AlexandriaNews

Alexandria’s real property tax base is up 3.53% or $1.15 billion from Jan. 1, 2011, to Jan. 1, 2012. Residential property increased in value by 1.55% or $284.98 million from $18.43 billion in 2011, to $18.72 billion in 2012.

At tonight's scheduled budget work session, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Superintendent Morton Sherman will present the Alexandria City School Board with a $4.04 million Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget transfer request for outstanding vendor payments.

An 86-year-old Springfield area woman was told last week she had won the lottery. But there was a catch; she needed to wire money to the “caller” in order to collect her winnings. She did as she was asked.

A former CIA officer, John Kiriakou, was charged today with repeatedly disclosing classified information to journalists, including the name of a covert CIA officer and information revealing the role of another CIA employee in classified activities, Justice Department officials announced.

Although the Alexandria City Council approved a Waterfront Small Area Plan yesterday by a vote of 5-2, the City's long local nightmare may not be over. Late in the hearing, Roy Shannon, who said he represented several Old Town property owners, filed an appeal with the Board of Zoning Appeals contesting City Planning Director Frarroll Hamer's ruling that a protest, which was filed on Thursday, was not valid. That protest would have required a super majority vote of 6-1 to approve the Waterfront Plan.

Tonight, Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman presented the school division's Fiscal Year 2013 proposed operating budget of $215,691,137, an increase of 2.4 percent, or $5,121,985 from FY2012 approved operating budget.

For the past 22 years, Alexandria public school children have had the opportunity to show their artistic ability and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King JR in a poster contest.

Over the last eight years, more than 2,880 Alexandria children aged 3-5 have made great strides in decreasing problem behaviors and developing their social skills, thanks to the friendly puppets in the Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices Program offered by the Department of Community and Human Services.

Alexandria Police have charged Victor M. Aldana, 22, of 4945 Manitoba Drive, #102, located in the Alexandria part of Fairfax County, with DUI Manslaughter, DUI Maiming, Reckless Driving and No Operators License following an investigation into the fatal pedestrian crash that occurred yesterday afternoon.

After months of delays due to a neighborhood challenge over whether there should be lights on the upper athletic field at Francis C. Hammond Middle School, the Alexandria School Board unanimously approved the award of a contract to artificially turf the field, construct a track and improve storm-water management on the site.