USPTO = JOB BOOSTER: Alexandria officials say the city's economy appears to be riding on the coattails of the new U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is moving to the area from nearby Crystal City.

A quarterly report from Alexandria's Economic Development Partnership finds that office vacancies are down, the unemployment rate is the lowest in three years and that property values are soaring.

On Monday, the Alexandria City Council voted to reduce the real estate tax rate by four cents to 99.5 cents - marking the first time in 54 years that the rate has dipped under one dollar.