Daily Brief | June 23

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Tuesday, June 23. The Brief crossed 6,000 readers overnight — thank you for being part of this. 271 readers make all that we do possible. Will you join them?

Three of today's lead stories sit at the intersection of accountability and access: the auditor's findings on Allan Tucker's in-custody death, the questions ACPS still hasn't answered about Superintendent Kay-Wyatt's final months, and APD's first detailed response on what comes after last Thursday's invitation-only Public Safety Summit. Each one matters on its own. Together, they say something about how — and when — Alexandria's public institutions explain themselves.

The Tall Ship Providence Foundation announced Monday it's suspending operations Friday — less than two weeks after the Providence anchored Sails on the Potomac. The reporting digs into nonprofit tax filings showing widening deficits well before this month's announcement.

Croatia plays Panama in Toronto at 7 p.m. — a real must-win after the 4-2 loss to England. Coach Zlatko Dalić wants his team "brave." The Alexandria Brief has been your home for coverage of Croatia in Alexandria, the only Alexandria publication attending press conferences, training, and reporting on the team almost daily.

Here's what's happening in Alexandria.

1️⃣ Power restored to most of Alexandria after Monday storms; more rain expected Tuesday

Dominion Energy Power Outage Map at of 8 p.m. (Screenshot)

Power was restored to most of Alexandria by early Tuesday after a round of powerful thunderstorms swept through the region Monday evening, knocking out electricity to nearly 7,900 customers in the city at the height of the storms.

As of 5:31 a.m. Tuesday, Dominion Energy reported 140 customers without power in Alexandria, down from a peak of 7,893 the night before, according to the utility's outage map. Across Northern Virginia, outages fell to 6,565 by early Tuesday, with the largest remaining cluster in Fairfax County.

2️⃣ Tall Ship Providence Foundation suspends operations amid mounting losses and debt

Founded in 2017, the foundation operated the Providence as a floating museum and education center on Alexandria's waterfront, telling the story of the Continental Navy and Captain John Paul Jones. (Tall Ship Providence Foundation)

The Tall Ship Providence Foundation announced Monday that it is suspending its educational and tour programs effective June 26, a little more than a week after the historic vessel anchored Alexandria's Sails on the Potomac festival on the city's waterfront — and against a backdrop of widening deficits documented in the nonprofit's tax filings.

In a press release posted to its website, the foundation said the decision "was not made lightly," and that its board and staff "share in the sadness felt by the community that has supported this mission so faithfully." In an accompanying Instagram post, it described the move as one it shared "with a heavy heart."

3️⃣ As Kay-Wyatt's final months begin, the questions ACPS left unanswered

Melanie Kay-Wyatt, Superintendent of ACPS. (ACPS)

Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt will leave Alexandria City Public Schools on Oct. 1, closing out a tenure that saw the division enter its first collective bargaining process, weathered one of its tightest budget cycles in recent memory, and is ending amid overlapping searches for a new superintendent and new leadership at the city's only high school.

With the school year now finished, The Alexandria Brief asked Dr. Kay-Wyatt to look back on it. On June 10, this publication sent her office ten written questions — on the budget, collective bargaining, newcomer students, and the transition ahead — that she could answer on her own time, with her responses to run largely as provided. Follow-ups went out June 16, June 18, and June 19. As of publication, ACPS communications has not responded.

4️⃣ Auditor finds Alexandria police violated policy in Allan Tucker's in-custody death, urges broader jail oversight

City of Alexandria Police Headquarters (Alexandria Police Department)

Alexandria's Independent Policing Auditor has found that police officers violated department policy in the August 2025 in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II, concluding that the arresting officer continued transporting Tucker to the city jail after he repeatedly asked to be taken to a hospital, where he died following a prolonged wait for intake.

The auditor's final report, released June 22, sustains policy violations against three of the four officers involved. Its central finding is that the primary officer failed to follow directives requiring that an arrestee who asks for medical treatment be taken to a hospital — an obligation the report says does not depend on whether the officer believes the request is genuine. The report does not assess criminal liability or the cause of death; a medical examiner ruled Tucker's death accidental, and prosecutors declined to charge the officers earlier this year. The auditor's review is administrative, examining only whether officers complied with Alexandria Police Department policy.

5️⃣ Dalić wants Croatia "brave" and decisive against Panama in must-win

Members of the Croatia national team take the training pitch at Episcopal High School on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, during the team's first practice at its World Cup base camp in Alexandria. (Ryan Belmore / Alexandria Brief)

Croatia's World Cup gets real on Tuesday night. After opening with a 4-2 loss to England that left them bottom of Group L, the Vatreni face Panama in Toronto (7 p.m. ET) in a match they can ill afford to drop — and head coach Zlatko Dalić wants his team to play like the favorites they are.

"We must approach the game as favourites and be brave," Dalić said at his pre-match press conference, in remarks published by the Croatian Football Federation. Everyone is healthy, he said, with no doubts over the starting lineup — but Croatia must be sharper than it was against England, especially defensively. The team gifted England too much, he acknowledged, and made its own job harder.

📰 In brief

City Council meets tonight for a legislative session, with a docket that runs from a police oversight briefing and school board election reform to housing policy and industrial bond issuances. (The Brief)

APD says its June 18 Public Safety Summit at Virginia Theological Seminary was the first phase of a broader community engagement effort around Chief Tarrick McGuire's Public Safety Framework, and that the department will host smaller, neighborhood-based discussions over the next several weeks. (The Brief)

Little Birdie, a chicken-focused restaurant from the team behind Matt and Tony's, will open today at 1504 B Mount Vernon Ave. (The Brief)

Virginia lawmakers want to examine consolidating Northern Virginia’s transit agencies to assess potential cost savings and service improvements. The outcome of the study could reshape transit for four agencies, including DASH Alexandria Transit. (The Brief)

On Monday, Virginia’s legislature advanced a two-year budget proposal that allocates over $205 billion towards healthcare, public education, 4% teacher raises, a 3.5% pay bump for state employees, establishing a retail cannabis marketplace and contingency funding to make up for decreased federal investments. (The Brief)

Alexandria has been ranked the second-best mid-sized U.S. city for graduates starting their careers in 2026. (The Brief)

A 20-year-old Alexandria man found shot to death inside a vehicle in Southeast D.C. on Saturday. (WJLA)

Sports

Curtis Mead and Luis Garcia Jr. homered, Foster Griffin pitched 7 1/3 strong innings and the Nationals beat the Phillies 4-1 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series between the division rivals. (The Brief)

Trae Young has agreed to a four-year extension with the Washington Wizards, one that would be worth about $212 million if he picks up the final year of the deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Monday. (The Brief)

The Washington Nationals continue their four-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies tonight at 6:45 p.m. at Nationals Park. The Washington Mystics, riding back-to-back road wins over the Liberty and Lynx, are off today before hosting the Lynx at Capital One Arena on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Alexandria Aces (9-9) are off after Monday night's game at Bethesda Big Train was postponed; the Aces return home Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. against the DC Grays at Frank Mann Field.

Croatia plays a must-win match against Panama tonight at 7 p.m. at BMO Field in Toronto in the team's second 2026 FIFA World Cup match. Croatia, the 2018 World Cup finalist, is 0-1 in Group L after a 4-2 loss to England last Wednesday in Dallas. Three other World Cup matches today: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan at 1 p.m. at NRG Stadium in Houston (FOX), England vs. Ghana at 4 p.m. at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts (FOX), and Colombia vs. DR Congo at 10 p.m. at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico (FS1).

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Today: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 4 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. High near 79 degrees. Southwest wind 7 to 14 mph, becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch are possible.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 62 degrees. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:43 a.m., sunset at 8:37 p.m. 14 hours & 53 minutes of sun. High tide at 4:02 a.m. & 4:28 p.m. Low tide at 10:35 a.m. & 10:35 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

6 p.m.: Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace at Carlyle House
7 p.m.: Beer Yoga at Port City Brewing Company
7 p.m.: Cheer on Team Croatia - Watch Party at Royal Restaurant
7 p.m.: World Cup Watch Party - Croatia vs. Panama at Continues

🎶 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: Melissa Quinn Fox 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 & Schools

City Government: Open
Flag: Full Staff
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
10 a.m.: Memorial Pool Open
12 p.m.: Old Town Pool Open
1 p.m.: DASH On-Route Charger Groundbreaking Ceremony at West Alexandria Transit Center (6001 Duke St.)
5:30 p.m.: School Board Meeting: Closed Session at 1340 Braddock Place
5:45 p.m.: City Council Legislative Meeting
6:30 p.m.: Budget & Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee Meeting (virtual)
7 p.m.: ACPS Budget Advisory Committee Meeting (virtual)
(City of Alexandria calendar) (ACPS calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

10:30 a.m.: Playtime — ¡Hora de jugar! at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library Reading Garden
11 a.m.: Baby and Toddler Time — La hora de los bebés y los niños at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
2 p.m.: Bar C Ranch: Amazing Adaptations at Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center
2 p.m.: Simple, Sustainable, and Powerfully Delicious Meals with Sana Javeri Kadri and Asha Loupy (virtual)
3 p.m.: Teen Summer Book Club — Fantasy/Science Fiction at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
4 p.m.: Bookworms Compost at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
5 p.m.: Embroidery Bootcamp — Beginner stitches and techniques for adults at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
6:45 p.m.: Eco:mmunion — Conversations to Sustain People and Planet at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
(Alexandria Library calendar)

📜 On this day in Alexandria's history

Aspinwall Hall, Virginia Theological Seminary. (Historic Alexandria)

On June 23, 1897, Virginia Theological Seminary opened a three-day commencement ceremony — an annual event that drew clergy, dignitaries and visitors from across the Episcopal church to Alexandria. The Annual Missionary Sermon was preached on the first day; graduating students recited their final essays on the second day, when Bishop Francis Whittle handed out diplomas in the afternoon; and ordination services on the third day closed the proceedings.

But the most striking detail from the commencement isn't the program. It's how the visitors got there. "Guests attending the ceremonies arrived in Alexandria primarily by train," the Historic Alexandria record notes, "including the electric train that stopped at King and Washington Streets, and were transported to the Seminary by waiting carriages."

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Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist. See something we should cover? Reply to this email or send tips, photos, and story ideas to ryan@alexandriabrief.com. The best stories come from readers.