The Alexandria Brief: Friday, January 9
ACPS named District of Distinction finalist; Warner calls for accountability in ICE shooting; rain ahead for the weekend
Good morning, Alexandria. Grab your umbrella — it's going to be a wet one. I've got the latest from Thursday's school board meeting, Sen. Mark Warner's comments on ICE and Venezuela, and everything happening in Alexandria this weekend.
Here’s what you need to know today.
On this day in 1951, Alexandria officials announced the Alexandria National Guard armory on South Royal Street had been converted into a recreation center for both servicemen and Alexandria residents. Renovations to the building included game rooms, a photographic darkroom, and an indoor gym. (via Historic Alexandria)
1️⃣ ACPS named finalist for national award
Alexandria City Public Schools is among the finalists for the national District of Distinction award, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced at Thursday’s school board meeting. The recognition honors the district’s Pathways program, which Kay-Wyatt described as a “pioneering program” that could serve as a model for other school divisions.
The board held its first meeting of 2026, approving committee assignments and several policy revisions on the consent calendar, including updates to harassment investigation procedures and school bus safety rules. Board member Donna Kenley reported the new school board website will launch Jan. 15, and the board is developing a self-evaluation survey to assess its effectiveness.
During public comment, members of the Barron family criticized the district’s handling of medical 504 accommodations. Kelly Conlon Barron said her daughter, a junior at Alexandria City High School with a seizure disorder, still lacks a complete accommodation plan despite meetings since August. The board also entered closed session to discuss personnel matters, legal issues involving student records and a change order for the ACHS Cistern Project.
2️⃣ Warner: ICE agent should face charges if warranted
Sen. Mark Warner called for a “thorough investigation” Thursday into a shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis, saying criminal charges should follow if warranted. The Virginia Democrat connected the incident to what he described as ICE’s rapid expansion under the Trump administration, citing shortened training periods and daily arrest quotas.
“I think we’ve all seen the video. I think the officer needs to be held accountable,” Warner said during a media availability from the U.S. Capitol. He noted ICE’s budget now exceeds that of the FBI and “the French military,” and said Virginia statistics show roughly 75 percent of people arrested by the agency had no prior criminal background.
Warner also announced he would vote for Sen. Tim Kaine’s war powers resolution requiring congressional approval for further military action in Venezuela. While praising the “precision” of the operation that removed President Nicolas Maduro, Warner questioned whether Trump should oversee Venezuela “with no oversight” for more than a year. The senator also criticized the administration’s decision to halt Dominion’s Coastal Virginia offshore wind project, calling the national security justification “baloney” and attributing it to Trump’s “personal dislike of windmills.” Warner said he and Kaine plan to file a court brief before a hearing next Friday.
3️⃣ Rainy weekend ahead for Alexandria
Rain moves into the Alexandria area this afternoon and sticks around through Saturday night. Today’s high will reach near 58 with a 60 percent chance of rain, mainly after 5 p.m. Saturday looks wet, with rain likely throughout the day and a high near 54. Sunday should dry out with mostly sunny skies and a high near 48, though it will be breezy with wind gusts up to 33 mph.
If you’re willing to brave the weather, Wonder Potomac Yard officially opens today at 2 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and giveaways. The weekend also brings farmers’ markets Saturday morning in Old Town and Del Ray, plus the West End and Four Mile Run markets Sunday. Ice skating continues at Cameron Run’s Ice & Lights, and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder play two nights at The Birchmere.
For those looking to stay dry, Saturday offers workshops at Shop Made in VA, including a mosaic mirror class and polymer clay earring workshop. Sunday’s lineup includes goat yoga at Lost Boy Cider and cat yoga at Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe & Wine Bar. The Alexandria Library’s winter Lego building contest runs all weekend.
4️⃣ Briefly
As of 4:24 a.m., APD officers were present in the area of the 700 block of Thornton Way. There is an ongoing investigational call, according to APD. Police ask that you please avoid the area. (APD/Facebook)
Mayor Gaskins joined Fox 5 D.C. on Thursday morning for their Talk of the Town segment. (Fox 5)
An Alexandria man has been charged with burglary and other crimes stemming from a burglary at Tobacco King & Vape in Leesburg, police said. (Patch)
On January 13, the Alexandria City Council will hold its first meeting at the new City Council Chamber location at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Dr.). (City of Alexandria)
Students at Alexandria City High School are having trouble using Minga — the online identification app required by ACHS — after the school's Wi-Fi network disconnected from all non-school-designated devices in September. (Theogony)
Alexandria native captures gravestone recipes in cookbook ‘To Die For’. (Alexandria Times)
The Alexandria Library is calling on local and regional artists to turn trash into treasure as part of a new community art project celebrating the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday. Artists interested in participating must submit applications before the end of the day today. (The Alexandria Brief)
UpCycle Creative Reuse Center will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Alyia Gaskins on Saturday at noon at its new location at 2397 S. Dove St.
5️⃣ Today in Alexandria
Rain likely today, mainly after 5 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 58 degrees. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.
Rain is also likely tonight before 9 p.m., then a slight chance of rain after 5 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.
The sun will rise at 7:26 a.m. and set at 5:04 p.m. There will be 9 hours and 38 minutes of sun.
Events & Things To Do
12 p.m.: Ice & Lights - Daytime Ice Skating at Cameron Run
2 p.m.: Grand Opening of Wonder Potomac Yard
6 p.m.: Perimenopause Speed Dating: Swipe Right for Solutions at Ms. Moxie’s Moon Shop
Live Music & Entertainment
219 Restaurant: Rich Russman at 9 p.m.
Alexandria Bier Garden: Karaoke at 8:30 p.m.
Aslin ALX: Comedy Show at 8 p.m.
Blackwall Hitch: Merlon Devine at 9 p.m.
Daniel O’Connell’s: Kenny Kohlhaas at 9:30 p.m.
Del Ray Pizzeria: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Galactic Panther: a Galactic roXplosion at 6:30 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Lenny Stevens at 6 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: The Satin Doll Quartet at 7:30 p.m.
Lost Boy Cider: Sara Delaney at 7 p.m.
Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
Murphy’s Pub: Rocky Guttmann & Rook Richards at 9 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: The Moondaddies at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
St. Elmo’s Del Ray: Poetry Reading at 7 p.m.
The Birchmere: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder at 7:30 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.
City of Alexandria
6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open
5:30 p.m.: Legislative Subcommittee meeting
Alexandria City Public Schools
4:30 p.m.: Girls freshman basketball vs. West Potomac at ACHS
4:30 p.m.: Boys freshman basketball vs. West Potomac at West Potomac High School
5:45 p.m.: Girls varsity basketball vs. West Potomac at West Potomac High School
5:45 p.m.: Girls JV basketball vs. West Potomac at ACHS
6 p.m.: Girls varsity swim and dive vs. West Potomac at Minnie Howard Campus
6 p.m.: Boys varsity swim and dive vs. West Potomac at Minnie Howard Campus
7:30 p.m.: Boys varsity basketball vs. West Potomac at West Potomac High School
7:30 p.m.: Boys JV basketball vs. West Potomac at ACHS
Alexandria Library
All day: Winter Lego Building Contest (virtual)
All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit at Beatley Central Library
10:15 a.m.: Babble Buddies Circle Time at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
1 p.m.: Low Vision Resource Group at Beatley Central Library
3:30 p.m.: Fun Friday! at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
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Great local news roundup! The ACPS District of Distinction recognition for the Pathways program is exciting—innovative career readiness models like that deserve national attention. Warner’s points about ICE expansion and shortened trainng periods raise important oversight questions, especially given the statistics on arrests without prior backgrounds. Love the historical tidbit about the armory conversion in 1951—those community spaces were such vital social hubs. Also appreciate the comprehensive weekend guide—goat yoga at Lost Boy sounds uniquely Alexandira!