The Alexandria Brief: Monday, April 6

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Monday, April 6 — the 96th day of 2026, with 269 days left in the year. You're one of 5,721 neighbors reading this morning.

Saturday marked five months since The Alexandria Brief launched. A quick look at the numbers: 5,721 subscribers and 980 stories published since launch — many of which would have gone uncovered otherwise.

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Here's what you need to know today.

1️⃣ Alexandria deputy arrested, fired after alleged attempt to smuggle drugs into jail

William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center (Alexandria Sherriff's Office)

An Alexandria deputy sheriff was arrested and terminated Saturday after she allegedly attempted to smuggle narcotics into the Alexandria Adult Detention Center, the Alexandria Sheriff's Office announced Sunday.

Amarachukwu W. Igwe, who joined the sheriff's office July 14, 2025, was taken into custody April 4 after investigators with the agency's Investigations, Professionalism & Oversight Section uncovered the alleged plot. According to the sheriff's office, Igwe attempted to bring narcotics into the detention center with the intent to deliver them to an incarcerated individual. No drugs reached the intended recipient or the facility's general population, officials said.

2️⃣ Several crashes close Alexandria streets over the weekend

SB Route 1 at E. Reed Ave was closed due to a single-vehicle crash on Sunday. (Alexandria Police Department)

Alexandria police responded to at least three significant crashes over the weekend that closed major roads across the city.

On Friday, the 1000 block of West Glebe Road was closed due to a crash. On Saturday, a pedestrian was struck at Mount Vernon Avenue and East Braddock Road, closing the intersection until approximately 5:46 p.m. And Sunday evening, southbound Route 1 at East Reed Avenue was shut down after a single-vehicle crash before reopening later that night.

The Alexandria Brief has reached out to the Alexandria Police Department for additional details on each incident.

3️⃣ Alexandria Celebrates Women plants pinwheel garden, honors child advocacy center at Charles Hill Park

Mayor Alyia Gaskins addressing the crowd before reading a proclamation. (Ryan Belmore/The Alexandria Brief)

Pinwheels spun into the earth at Charles Hill Park on Friday as Alexandria Celebrates Women hosted its annual garden planting to mark Child Abuse Prevention Month, drawing Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Police Chief Tarrick McGuire and representatives from agencies across the city for a noon ceremony that included a mayoral proclamation and a recognition for a local child advocacy organization.

Pat Miller, who organized the event, opened the gathering before turning the program over to Gaskins, who thanked the crowd for showing up in force.

"It's really inspiring to see so many people here not only from our agencies like the police department and the Department of Community and Human Services, but so many community partners as well," Gaskins said. "At the end of the day, we know that we cannot prevent and stop child abuse and neglect without community."

4️⃣ West Reed Avenue and Dale Street Storm Sewer Improvements project heads to community meeting Tuesday

The Edison Street and Dale Street Early Phase will mitigate flooding through a series of infrastructure upgrades and additions in the Hume Springs neighborhood. The early phase projects are discrete elements of a Large Storm Sewer Capacity Improvement project that have been accelerated due to the award of grant funding. (Google Maps)

The city of Alexandria will host a public meeting on Tuesday evening to update residents on the West Reed Avenue and Dale Street Storm Sewer Improvements, a long-planned flood mitigation project in the Hume Springs neighborhood.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center, 25 W. Reed Avenue. Virtual attendance via Zoom is available with advance registration at zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__78yEMrLQi-EWlcrMa4syA.

City staff will present the final drainage design, provide a project status update, outline anticipated construction impacts and take questions from residents.

5️⃣ Old Town speakeasy serves banned books — and the drinks to match

The Study at Morrison House will host its 3rd edition of its Banned Book Speakeasy from April 21 - 25, 2026 (The Study At Morrison House)

A speakeasy where the contraband is literature returns to Old Town this month, inviting guests to sip cocktails inspired by some of America's most challenged books — all in the name of keeping libraries alive.

The Study at Morrison House, 116 S. Alfred St., will host its third annual Banned Book Speakeasy from April 21-25, transforming its intimate, book-lined bar into a haven for literary lovers and the curious alike.

The event is part celebration, part protest and entirely by design. Each cocktail on a newly reimagined menu draws inspiration from a banned or challenged title — though which books made the list this year remains a mystery guests will have to discover in person.

📰 In brief

Aaliyah Boose, the 14-year-old Alexandria girl reported missing on March 26, has been located and is safe, the Alexandria Police Department announced Friday morning. (The Alexandria Brief)

Dyngus Day DC: The 10th annual DMV Polish-American holiday gathering heads to The Light Horse restaurant and bar at 715 King St. tonight from 5 to 9 p.m. (The Alexandria Brief)

The city has suspended bulk yard waste and metal pickup through Friday, April 10, citing equipment availability issues. (The Alexandria Brief)

The space formerly occupied by UnWined at the Bradlee Shopping Center on King Street has a new tenant: Chord Bread & Bottle, a sandwich and wine shop whose owner says is roughly six weeks from opening. (The Alexandria Brief)

Alfred Street Baptist Church pledged money to pay off outstanding balances of households living in units maintained by Alexandria’s public housing authority. (Washington Post) (The Alexandria Brief)

April 21 Special Election: As of April 2, 5,442 residents have voted early in person, and 5,205 have voted by mail-in ballot (10,249 ballots have been sent). The ballot includes a contest for City Council as well as a proposed statewide constitutional amendment on redistricting. Early voting continues today at 132 N Royal Street. (City of Alexandria)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Increasing clouds, with a high near 64 degrees. Mostly cloudy tonight, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 43 degrees.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:44 a.m., sunset at 7:36 p.m. 12 hours & 51 minutes of sun. High tide at 11:51 a.m. Low tide at 5:41 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

9 a.m.: Monday Morning Coffee Club at Rosemont Cellar
5 p.m.: Dyngus Day at The Light Horse
6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
Clyde’s at Mark Center: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant: Traditional Irish Music at 7 p.m.
Del Ray Public House: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Epicure on King: Open Mic at 7 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Jim West at 6 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Colby Sard at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.

🏛️ City & Schools

City Government: Open | Schools: Teachers Day - No school for students | Flag: Full Staff | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time

6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open
10 a.m.: Month of the Young Child Kickoff Event
6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open

📚 Alexandria Library

All day: Footsteps of History - Virtual Walking Challenge (virtual)
All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit at Local History/Special Collections
All day: Turning the Lens on Plastic Pollution Through Art at Barrett Branch Library
All day: The Great American PoeTREEs at Beatley Central Library
All day: America 250 Community Mini Art Show Canvas Pick-Up at Burke Branch Library
10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Beatley Central Library — accepting donations through April 20
10:15 a.m.: Baby Time at Duncan Branch Library
10:30 a.m.: Senior Bingo at Burke Branch Library
11 a.m.: Beauty and the Beast Ballet at Beatley Central Library Reading Garden
11:15 a.m.: Baby Time at Duncan Branch Library
1 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) at Burke Branch Library
3 p.m.: AAR Movie Series at Burke Branch Library
4 p.m.: Restful Readaloud - Stories from American History at Beatley Central Library
4 p.m.: Sensory Storytime at Duncan Branch Library
5 p.m.: Dungeons & Dragons at Burke Branch Library
5:30 p.m.: Teen Takeover at Beatley Central Library
5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning Workshop at Beatley Central Library
6 p.m.: AAR Teen Book Party! at Barrett Branch Library

📜 On This Day in History

On April 6, 1900, "the Mayor of Alexandria took time to commend the Alexandria Police for their diligence in protecting Alexandrians through their efficient police methods. Police Officers Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Bettis and Herbert Knight had quickly arrested a young man the night before, who had fired a pistol near Royal and Princess Streets. Faced with this one issue in the Mayor’s courtroom the next morning, and with only three other “lodgers” at the Police station house overnight, the Mayor noted “. . . there is less violation of laws than ever before in the history of the Town.” The pistol-toting man was fined $10 and his gun confiscated. Later that morning, Officer Knight saw even more action when he killed a mad dog on South Fairfax Street. Although not technically on duty, the officer nevertheless responded to the alarm". (Historic Alexandria)