Daily Brief | June 1

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Monday, June 1— the 152nd day of 2026, with 213 days left in the year.

Tonight at Rivergate City Park, the city will unveil a riverside memorial to the 67 people killed in last year's midair collision over the Potomac. The unveiling — a partnership between the City of Alexandria and Rep. Don Beyer — runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and is open to the community. The weather is on our side for an outdoor event: increasing clouds with a high near 79 degrees, then partly cloudy and 55 degrees overnight.

It's also the final stretch for Alexandria City High School. With graduation Saturday at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena and the last day of school for students set for June 12, this week brings SOL retakes, the March of the Titans through ACPS elementary and middle schools on Thursday, Senior Sunset that same evening, and the long-running PTSA-hosted Grad Party — a drug- and alcohol-free tradition since 1989 — capping graduation night.

In the news today: Mayor Alyia Gaskins lays out how rising fuel prices are starting to squeeze the city's vehicle fleet; Alexandria's drinking water has met federal standards for a third straight year, with PFAS undetected; the city remains under a drought warning despite the weekend rain; and the Alexandria Health Department is warning Potomac Yard residents after a raccoon there tested positive for rabies.

Here's what you need to know today.

1️⃣ Alexandria to unveil memorial Monday for 67 killed in Potomac River collision

A memorial honoring the 67 people killed in the January 2025 Potomac River midair collision has been installed at Rivergate City Park along the waterfront. The city will unveil it to the public at 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 1. (City of Alexandria)

The city will unveil a riverside memorial Monday evening to the 67 people killed in the January 2025 midair collision over the Potomac River, marking the completion of a project announced on the first anniversary of the crash.

The public unveiling is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 1, at Rivergate City Park, 2 Montgomery St. The memorial, created by the City of Alexandria in partnership with Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., sits in the northeastern portion of the park along the Potomac. It includes a memorial bench, bricks, a descriptive sign and trees honoring the 67 victims. The event is free and open to the community.

2️⃣ Rising fuel prices are squeezing Alexandria's city fleet, but officials say it's holding up

A City of Alexandria refuse collection truck operated by the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services. The department is among those city officials say have seen higher fuel costs. (City of Alexandria)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins said rising fuel prices are beginning to drive up the cost of running the city's vehicle fleet, laying out the figures in a video posted to social media Friday — a question she first raised at the May 12 City Council meeting, where City Manager James Parajon said the city's fleet is weathering the increases relatively well.

The fleet ranges from school buses and police cars to fire trucks and vehicles for transportation and environmental services, Gaskins said. The question of how fuel costs affect those operations came up during Parajon's May State of the Economy update, a monthly briefing Gaskins said she asked the manager to begin last fall to keep the council informed on economic trends.

3️⃣ Alexandria's drinking water stayed within federal limits for a third straight year, reports show

Alexandria's drinking water met all state and federal quality standards for the third consecutive year, according to annual reports Virginia American Water released this month, with the regulated "forever chemicals" known as PFAS undetected in the city's water in both 2024 and 2025.

The company posted its latest consumer confidence reports online May 11, covering testing from January through December 2025. Virginia American Water, which serves about 384,000 people statewide, said its water met or surpassed standards for all regulated substances and that the utility has not received a drinking water notice of violation in 17 years.

4️⃣ Alexandria remains under a drought warning despite recent rains

*Entire state under drought watch or warning advisories*. (DEQ)

Alexandria remains under a drought warning, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality said Friday, as the state kept its existing drought advisories in place despite heavy rain across the Commonwealth in recent days.

Nearly all of Virginia, including Alexandria, is in a drought warning — a status meant to signal that a significant drought event is imminent. Only Isle of Wight County and the southeastern cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach are in the less severe drought watch.

5️⃣ Raccoon in Potomac Yard neighborhood tests positive for rabies, health department warns

A raccoon found in Alexandria's Potomac Yard neighborhood has tested positive for rabies, the Alexandria Health Department said Friday, prompting a warning for residents to be careful around wildlife.

On May 23, an aggressive raccoon came into contact with a dog near East Glebe Road, the department said. The dog's owner may have been exposed while moving the pet to safety. Both the owner and the dog are safe, and the dog is being monitored for symptoms. The raccoon was captured and killed and later tested positive for rabies.

📰 In brief

Three street segments that have been on Alexandria's repaving schedule since mid-May are set for work again the week of June 1, joined by a newly added stretch of Holland Lane, the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services said. (The Alexandria Brief)

Alexandria Children's Theatre will stage "The Wizard of Oz" over two weekends in June, with a cast of 34 students from the District and Northern Virginia following the yellow brick road through Dorothy's journey to the land of Oz. (The Alexandria Brief)

The city of Alexandria will host its fifth community meeting on the Commonwealth, Ashby and Glebe Flood Mitigation Project on Thursday, June 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center. (The Alexandria Brief)

Region

Virginia lawmakers are set to return to Richmond this month for another attempt to reach a budget deal, with just days until the start of the new fiscal year and no agreement yet on the state’s next two-year spending plan. (The Alexandria Brief)

Virginia’s education leaders say they are optimistic about the proposed K-12 funding in the state budget, but their outlook is tempered by uncertainty as state leaders and the governor have yet to reach an agreement on a new two-year spending plan. (The Alexandria Brief)

A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center and blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations — the latest legal setback for Trump's efforts to leave his personal mark on the landscape of the nation's capital. (The Alexandria Brief)

A federal judge in Alexandria on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from proceeding with a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for the Republican president's allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government, halting its formation or any potential payouts for at least the next two weeks. (The Alexandria Brief)

Sports

James Wood and Luis García Jr. each homered, Zack Littell allowed two earned runs and the Washington Nationals beat the San Diego Padres 4-2 in the rubber game of the series on Sunday. (The Alexandria Brief)

The Washington Spirit closed out the stretch before the NWSL's June break with a 2-1 win over Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, a third consecutive home victory in front of another sellout at Audi Field. (The Alexandria Brief)

Washington Nationals open a three-game home series tonight against the Miami Marlins at 6:45 p.m.

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 79 degrees. Light northwest wind becoming north 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55 degrees. East wind 6 to 8 mph.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:44 a.m., sunset at 8:28 p.m. 14 hours & 43 minutes of sun. High tide at 9:43 a.m. & 10:24 p.m. Low tide at 3:36 a.m. & 4:38 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

5:30 p.m.: Potomac Mid Air Collision Memorial Unveiling at Rivergate City Park
6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
7 p.m.: Traditional Concert Series at Lyceum

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
Clyde’s at Mark Center: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Daniel O’Connell’s: Traditional Irish Music at 7 p.m.
Del Ray Public House: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Epicure on King: Open Mic at 7 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Jim West at 6 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Colby Sard at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

City Government: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time

6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
noon: BFAAC & BAC Subcommittee Meeting (virtual)
1:30 p.m.: Commission on Aging Executive Committee Meeting (virtual)
4 p.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open at Minnie Howard campus
4:30 p.m.: Warwick Pool Open at Warwick pool
4:30 p.m.: Old Town Pool Open at Old Town pool
5 p.m.: Visit Alexandria Executive Committee Meeting at 277 S. Washington St., #210
5:30 p.m.: Potomac Mid-Air Collision Memorial Unveiling at Rivergate City Park
7 p.m.: Traditional Concert Series at The Lyceum
(City of Alexandria calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:15 & 11:15 a.m.: Baby Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: Senior Bingo at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
1 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
4 p.m.: Sensory Story Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
5 p.m.: Dungeons & Dragons at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library (waitlist)
6 p.m.: Introduction to Hemming at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (full)
6:30 p.m.: Stability in Motion — Weekly Yoga Class with Seven Petals Yoga at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (full)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

6:30 p.m.: Athletic Hall of Fame Advisory Committee Meeting at ACHS Media Center
(ACPS calendar)

ACHS Titans Sports

No games scheduled.
(ACHS Titans sports calendar)

The Alexandria Brief

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

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Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist. Send feedback, story ideas, news, and tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.