Daily Brief | June 16

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Tuesday, June 16 — the 167th day of 2026, with 198 days left in the year.

This newsletter is now serving 5,979 Alexandrians, 268 of whom keep it free for the other 5,711. Join them.

A note on the date: today was originally Virginia's primary day, but the General Assembly moved it to Aug. 4. Early voting in Alexandria opens Thursday at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections — a day earlier than the statewide start because the city office is closed for Juneteenth. The dual primary features two contested races: the Democratic primary for Rep. Don Beyer's 8th District U.S. House seat, where he faces four challengers, and the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate nomination, with three candidates competing for the right to challenge Sen. Mark Warner in November.

In today's news: VRE will close King Street again from 7:30 p.m. Thursday to 6:30 a.m. June 24 as it continues replacing two aging rail bridges over King Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

The Croatia national team is in Dallas preparing for Wednesday's World Cup opener against England, after a press conference yesterday where strikers Ante Budimir and midfielder Nikola Moro told The Alexandria Brief that fireworks and military flyovers near their hotel this weekend didn't disrupt their sleep.

Alexandria's Independent Community Policing Review Board has set a June 29 public hearing to review the in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II at the city's adult detention center last August.

Construction began Monday on a $4.28 million pedestrian safety project on South Patrick Street. And the city has partnered with InnovateUS to provide free AI training to all roughly 2,000 employees.

Here's what's happening in Alexandria.

1️⃣ King Street to close again June 18-24 for VRE bridge replacement work

Virginia Railway Express has scheduled another full closure of King Street next week as it continues replacing two aging rail bridges over King Street and Commonwealth Avenue, part of a sweeping, multi-year rehabilitation of Alexandria Union Station.

During that period, King Street will be fully closed between Russell Road and Daingerfield Road, with traffic detoured to Duke Street. Commonwealth Avenue will remain open with a single travel lane and alternating traffic directed by flaggers. Sunset Drive will remain completely open.

2️⃣ Fireworks? Flyovers? Croatia's players slept just fine, thanks

Croatia's Ante Budimir, left, and Nikola Moro at a press conference Monday at Episcopal High School in Alexandria. (Ryan Belmore / Alexandria Brief)

It was a loud weekend around the Croatian national team's Alexandria hotel — and that, it turns out, is no problem for men who grew up under flight paths.

Two days before Croatia opens its World Cup against England, the team held a press conference Monday morning at Episcopal High School, where the Brief asked strikers Ante Budimir and midfielder Nikola Moro a distinctly local question: with fireworks and a military flyover lighting up the skies near their hotel late into the weekend, had any of it reached them — or are they too locked into a pre-match routine to notice?

Their answer, in short: they hardly noticed, and they sleep fine.

3️⃣ Alexandria police review board sets hearing on in-custody death of Allan Tucker

City of Alexandria Police Headquarters (Alexandria Police Department)

Alexandria's Independent Community Policing Review Board has scheduled a public hearing to review the investigation into the in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II, the Woodbridge man who died last August while awaiting processing at the city's adult detention center.

The hearing will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. June 29 at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive. As part of its civilian oversight responsibilities, the board will receive and review information related to the incident and hear public comment. Members of the public may attend and comment in person or virtually.

4️⃣ Alexandria begins work to improve pedestrian safety on South Patrick Street

The City is making improvements to the existing median on South Patrick Street (Route 1) between Wolfe Street and Jefferson Street. (City of Alexandria)

Construction began Monday on the South Patrick Street Median Improvement Project, a $4.28 million effort to improve pedestrian safety and connect neighborhoods along Route 1, weather permitting.

The work will take place between Wolfe Street and Jefferson Street. The first activities will include locating underground utilities and setting up traffic control measures in the project area.

5️⃣ Alexandria to offer free AI training to all city employees

West Facade of Alexandria City Hall (City of Alexandria)

The City of Alexandria has partnered with InnovateUS to provide free artificial intelligence training to all of its roughly 2,000 employees, part of what officials describe as a broader commitment to responsible AI use in local government.

The initiative is meant to ensure the city's workforce is equipped to serve residents effectively and responsibly in an increasingly digital world, the city said. All training is free for employees and designed specifically for the public sector.

📰 In brief

Rock Creek Property Group has purchased Glebe House Apartments from Potomac Management Group. (CoStar)

The regular sidewalk in front of City Hall on King Street (between N. Royal and N. Fairfax Streets) is closed to pedestrians from June 15 to July 10 due to construction. Alternate pedestrian routes will be marked. The DASH bus stop in front of City Hall will also be temporarily closed during this time. Riders can board at the Pitt Street stop, just one block away. (City of Alexandria)

Since its opening on June 15, 1991, Van Dorn St station has served as a connection between Alexandria and Fairfax County, and last year it served 1 million trips. (Metro)

The Alexandria Police Department will host its Public Safety Summit on Thursday, June 18, 2026, bringing together invited community members, civic and neighborhood leaders, City leadership, and public safety stakeholders to help shape a long-term vision for public safety in Alexandria.

Region

With a June 30 deadline looming before a state government shutdown, Virginia legislators have released new budget proposals, the latest actions in a long-simmering debate over the state spending plan that has deadlocked over whether data centers should keep being exempt from the state’s sales and use tax. (Virginia Mercury)

Sports

Luis García Jr. hit a go-ahead single, Dylan Crews added a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals scored five times in the fifth inning to beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Monday night. (The Brief)

The Washington Nationals continue their three-game series against the Kansas City Royals tonight at 6:45 p.m. at Nationals Park.

The Alexandria Aces (6-5) host the Olney Cropdusters tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Frank Mann Field after a brutal 20-0 shutout loss in seven innings at the SS-T Thunderbolts Monday.

All four 2026 FIFA World Cup matches Monday ended in draws: Spain 0, Cape Verde 0 in Atlanta; Belgium 1, Egypt 1 in Seattle; Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay 1 in Miami; and Iran 2, New Zealand 2 in Los Angeles.

Today's World Cup schedule: France vs. Senegal at 3 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey; Iraq vs. Norway at 6 p.m. at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts; and Argentina vs. Algeria at 9 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Croatia opens its tournament Wednesday at 4 p.m. against England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

I post throughout the day on Bluesky — breaking news, photos from city meetings, Croatia training session updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses. Follow @alexandriabrief.com and @ryanbelmore.com to stay in the loop.

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Today: Sunny, with a high near 81 degrees. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 64 degrees. South wind around 6 mph.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:42 a.m., sunset at 8:35 p.m. 14 hours & 53 minutes of sun. High tide at 9:40 a.m. & 10:24 p.m. Low tide at 3:49 a.m. & 4:51 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Crescent.

🗓️ Things To Do

5:30 p.m.: Gather and Grow, Hosted by The Chamber ALX's Minority Business Council, presented by Amazon at The Garden Del Ray
7 p.m.: Beer Yoga at Port City Brewing Company
7 p.m.: Sweet & Salty Book Club Meetings at Hotel Heron

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Holly Montgomery at 9 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Cooper Mill: Music Bingo at 6 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Antonio James at 6 p.m.
Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: Jay Byrd at 6 p.m.
Lost Dog Cafe: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pete Baker at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Trivia at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Commodore: Trivia at 7 p.m.
The Garden Del Ray: Trivia at 7 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

City Government: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Holiday Schedule: Juneteenth | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open at Minnie Howard campus
7:30 a.m.: Waterfront Commission Regular Meeting
10 a.m.: Memorial Pool Open at Memorial pool
noon: Old Town Pool Open at Old Town pool
6 p.m.: AlexRenew Regular Board of Directors Meeting at Ed Semonian Boardroom
7 p.m.: Historic Alexandria Resources Commission Meeting at Lloyd House
7 p.m.: Commission for the Arts Monthly Meeting at Lee Center at Charles Houston Rec. Center
7 p.m.: Human Rights Commission Regular Monthly Meeting at Charles Houston Rec. Center
7 p.m.: Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee Meeting at Lloyd House
(City of Alexandria calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:15 a.m.: Family Storytime — Martes de niños at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: Playtime! — ¡Hora de jugar! at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
11 a.m.: Baby and Toddler Time — La hora de los bebés y los niños at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
2 p.m.: Baby and Toddler Play Date at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
2 p.m.: Embroidery Bootcamp Jr. at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
5 p.m.: Duncan and Dragons — Arkipeligo at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
6 p.m.: Banned Book Club at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
6 p.m.: Death Café at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
7 p.m.: Handcraft Tuesday — Evening Edition (virtual)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

Nothing on the calendar.
(ACPS calendar)

📜 On this day in Alexandria's history

Map showing the District of Columbia. (Library of Congress)

On June 16, 1809, a petition was filed with the Virginia General Assembly to construct a new turnpike linking Alexandria with Fredericksburg, roughly 50 miles to the south. Construction began soon after on a causeway across the Great Hunting Creek and a road that pushed through what was then the rural wilderness of eastern Fairfax County, passing the Huntley meadows, Mount Vernon, Woodlawn and the town of Woodbridge.

The same year, a second new turnpike was built north of Alexandria. That road, running roughly along what is now Powhatan Street, extended from the northern dead-end of Washington Street to connect with the Long Bridge across the Potomac River, finally providing a direct road link between Alexandria and Washington Counties — the two original counties that made up the District of Columbia.

Together, the two roads transformed Alexandria's place in the region's transportation network.

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, questions, story ideas, and news tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.