Houston at Audi Field Friday night for an America 250 celebration, and the Nats take on the Pirates for a three-game set. The World Cup knockout rounds roll on with Argentina, France, Brazil and Mexico all in action — and Sunday's 8 p.m. Mexico-England match should be a good one.

On Sunday, Göta Lejon — a marching show band from Gothenburg, Sweden — performs a free concert at 11 a.m. at John Carlyle Square Park, presented by the Alexandria Sister Cities Committee. And a reminder: Alexandria's own birthday fireworks celebration is next week, July 11 at Oronoco Bay Park.

Here's everything on the calendar this weekend.

This kind of journalism — the Rief interview, the Croatia coverage, the heat updates — takes time. If The Brief is worth it to you, support our work.

📰 In brief

The Navy submarine that bears this city's name held its farewell ceremony last weekend, marking the end of 35 years of active service for USS Alexandria (SSN 757). (The Brief)

A new city website helping renters navigate mold problems in their homes is live at alexandriava.gov/Mold. Alexandria just hadn't told anyone about it yet — until Tuesday night. (The Brief)

George Hanson, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra's executive director for the past seven years, has left the organization to pursue new opportunities, the orchestra's board announced Thursday. His last day was June 30. (The Brief)

The city's Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee received Alexandria's annual Commission of the Year Impact Award at Wednesday night's City Council public hearing, recognition that one member tied directly to her own experience watching sewage flood her home in 2020 and 2021. (The Brief)

ALIVE!, Alexandria's largest organization working to prevent food and housing insecurity, announced a slate of new executive committee members Wednesday, with their terms taking effect July 1. (The Brief)

Metro is ready to move crowds for historic Fourth of July festivities. Fares will be free systemwide from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Metro Rail service will increase starting at 5 p.m. to facilitate trips safely and efficiently. (WMATA)

Alexandria Post Office celebrates 250 years as one of nation's original locations. (WJLA)

Governor Abigail Spanberger announced a slate of state board appointments Thursday, including two Alexandrians: Joy McManus, appointed to the Education Commission of the States, and Stacey Brayboy, senior vice president of public policy and government affairs at March of Dimes, appointed to the Radford University Board of Visitors. (Office of the Governor)

A legal challenge to Virginia’s pending reproductive rights amendment is headed toward a hearing later this month, with potential implications for two other pending constitutional amendments. (Virginia Mercury)

Alexandria -> Virginia city roasted for encouraging people to snitch on neighbors celebrating Fourth of July with fireworks (Fox News)

Sports

Shakira Austin had 21 points and nine rebounds, Kiki Iriafen added 14 points and 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double this season, and the Washington Mystics beat the Atlanta Dream 81-76 on Thursday night. (The Brief)

Alex Ovechkin is not ready to skate away from the NHL, not yet, and now he gets a chance to make his career goal-scoring record even more difficult to break. (The Brief)

Yesterday's World Cup Round of 32 action produced two European coronations and one late Cristiano Ronaldo winner. Portugal came back to beat Croatia 2-1 at BMO Field in Toronto (see above); Spain rolled past Austria 3-0 at SoFi Stadium behind a Lamine Yamal star turn, earning La Roja's first World Cup knockout win since the 2010 final; and Switzerland eased past Algeria 2-0 at BC Place in Vancouver, their first World Cup knockout victory since 1938.

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102 degrees. Heat index values as high as 113. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 82 degrees. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:47 a.m., sunset at 8:36 p.m. 14 hours & 48 minutes of sun.

High tide at 11:05 a.m. & 11:41 p.m. Low tide at 5:13 a.m. & 5:54 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

11 a.m.: German Pilsner Release at Port City Brewing Company
6:30 p.m.: Friday Night Run Club at Daniel O'Connell's
6:30 p.m.: Alexandria Aces versus Southern Maryland Senators at Frank Mann Field

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Sol Roots at 9 p.m.
Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
Del Ray Public House: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 7:30 p.m.
Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
Murphy’s Pub: Pat Garvey & Tyler Goldstein at 9 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Culp at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Garden Del Ray: Jeremiah Prophett Duo at 4:30 p.m.
The Light Horse: Rebel Rose at 9:30 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.

🏛️ City & Schools

All Day: City Offices Closed — Independence Day Holiday
All Day: RPCA Closure: Independence Day (Observed)
10 a.m.: Old Town Open at Old Town Pool
10 a.m.: Warwick Open at Warwick Pool
10 a.m.: Memorial Open at Memorial Pool
7 p.m.: Tavern Games Night: America250 at Gadsby's Tavern Museum
(City of Alexandria calendar) (ACPS calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

All Day: RPCA Closure: Independence Day (Observed)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

⚽ Sports

2 p.m.: FIFA World Cup — Australia vs. Egypt
6 p.m.: FIFA World Cup — Argentina vs. Cape Verde
6:30 p.m.: Alexandria Aces vs. Southern Maryland Senators at Frank Mann Field
6:45 p.m.: Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park
8 p.m.: Washington Spirit vs. Houston Dash at Audi Field — America 250 celebration
9:30 p.m.: FIFA World Cup — Colombia vs. Ghana

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.