The Alexandria Brief: Thursday, April 16

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Thursday, April 16. It's the 106th day of 2026, with 259 days left in the year.

Another hot one. High near 94 degrees today before isolated showers move in tonight. The heat breaks tomorrow.

Tonight is busy. The School Board holds its public hearing on the police-in-schools agreement at 5 p.m. — the document that's been stalled for nearly a year over student privacy concerns. A closed hearing on a student matter follows. At 7 p.m., the city hosts its second flood resilience community meeting at Charles Houston Rec Center, and the Park and Recreation Commission takes public comment on a $12.5 million plan to replace Old Town Pool.

Saturday morning, the City Council convenes at 9:30 a.m. for public hearings on the tax rate, budget, Sunday meters, and parking fines. If any of those affect you, that's your moment.

A quick note: Some readers have asked how they can support this work. The Alexandria Brief is free for everyone, always — and that's only possible because some of you choose to fund it. You can make a monthly, annual, or one-time contribution. Every bit helps keep this going. Thank you.

Five days until Election Day. More than 17,400 ballots are in. Extended hours continue today at 132 N Royal Street, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Flags are at half-staff across Virginia today in memory of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting.

Here's what you need to know today.

~ Ryan

Have a story idea, news tip, question, or feedback? Hit reply or email ryan@alexandriabrief.com.

1️⃣ ACPS school board to hold public hearing on police partnership agreement tonight

Alexandria City School Board Meeting Room (ACPS)

The Alexandria City School Board will hold a public hearing today at 5 p.m. on its Memorandum of Understanding with the Alexandria Police Department, the agreement that governs the role of police in Alexandria's public schools.

The 2026-28 draft MOU — formally called the School-Law Enforcement Partnership Memorandum of Understanding — was publicly available for the first time last Thursday after the board's Governance Committee completed its review and the City Attorney's Office cleared it. The document must be adopted or replaced with another extension by June 30, when the current agreement expires.

The most significant change from the 2025 draft that stalled the process: the new agreement removes the designation of SROs as "school officials" under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Immediately following the public hearing, the School Board will hold a closed hearing regarding a student matter.

2️⃣ Affordable housing lottery opens next month for new Alexandria complex

Rendering of Witter Place. (Community Housing Partners)

A new affordable housing complex on Duke Street will begin accepting applications next month, the City of Alexandria announced Wednesday — the latest addition to a growing wave of income-restricted housing coming online across the city.

Witter Place Apartments, located at 2712 Duke Street, will open its application process on May 14. The 94-unit community — offering two- and three-bedroom floor plans — is expected to be ready for occupancy no later than Sept. 1.

The announcement comes days after Housing Alexandria opened a waitlist for the first available units at the Sansé, a 206-unit affordable apartment community at 3600 Mount Vernon Ave. in the Arlandria-Chirilagua neighborhood. That waitlist opened Sunday and closes at 11:59 p.m. April 26.

3️⃣ Alexandria to hold second flood resilience community meeting tonight

Floodwaters on King Street. *(City of Alexandria)*

The city of Alexandria will host its second Flood Resilience Plan community meeting on Thursday, April 16, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. The meeting will also be available via Zoom.

City representatives will share updated progress on the plan and new details on the policy and programmatic recommendations it will include. Residents will also have an opportunity to ask questions.

📰 In brief

Today is the deadline for residents to submit feedback on three design concepts for bicycle and pedestrian improvements along S. Van Dorn Street between Eisenhower Avenue and McConnell Avenue. (The Alexandria Brief)

The Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission will hold a public hearing tonight at 7 p.m. at the Oswald Durant Center to receive public comments on a $12.5 million plan to replace Old Town Pool. (The Alexandria Brief)

Adam Spanberger, Virginia's First Gentleman, is joining the Brooks Bike Bus to learn about how they promote sustainability, safety, community, and fun on Friday morning. (Brooks Bike Bus/IG)

On March 23, ACHS students attended this year’s Walter Dean Myers Awards, a celebration of diversity in children’s literature hosted by We Need Diverse Books. At the event, four books were honored and, following the ceremony, a conversation with the authors was led by author Elizabeth Acevedo. (Theogony)

Story Updates: Inside the finances of Alexandria's April 21 City Council race, originally published on Tuesday, was updated on Wednesday with context from Bill Rossello, a donor to Frank Fannon's campaign. Some Alexandria parents want to reform the school board. Some members of that board have wanted the same — for years, originally published on Tuesday, was updated on Wednesday with an additional response from petition organizer Jakob Wolf-Barnett.

April 21 Special Election: As of April 14, 11.304 early in-person votes have been cast, and 6,153 mail ballots have been returned. Early voting continues today from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 132 N Royal Street. (City of Alexandria)

A note on our coverage: Readers sometimes ask why we don't cover certain incidents involving police or emergency response. When evidence suggests a death was self-inflicted, we follow guidance from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and other mental health organizations, which recommends limiting detailed coverage to reduce potential harm. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text.

🗞️ Beyond Alexandria

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has delivered a sustained attack on her conservative colleagues’ use of emergency orders to benefit the Trump administration, calling the orders “scratch-paper musings” that can “seem oblivious and thus ring hollow.” (The Alexandria Brief)

Gov. Abigail Spanberger this week signed several immigration-related bills into law and proposed changes to others, clarifying how Virginia agencies can work with federal immigration authorities and setting up a clash with lawmakers ahead of next week’s reconvened session. (The Alexandria Brief)

Accessory dwelling units — which could be a tiny house on another home’s lot, a garage-turned-apartment, a carriage house, or an ‘in-law suite’ — will be easier to build beginning next year, following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s signature of a new law this week. (Virginia Mercury)

Governor Spanberger on Wednesday announced the release of Virginia’s Statewide Strategic Tourism Plan for 2026–2029, a comprehensive roadmap designed to guide tourism growth, sharpen the Commonwealth’s competitive edge, and increase both visitation and traveler spending over the next four years. (Spanberger)

🏀 Sports

Carmen Mlodzinski allowed two hits over a career-high six innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Washington Nationals 2-0 on Wednesday night. (The Alexandria Brief)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Mostly sunny today, with a high near 94 degrees. South wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Isolated showers tonight after 11 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 69 degrees. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph becoming northwest after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 20%.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:29 a.m., sunset at 7:46 p.m. 13 hours & 16 minutes of sun.

High tide at 7:59 a.m. & 8:30 p.m. Low tide at 2 a.m. & 2:51 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Crescent.

🗓️ Things To Do

5:30 p.m.: Burning of the Socks at Washington Sailing Marina
6 p.m.: Make handmade empanadas from scratch at Shop Made in VA
7 p.m.: Traditional Music at the Lyceum featuring Séan Gavin & Caoimhín Ó Fearghail at The Lyceum
7:30 p.m.: United States Air Force Band featuring Frank Ticheli at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Mike Kelley & Friends at 9 p.m.
Aslin ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
Evening Star Cafe: The Walkaways at 8:30 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Ken Kilpatrick Trio at 6 p.m.
Lena’s: Dave Manley and Mauricio Miranda at 6 p.m.
Lost Boy Cider: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pat Carroll & Rook Richards at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Culp at 9 p.m.
Port City Brewing: Reality TV Night at 7 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner at 8 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin
11:30 a.m.: Hooff's Run Culvert Maintenance Meeting
5:30 p.m.: ARHA Redevelopment Work Group
6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
7 p.m.: Park & Recreation Commission Public Hearing
7 p.m.: Commission on IT
7 p.m.: Flood Resilience Plan Community Meeting
7 p.m.: Traditional Music Series Concert at The Lyceum — Séan Gavin & Caoimhín Ó Fearghail
(Full details and calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 1 Workshop at Beatley Central Library
10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Beatley Central Library — accepting donations through April 20
10:15 a.m.: Stories and Songs at Duncan Branch Library
11 a.m.: PreSchool Story Time: American Folk Songs at Barrett Branch Library
11:15 a.m.: Stories and Songs at Duncan Branch Library
1:15 p.m.: Baby Bounce at Beatley Central Library
2 p.m.: How Exploration, Uncertainty, and Risk Help Us Find Meaning with Alex Hutchinson (virtual)
3 p.m.: Carefull Knit & Crochet at Barrett Branch Library
4 p.m.: Preschool Storytime at Beatley Central Library
5 p.m.: Spitfire - 4th and 5th Grade at Duncan Branch Library
5:30 p.m.: Alexandria Oddball Cinema - Lola at Beatley Central Library
6 p.m.: Nerdy Knotters at Duncan Branch Library
6 p.m.: Dungeons and Dragons Adult Group: Group B at Barrett Branch Library
6 p.m.: Coding Game Night at Beatley Central Library
7 p.m.: Great Books Foundation Discussion Group (virtual)
(Full details and calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

5 p.m.: Public Hearing on the ACPS/APD Memorandum of Understanding at School Board Meeting Room
6 p.m.: School Board Meeting: Closed Hearing at 3rd Floor Training Room

ACHS Titans Sports

5:45 p.m.: Girls JV Soccer vs. Meridian at ACHS
6 p.m.: Boys JV Soccer vs. Meridian at Meridian HS
6:30 p.m.: JV Baseball vs. Centreville at Frank Mann Field
7:15 p.m.: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Meridian at ACHS
7:30 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Meridian at Meridian HS
(Full details and calendar)

📜 On This Day in Alexandria History

via Historic Alexandria

On April 16, 1789, George Washington “. . . bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to private life, and to domestic felicity” on a weeklong journey to his inauguration in New York as the nation’s first President. Along the way, Washington was feted by the people of Alexandria on April 19, with other public celebrations occurring in Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia and Trenton upon his arrival in those cities. He finally reached Manhattan on April 23 and one week later was sworn in as POTUS at Federal Hall on Wall Street, now the site of the New York Stock Exchange.

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Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident | E: ryan@alexandriabrief.com