Table of Contents
Good morning, Alexandria.
The Traffic and Parking Board went beyond what city staff recommended Monday night, voting to remove 20 parking spaces on Russell Road near Naomi Brooks Elementary as part of a pedestrian safety overhaul near the school.
The August 4 dual primary is one week away. As of July 26, 8,763 Democratic voters have cast ballots or been sent mail-in ballots, and 1,123 Republican voters have done the same. Registration and mail ballot request deadlines have passed, but early voting continues at 132 N. Royal St. through Aug. 1. Polls open Aug. 4 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Here's what you need to know for Tuesday, July 28.
1️⃣ Traffic and Parking Board goes beyond staff plan, votes to remove 20 parking spaces on Russell Road
Alexandria's Traffic and Parking Board voted Monday night to remove 20 on-street parking spaces along Russell Road near Naomi Brooks Elementary School, rejecting a scaled-back city staff recommendation that would have removed four spaces and added two.
The 5-2 vote came after nearly two hours on the item, including 14 public speakers, and reversed the direction city staff had taken after a spring engagement period in which teachers and residents raised concerns about parking near the school.
The board also adopted a friendly amendment directing staff to return with proposals for additional on-street parking solutions for Alexandria City Public Schools employees at Brooks, which has no staff parking lot.
2️⃣ Man charged with drunk in public after alleged knife assault on South Reynolds Street; additional charges being considered
Alexandria police are investigating a felonious assault with a knife that occurred late Sunday night in the unit block of South Reynolds Street, according to the Alexandria Police Department.
Officers responded at approximately 11:47 p.m. Sunday, July 26, and located an adult male suffering from an apparent knife wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. APD posted about the incident on social media at 1:34 a.m. Monday, noting a suspect was in custody.
The suspect, Curtis Hunter, 65, a resident of Alexandria, was quickly apprehended. He was charged with drunk in public. Additional charges are being considered, according to APD. Both men exhibited signs of intoxication, police said.
3️⃣ DASH bus service changes coming to Old Town North and citywide Aug. 9
DASH is rolling out a new round of service changes starting Aug. 9, including expanded frequency on Line 32, schedule adjustments across six routes and a significant reshuffling of bus stops through Old Town North that will affect riders on Lines 30, 31 and 34.
The changes follow the Alexandria Transit Strategic Plan, DASH's annual review of system performance, ridership trends and community input. They were approved and funded as part of the city's annual budget process.
In brief
Wade Adkins, a missing Alexandria man, has been located safe, the Alexandria Police Department announced Monday night. (The Brief)
AlexRenew marked 70 years of operation on Monday. (The Brief)
Virginia American Water is asking residential customers to voluntarily reduce nonessential water use, the utility announced Monday, citing the state's ongoing drought and rising summer demand. (The Brief)
‘Seems a little early': Alexandria school resumes on nearly year-round calendar (NBC4 Washington)
Eco-City Alexandria has two ways for residents to get involved in environmental action this fall. (City of Alexandria)
City Council members were scheduled to be on summer recess this week. Instead, they'll return to the Del Pepper Community Resource Center on Wednesday night for a special legislative meeting with a single substantive item on the docket: a vote on whether to allow Alexandria's civilian police oversight board to reopen its investigation into the in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II. (The Brief)
Because of that special meeting, Councilman Chapman's Summer Roundtable Session scheduled for Wednesday night has been rescheduled to August 19. That session will be an "opportunity to discuss the Alexandria night(life) and how we can make it more vibrant". An August 12 session will include a "discussion on International Economic Development and Partnership and how our city can benefit". (chapman2council)
The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and MOVE Business Chamber have launched a new program designed to help aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs navigate the path from idea to opening day, with a free public kickoff session scheduled for Thursday in Alexandria. (The Brief)
⚽ Sports
Luis Urías homered, Myles Straw had a double and a run-scoring single, and the Toronto Blue Jays celebrated Max Scherzer's return to Washington with a 3-2 win over the Nationals on Monday night. (The Brief)
The Washington Commanders have parted ways with tight ends coach Ben Steele on the eve of training camp, a move made in the aftermath of his arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated last month. (The Brief)
Today's Schedule
- 6:45 p.m.: Toronto Blue Jays at Washington Nationals
- 7:30 p.m.: Connecticut Sun at Washington Mystics
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Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 p.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely after 5 p.m. High near 86 degrees. South wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9 p.m. Low around 69 degrees. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming northwest in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of a quarter to half an inch possible.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 6:06 a.m., sunset at 8:22 p.m. 14 hours & 16 minutes of sun.
High tide at 8:21 a.m. & 8:53 p.m. Low tide at 2:07 a.m. & 3:02 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.
🚇 Getting Around
Check here for the latest service alerts: Metro, DASH, VRE, Amtrak, and DCA
🗓️ Things To Do
- 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.: In-person early voting open at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 N. Royal Street)
- 7 p.m.: Beer Yoga at Port City Brewing Company
🎶 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: Scott Kurt on the patio 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
City Government: Open · Flag: Half Staff · Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
- 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool open
- 10 a.m.: Memorial Pool open
- 12 p.m.: Old Town Pool open
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: PINGO! — Plastic Free Bingo at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 10:15 a.m.: Family Storytime — Martes de niños at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 10:15 a.m.: Bubble Science Show at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
- 10:30 a.m.: Playtime! — ¡Hora de jugar! at Beatley Reading Garden
- 11 a.m.: Baby and Toddler Time with Kofi Dennis at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 11:15 a.m.: Bubble Science Show (2nd session) at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
- 2 p.m.: Baby and Toddler Play Date at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 2 p.m.: Art with Julie — Collage Inspired by Romare Bearden at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 4 p.m.: Bookworms Compost at Beatley Central Library
- 5 p.m.: Duncan and Dragons — The Kingdoms of Living Giants at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 6 p.m.: Technología y Entrenamiento Profesional — Sesiones de español at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 6:30 p.m.: City Council Special Meeting — Allan Tucker Investigation at Del Pepper Community Resource Center and via Zoom
- 7 p.m.: Handcraft Tuesday — Evening Edition (Virtual)
- 7 p.m.: In Conversation: Nneka Ogechukwu at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
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