Week in Alexandria
Two properties at the heart of Alexandria’s controversial waterfront plan went on the market this week, opening a new chapter in the ongoing saga about redevelopment in Old Town.
Huntington Residents Remain Unprotected in the Face of Flooding
$30 million floodwall is at least two years away.
Fairfax County voters may have approved a $30 million floodwall for Huntington, but neighbors in this working-class neighborhood don’t seem particularly satisfied.
Public Information Comes at a Price in Arlington
Billing system includes $30 charge for six-line summary of secret investigation.
Want a booking photo in a high profile case? Prepare to pay $24.
Coming for the Guns: Confiscating Firearms During Mental Health Evaluations
Alexandria delegate wants to expand police powers to confiscate guns of the detained.
Imagine the scenario: Sheriff’s deputies arrive at a home to issue a temporary detention order against an individual.
Bipartisan Team Seeks Compensation for Victims of Forced Sterilization
Effort would give $50,000 to survivors; estimated cost would be $73 million.
Nobody knows how many people are survivors of Virginia’s forced sterilization program, which targeted people with mental illness, mental retardation or epilepsy.
Lawmakers Consider Effort to Increase Salary for Next Gunston Hall Director
Next museum leader could pull down more than $88,000 a year.
George Mason was one of the wealthiest Founding Fathers, and now the Virginia General Assembly may be moving to increase the salary of the director of the house where he once lived. Gunston Hall has been in a state of flux since the previous director was finally removed from office after more than a year of calls for his resignation.
Former School Budget Director Files Discrimination Lawsuit as ACPS Looks Forward
Last year’s scandal lingers over upcoming financial deliberations.
This time last year, the budget office at Alexandria City Public Schools was in full meltdown.
Nazi Commonwealth
Bipartisan team seeks compensation for victims of forced sterilization.
Nobody knows how many people are survivors of Virginia’s forced sterilization program, which targeted people with mental illness, mental retardation or epilepsy. But a bipartisan effort now under consideration in Richmond would hand each and every one of them a $50,000 check from the people of Virginia. According to one calculation, that could mean as much as $73 million.
Four Northern Virginia Senators Targeted
Redistricting effort puts Fairfax County seats in the spotlight.
Four Northern Virginia state Senators are targets of a Republican-led effort to draw new districts — Sen. George Barker (D-39), Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37), Sen. Toddy Puller (D-36) and Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34). Democrats say the redistricting effort is a cynical attempt to take advantage of the absence of Sen. Henry Marsh (D-16), a prominent civil rights veteran, who was in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration on Monday. But state Sen. John Watkins (R-10) of Powhatan defended the effort as a way to create a sixth majority black Senate district in Southside. It passed the Senate on a 20-to-19 vote.
Making Schools Safer
Two Northern Virginia Democrats take part in panel to consider school security.
Do Virginia schools need more guns? That question is at the heart of a debate that’s now reaching a fever pitch in the commonwealth, especially after a man with a Bushmaster assault rifle blasted his way into a Connecticut elementary school and killed 20 children and six adults before killing himself. Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell responded to the tragedy by creating a School Safety Task Force, which is considering a proposal for every school in Virginia to have an armed school resource officer.
Revoking Recess
Health advisory committee to consider policy of withholding recess as punishment.
Should students be punished by having their recess time revoked?
Smart Growth Versus Affordable Housing at Potomac Yard
Clash between opposing visions raises questions about parking on Jefferson Davis Highway.
What happens when the principles of smart growth collide with transit planning?
In Session
The hidden camera footage is shaky and brief. But state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30) and Del. Patrick Hope (D-47) believe it will change the momentum of the gun debate.
Northern Virginia Democrats Finally Get Traction on Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons
But House Democrats stand in the way of bipartisan effort.
The plight of the nonviolent felon has been a losing cause in Northern Virginia for decades. Year after year, Democrats introduce a bill that would restore voting rights for nonviolent felons. And year after year, the effort fizzles in Richmond.
Health Advisory Committee to Consider Policy of Withholding Recess as Punishment
Should the last-resort punishment be scuttled?
Should students be punished by having their recess time revoked?
Toxic Politics: Northern Virginia Delegation Split on Uranium Mining
Issue pits economic development against environmental concerns.
Northern Virginia may be hundreds of miles away from the Southside community where a family business is seeking to overturn a longstanding ban on uranium mining in Virginia.
Week in Alexandria
Alexandria's historically black American Legion Hall may be headed for the wrecking ball soon.
Week in Alexandria
Alexandria City Public Schools is beginning 2013 with a bang.
In Session
With the fresh tragedy of Newtown, Conn., haunting the Virginia General Assembly, the issue of gun control is certain to be one of the most emotional topics on the docket.
Mental Health First Aid Seen as a Way to Identify Problems Early
Del. Rob Krupicka (D-45) leads effort to expand training for workers on the front lines.
In her role as a caseworker for Adult Protective Services, Wilma Roberts has seen it all.
Northern Virginia Democrat Takes Aim at the Gun Show Loophole
Arlington delegates wants to require background checks for all private firearms sales.
Legislators will be dueling over guns this year at the Capitol, with gun-rights advocates set to oppose efforts to close Virginia’s gun-show loophole.
One-Party Rule Takes Hold at Alexandria City Hall
All-Democratic City Council members begin three-year term.
Say goodbye to bipartisan government at Alexandria City Hall.
Stable Unstable: Future of Woodlawn Stables in Doubt
Feds decision on Southern Bypass creates a sense of uncertainty.
From the top of the hillside graveyard at Woodlawn Baptist Church, Pastor Travis Hilton looks out over the cars rushing by on the highway below.
Should Virginia’s Governor Be Able to Run for Reelection?
Longstanding ban on second consecutive term to be reconsidered this year.
Virginia is the only state that limits its governor to a single, four-year term, a vestige of the distrust Americans had for executive power during the American Revolution. Now, more than two centuries later, the commonwealth may finally be ready to ditch the longstanding term limit and allow Virginia’s governor to run for reelection.
City Leaders Approve Plan to Demolish Jefferson-Houston and Construct New Facility
$45 million facility is seen as a way to revitalize long-struggling school.
The name “Jefferson-Houston” presents a paradox — a hyphenated marriage of slave-owner Thomas Jefferson and civil-rights leader Charles Houston.
Union of Pedestrians: Waterfront Plan Prompts Changes to Union Street
Union Street to become 'shared street.'
The first signs of change from the waterfront plan are about to sweep through Old Town, adding features city officials believe will make the thoroughfare more friendly to pedestrians who will walk along the redeveloped properties.
Competition Not Required for Public-Private Partnerships
Arlington County Board approves guidelines for transportation projects.
Over the objections of several citizens and one of its own members, the Arlington County Board approved new guidelines for public-private partnerships to build transportation projects last week.
Legislators Are Not Gun Shy About Responding to Connecticut Shooting
Should access to guns be limited or expanded?
Last year's mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut has already prompted a heated debate about gun control in Virginia, where the upcoming session of the General Assembly is likely to feature a number of bills on both sides of the issue.
Herdon Teen's Death May Lead to Legislation Targeting Texting While Driving
Bill targets drivers using handheld device for something other than verbal communication.
Kyle Rowley was on his way home on a Sunday night in 2011 when he ran out of gas near the border between Loudoun County and Fairfax County.
Upcoming Zoning Decision on Beauregard Pits Tenants Against Council
West End residents are 'frustrated and angry.'
As residents of the West End gathered this week to celebrate Human Rights Day, a spirit of defiance was in the air.
Historic Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary Rises from the Ashes
Seminary reaches compromise with neighbors to retain ruins of historic chapel.
When God appears to Moses in the Book of Exodus, a bush is described to be on fire yet not consumed by flames. The same could be said for Immanuel Chapel at the Virginia Theological Seminary.
Business Matters
Two Alexandria landlords are vying for their properties to become the new home of the National Science Foundation, a prize the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership has identified as valuable goal for the city.
Council Notebook
They fought like cats and dogs. They pounded their fists of the dais at City Hall. On several occasions, they raised their voices at each other.
Beauregard’s Human Rights Issue?
Upcoming zoning decision on Beauregard pits tenants against council.
As residents of the West End gathered this week to celebrate Human Rights Day, a spirit of defiance was in the air. Even though members of the Alexandria City Council have already approved the controversial Beauregard small-area plan, residents here are hoping that elected officials will hold off on rezoning the land until safeguards can be put into place to ensure low-income residents aren’t displaced by redevelopment.
Business Matters
Blinded by Science
Blinded by Science Two Alexandria landlords are vying for their properties to become the new home of the National Science Foundation, a prize the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership has identified as valuable goal for the city. But AEDP president Val Hawkins acknowledges it will be difficult battle.
Council Notebook
Saying Goodbye
Saying Goodbye They fought like cats and dogs. They pounded their fists of the dais at City Hall. On several occasions, they raised their voices at each other.
Rising from the Ashes
Seminary reaches compromise to retain ruins of historic chapel.
When God appears to Moses in the Book of Exodus, a bush is described to be on fire yet not consumed by flames. The same could be said for Immanuel Chapel at the Virginia Theological Seminary.
A New Direction for the Alexandria School System
Seven new School Board members augur change.
The past few years have been chaotic at the Beauregard Street headquarters of the Alexandria City Public School system, which has struggled to cope with failing test scores as a parade of administrators have come and gone.
Raw Politics: Alexandria Officials to Roll Out Sewer Master Plan
Proposal would fund fix to lingering problems as well as handle demands of development.
Lately, it seems that city officials have their minds in the gutter — literally.
Week in Alexandria
After almost two decades as the chief prosecutor in Alexandria, Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Sengel says he won’t run again in 2013.
Should Fairfax County Create New Transportation Impact Fee?
Gridlock at Kings Crossing creates movement for solution.
Nowhere is the idea of a transportation impact fee more popular than the clogged Route 1 corridor, where the Wal-Mart at Kings Crossing has added to the gridlock that has long plagued the region.
Use of Food Stamps Skyrocketing in Northern Virginia
Program doubles in Arlington, triples in Fairfax and quadruples in Alexandria.
The use of food stamps is skyrocketing in Northern Virginia, and the spike isn’t just about the recession.
Neighbors Trump County Officials in Public Art Selection
Cherrydale and Maywood selected public art as part of development process.
Neighbors don’t usually get to select public art for their neighborhood, but few neighborhoods have the rich history and active civic associations of Cherrydale and Maywood.
Failing Alexandria School Waits for Turnaround
After years of failing test scores, Jefferson-Houston to select external turnaround partner.
More than a decade of failing test scores and a revolving door of administrators have taken their toll on Jefferson-Houston School, which the Virginia Department of Education was identified as a “priority school” back in August.
Council Notebook
The late campaign may be a thing of the past. But the debate about taxes lingers.
A More Perfect Union? Council to Consider Drastic Changes to Old Town Street
Automobiles, bicyclists and pedestrians to share the road.
Union Street was the city’s first waterfront plan, a public works project funded by wealthy landowners to extend the city east into the river in the 1780s.
Shackled and Secret: Legislators Consider Availability of Documents on Pregnant Inmates
Should jails be able to suppress information from the public?
Virginia already has a reputation for tightly controlling the availability of law-enforcement documents. Now that reputation may be re-affirmed in the upcoming General Assembly session, when the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association will oppose efforts to share documents about when and how pregnant inmates are restrained.
Uranium Money Spreads Across Virginia in Radioactive Debate
Upcoming General Assembly session to feature effort to lift ban on uranium mining.
The uranium deposits under the farmlands of Pittsylvania County are miles away from Northern Virginia, but the debate about what happens there is shaping up to be one of the hottest issues of the upcoming General Assembly session.
Chairman Moran Steps Down, Endorses Herring to Succeed Him
Former Alexandria delegate hands torch to current Alexandria delegate.
As chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, Brian Moran couldn’t have had a better year.
Week in Alexandria
Looking for the perfect holiday gift? King Street Gardens Park Foundation chairman Rodger Digilio has an idea — buy a brick.