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Contaminated Legacy
From slave plantation to industrial pollution, a hidden history of North Old Town.
The shuttered power plant dominating the landscape in North Old Town has layers of industrial pollution, a hidden history buried under the contaminated soil of the Potomac River Generating Station. Even before the coal-fired power plant was constructed in 1949, the property was home to the American Chlorophyll Company and Potomac River Clay Works. That means the long and complicated task known as "remediating" the property could mean removing everything from coal ash and mercury to industrial fertilizer and hazardous metals.
Transforming Potomac Yard
Virginia Tech breaks ground for Innovation Campus in Alexandria.
Potomac Yard Groundbreaking
Connecting the Unconnected
Less than 3 percent of broadband spending to help low-income people gain internet access
About 15 percent of Alexandria students did not have access to the internet when the pandemic began last year, a statistic that reveals how many households in Alexandria are locked out of the modern economy.
Whistle Stop
McAuliffe launches DNC bus tour at Port City, dodges question about labor
The Build Back Better Bus caused quite a stir last week at Port City Brewing, and not just because of the alliteration.
Reform Is in the Bag
City Council to consider new five-cent tax for each plastic bag.
Alexandria started pressing for a plastic bag tax when George W. Bush was in the White House and Virginia was a red state. Now the years of advocacy have finally paid off, and state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30) has been able to pass a bill giving City Hall authority to impose a five-cent tax on each and every plastic bag that's used in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Casting a Ballot
Recent changes to voting make casting a ballot easier than ever.
Recent changes to voting make casting a ballot easier than ever.
Facing Eviction
Virginia has new protections for renters, but temporary measures expire next year.
The clock is ticking for renters across Virginia who are in danger of being evicted. People of color and low-income Virginians are most at risk.
Taking on Beyer
Five Republican candidates seek nomination in convention to challenge incumbent congressman.
Usually Republicans have to recruit candidates to run against four-term U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8). Not this year. Five Republicans are seeking the Republican nomination for the 8th Congressional District in a convention later this month.
Body of Law
The history of abortion in Virginia has many twists and turns.
The United States Supreme Court's decision to dismantle the right to abortion has upended the discussion over reproductive freedom.
Up in Smoke
Black market to remain underground for now as lawmakers reject licensing scheme.
Cannabis
Election Mirage Evaporates in Alexandria
Governor signs bill to improve election returns at the precinct level.
Election
Reconsidering Marijuana
Pot is still legal, but the plan to regulate its sale is in jeopardy.
Marijuana
Texas Official Appointed to Lead Alexandria
City Council hires James Parajon as city manager.
New City Manager
Green Rollback May Hit Blue Wall
Republican efforts to undo environmental laws to face opposition in Democratic-led Senate.
Environmental laws
Ban Battle Botched
Inside the failed effort to ban assault weapons in Virginia.
Banning assault weapons was a major priority for gun-violence prevention advocates in early 2020...
Oops! They Did it Again
Lawmakers accidentally gave overtime protection to farmworkers and domestic workers, now they're taking it back.
They didn't mean it. Seriously. And now they're about to undo what they did last year. Lawmakers say the vote last year to create a cause of action for farmworkers and domestic workers to seek overtime pay was a mistake. Senators say they were misled, snookered by the blitzkrieg pace of the General Assembly. Now they're taking action to rectify the situation, stripping farmworkers and domestic workers of the ability to sue for overtime.
Fossil Fuel Fiesta in Alexandria
Governor proposes gas-tax holiday, but will Virginians benefit?
gas tax
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