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Good morning, Alexandria. It's Thursday, May 28 — the 148th day of 2026, with 217 days left in the year.
After a 10-day stretch of rain, we're finally in the clear: today is sunny with a high near 79 degrees and a comfortable, breezy afternoon. The timing is good for tonight's Alexandria Community Cookout at Brent Place (6 p.m.), which has had a rough run with the weather — the city's series has weathered postponements and a couple of outright cancellations already this spring. Now in its fourth stop, the free, family-friendly event brings together more than 50 city agencies and nonprofits to connect neighbors with community resources.
In the news today: VRE has again rescheduled its King Street bridge closure, now set to begin tonight and run through June 3; records show Waymo notified Mayor Alyia Gaskins just a week before it started mapping Alexandria's streets; and we've got a recap of Tuesday's marathon City Council meeting, where members adopted the five-year GO Alex transportation plan.
Here's what you need to know today.
1️⃣ VRE again reschedules King Street bridge closure, now set for May 28 to June 3
The Virginia Railway Express has again rescheduled its King Street bridge closure, the latest in a series of date changes for the same phase of work on the Alexandria Union Station improvements project.
The closure, which VRE previously moved to May 29 through June 2, will now run from 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, to 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 3 — beginning a day earlier and ending a day later than the schedule announced in mid-May. King Street and Commonwealth Avenue will remain fully open until the closure begins Thursday evening.
Read more: VRE again reschedules King Street bridge closure, now set for May 28 to June 3
2️⃣ A youth-founded music program comes to Alexandria's animal shelter
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is the newest home for Wild Tunes, a nonprofit that sends volunteer musicians into animal shelters to play and sing for the animals, with the aim of easing their stress and helping them get adopted.
The shelter will mark the launch Thursday, May 28, with a media event featuring musicians performing throughout the facility for the dogs and cats in its care.
Read more: A youth-founded music program comes to Alexandria's animal shelter
3️⃣ Waymo notified Mayor Gaskins a week before it began mapping Alexandria, emails show
Waymo, the Alphabet-owned self-driving car company, notified Mayor Alyia Gaskins by email on May 13 that it would begin mapping Alexandria's streets a week later, according to records the mayor's office provided to The Alexandria Brief — and Gaskins responded by asking how the company had coordinated with other localities and requesting a meeting to understand what was happening.
At a public meeting of Virginia's Autonomous Driving Work Group on May 22 in Mechanicsville, Waymo representatives told state lawmakers and transportation officials the company had begun mapping in Arlington and Alexandria using human-driven vehicles, according to draft minutes published by the work group. A Tesla representative at the same meeting said that company has been mapping in Virginia "with its vehicles already," the minutes state.
Read more: Waymo notified Mayor Gaskins a week before it began mapping Alexandria, emails show | and more... Waymo takes its self-driving cars to Virginia (Wired)
4️⃣ Alexandria City Council adopts five-year GO Alex plan, reviews schools-police agreement
The Alexandria City Council moved through a dense docket Tuesday night, adopting a five-year transportation strategy, reviewing a revised agreement governing police in city schools, advancing two consent items and taking up a pair of requests from the School Board, before closing a meeting that ran past 10 p.m.
The council took formal action on only a handful of items — most of the night was oral reports and discussion — but the agenda touched transportation, housing, public safety, school governance, and the long-running Duke Street planning effort. All seven members were present.
Read more: Alexandria City Council adopts five-year GO Alex plan, reviews schools-police agreement
5️⃣ League of Women Voters to host Alexandria post-legislative town hall tonight
Alexandria residents can put questions to their state lawmakers tonight at a post-legislative town hall hosted by the League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City.
The free event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive.
Scheduled to attend are state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39), House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-4), Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3), and Del. Kirk McPike (D-5). The League says the lawmakers will discuss this year's General Assembly session, answer questions, and take part in a community conversation about issues facing Alexandria and Virginia.
Read more: League of Women Voters to host Alexandria post-legislative town hall May 28
📰 In brief
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria opens its Calendar Pet Photo Contest on Monday, kicking off a monthlong fundraiser that supports the nonprofit's work — and, this year, marks its 80th anniversary. (The Alexandria Brief)
A former senior finance executive at the Alexandria-based cybersecurity firm Invictus International Consulting has been indicted on 12 felony counts of embezzlement, accused of charging more than $4.5 million in personal expenses to her company credit card over a six-year period, the Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney's Office announced. (The Alexandria Brief)
Region
A former senior CIA official with top secret-level clearance is accused of stealing hundreds of gold bars worth more than $40 million from the federal government and stashing them in his home. He is being held in custody pending a hearing Friday in federal court in Alexandria. (The Alexandria Brief)
Rep. Don Beyer, the Democrat whose Northern Virginia district includes Alexandria and Arlington National Cemetery, said Wednesday he and Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., plan to introduce legislation this week to block President Trump's proposed 250-foot "triumphal arch" near the cemetery, and separately asked Interior officials to disclose traffic studies for the project. (The Alexandria Brief)
Sports
Shakira Austin had 18 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, Michaela Onyenwere made her season debut and finished with 14 points, and the Washington Mystics beat the Seattle Storm 78-64 on Wednesday night. (The Alexandria Brief)
Gavin Williams settled down after a choppy start and pitched seven solid innings as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Wednesday to salvage the finale of a three-game series. (The Alexandria Brief)
Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman and defender Tara Rudd have been called up to the U.S. women's national team for two friendlies against Brazil next month, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday. (The Alexandria Brief)
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: Sunny, with a high near 79 degrees. Northwest wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 54 degrees. North wind 5 to 9 mph.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:46 a.m., sunset at 8:25 p.m. 14 hours & 38 minutes of sun. High tide at 7:04 a.m. & 7:34 p.m. Low tide at 12:52 a.m. & 1:46 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 3 p.m.: Old Town North Farmers’ Market at 901 North Royal Street
- 5 p.m.: Ms. Moxie’s Moon Shop: Flowing Forward – A Global Menstrual Health Day Celebration at Ms. Moxie's Moon Shop
- 7 p.m.: Duckhorn Wine Dinner at Chart House Restaurant
- 7 p.m.: League of Women Voters to host Alexandria post-legislative town hall at Del Pepper Community Resource Center
- 8 p.m.: Shanty Sing Along w/ Ship's Company Chanteymen at Tall Ship Providence
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Holly Montgomery at 9 p.m.
- Alexandria Bier Garden: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Aslin ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Atlas ALX: Bingo at 7 p.m.
- Galactic Panther: Ostinato and Joe Lally at 8 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Ken Kilpatrick Trio at 6 p.m.
- Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: Gigi MacLaughlin at 6 p.m.
- Lost Boy Cider: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pat Garvey & Rook Richards at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Little Theater of Alexandria: The Drowsy Chaperone at 8 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.
🏛️ City of Alexandria
City Government: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: 1-Day Slide
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
- 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
- 6 p.m.: Community Cookout at Brent Place, 375 S. Reynolds St.
- 6:30 p.m.: Duke Street Land Use Plan Community Meeting #6 at [location], with a hybrid Zoom option
- 6:30 p.m.: Children, Youth & Families Collaborative Commission Executive Meeting (virtual)
- (City of Alexandria calendar)
📚 Alexandria Library
- 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 a.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 1 Workshop — Beginner Conversation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 10:15 & 11:15 a.m.: Bilingual Storytime — Cuentacuentos Bilingüe at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 11 a.m.: Preschool Story Time at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 11 a.m. & noon: Line Dancing 101 & 201 at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 1:15 p.m.: Baby Bounce at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 2 p.m.: American Style Mahjong at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 2 p.m.: Film Screening — "Perfect Days" at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 5:30 p.m.: Tai Chi at Beatley Library at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 5:30 p.m.: The CHAT — Change Happens with Alexandria Teens at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (registration closed)
- 6 p.m.: Dungeons and Dragons Adult Group: Group A at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (waitlist)
- 6:30 p.m.: Laugh Lab — Stand-Up Comedy Workshop at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library (waitlist)
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools
- 6 p.m.: Alexandria City Community Cookout at Brent Place
- 6:30 p.m.: Advanced Academic Services Advisory Committee Meeting at ACHS College and Career Center
- (ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)
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The Alexandria Brief
Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.
The Alexandria Brief has no ads, no paywall, and no corporate owner. Support this work with a monthly or annual subscription, or a one-time contribution.
Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist. Send feedback, story ideas, news, and tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
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