News

Fredericksburg City Council discussed recommended 8% increases in both water and sewer rates for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 during a budget work session on March 31, 2026. The proposals aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of the city’s utility funds.

PFM consultants, working with city staff, presented the rate study. The primary goals are to make the water and sewer funds self-supporting—covering operating expenses and capital needs without general-fund subsidies—and to maintain minimum cash reserves of about 150 days of operating expenses.


Features

The University of Mary Washington men’s basketball team is making history. For the first time in program history, the Eagles are heading to the NCAA Division III national championship, set for Sunday, April 5, in Indianapolis.

A big part of this story is the remarkable bond among three players: juniors Kaden Bates, Jay Randall, and freshman Ethan Kacou. All three share roots that trace back to Patriot High School in Bristow, Virginia. For Kaden and Jay, their connection goes even further—they’ve been playing basketball together since elementary school.


Manassas

The Virginia Railway Express Broad Run Yard expansion project is advancing at the 95 percent design stage and is expected to enter a two-year construction phase once property acquisitions and permits are finalized, officials told the VRE Operations Board on March 20.

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Prince William

Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega is putting Prince William County taxpayers on notice: even if the Board of County Supervisors keeps the real estate tax rate flat, most homeowners will still see their bills rise this year because of higher property assessments.

In an email sent Monday morning to constituents — and forwarded to local media — Vega released detailed ZIP-code-level data showing average assessment increases for existing residential properties ranging from less than 1% to more than 5%. She highlighted the neighborhoods facing the steepest jumps and urged the board to consider lowering the tax rate rather than relying on the automatic revenue boost from rising home values.


Prince William

The Virginia Court of Appeals has declared three large-scale data-center rezoning ordinances in rural Prince William County void from the outset, delivering a significant setback to the Digital Gateway project and a victory for nearby homeowners who challenged the approvals.

In a unanimous opinion released today by Judge Stuart A. Raphael, the court affirmed that the Board of County Supervisors’ advertising for the December 12–13, 2023, public hearing violated both state law and the county’s own zoning ordinance. The ruling invalidates the Compass, Digital Gateway North (DG North), and Digital Gateway South (DG South) rezonings approved by a 4-3 vote after a 27-hour marathon hearing.


Traffic

Virginia Railway Express trains have returned to 87-88 percent on-time performance over the past eight of the last 10 months, coming close to the agency’s 90 percent goal, but two difficult weeks in March exposed persistent reliability issues that continue to test commuter patience along the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines.

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Prince William

The Town of Haymarket Town Council reviewed a proposed FY2027 budget during its monthly work session on March 30, 2026, that keeps the real estate tax rate flat at $0.098 per $100 of assessed value while projecting modest increases in average tax bills.

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Manassas

The Manassas City School Board is reviewing its options for the nearly 70-year-old Jennie Dean Elementary building and site, while its replacement is under construction.

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Manassas

Hey neighbors! Spring is officially in the air in Manassas — from Easter hopping fun to important community conversations and the return of our favorite Saturday market. Plus, summer camp season is kicking off with open houses you won’t want to miss.

Whether your kids love creativity, athletics, or just need a great week of adventure close to home, these camps are designed to keep them active and smiling all summer long. Perfect for families in the greater Potomac region looking for convenient, local options.