Officer-involved shooting in ALX this a.m. Some insight: Media briefing announced at 7:08 a.m. for 7:15 a.m. The scene is 15 mins from my house. The only way to attend is to be there already. When told I couldn't make it with just five minutes' notice, I was told "Facebook and release to follow".

Dublin → Dulles → my desk. Same Alexandria City Council meeting the whole way. 3,300+ miles, one agenda item.

ICYMI: Zoom and Granicus are back.

I think the live video feed has a max time limit.

Yes, I have an ear on Alexandria City Council’s public hearing today. I’ll report on it as soon as I can.

Deeply grateful for your patience and grace with The Alexandria Brief, and me, this week. We were in Italy for my wife's niece's wedding when my father-in-law passed away back home in Missouri. A whirlwind for everyone. Back at it 100% on Monday— thank you all.

Pro- and anti-redistricting groups spent approximately $100 million on the referendum.

Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redistricting plan, dimming party’s midterm hopes

It's almost becoming a full-time job filing DMCA take-down notices for slime sites that are just scraping content from @alexandriabrief.com. I've filed seven in the last 24 hours on websites all across the globe. Something has to give.

Watching ACPS celebrate its Principal and Teacher of the Year tonight during the School Board meeting. With everything we "argue" about on a daily basis— budget, policing, governance — worth remembering how many people are showing up every day trying to do the right thing for kids. (1/3)

Foster parents don't get enough credit. They're truly unsung heroes. I grew up in and out of foster care in R.I. & was adopted through the system, so this one hits home. Read about ALX's 2026 Foster Parent of the Year — and if you've ever wondered about fostering, maybe today's the day to find out.

Attended my 1st Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting today, since being appointed by City Council. One quick takeaway - watch how you charge, & where you store, lithium batteries. Don't overcharge. Unplug. Region trying to catch up on regulations and messaging regarding storage and disposal.

Opened this for Cinco de Mayo and it felt right. Cinco Sentidos Pechuga Minero. Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca. Clay pot distilled a third time with chicken breast and seasonal fruits. One of mezcal's oldest ceremonial traditions. Drink With Respect. (1/4)

Anybody here attend HRP’s virtual community meeting last night on plans to transform the power plant? Thoughts? Feedback? Questions?

Genuine question for Alexandria bike/walk folks. When I lived in Newport, RI, there was Bike Newport — one nonprofit bundling advocacy, a community bike garage, earn-a-bike, safety classes, and a free trishaw program for seniors and folks with limited mobility. (1/3)

Ben’s Chili Bowl gets its own emergency alert this morning.

Six months of running The Alexandria Brief next week. The lesson that keeps repeating itself: at half the events I cover — especially after 5 p.m. on weekdays or on weekends — I'm the only reporter in the room. That's not a flex. That's the assignment. (1/3)

I relistened to the Feb. 23 Traffic and Parking Board meeting this week and went through hundred of pages of documents. Here are 5,250 words that I hope you separate fact from fiction. Thanks for reading.

After 30 years with the City of Alexandria — starting at APD when news releases went out by fax — Sheriff's Office PIO Amy Bertsch retires today. Offered a farewell interview, she politely declined: "The focus should be on the message and the organization, not the messenger." Happy trails.

Mom + Mayor Thanks @alexandriabrief for capturing 📸my attempt to give a speech yesterday

Inside Alexandria's 1,026 write-in ballots: Primary rivals, former mayors, Mickey Mouse, and Joseph Stalin

www.reddit.com/r/nova/s/Lte... “Alexandria, VA based TikTok creator made a food review video allegedly featuring the dead body of a hit and run victim.” WTF is wrong with people?

Anyone attend VRE's Alexandria Station Improvements Community Information Session last night?

A total of 51,097 Alexandrians voted on the redistricting referendum, while 46,596 cast votes in the city council race — a difference of 4,501 voters, or roughly 9%, who weighed in on the amendment but left the council race blank, or who turned out primarily for the referendum.

Alexandria City Council reached majority support on all of its fiscal year 2027 add/delete budget proposals Tuesday night. www.alexandriabrief.com/city-council...

There are at least 1,026 write-in votes. Once certified. I'll request a list of who and/or what was written in.

Northern Virginia and the city of Alexandria produce nearly 50% of Virginia's GDP, Brookings fellow Tracy Hadden Loh told Alexandria City Council in March. www.alexandriabrief.com/brookings-ec...

Sandy Marks wins Alexandria City Council special election https://www.alexandriabrief.com/sandy-marks-wins-alexandria-city-council-special-election/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky_ 

Virginia voters approve redistricting plan that could boost Democrats’ seats in Congress www.alexandriabrief.com/virginia-vot...

Here at Charles Houston Rec Center for WMATA’s public hearing on proposed changes to transit facilities at the Braddock Road Metro Station. More to come on @alexandriabrief.com.

It was a big weekend, and it's going to be a bigger week. Let's get into it with our latest newsletter. Read and subscribe here.

I have great news folks: According to the @nationals.com a chili half-smoke all the way is only 200 calories! #winning

Before becoming national news, many of our most important stories start as local investigations. The loss of this vital, on-the-ground journalism doesn’t just harm the communities they serve but it deprives the wider world of stories that might otherwise never be told. www.axios.com/local/richmo...

This story (and the back-and-forth with me by email) is how he found out that his campaign finance reports are incorrect.

Virginia First Gentleman Adam Spanberger clipped into his pedals at the front of the pack Friday morning and rolled through Rosemont alongside dozens of Alexandria families — the biggest turnout the Brooks Bike Bus has ever seen.

This week has been heavy. Two deaths in our community we didn't report. One high-profile case outside Alexandria we did. My heart goes out to the families who are grieving. (1/4)

Thanks to all who made this possible and a big thanks to all who stopped by to talk about local news.

I'm also exploring whether to add Saturday editions permanently. If you have thoughts — yes, no, only when there's big news — I'd love to hear them.

Our latest newsletter is here with all that you need to know today.

Publisher's Note: It's a News Day. Start local.

Good piece on the Alexandria Symphony and our final tribute performances to our Music Director Jim Ross. Concerts are April 25 at 7:30 pm and April 26 at 3:00 pm with tickets at alexsym.org. Thanks to @ryanbelmore.com and @alexandriabrief.com for the feature on this community milestone.

Latest newsletter is here. Sign up for it (it's free), and I'll hand-deliver it straight to your inbox every weekday morning- www.alexandriabrief.com#/portal/signup

Thanks for the deep dive Alexandria Brief on my tenure with @varailexpress.bsky.social Trains are cool! 😎

Nerd out on this… wouldn’t getting married on the Tall Ship Providence technically be getting married in DC? And wouldn’t you need a DC wedding license/officiant? Or is everything on Google Maps and the Pier Bar a lie? 🤷

AccuWeather leaning into the cherry blossom hype.

This story has been updated to reflect that not all council members indicated they lacked information. Councilman John Chapman commented after publication that the characterization did not apply to the full council, saying, "Correction: All of a council was not lacking that info".

Apparently I’m running the Better Braddock Road Instagram page and campaign, according to opponents. News to me.

Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt spoke directly to Alexandria City Public Schools families and staff Friday morning, sending a personal message that offered the first glimpse into why she chose to step down after three years leading the district.

TGIF. Here's what to know today. www.alexandriabrief.com/the-alexandr...