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Good morning, Alexandria. It's Tuesday, June 30 — and Croatia leaves today.
The team will host its final press availability and training session in Alexandria this morning before boarding a flight from Dulles to Toronto, where it will take on Portugal in the Round of 32 on Thursday at 7 p.m. at BMO Field. Today closes nearly a month of the Vatreni calling Alexandria home — a stay that, by the Visit Alexandria CEO's account, delivered "exposure that money can't buy." Two stories below mark the moment: what hosting Croatia did for Alexandria, and how Episcopal High School became the unlikely home base of a World Cup squad.
A reminder on the heat ahead: A heat advisory takes effect tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with the forecast high near 99°, followed by an extreme heat watch Thursday into Friday with highs near 103° both days. City cooling centers at five recreation centers and six library branches are open during their normal business hours.
Here's what's happening in Alexandria.
1️⃣ Tucker family members call for officers to be criminally charged at emotional public hearing; civilian board recesses without a decision
Members of Allan F. Tucker II's family addressed Alexandria's civilian police review board directly Monday night, naming officers during public comment and calling for criminal charges, during a three-hour hearing that ended with the Independent Community Policing Review Board recessing without reaching a decision on the auditor's findings.
The board voted to continue the meeting to Wednesday, July 1, rather than adjourn — meaning the same meeting remains technically open and discussion will resume virtually at 6 p.m. "This meeting would go in recess, it would not adjourn," board Chair Deborah Porter said near the close of Monday's session. "The rest of the discussion would happen" Wednesday.
Read more: Tucker family members call for officers to be criminally charged at emotional public hearing; civilian board recesses without a decision | Alexandria Sheriff's Office finds no policy violations in its own review of Allan Tucker's in-custody death, declines to release report
2️⃣ "Exposure that money can't buy": What hosting Croatia did for Alexandria
For a city that often sits in Washington's shadow, a month as a World Cup team's home delivered something Visit Alexandria could never have afforded on its own.
"This is that money, or exposure, that money can't buy," said Todd O'Leary, president and CEO of Visit Alexandria, reflecting on what hosting the Croatian national soccer team has meant for the city. The destination's international marketing budget, he noted, is "teeny" — "almost a pittance" next to what a city like Washington can spend. Hosting one of the world's best soccer teams for nearly a month, and landing Alexandria in the global World Cup conversation, was a level of visibility the bureau could not have bought.
As Croatia prepared to leave Alexandria on Tuesday for the World Cup's knockout round, O'Leary took stock of a moment that, by his account, poured "rocket fuel" into a sports-tourism strategy the city had been building for years.
Read more: "Exposure that money can't buy": What hosting Croatia did for Alexandria
3️⃣ As Croatia prepares to leave, Episcopal reflects on the month it hosted a World Cup team
When Croatia's national soccer team went looking for a place to base itself for the 2026 World Cup, it weighed professional training grounds and university facilities up and down the region. Then it picked a boarding high school in Alexandria.
As the team prepares to leave Alexandria this week, Dan O'Neil, Episcopal High School's director of auxiliary programs, will admit he did not see it coming.
"We were pleasantly surprised when Croatia chose us," O'Neil said in an interview, acknowledging that, for all his pride in the school's fields, he was not highly confident Episcopal would beat out the professional and collegiate options. "It's been a really wonderful experience."
Read more: As Croatia prepares to leave, Episcopal reflects on the month it hosted a World Cup team
4️⃣ Parking meter rates, fines going up Wednesday in Alexandria
Drivers parking at metered spaces across Alexandria will pay more starting Wednesday as two changes approved by city council take effect July 1.
The hourly meter rate will rise to $2.75, up from $1.75, and the base fine for parking citations will increase to $55 per violation — the first hike to the standard penalty since 2007, when it went from $25 to $40.
Both changes were approved by Alexandria City Council at its April 18 public hearing as part of the fiscal year 2027 budget process.
Read more: Parking meter rates, fines going up Wednesday in Alexandria
📰 In brief
Five candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Virginia's 8th Congressional District will appear together Wednesday evening at a candidate forum hosted by Arlington Democrats at Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington. (The Brief)
The Virginia Railway Express has acquired Seminary Yard, a rail yard situated along the Manassas Line near Duke Street and the Capital Beltway, purchasing the property from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority for $35.8 million as part of a broader five-year, $155 million agreement between the two agencies. (The Brief)
With less than 48 hours remaining before the start of Virginia’s new fiscal year, the General Assembly on Monday approved a package of amendments proposed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger to the state’s two-year budget, formally ending a budget fight among the Democratic majority that had dragged on for months. (The Brief)
Five years after becoming the first Southern state to legalize possession of marijuana, Virginia has approved a legal way to sell it to recreational users. (The Brief)
Alexandria City Council holds its July public hearing meeting on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, with hybrid access via Zoom. The meeting agenda is available here. (City of Alexandria)
The Alexandria Brief has updated its June 24 story on Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt's leave of absence to note the June 20 death of her 27-year-old daughter, Temple Hallie Quinn "Punky" Wyatt. The Alexandria Brief extends its deepest condolences to Dr. Kay-Wyatt and her family. (The Brief)
Sports
Wilson Contreras hit a three-run homer, Caleb Durbin added a home run of his own, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Monday to extend their winning streak to a season-high five games. (The Brief)
The Alexandria Aces dropped a 6-4 game at the Bethesda Big Train on Monday at Shirley Povich Field, falling to 11-12 on the season.
The second day of World Cup knockout play produced two stunners: Paraguay upset Germany on penalties (1-1, 4-3 shootout) at Gillette Stadium, and Morocco upset the Netherlands on penalties (1-1, 3-2) at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. Brazil beat Japan 2-1 at NRG Stadium in Houston to advance.
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
- Heat Advisory in effect from July 1, 11:00 AM until July 1, 8:00 PM
- Extreme Heat Watch in effect from July 2, 11:00 AM until July 3, 8:00 PM
Today: Sunny, with a high near 90 degrees. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 70 degrees. South wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:46 a.m., sunset at 8:37 p.m. 14 hours & 50 minutes of sun.
High tide at 9:22 a.m. & 9:58 p.m. Low tide at 3:14 a.m. & 4:11 p.m.
The moon phase is a Full Moon.
🗓️ 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)
- 5 p.m.: Chamber ALX presents Disability Awareness Awards at American Physical Therapy Association
- 6 p.m.: Community Cookout at Casa Chirilagua
- 6 p.m.: Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace at Carlyle House
- 7 p.m.: Beer Yoga at Port City Brewing Company
- 7 p.m.: Sweet & Salty Book Club Meetings at Hotel Heron
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Justin Gillen Trio 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: Combo Indigo in the Beer Garden 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
- 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
- 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Minnie Howard Pool open
- 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.: Memorial Pool open
- 12 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.: Old Town Pool open
- 5 p.m.: Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities Awards at American Physical Therapy Association
- 6 p.m.: Community Cookout at Casa Chirilagua
- 7 p.m.: BFAAC & BAC Subcommittee Meeting (virtual)
- (City of Alexandria calendar) (ACPS calendar)
📚 Alexandria 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
- 3 p.m.: Kids and Family Yoga with ARISE Educational Services at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 4 p.m.: Bookworms Compost at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 7 p.m.: Handcraft Tuesday — Evening Edition (virtual)
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
⚽ Sports
- 1 p.m.: World Cup Round of 32 — Ivory Coast vs. Norway, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- 5 p.m.: World Cup Round of 32 — France vs. Sweden, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
- 7 p.m.: Alexandria Aces at Gaithersburg Giants, Criswell Automotive Field
- 7:10 p.m.: Washington Nationals at Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park
- 9 p.m.: World Cup Round of 32 — Mexico vs. Ecuador, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
The Alexandria Brief
Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.
Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist. Send tips, photos, and story ideas to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
Copyright 2026 Alexandria News LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
