Mandy Taheri is a Newsweek reporter based in Brooklyn You can get in touch with Mandy via email: m.taheri@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content A pro-Palestinian activist and constituent heckled Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during an event in Queens repeatedly calling her a "war criminal" over her stance on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war Newsweek has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's press team for comment via email on Saturday Ocasio-Cortez is often considered one of the moreprogressive members of the Democratic Party. She has recently been touring the country with Senator Bernie Sanders' holding rallies to mobilize and "fight oligarchy" and oppose President Donald Trump The ongoing war in Gaza, which has resumed after a temporary ceasefire, remains a flashpoint in U.S. politics. Trump has voiced his strong support for Israel, floated the idea of taking over the Gaza Strip, and has condemned pro-Palestinian protests on school campuses. He has also supported the arrests of some protestors such as Mahmoud Khalil The Democrat has accused Israel of carrying out a "genocide," claims the country has dismissed, but hasn't consistently used this characterization. In the early months of the war, she called for "conditioning aid to Israel," as a "responsible course of action," to ensure that "public resources do not facilitate gross violations of human rights and international law." She has also called out a pro-Palestinian protest in New York City as "unacceptable and harmful" for alleged expressions of antisemitism Pro-Palestinian activists have confronted Ocasio-Cortez before, saying she's not doing enough for the Palestinian cause. Many progressive voters in the 2024 presidential election were frustrated with then-President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris over the issue did not do enough to halt Israel's military campaigns and provide humanitarian aid to Gazans and I want to know what you're doing about the genocide in Gaza." She continued by calling the representative a "war criminal." Kings has shared videos and images from the town hall on her social media account. Her account features several other pro-Palestinian posts and videos, and recent Instagram stories calling out Representative Ocasio-Cortez Newsweek has reached out to Kings on Instagram for comment and confirmation via email on Saturday "At least with the Republican Party we know what we are dealing with you're a snake," she can be heard saying in another video but not before she told the congresswoman to "stop the genocide Ocasio-Cortez said: "I more than welcome people who disagree or are super pissed off at me for any issue to come Please wait for the Q&A because we don't want to deprive all of our neighbors of the ability to have information and hear them respond to it." Kings' posted an Instagram Story of the town hall with the words "Do you notice how Gaza isn't even on the agenda??? Shame on these fascists." She has over 53,000 followers on the social media platform The most recent conflict in Gaza, which began after Hamas launched a fatal attack on Israel on October 7 killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 people hostage The war has since spread across multiple fronts in the Middle East The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reports more than 52,400 people have been killed Israel has repeatedly bombed and blockaded the enclave and aid trucks have reportedly not entered the area since early March Israel has been repeatedly withheld and blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza Ocasio-Cortez wrote about the U.S.'s hold on ammunition to Israel "The United States has an obligation to uphold its own laws and to respect human rights globally withholding US military aid is a major development towards ceasefire." In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in part finding him guilty of "the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare." Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote in an X post on Saturday morning: "Thank you to all our neighbors who joined us for yesterday's town hall—it was our largest district town hall ever the United Nations under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and relief coordinator said in a statement on Thursday: "Aid It leaves them without basic medical support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X on April 30: "Israel is waging a just war with just means against Hamas that murdered 1200 innocent people on October 7 and still holds 59 innocent people hostage." Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled Israeli media has reported that the country's security Cabinet has approved plans for an expanded operation in Gaza Ocasio-Cortez's current term ends on January 3, 2027. She has emerged as a prominent figure within the Democratic Party She has not indicated whether a presidential run is in her future though early polling indicates she is among the top contenders for the Democratic nomination in 2028 Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsletters in your inbox See all Alexandria’s road work schedule for May 5-9 is out the citywide street repaving project targets South Royal Street including ADA ramp upgrades and curb and gutter fixes Work areas include the intersection of South Van Dorn Street and Eisenhower Avenue The city says businesses and residents on streets set for repaving get advance notice They’ll also put up temporary “No Parking” signs before work starts to help people avoid tickets and towing Keep in mind that the repaving list and schedule might change or coordination with other city projects and utility work can affect the timeline concrete maintenance will be performed on Duke Street from Roth Avenue to Wheeler Avenue This work is preparation for future repaving Expect lane closures and delays as crews work to finish the job safely and efficiently For more info or to report issues, check out the city’s website or use Alex311. Log in to comment on videos and join in on the fun. 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Here are five stand-out Airbnbs to consider for your next family vacation or girlfriends getaway Drive Time: Approximately 45–50 minutes from Alexandria Modern kitchen and open-concept living area Estimated Pricing: $750–$1,200 per night (varies by season and availability) Naval Academy and explore historic downtown Annapolis Enjoy sailing or kayaking on the Chesapeake Bay Dine on fresh seafood at local favorites like Cantler's Riverside Inn Link: Annapolis Waterfront Retreat Drive Time: Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from Alexandria Private pool with expansive waterfront views Multiple outdoor seating areas for relaxation Close proximity to charming towns of Easton and St Estimated Pricing: $1,000–$1,500 per night (varies by season and availability) Visit the historic Avalon Theatre and Academy Art Museum in Easton Explore the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St Enjoy biking or walking tours through the scenic countryside Link: Waterfront Estate near Easton & St. Michaels Drive Time: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes from Alexandria Proximity to the University of Virginia and local attractions Comfortable living spaces with stylish decor Estimated Pricing: $400–$600 per night (varies by season and availability) Stroll through the historic Downtown Mall with shops and restaurants Visit nearby wineries and breweries along the Monticello Wine Trail Link: Luxury 3-Bedroom House at UVA Drive Time: Approximately 3 hours from Alexandria Fully equipped kitchen and open-concept living space Estimated Pricing: $800–$1,200 per night (varies by season and availability) Walk or bike along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk Visit the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Explore the ViBe Creative District for local art and dining Link: Bayberry House – Virginia Beach Floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic forest views Fully equipped kitchen and cozy indoor fireplace Estimated Pricing: $300–$500 per night (varies by season and availability) including trails like Hawksbill and Stony Man Visit local wineries such as Wisteria Farm and Vineyard Link: The Gramophone – Stanley, VA Alexandria Living Magazine is your go-to source for exploring the past Alexandria’s curbside composting program officially launches on July 1 the program will now be offered as a voluntary subscription-based service for residents who receive City trash and recycling collections,” the City of Alexandria shares in a press release Residents who get city trash and recycling pickup can now join this optional service for $5 monthly or $55 yearly with the city covering about 75% of the cost the program offers weekly pickup of food scraps and compostable items you’ll get a starter kit with a 7-gallon bin and one free bag of finished compost each year if you want it you’re automatically enrolled in the full program—there’s no need to sign up again you can still drop off compost for free at local farmers’ markets on weekends Want to learn more about composting in Alexandria? Check out alexandriava.gov/FoodWaste for all the details (Undated) -- Miss a recent edition of the full Alexandria Cardinal Sports Report on KXRA Radio The listing below includes the Alexandria Cardinal Sports Report programs airing on 1490 AM/100.3 FM/105.7 FM The most recent Cardinal Sports Report programs will be placed near the top of the list May 5th: Baseball discussion leads off the program JP Boline joined KXRA Sports Director Dave McClurg on Friday at Washington Park in Detroit Lakes to watch and call the Cardinal doubleheader on the diamond against the Lakers It turned out to be a productive Friday for the Cardinal Baseball squad along with some post-game reaction from Alexandria infielder Jackson Waltzing He led off the doubleheader with a solo homer and made some sterling defensive plays in the field at the Cardinal third baseman throughout the day A preview of Monday and Tuesday Alexandria Cardinal schedules is also highlighted Upcoming Alexandria Cardinal Sports play-by-play:  Games to air on KXRA Radio (1490 AM/100.3 FM and 105.7 FM) with live video streaming on TheVoiceofAlexandria channel on YouTube full presentations of the KXRA Cardinal Sports Report will air weekday mornings around 8:15 May 6th will be pre-empted for Alexandria Cardinal sports play-by-play the full presentation of the Cardinal Sports Report will air at approximately 5:35 PM Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Alexandria and Granville filed a plan with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on May 1 outlining how it can provide water and sewer service to parts of western and northwestern Licking County Jersey Township officials sued the coalition filed the same day in Licking County Common Pleas Court claims “these entities conspired to take control of portions of Jersey Township through improper and unlawful closed-door meetings that violated Ohio’s Open Meetings Act” in a July 15 Jersey Township Trustee Dan Wetzel said in a release that the lawsuit is “about protecting our sovereignty No political subdivision has the right to override the will of another’s voters … Jersey Township has elected leaders for a reason and we will not allow outside officials to usurp our authority or speak for our residents.” Granville Village Manager Herb Koehler said May 1 that the coalition could supply water and sewer service to parts of Jersey Township — if property owners request it — but the coalition is not seeking to “take control” of the township the municipalities said they “vigorously deny the allegations in the lawsuit the City of Johnstown received a letter in early July 2024 from a Jersey Township trustee explicitly threatening litigation,” the release said Johnstown Mayor Donny Barnard said in the release: “We remain committed to transparency and serving the best interests of the residents of Johnstown We are confident in the integrity of our city’s leadership and governance and we trust that the court will dismiss this frivolous lawsuit.” Jersey Township is part of the rapidly growing area between New Albany to the west State Route 161 to the south and the city of Johnstown to the north and Platte and the township are seeking an injunction against coalition members Among the township's requests is for the court to invalidate some actions coalition members took after their July 15 meeting including the Johnstown City Council’s approval of a comprehensive development plan during the July meeting suggesting it is to get more customers for financial gain rather than growth management Platte referred questions to the township's attorney Tension among local government entities in western Licking County has been simmering for more than a year and is rooted in a debate over service areas for local utilities Members of the Johnstown-Alexandria-Granville coalition — known as the Municipal Utility Coalition of Licking County — have said for months that their goal is to offer an alternative to the Licking Regional Water District formerly known as the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District and coalition members say they want to manage growth according to their comprehensive development plans They have concerns that a stand-alone utility will not fully consider development plans when installing lines “We’re not at all implying that Licking Regional doesn’t have a part in the future of western Licking County,” Koehler said We think our service can complement what they offer to the benefit of all customers.” But when the Licking County Commissioners voted in 2022 to expand the Licking Regional Water service area from about 8,000 acres in southwestern Licking County to 18,182 acres stretching to the north and east of its original service area leaders from the coalition communities and surrounding townships became concerned about losing their ability to manage growth to their plans Their concerns intensified when Licking Regional Water bought about 100 acres along State Route 161 in St. Albans Township and proposed a large sewage-treatment facility and a future water-treatment facility within a few miles of Alexandria and Granville That’s when the leaders began serious discussions about forming a utility coalition “Our Plan takes direct inspiration from the Licking County FRAMEWORK report,” Koehler said in a release businesses and residents developed to plan for future growth in western Licking County The report is full of recommendations “to maintain the values and sense of community that attracted our residents and is now attracting major businesses and investment,” Koehler said organic growth while ensuring that our local schools and other critical community needs are not neglected Our ‘inside-out’ approach will allow us to increase treatment capacity and construct centralized sewers as the need arises allowing us to keep sewer rates affordable.”   Alexandria Mayor Sean Barnes said in the coalition’s response to the lawsuit: “We value our partnership with Johnstown and Granville especially in light of the growth that is coming to Licking County Collaborations such as ours are necessary if we hope to positively shape the future of the region.” Granville Mayor Melissa Hartfield said in the release that she is disappointed in Platte and Jersey Township's actions: “I believe this is a deliberate attempt to distract us from working in the best interests of our constituents.” Wetzel said Jersey Township officials “hope that this lawsuit can be resolved amicably.”  Platte and Jersey Township are serious about a sustainable future Alan Miller writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers 4 p.m.Parkers Prairie at Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale BOYS GOLF West Central Area hosts quad (Ashby-Brandon-Evansville attending) at Tipsinah Mounds 11 a.m.Alexandria at Rich Spring Golf Course in Cold Spring GIRLS GOLF West Central Area hosts quad (Ashby-Brandon-Evansville attending) at Tipsinah Mounds 11 a.m.Osakis at Blackberry Ridge in Sartell coasters and canvases that Suzanne Williams She started watching YouTube videos on how to decorate coasters “I stepped out of my comfort zone and started doing it,” Williams said “I taught myself everything by watching videos and just trying.”  coasters and canvases are decorated with different themes a Christmas scene with an old red pick-up and steampunk scenes her favorite designs include those that have children in them The coasters she makes that have blue herons on them are a crowd favorite She tries to have different themes to grab someone’s attention What may not sell one week may eventually sell the next to someone who was looking for something just like it “You never know what people are going to be attracted to,” she said Willams started decorating cigar boxes because she wanted to see how they turned out “I try to make all sizes and anything I can think of to go in them,” she says  She also likes to use them because she can decorate them however she wants “And people really started liking them,” she said You could keep anything you want to in here,” Williams said “I just sit home in my little craft room and create,” Williams said She knows she won’t make a fortune selling her creations but making people happy is priceless to her She’s been a vendor at the the Cabrini Farmers Market for a little over a month “This is the only place I’ve ever been,” she said “I love it here because it’s like a community.”  to noon Saturdays in the back parking lot of St Francis Cabrini Church on East Texas Avenue Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInALEXANDRIA (KALB) - One person was hurt in a drive-by shooting on May 4 according to the Alexandria Police Department to a hospital regarding a person suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound It was determined that a shooting happened at Overton Street and Warshauer Street when someone opened fire from a vehicle The investigation is still ongoing at this time If anyone has any information about this incident or any other type of crime in the Alexandria area please contact the Alexandria Police Detective Division at the phone number (318) 441-6416 You may also email information to detectives at: APDDetectives@cityofalex.com For a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers of CenLa at (318) 443-7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster App can also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a cash reward at www.p3tips.com/community/mobile Click here to report a typo Please provide the title of the article in your email What's Hot: 262-Unit Development With 'Main Street' Retail Pitched For Columbia Pike by UrbanTurf Staff ✉️ Want to forward this article? Click here A proposal to convert the former Old Towne Motel property into luxury condos is heading before Alexandria's Board of Architectural Review later this month.  PT Blooms has plans in the works to turn the former motel property at 802-808 North Washington Street (map) into a 48-unit condo building The project -- designed by Eric Colbert & Associates -- will be the second phase of The Whitley The first phase consists of a 78-unit building just down the block.  The new development will deliver one- to three-bedroom condos along with 47 parking spaces in an underground garage a historic townhouse at the development site will be preserved.  there were plans in the works to replace the closed motel with a five-story hotel That proposal was scrapped due to financial constraints the Alexandria Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve the new condo development.  This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/a_plan_to_convert_shuttered_alexandria_motel_into_48_condos_looks_for_appro/23468 Questions about real estate in DC, VA or MD? Email us UrbanTurf Listings showcases the DC metro area's best properties available for sale The huge DC news of the week is that the Washington Commanders are going to build a n... read » Plans to redevelop a strip mall along the thoroughfare are back in the works after a ... read » Today, UrbanTurf checks in on the status of the development pipeline over in Congress... read » The new 230-room citizenM hotel is expected to open at the beginning of 2026.... read » Dubbed the Stratford House, the property had not been listed for sale in decades prio... read » Virginia's homebuyer assistance programs can seem complex. This edition of First-Time... read » In April, UrbanTurf looked at programs in the District that help homebuyers defray ... read » In this article, UrbanTurf looks at the estimated annual maintenance costs associated... read » In this article, UrbanTurf will explain what special assessments are, how they work, ... read » The center for the Washington Capitals is listing the 16,000 square-foot home for jus... read » With this weekend's DC houseboat tour a day away, UrbanTurf thought it only fitting t... read » President Obama travels to Denver this morning to sign the stimulus bill that has bee... read » In this week's installment of Ask An Agent, a reader wonders if there is a rule for h... read » As The Wharf prepares to begin construction, DC's houseboat community heads to its ne... read » In this week's installment of Ask An Agent, a reader asks a fairly common question th... read » Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market We've collected all our helpful guides for buying selling and renting in and around Washington Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro – A 15-year-old boy is recovering after falling overboard in Lake Miltona north of Alexandria Crews responded to the lake around 2:00 Saturday afternoon on a report of a person falling out of a moving boat Someone on a pontoon got the boy out of the water safely but the unoccupied boat was going in circles Members of a local dock and lift company were able to stop the boat The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reminds you to always wear one when out on the water Studio: 701-293-9000Front Desk: 701-356-4220Email: Click Here to Email Us Rep. Don Beyer is pushing for $5.9 million in Community Project Funding for Alexandria as part of his fiscal year 2026 proposals The requests focus on improving infrastructure is aimed at upgrading storm drains along East Howell and East Bellefonte Avenues This project is part of the broader Flood Action Alexandria program which implements both short and long-term flood prevention measures Another $1.5 million request is for an energy-independent emergency shelter system This would allow the shelter to operate off-grid for up to 72 hours during extreme weather events One is for enhancing technology and data management for the Alexandria Police Department The other would upgrade radio systems for both the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office These improvements would boost communication capabilities especially when assisting federal partners like the U.S with a $1.5 million request for The Square at 511 This money would help extend the lifespan of this affordable housing complex in the Arlandria neighborhood by modernizing elevators Beyer’s larger set of 15 Community Project Funding proposals for FY26 across his district The House Appropriations Committee will review all proposals before making final decisions on which projects to fund There are plenty of beautiful towns within driving distance of Alexandria to explore as a potential second-home getaway The reasons most people purchase a second home Some popular areas within driving distance of Alexandria (that include a range of home prices) include wine country both near Middleburg and Upperville as well as further south near Charlottesville Other getaway areas include Deep Creek Lake We'll take a look at these areas and others along with a variety of real estate options in those locations There are several options for home purchases in the area Set on an idyllic five-acre parcel and bordering a 400-acre private estate this extraordinary Neoclassical Palladian villa offers nearly 6,000 sq feet of interior living space with spectacular views of the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains Originally built in 1997 by esteemed architect Errol Adels the home finished a two-year renovation in late 2017 and continues to be well maintained a magnificent great room includes the gourmet kitchen dining room and two seating areas that overlook the terrace and swimming pool Each of the home’s five bedrooms - including two large ground level master suites - offer ensuite baths clad in floor to ceiling Carrara marble Additional noteworthy features include 10' custom doors 180-year-old reclaimed wide-plank flooring The 1,225 sq foot guest house has a spacious entertaining space with a concealed full kitchen outdoor spaces and gardens are inviting and well proportioned Completely private and in the middle of Virginia hunt country Lily Pad is an ideal weekend or full-time residence Listed by Laura Farrell• TTR Sotheby's International Realty •540-212-9993 (broker) •theplains@ttrsir.com (broker) Listed by Michael Rankin• TTR Sotheby's International Realty •202-333-1212 (broker) •georgetown@ttrsir.com (broker) Residences at Salamander: If you’re interested in living a resort lifestyle your home purchase comes with membership at Salamander Middleburg That includes concierge services to help with dining and spa reservations or tee times and horseback riding Each residence also includes a one-year membership to Creighton Farms Golf Club Current homes on the market are priced from $3,950,000 for a four-bedroom seven-bath home to $2.7 million for a four-bedroom If you’re looking for a home that might work as an Airbnb, how about a two-bedroom, one-bath cottage, on the market for $485,000? Known as “The Pink Cottage,” it sits on a half-acre lot just outside of Middleburg Co-Listing Agent: Curt Andrew Schaber 703-338-7300 🌥️ Today’s weather: Showers and thunderstorms before 3 p.m. then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 3 p.m then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m Light east wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning New rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms Showers and thunderstorms tonight before 2 a.m. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight The chance of precipitation is 80%—new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible Alexandria is rolling out a mix of free and ticketed events this month (May) to mark National Historic Preservation Month The city’s Office of Historic Alexandria is behind the lineup which spotlights local landmarks and ongoing preservation work Special tours at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site are on the agenda The Friendship Firehouse Museum will open its doors for free on May 17 the Alexandria Archaeology Museum offers free admission and features “A Community Digs Its Past: The Lee Street Site.” The Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum hosts an escape room-style event on May 30 Participants can uncover hidden artifacts while tackling preservation-themed puzzles If you prefer to explore at your own pace, self-guided tours are available for download at AlexandriaVA.gov/SelfGuidedTours The Office of Historic Alexandria oversees eight museums Good news for locals: Alexandria residents get free entry to all city-owned museums To book tickets or make reservations for any of these events, head to AlexandriaVA.gov/Shop Stay in the know about Alexandria! Join 8,700+ residents who rely on the ALXnow free newsletter for the latest news, restaurant openings, and essential information delivered straight to their inbox. Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for May 4 Here’s what’s happening today in Alexandria Organizing an event? Submit your event to ALXnow’s Event Calendar An Alexandria apartment complex along a narrow stretch between West Braddock Road and N Beauregard Street is about to get a little denser LLC wants to convert former laundry rooms into 11 new apartments at the three-building 122-unit garden-style property while keeping the number of available parking spaces for residents as-is at 152 The Planning Commission will review the proposal on Tuesday (May 6) and City Council will consider the matter at its hearing on May 17 This is the second project of its kind that KMF XII Alexandria, LLC, is bringing to the city for approval this month. The company bought this property, The Oliver, and The Alante Apartments nearby at 4800 Kenmore Avenue in 2018 added washers and dryers to the apartments and have proposed converting the old communal laundry rooms into apartments The applicant proposes to convert the former common laundry rooms into eleven new apartments (one studio ten one-bedrooms) for a new total count of 133 units The units would be entirely within the existing buildings and would not require any new square footage… The site currently has 122 apartments and 152 parking spaces with a parking ratio of 1.24 spaces per unit The complex was constructed in the late 1960’s and has maintained approximately the same number of parking spaces since that time and a parking ratio of 1.14 spaces per unit which is in line with what is being proposed with similar new residential developments in the West End Alexandria is joining forces with Congressman Don Beyer and nearby communities to hold a job fair this Saturday (May 3) for federal workers and contractors affected by recent government workforce cuts The event aims to connect job seekers with more than 40 companies and organizations looking to hire Recruiters and hiring managers from various fields and federal government professional services Alexandria is working alongside Arlington County job hunters can head to George Washington Middle School (1005 Mount Vernon Avenue) They should bring resumes and be ready for potential on-the-spot interviews with employers Dozens of supporters are currently gathered outside the U.S District Court in Alexandria to support Georgetown University professor Dr Badar Khan Suri during his immigration hearing continues as supporters await the results of the proceedings a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 17 after his J-1 visa was revoked he was “abducted by masked ICE agents” as part of what they describe as a campaign against visa and green card holders connected to pro-Palestine activism Khan Suri’s unlawful detainment is the result of the Trump administration’s vicious crackdowns on free speech and anti-genocide activism,” says Amanda Eisenhour the administration will continue to prey upon our community members.” Today’s hearing aims to determine whether Dr Khan Suri will be returned to Virginia before his trial and if the trial will be held locally ICE officials briefly held him in Virginia before transferring him to Louisiana within 24 hours was in the United States on a J-1 visa through his work at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center The State Department revoked his visa two days before his detention Supporters outside the courthouse chant slogans including “Due Process Now,” “No fear No ICE in our state,” and “The people will never be defeated.” Among those present is Zeina Azzam a Palestinian American poet and former Poet Laureate of Alexandria The Department of Homeland Security alleges that Khan Suri was “actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin also accuses him of having “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist Her father served as political advisor to the Prime Minister of Gaza and as Deputy of Foreign Affairs in Gaza until 2010 The New York Times reports that Ahmed Yousef a former adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh confirmed he is Suri’s father-in-law The case continues to develop as supporters await the outcome of today’s hearing. Updates on this story can be found here –US wants to move Georgetown scholar’s deportation lawsuit from Alexandria to Texas. Judge appears skeptical. Kate Plummer is a Newsweek reporter based in London and she is particularly interested in the impact of social policy decisions on people as well as the finances of political campaigns Kate joined Newsweek in 2023 from The Independent and has also been published in multiple publications including The Times and the Daily Mail in History from the University of Oxford and an M.A You can get in touch with Kate by emailing k.plummer@newsweek.com "Don't let them trick us into thinking we are enemies," Ocasio-Cortez told the packed Ford Idaho Center in Nampa The rousing message made it into a 90‑second video of the event—shared on X last week—which pulled in 8.5 million views and reignited an old question: Could the youngest woman ever elected to Congress become the youngest person ever elected president who has represented New York's 14th congressional district since 2019 told reporters it was "just a video," but 2028 noise is already buzzing among social media pundits and political analysts "She is running and she is going to be more formidable than some Democrats seem to think," said media commentator Chris Cillizza in a post responding to the viral X video Newsweek contacted representatives for Ocasio-Cortez by email to comment on this story If the former bartender from the Bronx does decide to run she will first have to convince Democratic voters in what is likely to be a crowded primary Pollster Nate Silver, founder of FiveThirtyEight, argued earlier in April that Ocasio-Cortez's youth and media savvy could make her a strong 2028 candidate although he cautioned that she might choose not to run the minimum age required to be eligible for president Recent polls reflect a growing appetite among Democrats for Ocasio-Cortez's candidacy. A Quantus Insights survey of 700 Democrats found her to be the second-choice candidate for 2028 with 14 percent support. She was behind former Vice President Kamala Harris who lost to Trump in November and got 30 percent in the Quantus poll The poll was conducted between April 21 and April 23 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent told Newsweek that Ocasio-Cortez poses a "serious threat" for the nomination citing her "huge rally turnouts" and strong poll numbers an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University at Buffalo noted that her prospects hinge on how Democrats interpret their 2024 defeat—whether they believe Harris being "too moderate" hurt the party or not parties tend to 'double down' on whatever strategy they had in the previous campaign," he said this means being more conservative or more liberal if the perception among insiders is that they weren't sufficiently 'pure' enough to excite the base It's not clear what Democrats are thinking on this dimension If the internal narrative is that Harris tried to be too moderate then someone like AOC might have some appeal I simply don't know where the party is in terms of the narrative that they are constructing surrounding Harris' loss." While there has been much soul-searching and analysis about Harris' election defeat according to polling conducted after the election by J.L the two main reasons the then-vice president lost was because of voter's reticence to elect a woman and because of economic concerns a political scientist who runs the Centre on U.S Politics at University College London (UCL) agreed and said Ocasio-Cortez was likely to come up against opposition similar to the opposition Sanders faced when he ran for the Democratic nomination In 2016, the Independent from Vermont garnered around 19 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary He dropped out in 2020 after receiving over 1,000 delegates "AOC is a celebrity with a near cult following," Gift told Newsweek. "However, the same problem that Bernie Sanders ran into is the one AOC will run into if she aspires for the White House It's hard for a quasi-avowed socialist to win a national election in the U.S it remains unclear whether she widen her circle of support and pick off a certain fraction of former Trump voters and moderate Democrats she'll be picked apart for fringe views on a litany of cultural issues and her big government approach to policymaking." If Ocasio-Cortez wins the Democratic nomination, she will then face the electorate at large and run for president against the Republican nominee—likely to be Vice President JD Vance A Siena College poll of 802 New York state voters found that 21 percent of Republicans now view her favorably—up from just six percent in 2019 Neiheisel said this "could just be a reflection of greater familiarity with her in the state" or because New Yorkers might "see her as one of the more reasonable" members of the so-called "squad", a group of progressives in Congress And a Gallup poll in January suggested she had a net favorability rating of -10 percent among Americans suggesting her popularity is far from assured told Newsweek Ocasio-Cortez was too progressive to win over the electorate "AOC has as much chance of winning the White House as the Las Vegas Raiders have in winning the Super Bowl immigration and healthcare will not appeal to swing voters in the battleground states especially more traditionally conservative suburbanites as two of the last three presidential elections have shown slightly left of center female nominees are not electable due to traditional culturally biased attitudes against women in positions of high authority an expert in American politics at the University of Surrey in the U.K. said Ocasio-Cortez doesn't play as well with "older more centrist Democrats" and is seen as radical by some states where "Democrats have to appeal to the center-right as much as the center-left." "The USA is an inherently conservative capitalist country and therefore it will always be hard for a true progressive to win the middle ground to a necessary extent to win the White House," he told Newsweek But some conservative voices are sounding alarms about Ocasio-Cortez's potential "Just a word of warning to the Republicans, to my party, do not underestimate AOC, she's young, she's vibrant, she's attractive," former Trump Treasury official Monica Crowley told Fox News last November. "I think she's wrong on everything And all the energy and activism in the Democrat party remains with the revolutionary left "She's going to run and her message of economic populism is more powerful than people are giving her credit for," conservative political commentator Meghan McCain predicted earlier this month Ocasio-Cortez raised approximately $15.16 million during the 2023–2024 election cycle for her 2024 congressional reelection campaign according to Federal Election Commission data The average for House members that year was $3.31 million Ocasio-Cortez achieved her strongest fundraising quarter to date bringing in $9.6 million from 266,000 individual donors she would become the first female president of the United States and the youngest ever person to hold the office A President Ocasio-Cortez would also beat the record for the U.S president with the longest surname in history That polysyllabic distinction currently belongs to former President Dwight D who served in office between 1953 and 1961 Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. The Alexandria Police Department (APD) is inviting the community to participate in Alexandria Police Week a series of events that honor fallen officers and support their families The department shared details about the upcoming events on Facebook on May 3 we invite our community to come together for Alexandria Police Week — a time of solemn remembrance and deep appreciation We honor our brave law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice and we stand in unwavering support of those who continue to serve with courage and integrity,” APD shares This week-long observance includes several memorial ceremonies and ways for the public to pay tribute to fallen officers The events start with a Waterfront Wreath Laying ceremony at 9 a.m there’s a Memorial Church Service at 11 a.m the APD will hold a Wreath-Laying Ceremony at 1 p.m at the Fallen Officers Memorial in front of APD Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Ave.) “Join us for memorial ceremonies and opportunities to pay tribute to our fallen officers and support the survivors and family members of those who paid the ultimate price for our safety,” APD shares 🌥️ Today’s weather: Showers and thunderstorms then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible Tonight – Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2 a.m. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight The chance of precipitation is 60%—new rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch Alexandria is rolling out a new volunteer program called the Green Team to help keep neighborhoods tidy and protect local waterways.Launched as part of Earth Month celebrations this initiative lets individual volunteers join the city’s year-round litter cleanup efforts The Department of Transportation & Environmental Services’ Resource Recovery and Stormwater Management Divisions spearhead the Green Team Individual Litter Cleanup Program This program aims to boost existing litter removal efforts working alongside the City’s Clean Team and Cultural Activities (RPCA) PARKnership Program It’s important to note that trash can easily make its way through storm sewers into local waterways The Green Team program recognizes the hard work of current volunteers and helps newcomers join the citywide effort to protect the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay Want to get involved? Head to the Green Team website to sign up and receive a cleanup kit The city is handing out kits on a first-come The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for May 3 Someone on the course said they could hear a bullet whiz over their head Golfers were told to take cover and were later moved into the clubhouse A girls golf meet was taking place at the time the shots were heard and play was suspended and Willmar were the teams competing in the meet All teams left the course safely around 3:15 p.m officers were trying to determine where the gunshots were fired and used a drone in the investigation There were reports that the gunshots came from the Country Club Heights neighborhood but after canvassing the area and speaking with residents according to a news release issued by the Alexandria Police Department at 3:49 p.m If anyone in the area has information about the gunshots call the Alexandria Police Department at 320-763-6631 The National Weather Service has put out a severe thunderstorm watch for Alexandria and nearby areas IN MARYLAND THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 20 COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 1 COUNTY It’s been an intense week in Alexandria Here’s a look back on this week’s top stories. Our most-read post was on the shooting of three men in Arlandria on Sunday night (April 27) Police found the victims with gunshot wounds shortly after being called at around 9 p.m and the Alexandria Police Department is asking for help in the investigation Our number-two story was on an alleged abduction and assault of a woman by a naked man along the Mount Vernon Trail in Old Town North The victim suffered minor cuts and bruises and a 39-year-old Alexandria man was charged with abduction with intent to defile and assault Our third top story surprised us. It was the announcement that the City of Alexandria will host a job fair on Tuesday (May 6) highlighting a wide range of career opportunities available with the City outside City Hall in Market Square (301 King St.) with hiring departments and city representatives on hand to discuss open positions and answer questions from job seekers Turning to city government business, it looks like the lights will stay on and the grass will be cut in Alexandria for at least another fiscal year. On Wednesday (April 30), the City Council unanimously adopted the city’s FY2026 $956.5 million operating budget “We are passing this budget at a time of great economic uncertainty,” Mayor Alyia Gaskins said and so many in our community are navigating rising costs and they’re navigating uncertainty about what’s best for them and their families.” The budget passage also means residents can expect to continue paying the current real estate tax the city’s stormwater utility fee rates increased from $324.10 to $340.30 Are you getting hungry yet? Our weekly poll on the best Mexican restaurant in Alexandria received more than 1,200 votes. Eight Alexandria Cardinals qualified for the state tournament individually “The state tournament is the highlight of their year,” Alexandria head coach Wade Traphagen said I have bowlers asking about when the state tournament is It's always interesting to see how our first-time state tournament bowlers respond to being on the big stage.” Alexandria hosted Albany and New London-Spicer in a section tournament on Thursday State qualification was based on an individual's performances at the section tournaments compared to his or her season averages which were then compared to performances from athletes all around the state to whittle down the number of competitors and Kasidy Warburton (356) qualified for state in the ASD Girls Singles division Britton Nelson (435) qualified for state in the ASD Boys Singles division and Alexander Billings qualified in the ASD Team division (1,571) Ethan Clark (424) and Logan Englund (419) qualified for state in the CI Boys Singles division while Kassidy Lea (401) qualified in the CI Girls Singles division and Diesel Rach qualified for state in the CI Team division (1,562) and Iza Rueda-Richardson (352) qualified for state in the PI Girls Singles division Nelson won the ASD Girls state title in 2023 “The state tournament is an experience like no other,” Traphagen said “You've got this massive bowling alley packed with kids doing what they love most They are able to put their special needs and differences aside and just be kids this is the only sport that they are able to participate in It's exciting to watch the bowlers come together as a team one last time and compete amongst the best in the state.” The MSHSL Adapted Bowling State Championship is set for Friday The singles state championships are set for 9 a.m on Friday and the ASD Team competition is scheduled for 2:45 p.m “The passion for the game has spread throughout the team thanks in large part to our seniors and captains,” Traphagen said “Our seniors were consistent and showed a strong dedication to the team all season providing an excellent example for our younger bowlers This was very evident during our state qualifying event We saw bowlers feeding off the energy and pushing each other to perform their very best we had several bowlers bowl season best and even personal best scores Every bowler qualified for at least one event at the state tournament.” ASD GIRLS SINGLESShayla Nelson – 391Maggie Pfremmer – 373Kasidy Warburton – 356 CI BOYS SINGLESEthan Clark-424Logan Englund-419 PI GIRLS SINGLESIza Rueda-Richardson – 352 Alexandria is making waves in energy management earning a 2025 Better Practice Award from the U.S Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative The city’s Building Performance Program for City Facilities caught officials’ eyes showcasing innovative energy efficiency approaches highlights Alexandria’s commitment to smart energy practices Director of the Department of General Services points out that the city has already cut energy use by about 16% in the last five years This new program aims to build on that success keeping Alexandria at the forefront of sustainability efforts “Energy performance has always been a priority for City facilities and we’ve reduced energy use by about 16% over the last five years,” said McPike “This effort builds on that success and positions the City to continue to be a leader in sustainability.” Teamwork is at the heart of this initiative. The Office of Climate Action and the Department of General Services have joined forces to drive deep energy efficiency improvements across city buildings Their approach is to look at building investments as a whole allowing managers to make high-impact energy-saving upgrades tailored to each facility face the challenge of maintaining occupant comfort and health with aging infrastructure and increasing utility costs,” said Freed “This program provides the City with tools to make long-term investments that improve quality of life for building occupants while reducing the overall energy use and costs for the City.” and Energy Project Specialist Charles Jackson To learn more, and how you can make similar improvements in your home, visit the Office of Climate Action’s website After a firestorm of criticism from city leaders and student journalists over proposed oversight changes to Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper, Theogony the Alexandria School Board’s Governance Committee returned to the drawing board Theogony student journalists take their roles seriously with City Council members warning of potential “censorship” and “authoritarian” behavior from the school system student journalists are alleging a concerted effort from the administration of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt to suppress touchy or controversial stories from appearing in the monthly publication “Today’s meeting shows some movement in the right direction but it remains clear that the work is far from over,” James Libresco whether through explicit rules or vague language are not acceptable for a school district that claims to support student voice and equity or any school district for that matter.” Kay-Wyatt did not respond for a comment for this story Tim Beaty and Abdulahi Abdalla serve on the committee and couldn’t reach consensus on staff changes to create a structure where stories could be stopped from publication by the editor The trio agreed to pursue the issue in a work session in June which postpones the Board’s scheduled May 8 vote on the matter especially where we are with the budget and redistricting I don’t know if this is a work session that will happen before June,” Baird said “I know that we were really hoping to get this wrapped up by the end of the school year but I know a work session will take some time and there’s a lot on our calendar right now.” Abdalla said that the school principal should not have the final say on stories “I don’t think leaving it up to the principal as the final say is beneficial for the process of them learning to be journalists,” Abdalla said “I would love the principal to be involved in the process I don’t think the principal should have any say in editorial changes.” Baird said that the school system needs to facilitate a good educational experience for students “They are learning how to be writers how to be citizens in the world,” Baird said “My thinking is that the role of adults in supporting students’ education is to be there to help them think more critically to help them identify where there might be challenges to help them think about the implications of their writing.” said that the executive principal should have the final say be points in time where a particular topic something is on the borderline about whether or not it creates defamation or it creates some other kind of violation of the policies,” Beaty said “Somebody’s got to decide there and so I think designating the principal as that person is about right in my book.” In a draft proposal released three weeks ago news stories that “may be controversial” would have to be submitted by students to the “Campus Administrator who is responsible for ensuring the content will not cause substantial disruption of school activities.” The principal would also have to approve the republication of articles to outside news outlets like ALXnow The current proposal also removed a guideline that students should be instructed to follow the “Code of Ethics of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and help students and understand and follow it,” because the organization no longer exists “School publications faculty co-editors shall instruct students in the recognized practices and ethical considerations of journalism.” The amended policy also states that the “Superintendent may establish additional editorial levels between the faculty sponsor and the principal as needed to ensure the process is efficient and effective.” The ACPS policy on student publications has been in place since 1994 and hasn’t been updated since 2014 This policy is among several that are up for review by the school system The established policy lays out a structure where the School Board is the publisher of all student-created content the staff advisor is the equivalent of a co-editor and students are assistant editors and reporters Theogony students are led by two student co-editors and advised by a teacher the school principal has largely left the publication up to the discretion of the students and their academic advisor determine the stories,” Libresco said “We have a budget meeting at the beginning of each cycle where students pitch ideas and then our student reporters fill out a pitch form It’s reviewed by the co-editors in chief and then we sign it and it goes to our advisor our advisor does not decide the content we can cover or we cannot cover but not this person,’ and ‘Yes but not about that story.’ Those are all student decisions.” School Board Chair Michelle Rief says that the proposed changes are intended to protect students and the school division “The intention behind the proposed revision to Policy JP (journalism practices) is to ensure that student publications are supported with adult oversight that promotes accuracy and adherence to laws and policies that govern our school division regarding student privacy,” Rief said in a statement “This oversight is not meant to silence student voices but to help protect the rights of all students.” City Council Member Abdel Elnoubi was on the School Board until his recent election last fall and said that the new policy “crosses into censorship.” Elnoubi said that reasonable limits on students should be established but he was compelled to speak up because the “free speech of students is under attack” during a time “when democracy and free speech are under threat nationally.” “I grew up under an authoritarian regime (in Egypt) that used vague subjective terms like ‘controversial’ and ‘disruption’ to silence dissent,” Elnoubi said in a statement “I recognize these red flags when I see them.” A new draft proposal published on Thursday dropped the word “controversial” and replaced it with “material that the staff co-editor believes may be in violation of the ACPS Journalistic Principles or ACPS policy or regulation.” City Council Member John Taylor Chapman said that the language change seems unnecessary “I think the expansion of their policy doesn’t seem warranted,” Chapman said students haven’t violated any ACPS policies I do think it is interesting that ACS looked at this policy when they’ve had a number of articles in Theogony about some of the decisions that have been made I don’t get the sense that school board members are pushing this issue I really want to understand why this is coming up as something that’s on their docket It’d be great to see this policy come from the School Board versus a staff that has a bias on (what) they want to see printed and discussed in the community about ACPS.” City Council Member R. Kirk McPike told ALXnow that he’s ready to fight for the rights of ACHS student journalists. McPike said he was a student journalist in high school and was directly impacted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-3 ruling in 1988 which allowed school districts to censor all school publications “When I was a high school journalist our principal attempted to prevent the release of an issue of our newspaper because a parent complained about a picture of their son smoking,” McPike said “It was part of an article about the challenges the school was having in preventing smoking by students So I take the impacts of prior review policies on the ability of student journalists to be real journalists very seriously.” McPike said that Theogony’s reporting has made a positive impact “School systems can adopt policies that give greater protection to student journalists,” he said “The ACPS School Board Members I have spoken to about the proposed policy changes recognize and value the great work of the journalists at Theogony They want to see these students thrive and improve their skills I hope they will respond to the concerns of the students who produce Theogony and adopt regulations that further empower these young journalists.” Libresco said he and his student reporters have felt pressured by ACPS central office staff to amend headlines and stories “It’s straight from the playbook of authoritarian governments and regimes,” Libresco said “This is not something that should be happening in Alexandria where we claim to have an equity focus and a student empowerment focus that is not reflected at all in this policy.” Libresco also launched an online petition that’s garnered nearly 700 signatures “All we’re asking for is the freedom to tell the truth of what’s going on,” he said “They’re not saying our articles haven’t gone through a proper editing process; they’re saying that they don’t like what we’re writing about and that’s a huge difference.” Libresco said that he and his student reporters were asked to alter their content several times since the end of the last school year In two recorded meetings held in May and June last year ACPS communications staff requested a more collaborative relationship with Theogony staff The newspaper’s students were asked to submit requests to interview any ACPS staff with the communications department and students who participated in those meetings were concerned that the new proposed measures were punitive the ACPS chief of school and community relations and her staff asked for closer collaboration with Theogony to ensure that staff being interviewed were providing accurate information we have remained focused on building a collaborative and respectful relationship with the Theogony team,” Burgos told ALXnow “At no point have we requested to review Our goal has always been to support student voices and uphold their editorial independence.” Libresco says that the Central Office is proposing the changes “I have a great relationship with our current principal and he has been very supportive of Theogony and all its efforts,” he said “I want to make clear that this policy change and this standard operating procedure this was directly from Central Office leadership That was not from our school administration at all Theogony reporter Isabelle Shultz said that the publication strives to be accurate “It should be of note that we are very happy to change anything that might be non-factual,” Shultz said “Every time we ask the superintendent to comment that is her chance to put her input in on our articles and that is where any input belongs — in our articles We are fully committed to making sure that we tell the full story.” Libresco and his staff of ACHS students have an alternative proposal guaranteeing students’ First Amendment protections. Their Voices Unbound policy is also backed by Mayor Alyia Gaskins and it largely prevents administrators from interfering with articles we have an opportunity to build the next generation of journalists and civic leaders,” Gaskins said “We have seen how their articles have pushed our community to ask better questions and critically examine our decisions The proposed changes put leaders in a position of editing critical and necessary coverage I hope the School Board will adopt the Voices Unbound framework which was designed to elevate student voice and thoughtful expression while respecting the responsibilities of school leadership.” A majority of the Board members need to support the policy Libresco still plans to speak at the May 8 Board meeting “We urge the school board to listen to the community to legal experts and to the students most directly affected,” he said “Adopt the entire Voices Unbound framework Guarantee full First Amendment protections for your students.” var pd_tags = new Array;pd_tags["15421370-src"]="poll-oembed-simple"; The Province of Alexandria has held its first Synod since the election of its bishops and the endorsement of its archbishop Because of some international travel restrictions the meeting was held in Uganda last month in the hope that every Diocese could participate The meeting was also attended by Bishop Anthony who had been acting bishop of North Africa his successor who will be ordained bishop on May 11th Archbishop Samy gave an account of the meeting to the Friends of the Province of Alexandria in a zoom meeting on May Day He outlined the context as one of constitutional crisis and deep division in the Anglican Church and spoke of GAFCON (Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans) as a “remnant for the sake of the Gospel.” He outlined the basis of his faith with great conviction and clearly felt at ease that the Province should be aligned with those of whom he spoke as orthodox including GFSA (Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches) As a member of the Anglican body that advises on matters of faith and order (IASCUFO) Archbishop Samy referred to its efforts to redefine what it means to be Anglican and stressed the need to pray for discernment of the truth The main business of the Synod involved working together on a vision statement and mission strategy for the Province In summary that vision was for a Church that is: rooted in Christ transforming communities and acting with the love and truth of the Gospel That translated into five practical mission objectives: To proclaim the Gospel faithfully in word and deed To shepherd the people of God through sacramental life To equip and empower local churches to serve their communities with compassion and justice evangelism and interfaith dialogue throughout the Province and To promote unity in diversity across cultures and dioceses Archbishop Samy identified this as “work in progress.” The Friends were also brought up to date with developments at the Alexandria School of Theology which is hoping to add to its accredited courses with a D as the 151st Kentucky Derby approaches tomorrow (May 3) While Alexandria might not have a horse running for the roses at Churchill Downs this year the city’s rich history and iconic scenery provide ample inspiration for a dream field of contenders we can cheer for in spirit As racing fans nationwide pick their favorites What if the Derby contenders drew their names not just from pedigrees and neighborhoods that make Alexandria unique My pun-driven brain and Google Gemini inspired the following ideas Imagine the starting gate filled with thoroughbreds representing the heart of Port City Picture “Old Town Trouper” jostling for position with “King Street Stepper.” Maybe “Gadsby’s Gallop” channels centuries of history down the stretch or perhaps “Carlyle Charger” shows commanding speed Could a horse named “Masonic Majesty” demonstrate stately power while “Torpedo Triumph” explodes from the pack Don’t count out the illuminating speed of “Jones Point Jet” or the competitive spirit of “Spite House Sprinter.” Our neighborhoods offer contenders too: the fleet-footed “Del Ray Dasher,” the reliable “Rosemont Runner,” the surprising “West End Wonder,” and the proud “Parker-Gray Pacer.” And paying homage to our geography and character how about “Royal Street Ruler,” the powerful “Potomac Power,” the swift “Waterfront Whirlwind,” or the steady “Cobblestone Comet” Rounding out the imaginary field could be “Port City Patriot” or even “Alexandria Ace.” While these Alexandria-inspired horses exist only in our imaginations for now it’s a fun way to connect with the Derby excitement as you watch the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” tomorrow maybe give a little cheer for the spirit of Alexandria galloping alongside the real contenders down the legendary Churchill Downs track I’ll add them to the options as write-ins are submitted for all to enjoy var pd_tags = new Array;pd_tags["15419874-src"]="poll-oembed-simple"; but umbrellas will be essential as chances for showers and thunderstorms increase Saturday afternoon and become highly likely throughout a cooler Expect highs near 88 degrees Saturday before widespread rain arrives Sunday when temperatures will only reach the upper 70s and the chance of precipitation climbs to 90 percent National Weather Service Forecast as of 2 p.m Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our weekend roundup of events Photo by Rey Lopez courtesy of Josephine Old Town Bar Public voting is open through May 31 for the RAMMYS: Alexandria restaurant Josephine is a nominee for Best Brunch Public voting has opened for four fan-favorite categories in the 2025 RAMMYS Awards & Gala giving diners a chance to champion their favorite bars sandwiches and gathering places across the region And one of those restaurants is Alexandria's own Josephine a modern French brasserie housed in an 1883 firehouse at 109 South St Hosted annually by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) The RAMMYS celebrates excellence in the Washington area’s restaurant and food service community from innovative beverage programs and top-tier service to culinary creativity and leadership Voting will be open from May 1 through May 31, 2025, via The RAMMYS media partner NBC Washington/Telemundo. Voters can cast their ballots at nbcwashington.com/rammys or therammys.org “Now is the time to show some love to your favorite local spots or discover a new gem,” said Shawn Townsend “Whether you're loyal to your neighborhood brunch spot or ready to try the city's hottest new sandwich we encourage everyone to vote and help celebrate the incredible restaurants that make our region such a vibrant place to dine.” The 2025 RAMMYS Awards & Gala President’s Circle sponsors are Events DC and LINK Strategic Partners amongst many other supporters For more information about the RAMMYS, visit therammys.org. For more information about RAMW, visit ramw.org Dozens of Uber and Lyft drivers from around the region boycotted both companies today by turning off their apps in Alexandria The boycott was part of an international May Day effort calling on Uber and Lyft to be more transparent in regard to fees the drivers gathered at the New Virginia Majority office (3801 Mt Vernon Ave) and made speeches held a poetry reading and talked to each other Uber driver Nupur Chowdhury is an organizer with DMV Drivers Alliance but that unexpected fees prompt drivers to stay on the road for up to 12 hours That’s the cap that the rideshare companies have set for drivers “A lot of us were promised 75%-80 % of the profit from our fares when we started driving,” Chowdhury said and now we have to work twice as hard to make a livable wage.” Hortense Balla has been driving with Uber for a year “It’s kind of a sharecropping experience,” Balla said you work for a third of everything you earn The absurdity of this is that I spend money on the fuel and the app doesn’t even work that well Balla said he gets satisfaction from helping customers you feel good doing that work when you are picking up nurses and security guards at 3 a.m that don’t have any other option how to get home,” he said “But this is a matter of public safety on the roads and drivers should be stressed out and made to work to their limits so that they can get something from that work.” 🌥️ Today’s weather: Scattered showers and thunderstorms Showers are likely and possibly a thunderstorm tonight before 2 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 70%—new rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch It’s a busy spring Saturday in Alexandria Let’s take a look at what’s happening out there Old Town is gearing up for its Spring Fling block party It’s an excellent chance for locals to get together and enjoy community fun Shop from more than two dozen local makers at a fun, family-friendly (and pet-friendly) spring sip-and-shop event at Port City Brewing Co. The Spring Makers Market runs from noon to 5 p.m There’s plenty more happening around town, too. Lost Boy Cider is hosting Bingo for Breast Cancer at 1 p.m., while Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is starting an Inova Blood Drive at the same time Art lovers have options as well. The 4th Annual Alexandria Springtime Art Festival is taking place at John Carlyle Square, and the Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden is putting on a Wine & Art Night Carlyle House Historic Park is getting in on the action with preservation tours and a Family Fun Day focused on garden activities you’ll also find farmers’ markets and live music performances scattered throughout various venues in Alexandria A complete listing of events, live music, and entertainment can be found below and here Stay in the know about Alexandria! Join 8,700+ residents who rely on the ALXnow free newsletter for the latest news, restaurant openings, and essential information delivered straight to their inbox. Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for May 2 Here’s what’s happening today in Alexandria Planning ahead? Here’s what’s going on tomorrow Virginia Tech will be the site of a new Capital Bikeshare station this May with 15 bikes available at Academic Building One making it easier than ever for Hokies to get around sustainably As part of the Capital Bikeshare University Membership Program all Virginia Tech students are eligible for a deeply discounted annual membership—just $25 Celebrate National Bike Month this May by joining the movement and riding with Capital Bikeshare—right here at Virginia Tech in the D.C For details, visit the Virginia Tech Sustainable Transportation page on the Capital Bikeshare University Membership Program The Capital Bikeshare equipment installation will require closing the southbound portion of University Drive for approximately five hours in the morning and early afternoon of May 27. Virginia Tech demonstrates impact as a global land grant – progressing sustainability in our community Get Directions  See All Locations  Contact Virginia Tech  © 2025 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (AP) — The Trump administration told a federal judge Thursday that a Georgetown University scholar’s lawsuit against deportation should be moved from Virginia where he’s jailed over allegations of “spreading Hamas propaganda.” U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles seemed skeptical of the government’s request, which would involve her dismissing the case in Virginia. She raised concerns that a dismissal in her court would void her order in March to keep Badar Khan Suri in the U.S told Giles that he would need to talk to U.S Immigrations and Customs Enforcement about the judge’s concern Byerley said he didn’t see why ICE wouldn’t honor her order against deporting Khan Suri while the case is refiled in a Texas federal court attorneys argued that Khan Suri’s attorneys filed his suit in Virginia after he was already taken out of state They said filing his case in Texas is “relatively straightforward application of well-settled law.” The Trump administration said it quickly moved Khan Suri from a facility in Farmville because of overcrowding to a detention center in Louisiana and then Texas But the judge seemed skeptical of the government’s overcrowding claim to provide details about the number of open beds in Farmville at the time of Khan Suri’s arrest as well as the number of people who’ve been transferred because of overcrowding Khan Suri’s attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union told the judge that once in Texas Khan Suri slept on the floor of an overcrowded detention center for at the least the first few weeks Khan Suri now has his own bed in a dormitory Khan Suri’s attorneys said the real reason he was moved to Texas was to bring the case before a more conservative judge accused the government of what’s often called “forum shopping.” Unlike the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, federal district courts in Texas and western Louisiana are dominated by Republican-appointed judges appeals of such cases go to the reliably conservative 5th U.S The 5th Circuit is one of 13 federal appellate courts around the nation and has 17 full-time judges Twelve were appointed by Republican presidents including six by former President Donald Trump Agraharkar’s statements before the judge in Alexandria were echoed by another attorney for Khan Suri outside the courtroom after Thursday’s hearing “There is a reason why the detention facilities exist there,” Ahmad said “This kind of rigged game has to stop.” Ahmad was among a group of people who gathered at the courthouse to show support a Democrat who represents the northern Virginia district where Khan Suri lives Khan Suri’s lawsuit was filed shortly after masked plain-clothed officers arrested him on March 17 outside his apartment complex in Arlington His attorneys say he was unconstitutionally arrested and jailed because of his wife’s connection to Gaza have been targeted because Saleh’s father worked with the Hamas-backed Gazan government for more than a decade but before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct The ACLU said in the memo that Khan Suri hardly knew the father Khan Suri has undisputed family ties to the terrorist organization which Khan Suri “euphemistically refers to as ‘the government of Gaza.’” Khan Suri’s arrest also stems from his social media posts about the war in Gaza in which he expressed support of Palestinian people Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted on the social platform X that Khan Suri was accused of “spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media” and was determined to be deportable The ACLU has argued that arrests on such grounds violated his First Amendment rights working at Georgetown as a visiting scholar and postdoctoral fellow He and Saleh have three children: a 9-year-old son and 5-year-old twins he taught a course on majority and minority human rights in South Asia The filings said he hoped to become a professor and embark on a career in academia This story has been corrected to say that Khan Suri now has his own bed in a jail dormitory Image courtesy of Alexandria Children's Theatre Alexandria Children's Theatre will hold a Hogwarts-themed summer camp the weeks of June 9 and Aug The Alexandria Children’s Theatre programs allow students to share something onstage for families and friends at the end of every session facilitating a comfort level with performing from a young age Our talented teaching artists love to help children develop their creativity and learn how to collaborate with others We’re excited to promote Hogwarts-themed summer camps at Episcopal High School the weeks of June 9 ·      Camp age groups are 6–8-year-olds and 9–12-year-olds swimming in the outdoor pool daily and a delicious lunch ·      Payment plans and partial scholarships are also available Alexandria Children's Theatre is a creative haven where everyone is welcome without bias regardless of race To register, please visit: https://www.actheatre.com/act-camps