Table of Contents
Good morning, Alexandria.
City Council voted last night to allow the Independent Community Policing Review Board to reopen its investigation into the in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II. The Alexandria Brief has a recap of the meeting and a look at what happens next.
The August 4 dual primary is five days away. As of Tuesday, 8,942 Democratic voters have cast ballots or been sent mail-in ballots — 7,239 by mail and 1,701 early in-person. On the Republican side, 1,152 total. Democrats are choosing among five candidates for the 8th District House seat — more on that race below. If you haven't voted yet, today is a good day — 132 N. Royal St. is open until 7 p.m. tonight. Early voting also continues tomorrow during normal business hours and again Saturday, Aug. 1 at both 132 N. Royal St. and Beatley Central Library. No appointment needed.
Here's what you need to know for Thursday, July 30.
1️⃣ Alexandria City Council unanimously approves reopening Tucker investigation
Alexandria City Council voted Wednesday night unanimously to approve a request from the city's civilian police oversight board to reopen the investigation into the in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker Jr., clearing the procedural path for Independent Policing Auditor Ameratu Kamara to conduct additional review of the case.
The 7-0 vote, taken during a special legislative session called while council was on summer recess, came just under a month after the Independent Community Policing Review Board declared Kamara's June 22 investigation incomplete and asked her to return with answers to questions the board said went unresolved in her final report. Because the session was a legislative meeting rather than a public hearing, no public testimony was taken. Tucker family members were present in the chamber but did not address council.
2️⃣ Xi'an Famous Foods has closed its Alexandria kitchen
Xi'an Famous Foods, the New York chain whose hand-ripped noodles drew record-breaking crowds to a West Glebe Road ghost kitchen last summer, has closed its Alexandria location.
The chain's website now lists the Alexandria kitchen as closed, directing customers to a Clarendon storefront opening soon instead. Alexandria had been the company's only Virginia location; Clarendon, in Arlington, now takes that place.
Xi'an Famous Foods opens that Arlington storefront — its first in the Washington area — on Aug. 7 at 2800 Clarendon Blvd. CEO Jason Wang told Washingtonian the Alexandria closure comes as the chain's term with ghost kitchen facility Four Mile Food Co. ends, and that the timing lined up with the Clarendon opening, allowing staff and equipment to shift over.
3️⃣ From $220,000 to $1.9 million: Homes sold in Alexandria last week
Twenty homes closed in Alexandria last week, ranging from a $220,000 one-bedroom condo at Pavilion on the Park to a $1.9 million new-construction house on Virginia Avenue in Braddock Heights, according to data from Redfin. The average sale price was $707,780 across an average of 1,479 square feet, or a blended $478 per square foot. The median sale price was $634,500.
The mix of homes shifted from the week before. Where Old Town and its surrounding blocks claimed seven of the ten priciest sales the previous week, last week's leaders were spread across the city — Braddock Heights, Potomac Greens, Beverley Hills and the Parker-Gray Historic District took the top four spots. Detached houses made up more of the high end than they did a week earlier, which pulled the average price per square foot down to $478 from $588 even as the typical home sold got larger.
In brief
Four Democrats are vying to unseat six-term U.S. Rep. Don Beyer in a primary contest that analysts say could foreshadow how voters will react in this fall’s midterm election and future races. (The Brief)
President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a $22.5 billion renovation of Washington Dulles International Airport that will end the use of the widely disliked “people movers,” the mobile lounges that have been used for decades to shuttle travelers to and from the main terminal. (The Brief)
The city is looking for Alexandrians who will be 100 or older by Dec. 31 so it can honor them at a celebration this fall. (The Brief)
The Alexandria Police Department is inviting residents to turn their daily dog walks into an opportunity to help strengthen public safety by joining the Dog Walker Watch program. (City of Alexandria)
Pushback against new data center development is growing across the D.C. region, with the latest unfolding in Alexandria, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland. (FOX5DC)
80% of HUD's workforce has already moved into the former NSF building on Eisenhower Avenue. Now D.C. is suing to stop the relocation, arguing the Residence Act of 1790 requires Cabinet agencies to stay in the District without congressional approval. (Bisnow)
A recently opened 12-story underground pumping station in Alexandria, Virginia, is helping solve a problem that has existed for more than 100 years. (WTOP)
⚽ Sports
Trinity Rodman scored her eighth goal of the season in the Washington Spirit's 1-0 victory over the Utah Royals on Wednesday night. (The Brief)
The Washington Commanders are emphasizing competition in training camp with a crucial season ahead. (The Brief)
Trey Yesavage allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings, Kazuma Okamoto went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Wednesday. (The Brief)
Today's Schedule
- 7:15 p.m.: Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves
On deck: Dallas Wings at Washington Mystics on Friday, 7:30 p.m. · San Diego Wave at Washington Spirit on Sunday, 4 p.m. · Nashville SC at DC United on Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
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Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: Sunny, with a high near 87 degrees. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69 degrees. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 6:07 a.m., sunset at 8:20 p.m. 14 hours & 12 minutes of sun.
High tide at 9:35 a.m. & 10:05 p.m. Low tide at 3:35 a.m. & 4:17 p.m. The moon phase is a Full Moon.
🚇 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)
- 3 p.m.: Old Town North Farmers’ Market at 901 North Royal St.
- 4 p.m.: Alexandria Businesses Unite with Mayor Alyia Gaskins & Joe Haggerty at Intelligent Office Alexandria
- 6:30 p.m.: Signature Wood + Canvas + Textured Art Workshop at AR Workshop
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Mike Kelley & Friends 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.
- Blackwall Hitch: Steel drums at 5:30 p.m.
- Evening Star Cafe: The Walkaways in the No. 9 Lounge at 8:30 p.m.
- Galactic Panther: Rap is Poetry Spotlight 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 Woodfired Pizza & Tap: Dave Manley & Mauricio Miranda at Havana 151 at 6 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Rook Richards & Pat Garvey at 8:30 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Little Theatre of Alexandria: Catch Me If You Can at 8 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.
🏛️ City & Schools
City Government: Open · Flag: Full 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
- 11 a.m.: Warwick Pool open
- 12 p.m.: Old Town Pool open
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: PINGO! — Plastic Free Bingo at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Storytime in the Reading Garden at Beatley Central Library
- 11 a.m.: The Great Zucchini — Laugh Out Loud Magic! at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 11 a.m.: Line Dancing 101 at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 12 p.m.: Line Dancing 201 at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 1:15 p.m.: Baby Bounce at Beatley Central Library
- 2 p.m.: 250th Film Festival — "The Patriot" at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 2 p.m.: 123 Andrés! at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
- 3 p.m.: Handcraft Crafternoon at Beatley Central Library
- 6 p.m.: Technology & Career Readiness — English Sessions at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
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On this day in Alexandria history
On July 30, 1909 — 117 years ago today — Orville Wright and U.S. Army Lt. Benjamin Foulois lifted off from Fort Myer and flew to Shuter's Hill in Alexandria and back. A tethered balloon floated above the hill so the pilot would know when to turn around. The successful demonstration flight was required for the Army's purchase of its first military airplane. Just five years and seven months after the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903, the age of military aviation had arrived — and Alexandria's skyline was part of the moment.
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