Good morning, Alexandria.
If you ride the Yellow Line, you'll need to switch this morning. A work train derailed during weekend track maintenance, and trains are running only between Huntington and Arlington Cemetery through this afternoon. Transfer to the Blue Line, or catch a shuttle from Pentagon to L'Enfant Plaza.
It's a full week after that. DASH leaders sit down with City Council on Wednesday to explain the $3.7 million overrun, in the work session the mayor refused to postpone. Police hold their first community listening session on the department's cameras Thursday at Duncan Library. And the 4-0 Titans host Woodson for homecoming Friday night.
Here's what you need to know for Monday, Sept. 21.
1️⃣ Yellow Line won't cross into D.C. this morning after work train derails
If you take the Yellow Line into the District, plan on switching. A track vehicle derailed during weekend maintenance, and trains are running only between Huntington and Arlington Cemetery through this afternoon. Metro says to transfer to the Blue Line, or catch a shuttle from Pentagon's bus bay L7 to L'Enfant Plaza.
It's the third disruption in a row. The line was closed all weekend for bridge and track work, it closes again this coming weekend, and on Wednesday Yellow and Blue trains single-track between Reagan National and Pentagon City from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Metro hasn't said what caused the derailment or whether anyone was hurt.
Read more
- Yellow Line won't cross into D.C. this morning after work train derails
- Yellow Line shuts down the next two weekends for track work
2️⃣ Council defers the two contested items at Saturday's hearing, including townhouses that would replace a Parker-Gray barbershop
City Council on Saturday put off five townhouses on North Patrick Street after Councilman John Taylor Chapman argued they'd take out Another Level Hair Studio & Barbershop in one of the last Parker-Gray blocks with small storefronts. "If you ask any Black man where are you going to get your haircut, that's one of the few places in the city that you have that," he said. Staff recommended approval and the Planning Commission voted 6-0 for it, but the deferral to October passed 5-2, with Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley opposed. The catch: townhouses are already allowed on the lot, the businesses rent, and the applicant's attorney said without approval "there could be a by-right project."
The Russell Road address appeal didn't get heard either. The owners of 3600 Russell Road asked for more time at the start of the meeting, and council granted it unanimously — Gaskins said council typically does when a party asks.
More coverage from Saturday's meeting is coming today.
Read more
- City Council delays Parker-Gray townhouses over the barbershop they would replace
- City Council to hear appeal of Russell Road address change (updated)
3️⃣ Spanberger would end by-right data centers. The one at Alexandria's edge already is one.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger wants every data center using more than 25 megawatts to need a local approval vote, no matter what's been approved before. The campus going up just past Alexandria's western edge would never have gotten one — Fairfax County approved it by right under its light industrial zoning. Its substation is designed to supply 176 megawatts, seven times her threshold. And most of the framework needs the General Assembly, which doesn't convene until January.
The only public hearing tied to the project was supposed to be this Thursday. It's now Dec. 2, after Dominion asked the Fairfax Planning Commission for more time to answer questions about noise, lighting and electromagnetic emissions. Opponents called it a stall tactic. Alexandria still has no vote — the land is in Fairfax.
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In brief
Crews repave four streets this week: Fillmore Avenue from Seminary Road to North Chambliss Street, North Armistead Street from North Beauregard Street to the end, Somervelle Street from Duke Street to the end, and North Beauregard Street from Lincolnia Road to Sanger Avenue. (City of Alexandria)
Today is the deadline to apply for the next round of Plug In Alexandria, the city program that helps condos, HOAs, apartment complexes and — new this year — nonprofits and places of worship install EV chargers. Accepted applicants get a free engineering assessment and up to $10,000 in reimbursement, or $15,000 in low-income census tracts. (The Brief)
Written comments on ARHA's 2027 plan are due tomorrow. The draft would bar new applicants for public housing or vouchers whose net assets exceed $52,787; current tenants and voucher holders are exempt. The public hearing is Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at 401 Wythe St., and the board votes Sept. 28. (The Brief)
DASH's leadership and City Council meet Wednesday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the DASH board room at 3000 Business Center Drive, for the joint work session on the $3.7 million overrun. Mayor Alyia Gaskins turned down the board chair's request to postpone it. (The Brief)
Alexandria police will hold two community listening sessions on the department's use of technology, including its license plate reader cameras: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library, and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at Patrick Henry Recreation Center. Residents can learn how APD uses the technology, ask questions and share concerns. (Alexandria Police Department)
"Silver Linings Playbook" author Matthew Quick discusses his memoir about his father at the Lyceum on Saturday. The talk and an afternoon letter-writing workshop are free, with registration required. (The Brief)
Wilderness Kids Alexandria holds its fourth annual music festival from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square in Del Ray. It's free, with five local bands, games and a raffle, and proceeds support the nonprofit's outdoor programs for teens. (The Brief)
Early voting is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the registrar's office, 132 N. Royal St., through Oct. 31, closed Oct. 12. Beatley Library opens as a second site Oct. 18, and both add weekend and evening hours in the final two weeks. Mail ballot applications are due Oct. 23, and a 24-hour drop box sits outside the registrar's office. Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Don Beyer cast their ballots there Friday, where Beyer's Republican opponent, Tony Sabio, was working the same line of voters. (City of Alexandria, The Brief)
A water main break closed southbound South Van Dorn Street on Saturday while Virginia American Water made repairs. (The Brief)
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE arrested a Salvadoran man in Alexandria who is wanted in El Salvador on a warrant alleging aggravated rape of a minor or incapacitated person. The arrest was May 27; DHS announced it this weekend. A foreign warrant is not a conviction, and he remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. (WJLA)
Sports
The Titans improved to 4-0 with a win at Lewis on Friday and host Woodson for homecoming at 7 p.m. Friday at Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium. (The Brief)
Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow again as Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes in Dallas' win over the Commanders on Sunday. Coach Dan Quinn said imaging showed no fracture. (AP/The Brief)
The Spirit shut out Chicago 3-0 behind another goal from Trinity Rodman, and Sandy MacIver set a club record with her 10th clean sheet. Washington is second in the NWSL with five matches left. (The Brief)
The Mystics beat Indiana 93-77 behind 21 points and 14 rebounds from Kiki Iriafen, pulling within a game of the fifth-place Fever. (AP/The Brief)
The Nationals took two of three in St. Louis — a 9-1 rout Friday in which CJ Abrams joined the 30-30 club, an 8-5 win in 11 innings Saturday, and a 5-3 loss Sunday. The team also signed pitcher Cade Cavalli to a four-year deal through 2030. (AP/The Brief)
Charlotte beat D.C. United 2-1, extending its unbeaten streak to eight. (AP/The Brief)
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: A chance of showers, mainly between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77 degrees. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 62 degrees. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and a half inch possible.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 6:52 a.m., sunset at 7:11 p.m. 12 hours & 19 minutes of sun.
High tide at 1:47 a.m. & 2:34 p.m. Low tide at 8:44 a.m. & 8:08 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 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: 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.
- Mason Social: Rook Richards at 5 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.
- The Birchmere: Sierra Hull at 7:30 p.m.
🏛️ City & Schools
City Gov.: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste: On Time
- All Day: Yom Kippur - No school for students
- 1 p.m.: Commission on Aging housing committee monthly meeting at Del Pepper Community Resource Center
- 7 p.m.: George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee meeting at Lloyd House
- 7 p.m.: Social Services Advisory Board monthly meeting at Del Pepper Community Resource Center
📚 Alexandria Librar
- 10:15 a.m.: Baby Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 11:15 a.m.: Baby Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 1 p.m.: English Language Learning at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning 2 Workshop — Intermediate Conversation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 6 p.m.: Horror Fans Unite! at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
- 6 p.m.: Art Escape teen creative space at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 6:30 p.m.: Stability in Motion weekly yoga at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
⚾ Sports
ACHS Titans
- No games are scheduled.
- Full schedule
D.C. Sports
- 6:40 p.m.: Washington Nationals at Detroit Tigers
- 7 p.m.: Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals
On this day in Alexandria's history
On Sept. 21, 1955, Alexandria held a ceremony marking the release of a 30-cent stamp honoring Robert E. Lee, who grew up in the city. The stamps were flown in from Norfolk that day, went on sale after a luncheon at the George Mason Hotel at South Washington and Prince streets, and sold out in 15 minutes. The stamp was part of the Liberty Issue, a series released between 1954 and 1965 and named for the three denominations that showed the Statue of Liberty. It was the first U.S. series to mix landmarks such as Mount Vernon with notable Americans including Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry and Susan B. Anthony. (Historic Alexandria)
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Ryan Belmore is an Alexandria journalist, neighbor, and the founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief. Send tips and feedback to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
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