Daily Brief: Friday, November 14
School board faces budget questions, DASH ridership soars, and protesters gather at federal courthouse
I apologize if some of you received this twice this morning. There appears to be a technical issue, where many of you didn’t receive it at all. I’m working on it.
Good morning, Alexandria. I’m Ryan Belmore, founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief.
Every day, my goal is to deliver the news and information Alexandria needs—journalism focused on our community, not on clicks or page views.
We’re 11 days in and still rolling out what we do, so thank you for being part of this from the beginning. Have a story idea or news tip? Email me at ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
Here’s what you need to know for Friday, November 14.
Essentials
Increasing clouds today, with a high near 58 degrees. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Mostly cloudy tonight, with a low around 43 degrees. Calm wind.
The sun will rise at 6:49 a.m. and set at 4:55 p.m. High tides at 3:33 a.m. and 4:05 p.m. Low tides at 10:01 a.m. and 10:28 p.m. There will be 10 hours and 5 minutes of sun.
On Tap Today: Titans playoff football, Two Piano Concertos, Holiday Pottery Sale, live music, entertainment, and more. Get the full rundown below.
1️⃣ School board hears opposition to Jefferson-Houston conversion as capital budget work begins
Two Jefferson-Houston parents urged the Alexandria City Public Schools board on Thursday to remove the proposed $30.2 million middle school conversion from the district’s $340.4 million capital improvement budget. David James Robbins and Salomea Fredericks argued enrollment projections no longer support the need, noting middle school enrollment is expected to drop by 300 students after peaking in 2028.
Board member Abdulahi Abdalla questioned whether converting Cora Kelly into a middle school could eliminate the need for Jefferson-Houston and Patrick Henry conversions. Staff said a Cora Kelly middle school would cost $156 million, but would still require converting the two K-8 schools to elementary schools. The board holds its next work session on Tuesday.
2️⃣ DASH ridership jumps 40% above pre-pandemic levels
Alexandria’s DASH bus system is carrying 40% more passengers than in 2019, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley reported at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. The surge represents genuine growth beyond pandemic recovery and mirrors a regional trend, with Metro sustaining over 50 consecutive months of ridership increases and weekend bus use up more than 30% compared to 2019.
Bagley’s report came the same day officials broke ground on four projects at Alexandria’s Amtrak Union Station, including removing an at-grade crossing, installing an elevator and adding a fourth track to eliminate the Northeast Corridor bottleneck through Washington and Northern Virginia. Officials expect initial improvements within two years, with full completion in five years.
3️⃣ City Council recognizes November as Epilepsy Awareness Month
Alexandria City Council unanimously approved a proclamation Wednesday recognizing November as Epilepsy Awareness Month, marking the first time a young person has both written and presented a proclamation to the current council. Sinead, a teenager with epilepsy and member of the national Team Speak Up Network, presented the proclamation alongside her mother to raise awareness about the neurological disorder affecting approximately 85,000 Virginians.
The proclamation emphasizes that epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, with 1 in 26 people diagnosed within their lifetime and over 11,000 Virginia children living with the condition. It highlights public misconceptions about seizures, noting 25% of people say they would be nervous around someone with epilepsy, and addresses discrimination issues in employment, education and housing despite ADA protections.
4️⃣ Protesters gather at Alexandria courthouse
A small group of peaceful protesters gathered outside the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria on Thursday during a hearing on interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan’s authority to prosecute cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Signs read “No president has the power to order someone to be arrested” and “Vindictive prosecution is not justice, it’s a crime.”
Inside the courthouse, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie heard arguments on whether Halligan was legally appointed after the 120-day limit for interim U.S. attorneys expired. Defense attorneys argued the installation was unlawful, while the Justice Department characterized questions about it as “at most a paperwork error.” Currie disclosed that grand jury records were missing a portion and expects to decide by Thanksgiving, with both trials currently set for January.
5️⃣ City Council approves paratransit fare increases, vehicle leasing plan
Alexandria City Council unanimously approved fare increases for the city’s paratransit program on Wednesday, raising Zone 2 fares from $4 to $5 and Zone 3 fares from $6 to $7 while creating a new Zone 4 at $10 for trips extending 10 miles or more beyond city boundaries. The changes, effective in January, include a $2 peak-hour surcharge for weekday trips from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Council also authorized the city manager to lease three electric Ford Transit vans to contractor WeDriveU, a move expected to save $2,700 to $3,000 per month per vehicle. The paratransit program serves residents who cannot use fixed-route transit due to disabilities and costs approximately $56 per trip. Staff projects total savings of $45,000 to $50,000 in fiscal 2026, growing to $300,000 to $350,000 by fiscal 2027.
Extra Extra!
Your guide to events, entertainment, and happenings in Alexandria this weekend is here. (The Alexandria Brief)
The Alexandria Health Department issued a rabies alert on Thursday after a fox in the Rosemont area tested positive for the deadly virus. (The Alexandria Brief)
A new valet parking operation could soon serve patrons of multiple Old Town restaurants on King Street, according to an administrative special use permit application filed with the city of Alexandria. (The Alexandria Brief)
Alexandria City’s football season isn’t over yet. The Titans earned the No. 5 seed in the Region 6C playoffs and will travel to face No. 4 Fairfax (5-5) tonight at 7 p.m. in the first round. (The Alexandria Brief)
The Alexandria City Council will hold its monthly public hearing Saturday at 9:30 a.m., addressing several major development proposals and zoning changes across the city. (The Alexandria Brief)
Here are 12 events in Alexandria you can look forward to this holiday season. (Northern Virginia)
Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles was honored Wednesday night as one of the 2025 Living Legends of Alexandria. (NBC Washington)
The City of Alexandria’s Resource Recovery Division will host a free shredding event for residents on Saturday, November 15. (City of Alexandria)
Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Yoni Applebaum, a journalist and deputy executive editor at The Atlantic and author of “Stuck: How the Privileged and Propertied Broke the American Engine of Opportunity”, will participate in a conversation about housing, history, and opportunity at the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum on December 8. (Home of VA)
On This Day in Alexandria History
Source: Historic Alexandria - This Day in History
November 14, 1854
The Alexandria Common Council prohibited the construction of new wooden buildings in certain parts of town. Decades of devastating fires causing huge property damage were routine in Alexandria, and fears of a rapidly spreading fire that would cause a great loss of life were well-founded. Sadly, just months later a massive conflagration at existing buildings along King Street killed seven firemen, who were later memorialized with an obelisk at Ivy Hill Cemetery.
