The Alexandria Brief

Good morning, Alexandria.

If you caught a petroleum smell near Holland Lane and Jamieson Avenue on Tuesday, it was a diesel spill. Fire department hazmat crews contained it and the spill is no longer active, though the source is still unidentified. City environmental contractors are on cleanup, and nobody was hurt.

Three stories below: the police chief took questions over pizza in Del Ray, the mayor confirmed Alexandria's Flock cameras and said police don't share that data in immigration cases, and the Russell Road appeal deadline is now Aug. 24.

Here's what you need to know for Wednesday, Aug. 12.

1️⃣ Pizza, five pillars and a conversation with the police chief

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire outlines the department's five-pillar G.R.E.A.T. public safety framework during a community conversation Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, at Piece Out Del Ray. Seven officers attended alongside about 50 residents and business owners. (Ryan Belmore/The Alexandria Brief)

The pitch was a slice and a conversation: grab a piece of pizza, talk to the chief, and talk to the officers standing along the wall, because those are the officers who work this community.

About 50 residents and business owners turned out, alongside seven uniformed officers, for a two-hour community conversation Tuesday evening at Piece Out Del Ray, 2419 Mt. Vernon Ave., hosted by the Del Ray Business Association and the Del Ray Citizens Association. Police Chief Tarrick McGuire walked through the department's G.R.E.A.T. public safety framework, then opened the floor. City Councilman John Taylor Chapman was among those in attendance.

Organizers credited McGuire with spending two years assessing the department, gathering data and building the plan he came to present, and thanked the officers in the room. The room applauded.

Read the full story

A Flock Safety license plate reader camera. (Flock Safety)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins said Tuesday that Alexandria police do not and will not share automated license plate reader data in civil immigration cases, responding to resident questions about the city's Flock Safety camera network.

"Are there Flock cameras in the City of Alexandria? And the answer to that question is yes," Gaskins said in a video posted to her social media accounts.

The Police Department has used license plate reader technology for more than 20 years in cases involving stolen vehicles, missing persons and illegal firearms, she said, and began deploying Flock cameras in 2023 after a rise in car thefts. The cameras identify vehicles by license plate, make and model and capture still images, not audio or video.

Read the full story

3️⃣ Board's Russell Road vote will not take effect; appeal deadline moves to Aug. 24

The Russell Road Safe Routes to School project covers Russell Road between West Myrtle and West Maple streets, past Naomi Brooks Elementary School. (City of Alexandria)

The Traffic and Parking Board's July 27 vote to remove 20 on-street parking spaces along Russell Road will not go into effect, and appeals of it will not reach City Council, the city clerk has told residents who planned to file petitions against it.

What is now subject to appeal is the alternative plan the director of Transportation and Environmental Services chose instead. The deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 24.

City Clerk Gloria Sitton told residents who had submitted appeal petitions that because Director Leah Riley notified the board on Aug. 7 that the city would not implement its recommendation, appeals of that recommendation are no longer applicable and will not be docketed for council's consideration.

Read the full story

In brief

Virginia's school immunization requirements are unchanged by the executive order President Donald Trump signed Monday scaling back federal childhood vaccine recommendations, the Virginia Department of Health said Tuesday. (The Brief)

From Head to Tail Grooming Spa is extending its pet portrait mural onto a newly opened pet pantry next door, offering another round of spaces for owners who want artist Patrick Kirwin to paint their dog, cat or other pet onto the building. (The Brief)

Twelve Alexandria companies made the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies, down from 19 a year ago — and none placed in the top 500. (The Brief)

Virginia Railway Express will run trains on Sunday, Aug. 23 — an unusual step for a railroad that operates weekdays only — as Washington hosts the first auto race ever held on the streets of the capital. (The Brief)

Can you put an EV charger on a 200-year-old house? Alexandria is rewriting the rules. (The Brief)

Alexandria Fire Department crews responded to a reported diesel spill near Holland Lane and Jamieson Avenue on Tuesday. Officials are working to identify the source. No injuries were reported. (AFD)

The ninth annual Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference, held at Virginia Tech’s Academic Building One in Alexandria, brought together educators, government agencies, industry leaders, nonprofit organizations, and students from across Virginia to explore emerging technologies, share ideas, and prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. (Virginia Tech)

Sports

A’ja Wilson had 26 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks for her 17th double-double this season, Jackie Young added 25 points and eight assists, and the Las Vegas Aces ended the Washington Mystics' seven-game winning streak with an 86-76 victory on Tuesday night. (The Brief)

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman and Seiya Suzuki homered, and the Chicago Cubs rallied from an early deficit to beat the Washington Nationals 8-6 on Tuesday night. (The Brief)

After ranking last in the NFL on defense last season, the Washington Commanders revamped that side of the ball with drastic changes to the roster and the coaching staff. (The Brief)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 88 degrees. North wind 3 to 6 mph.

Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71 degrees. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:19 a.m., sunset at 8:05 p.m. 13 hours & 46 minutes of sun.

High tide at 8:25 a.m. & 8:58 p.m. Low tide at 2:31 a.m. & 3:17 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Crescent.

🗓️ Things To Do

6 p.m.: Literary Libations | August Book Club at Morrison House Old Town
7 p.m.: Murphy’s Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
Galactic Panther: Old Town New Films Screening Event at 7 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Jason Hibler at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
Southside 815: Rook Richards at 9:30 p.m.

🏛️ City & Schools

6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool open
9 a.m.: Walk-In Wednesday hiring event for Alexandria Police Department applicants
9 a.m.: Commission on Aging health committee planning session at Goodwin Living Alexandria
10 a.m.: Memorial Pool open
10 a.m.: Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference 2026 at Del Pepper Community Resource Center
11 a.m.: Warwick Pool open
2 p.m.: Introduction to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager webinar
6 p.m.: School Board special meeting, closed session, at the School Board meeting room
7 p.m.: Commission on Persons with Disabilities monthly meeting (virtual)

City of Alexandria calendar

📚 Alexandria Library

All day: Alexandria Library: A Legacy of Service Since 1937 at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
All day: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, a free six-week asynchronous course, at Virtual
10 a.m.: Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Beginners at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:30 a.m.: Stitcher's Space at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
11 a.m.: Just Babies / Solo Los Bebés at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
2 p.m.: Fossil Fun at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
3 p.m.: Ink & Intrigue: Burke's Mystery Book Club — "Mastering the Art of French Murder" by Colleen Cambridge at Virtual
4 p.m.: The Magic of Drew Blue Shoes at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
4 p.m.: Fossil Talk at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
5 p.m.: I Dig American Sign Language at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 2 Workshop — Intermediate Conversation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
6 p.m.: Literary Virginia Book Group — "A Calamity of Souls" by David Baldacci at Virtual

Alexandria Library calendar