Archive for 'Community'

City councils approves $624.8 million budget, 4-cent tax hike

City councils approves $624.8 million budget, 4-cent tax hike

By Melissa Quinn Local property owners will see future tax bills balloon after city council unanimously approved a 4-cent hike Monday as part of the $624.8 million fiscal 2014 operating budget. The increase moves the real [...]

Norfolk Southern pushing to expand West End facility

Norfolk Southern pushing to expand West End facility

By Derrick Perkins City officials learned Friday that Norfolk Southern is seeking state approval to more than double the scope of the company’s operation at its West End ethanol facility. The transportation giant offloads 14 railcars [...]

Boy killed after West End collision

Boy killed after West End collision

A 4-year-old boy died Saturday after running into traffic on the 6300 block of Stevenson Ave., police say. His mother, who chased after him, also was injured. The young child wandered out onto the street at [...]

UPDATED: Police find grievously injured men on Four Mile Road

UPDATED: Police find grievously injured men on Four Mile Road

Alexandria police officers found two Hispanic men suffering from life threatening injuries in a vehicle along the 500 block of Four Mile Road yesterday evening. Few other details surrounding the incident have been released, but officials [...]

Christ Church marks milestone with first same-sex blessing

Christ Church marks milestone with first same-sex blessing

By Melissa Quinn As the Rev. Ann Gillespie’s gaze drifted across the rows of people at Christ Church, she couldn’t help but notice that something seemed different. The typically full crowd at the 9 a.m. service [...]

School board sends budget back to Alexandria city council

School board sends budget back to Alexandria city council

By Melissa Quinn Alexandria City Public Schools officials approved the combined funds budget for fiscal 2014 last month, taking into account City Manager Rashad Young’s $3 million proposed reduction. The $226.4 million operating budget is less [...]

City Hall warns cab drivers’ proposed reforms would inundate the market

City Hall warns cab drivers’ proposed reforms would inundate the market

By Derrick Perkins  A recent change to a state law governing taxi regulations could leave Alexandria awash in cabs if City Hall lets drivers move freely between companies, officials say. Cab drivers rallied in Market Square [...]

Alexandria student vies for geography bee title

Alexandria student vies for geography bee title

By Melissa Quinn Ten-year-old Lars Nordquist will read anything — except for Charles Dickens. The Alexandrian likes to play hockey as well as tennis and transforms into an architect when he constructs Lego sets of all [...]

Long road to reform worries Alexandria’s cab drivers

Long road to reform worries Alexandria’s cab drivers

City officials are preparing to take another look at the taxi industry, but drivers say their most important issue — moving freely between companies — is a quick and easy fix. About 100 drivers gathered on [...]

Spring2ACTion nets record haul after 24-hour online fundraiser

Spring2ACTion nets record haul after 24-hour online fundraiser

By Melissa Quinn ACT for Alexandria’s annual online philanthropic event, Spring2ACTion, raised a record amount of money last week — $659,951 for 97 local nonprofits in 24 hours. “People certainly understand in the times we’re living, [...]