The Alexandria Brief

Good morning, Alexandria.

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Tonight, police hold their first community listening session on department technology, including the Flock cameras, from 6:30 to 7:30 at Duncan Library. The School Board meets at 6, with the fiscal 2028 budget calendar and a long-range facilities plan contract on the agenda.

And the goats are done. Thirty-five to 40 of them cleared a kudzu-covered slope at James Marx All Veterans Park in six days, and crews are finishing what they left behind.

Here's what you need to know for Thursday, Sept. 24.

1️⃣ After $3.7 million overrun, DASH says more cuts may be needed as missed trips rise

A DASH bus on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. DASH told City Council on Wednesday that pausing outsourced repairs to save money is reducing the number of buses available and increasing missed trips. (Courtesy of DASH)

DASH told City Council on Wednesday that more cuts may be needed as it works to repay the city for last year's $3.7 million overrun. General Manager Josh Baker said the cuts already made are backfiring: pausing outsourced bus repairs "is already lowering fleet availability and causing a sharp increase in missed trips." The board weighs next steps Oct. 14.

Meanwhile, the state is developing scenarios for folding DASH into a regional system with Arlington Transit, the Fairfax Connector and Fairfax City's CUE. Alexandria created DASH because a larger system wasn't serving the city, Mayor Alyia Gaskins told council, and she said the review isn't measuring what consolidation would mean for individual neighborhoods.

Read the full story

2️⃣ Alexandria police will publish a map of their license plate reader locations by Oct. 1

Alexandria police will publish a map showing where their license plate readers are by Oct. 1, a reversal from three weeks ago, when the department told The Alexandria Brief it would not release the locations. City Council directed the change. The department holds its first community listening session on the technology from 6:30 to 7:30 tonight at the James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library.

Read the full story

3️⃣ Asbestos has eaten City Hall's construction contingency, general services director says

Roughly $3 million in unplanned asbestos abatement has consumed the City Hall renovation's construction contingency, the general services director told council. The project is budgeted at $123.6 million and is already running 10 weeks behind after crews found asbestos in the 1960s south façade and two interior courtyards. Workers also turned up an 1870s playbill behind a wall.

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4️⃣ Goats cleared invasive plants from a park slope in six days

A herd of 35 to 40 goats and sheep stripped the invasive plants off a slope at James Marx All Veterans Park in six days. City crews are clearing the woody stems the animals left behind. The $9,500 pilot is being evaluated before the city decides whether to try grazing elsewhere.

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In brief

Today

The military will conduct an aircraft flyover over the White House and the National Capital Region at about 11:55 a.m. today. (AlertDC)

The National Museum of African American History and Culture marks its 10th anniversary today, amid pressure from the Trump administration. (AP/The Brief)

The School Board meets at 6 tonight, with the fiscal 2028 budget calendar, a long-range facilities plan contract, and policy revisions on the agenda. (ACPS)

More from The Brief

Twenty-six homes sold in Alexandria last week, from a $173,000 one-bedroom on Holmes Run Parkway to a $2.8 million TideLock penthouse. Old Town and Beverley Hills drew bids above asking within days; West End condos took months and steep cuts. (The Brief)

Hotel Chocolat, the British chocolatier owned by McLean-based Mars, plans a King Street store in late fall. It hasn't released an address. (The Brief)

Elsewhere

A Gallup survey for the Greater Washington Community Foundation documents the impact of last year's federal workforce cuts — lost jobs and grants, and residents weighing whether to leave. (AP/The Brief)

Republican Tony Sabio, a former counterterrorism officer, is running against Rep. Don Beyer in the 8th District. He faces a six-term incumbent, regional frustration with the Trump administration, and the most Democratic House seat in Virginia. (Virginia Mercury/The Brief)

The ACPS transportation director is on administrative leave after an Alexandria Times investigation found threats, yelling and an assault charge in the department, and nearly $4.2 million spent on private taxis last fiscal year, up from $2.2 million in 2022. (Alexandria Times)

The city has mailed 2026 vehicle and business personal property tax bills, due Oct. 5. The late penalty is 10% for up to 30 days, 25% after Nov. 4. (City of Alexandria)

Crooked Beat Records holds a soft opening at 2101-B Mt. Vernon Ave. this weekend: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. (Crooked Beat Records)

Sports

The Commanders have turned to Marcus Mariota with Jayden Daniels sidelined — Sunday will be the 11th game Daniels has missed since the start of last season. (AP/The Brief)

Yohandy Morales homered for the second time in three games as the Nationals beat Detroit 4-2. Washington has won eight of 11. (AP/The Brief)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Hazardous Weather Outlook | Coastal Flood Warning until Sept. 25, 10 a.m.

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66 degrees. Northeast wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts up to 22 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51 degrees. North wind 5 to 8 mph.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:57 a.m., sunset at 7:02 p.m. 12 hours & 4 minutes of sun.
High tide at 7:20 a.m. & 7:45 p.m. Low tide at 1:11 a.m. & 1:45 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

8:30 a.m.: The Chamber ALX's Professional Women's Network September Coffee & Connections at Gadsby's Tavern Museum
9 a.m.: History Hike – Civil War Alexandria: A Walking Tour in Old Town
3 p.m.: Old Town North Farmers’ Market at 901 North Royal St.

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Mike Kelley & Friends at 9 p.m.
Aslin ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Evening Star Cafe: Jon Lewis at Hi/Fi at 6:30 p.m.
Galactic Panther: Rap is Poetry Open Mic Night 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: Dave Manley & Mauricio Miranda at Havana 151 at 6 p.m.
Lost Boy Cider: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Rook Richards & Rocky Guttmann at 8:30 p.m.
O'Shaughnessy's Pub: Tell Me More at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Robin Trower at 7:30 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.

🏛️ City & Schools

4 p.m.: Commission on Aging Health Committee at Del Pepper Community Resource Center
6 p.m.: ACPS School Board Meeting at School Board Meeting Room
6:30 p.m.: Child Youth Fam. Coll. Comm Exec. Mtg. (virtual)
6:30 p.m.: APD Community Listening Session on Technology at Duncan Branch Library
Full City calendar | Full ACPS calendar

📚 Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: English Language Learning Workshop, Beginner Conversation at Beatley Central Library
10 a.m.: Beatley Friends Book Sale at Beatley Central Library
10:15 a.m.: Bilingual Story Time at Duncan Branch Library
11 a.m.: Line Dancing 101 at Burke Branch Library
11:15 a.m.: Bilingual Story Time at Duncan Branch Library
Noon: Line Dancing 201 at Burke Branch Library
1:15 p.m.: Baby Bounce at Beatley Central Library
2 p.m.: American Style Mahjong at Barrett Branch Library
3 p.m.: Handcraft Crafternoon at Beatley Central Library
4 p.m.: Preschool Storytime at Beatley Central Library
6 p.m.: Dungeons and Dragons Adult Group at Barrett Branch Library
7 p.m.: Where the Paletero Man Goes with Lucky Diaz (virtual)
8 p.m.: Paletero Man con Lucky Diaz (virtual)
Full calendar

⚾ Sports

ACHS Titans

5 p.m.: Girls freshman volleyball vs. West Potomac at ACHS
5 p.m.: Girls freshman field hockey vs. Washington-Liberty at ACHS, Minnie Howard Campus
5 p.m.: Girls junior varsity volleyball vs. West Potomac at ACHS
5 p.m.: Boys junior varsity volleyball vs. West Potomac at West Potomac High School
5:30 p.m.: Boys freshman football vs. Woodson at Woodson High School
Full calendar

D.C. Sports

7:30 p.m.: Chicago Sky at Washington Mystics

On this day in Alexandria's history

Nothing notable today.

Alexandria, Va. news and information you won't find anywhere else.

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Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist, is the founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief. Send tips and feedback to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.