Author: Gianna Jirak

Gianna Jirak is a general assignment reporter at Potomac Local News with aspirations of being an international and political reporter for a major national publication. She is a junior at C.D. Hylton Senior High School, the Editor-in-Chief of her school newspaper, and an intern at Prince William Living Magazine.

Features

‘The people and our mission:’ Retiring police chief reflects on 44 years of service

By Gianna Jirak

Public servants are more important than ever in the current coronavirus pandemic, yet, the Prince William County Police Department is losing its guiding member: Chief Barry Barnard.

Barnard, who has served Prince William County police for 44 years, with four of those years as chief, announced his retirement on May 13. He is the fourth chief of police to lead the department since its creation 50 years ago.

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Prince William

Prince William to offer free coronavirus testing for anyone

By Gianna Jirak
Sentara is now processing coronavirus tests at a newly-created laboratory in Norfolk. [Photo: Sentara Healthcare]

The Prince William County Government is offering free coronavirus tests for all members of the community on Monday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 19. 

The tests will be conducted at the Hylton Memorial Chapel, 14640 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge on May 18  and at Stonewall Jackson Senior High School, 8820 Rixlew Lane, Manassas on May 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The tests will be conducted via drive-thru and walk-up, according to a press release from the Prince William County Government. 

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News

Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park to remain shuttered until at least May 29

By Gianna Jirak
Governor Northam during a press conference on May 11.

While the rest of the commonwealth may be easing restrictions, localities north of the Chopawamsic Creek, to include Prince William County, will remain under a stay-at-home order. 

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Prince William

Prince William School Board moves to change grade weighting in middle, high schools

By Gianna Jirak
The Prince William County School Board holds a virtual meeting on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

Students may be out of school for the rest of the academic year, but their GPAs are still going up.

The Prince William County School Board unanimously approved a motion during their May 6 meeting to direct Superintendent Dr. Steven L. Walts to make adjustments to student transcripts to reflect the new course weighting procedures for fall 2020.

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News

Virginia reusing more PPE with new sanitization warehouses

By Gianna Jirak
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam speaks to press during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced on May 2 that Virginia was approved by FEMA to receive three Battelle Critical Care Decontamination Systems which can collectively sanitize 240,000 PPE each day. 

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Prince William

Prince William preserves 84 acres in Nokesville

By Gianna Jirak
Prince William County Brentsville District Supervisor Jeanine Lawson

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved a request to add approximately 84 acres of land into an agricultural and forestal district during their board meeting on April 28.

Located near the Nokesville School, the first parcel, located at 13063 Hickerson Lane, is 80 acres. It will be used for fields, forestry, crops, and livestock. The second four-acre parcel is located at 13209 Farmview Road, known as the Madera Farm. It will be used as a “wooded lot to be forested,” according to county documents.

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News

Scheduled medical procedures to resume today as Virginia turns corner on coronavirus pandemic

By Gianna Jirak
Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg

Starting today, Gov. Ralph Northam is relaxing what were his strict orders that prevented Virginians to have nonessential surgery during the spread of the coronavirus.

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Politics

How Northam’s decision to delay May elections has affected our cities, towns

By Gianna Jirak
Manassas City Hall at 9027 Center Street.

Both the May General and Special Elections, as well as the June Primary elections, have been postponed by an executive order from Gov. Ralph Northam.

The original May 5 and June 9 elections will now be held on May 19 and June 23, respectively. 

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News

NOVA offers free online classes for high school students

By Gianna Jirak
Northern Virginia Community College Manassas Campus.

Northern Virginia Community College is offering free online courses to high school students in certain Northern Virginia schools through their new JumpStart Program.

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