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Good morning, Alexandria. It's Wednesday, May 20— the 140th day of 2026, with 225 days left in the year.
Schools are the throughline today. The School Board meets tonight for its second work session on the adjusted FY27 budget, working through staff answers to its 97 questions before final adoption on June 11. The gap they are trying to close — roughly $7.6 million — opened up after the City Council funded schools $5.6 million below the Board's request in April, and projected healthcare costs climbed another $2 million on top of that.
That comes two days after officials pushed back on the idea that Alexandria faces an enrollment "cliff," even as the numbers showed a 2.5% drop last fall.
Meanwhile, the Transportation Commission meets to weigh up to $35 million in state grant requests for King Street and Mount Vernon Avenue safety work, and Cameron Station is getting its first-ever Best of the West End Festival next month.
Here's what you need to know today.
1️⃣ Alexandria schools enrollment fell 2.5% last fall, but officials say it's not a cliff
Alexandria City Public Schools enrolled 15,928 students in fall 2025, a drop of 407 students or 2.5% from the prior year — but the staff who briefed a joint City Council/School Board subcommittee Monday night urged officials not to read it as the start of a steep, sustained decline.
"There's no real enrollment cliff," Sophie Huemer, ACPS director of capital programs, planning and design, told the subcommittee. "There's a large narrative out there that enrollment's declining, births are declining, and so we're going to see this massive drop in enrollment. That's not true. We are seeing some slow declines over the next five years."
The 10-year projection presented Monday shows enrollment dipping slightly next year to 15,908, then hovering near 16,000 through the end of the decade before declining to 15,415 by FY 2036 — a net loss of about 500 students from current levels. Huemer said the five-year accuracy of the projection model runs 95% to 99%, and the 10-year accuracy 90% to 93%.
Read more: Alexandria schools enrollment fell 2.5% last fall, but officials say it's not a cliff
2️⃣ Best of the West End Festival to debut in Cameron Station on June 6
The West End Business Association will host its first-ever outdoor festival next month, inviting Alexandrians to spend an afternoon in Cameron Station celebrating local businesses, artisans and neighbors.
The Best of the West End Festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Drive. According to organizers, the festival will feature a marketplace of West End businesses and local artisans, live music from local performers throughout the afternoon, a beer garden with local craft beverages, family-friendly activities, and food from neighborhood eateries.
Read more: Best of the West End Festival to debut in Cameron Station on June 6
3️⃣ Transportation Commission to weigh $35M state grant bid for King Street, Mount Vernon Avenue safety projects
The Alexandria Transportation Commission will consider endorsing up to $35 million in state grant applications and review the draft mobility framework for the Duke Street Land Use Plan when it meets this evening.
The commission's lone action item asks members to back a letter to the City Council supporting two SMART SCALE applications for fiscal years 2033 and 2034. The larger of the two requests, up to $27 million, would fund the King Street-Bradlee Safety and Mobility Enhancements project, which calls for wider sidewalks, a separated path for people biking, e-biking, and scooting, intersection safety improvements, and enhanced transit stops along King Street between Quaker Lane and Menokin Drive.
4️⃣ Alexandria in line for $160K in regional grants for bike network, Mount Vernon Avenue safety study
Alexandria stands to receive $160,000 in technical assistance for a citywide bicycle network analysis and a safety study along Mount Vernon Avenue when the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board meets Wednesday in Washington.
The board will vote on $980,000 in awards across 12 projects through two regional programs. Alexandria projects are recommended for funding under both.
Read more: Alexandria in line for $160K in regional grants for bike network, Mount Vernon Avenue safety study
5️⃣ Power plant deconstruction, remediation on agenda for May 26 HRP community meeting
HRP Group will hold its 20th community meeting on the redevelopment of the former Potomac River Generating Station on Tuesday, May 26, an online session focused on project phasing, arts and cultural uses, environmental remediation and the power plant deconstruction plan.
It is the developer's second community meeting in less than a month. The May 4 session focused on the four Development Special Use Permit submissions for the project's first phase — Block B, Block C, the Waterfront Open Space and the Rail Corridor Open Space — and the proposed $135 million tax increment financing package now before the City Council.
Read more: Power plant deconstruction, remediation on agenda for May 26 HRP community meeting
📰 In brief
The team behind Kingley Cafe at 910 King Street is seeking city approval to add an outdoor patio in the parking lane adjacent to the building, roughly a year after securing the permit to open the cafe itself. (The Alexandria Brief)
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have created Virginia’s long-delayed adult-use cannabis retail market, halting an effort lawmakers spent months negotiating five years after the commonwealth legalized marijuana possession. (The Alexandria Brief)
All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Other schedule changes and closures are listed here. (City of Alexandria)
The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership (AMP) is continuing to celebrate its 20th anniversary and inviting community members to learn how they can support local youth through volunteer mentor opportunities. (City of Alexandria)
Virginia’s economy is showing increasing signs of strain from slower job growth, rising inflation and weakening consumer confidence, even as state revenues continue exceeding expectations and giving lawmakers more room to negotiate a stalled state budget, Virginia Secretary of Finance Mark Sickles said Tuesday. (Virginia Mercury)
Rep. Don Beyer on Tuesday led the Democratic Virginia Congressional delegation, including Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, to request that the National Park Service immediately return a Junior Ranger Program activity booklet to circulation in its original form ahead of America 250 events, which are expected to bring millions of visitors to Virginia and the National Capital Region. (Beyer) (Warner)
Celebrate Bike Month by taking a ride to see iconic landmarks and destinations in commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. (VDOT)
James Wood hit the majors’ first inside-the-park grand slam since 2022, and the Washington Nationals rallied from an early five-run deficit Tuesday night to defeat the New York Mets 9-6. (The Alexandria Brief)
The Washington Spirit have sold out their May 30 match against Seattle Reign FC, the club announced Tuesday — the earliest sellout in franchise history at 11 days before kickoff. (The Alexandria Brief)
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Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
A chance of showers and thunderstorms today, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Increasing clouds and hot, with a high near 97 degrees. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely tonight before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61 degrees. North wind 3 to 6 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:51 a.m., sunset at 8:18 p.m. 14 hours & 27 minutes of sun. High tide at 11:43 a.m. Low tide at 5:57 a.m. & 6:54 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Crescent.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 6 p.m.: Community Cookout at Ruby Tucker Family Center
- 6:30 p.m.: Tarot Reading at Beeliner Diner
- 6:30 p.m.: Wine Down Weds Signature Wood + Canvas + Textured Art Workshop at AR Workshop Alexandria
- 7 p.m.: Murphy’s Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
- Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
- Augie's: Mackenzie Ryan at 5 p.m.
- Evening Star Cafe: Open Mic at 8:30 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
- Lost Boy Cider: Line Dancing at 6:30 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- Southside 815: Rook Richards at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: Marc Broussard with Sway Wild at 7:30 p.m.
🏛️ City of Alexandria
- 6 a.m.: Pool Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
- 6 p.m.: Gang Prevention Community Task Force Meeting at Charles Houston Recreation Center
- 6 p.m.: Community Cookout at Ruby Tucker Family Center
- 6 p.m.: Pool Open at Minnie Howard campus
- 6:30 p.m.: Children, Youth & Families Collaborative Commission Goal Group Meeting (virtual)
- 7 p.m.: Transportation Commission May Meeting at 2900 Business Center Drive and electronically
- 7 p.m.: Alexandria Archaeological Commission Meeting (in-person)
- 7 p.m.: Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing at Charles Houston Recreation Center
- 7 p.m.: BFAAC & BAC Subcommittee Meeting at Junction Bakery & Bistro
- (City of Alexandria calendar)
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit — The Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program at Local History/Special Collections
- All day: America 250 Community Mini Art Show at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 9 a.m.: Exhibit: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka — The Struggle and Beyond at Local History/Special Collections
- 10:30 a.m.: Stitcher's Space at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time (first session) at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 11 a.m.: Just Babies at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 11:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time (second session) at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 1:30 p.m.: Introduction to Hula at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 3 p.m.: Painternoon at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (full)
- 3:30 p.m.: Page Turners: Burke's Book Club — "West with Giraffes" by Lynda Rutledge (virtual via Zoom)
- 5 p.m.: Paws to Read at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 2 Workshop — Intermediate Conversation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools
- 6 p.m.: Alexandria City Community Cookout at Ruby Tucker Center
- 6 p.m.: School Board Work Session - Adjusted CF & CIP Work Session #2 at School Board Meeting Room
- (ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)
📜 Alexandria History
On May 20, 1809 the “Long Bridge”, built just north of Alexandria opened, connecting Virginia with the new capital city of Washington, D.C. across the Potomac River. During this time, Alexandria’s 18th century isolation and dependence on waterways for regional travel was being reduced as new highways were extended from Alexandria’s dead end street grid southward from Henry Street across Great Hunting Creek to Richmond, and northward from North Washington Street to Washington, D.C. along what is now Powhatan Street.
The Alexandria Brief
Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.
Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist.
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