For our Afternoon Links, we scanned the local papers, blogs, and news websites for a roundup of news and opinion from the Alexandria, Virginia area. Here are some news items that caught our eye.

In the News

Could we get ANOTHER snowstorm this weekend? There will be a storm on the East Coast over the weekend, but the kind of weather it might bring (rain? snow? something in between?) is still a mystery. (CWG)

Bipartisanship over the longest government shutdown in history A bipartisan group of rank-and-file senators is planning to hold discussions on how to end the weeks-long government shutdown, with talks between congressional leaders and the White House at a standstill. (WaPo)

Government shutdown hits Alexandria hard Federal workers comprise 8.5 percent of Alexandria’s population of 151,331, making Alexandria, by its proximity to D.C., harder hit than the rest of the state. According to a report released by the personal finance website WalletHub, the federal shutdown has affected Virginia’s workers the sixth most in the country. (Alexandria Times)

TSA officers get some shutdown love They may not be getting paid, but the thousands of TSA officers working at airports across the country are getting plenty of support from the public during the government shutdown. (Dr. Gridlock)

Remake of Washington’s Harpsicord brings familiar sound A replica of a 1793 harpsichord brings a new lens — and sound — to the history on display at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. (WTOP)