Prince William

MANASSAS, Va. – Drivers traveling on northbound Prince William Parkway near Balls Ford Road in Manassas should expect overnight lane closures later this week.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, crews plan to close the parkway’s right lane on Friday night, May 16, and Saturday night, May 17, to make repairs to the Balls Ford Road overpass.


Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Flooding concerns remain high along the Rappahannock River after a day of heavy rain and rescue operations.

At 2:54 p.m. today, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office reported multiple people were rescued after their car became stranded in flood waters on River Road near Fredericksburg. Meanwhile, the Fredericksburg City Fire Department announced the closure of City Dock, warning that the river is expected to crest at 13 feet around 2 a.m. Wednesday, May 15. A Flood Warning is in effect for the dock area from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m.


Manassas

MANASSAS, Va. – City leaders say they were surprised to learn that the first tenant of the newly opened Brickyard Data Center on Godwin Drive won’t contribute to the city’s business personal property tax base as expected.

The data center, operated by Digital Realty Trust, opened earlier this year. Officials had projected millions in tax revenue from computer equipment expected to fill the site. But when tax paperwork arrived on April 14, 2025, city officials learned the first tenant is a bank—an industry that is exempt from paying business personal property taxes under Virginia law.


Prince William

MANASSAS, Va. – Hundreds gathered last night at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas to honor nearly 300 Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) employees who are retiring this year.

According to PWCS, 278 educators, administrators, and support staff were recognized during the ceremony for their years of dedication to students across the county. The honorees included those who officially submitted retirement notices between April 2024 and April 2025.


Schools

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – Thousands of elementary students in Stafford County will head to different schools starting in the 2026-27 school year, following the School Board’s unanimous approval of a countywide redistricting plan.

The board voted on Tuesday, May 13, to adopt Scenario Lime, a boundary adjustment that prepares for the opening of two new elementary schools currently under construction—Elementary School 18 (ES-18) and Elementary School 19 (ES-19).


Business

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Fredericksburg Main Street is launching a new way to help residents get to know the people behind the storefronts that make downtown special. Its new “Meet the Merchant” series kicks off on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Fraser Wood Elements, located on Caroline Street.

In a conversation with Potomac Local News, Main Street board member Dan Craddock shared that the goal of the quarterly event is to build connections between business owners and the community—especially those who are new to the area and might not have explored downtown yet.


Manassas

MANASSAS, Va. – Manassas leaders agreed Monday night to keep the city’s tax rate steady for the upcoming fiscal year, despite calls from some on the City Council to lower it and give homeowners a break.

While the tax rate isn’t changing, rising property values mean most homeowners will still see bigger tax bills when they arrive later this year.


Pets

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – National Rescue Dog Day is coming up on May 20, and Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) is using the occasion to shine a spotlight on its mission to save, heal, and rehome dogs in need—every single day of the year.

According to a release from ODHS, the Fredericksburg-based nonprofit is calling on the community to adopt, foster, volunteer, and donate in support of the thousands of dogs that come through their doors. Since opening in 2013, the all-volunteer organization has found homes for more than 8,000 dogs—many rescued from neglectful situations, hoarding cases, and overcrowded shelters across the South.


Stafford

NORTH STAFFORD, Va. – A local community group concerned about the rapid spread of data centers in Stafford County is inviting residents to learn more at a public meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the Porter Branch Library, 2001 Parkway Blvd., Stafford.

The meeting, hosted by Protect Stafford, comes at a time when communities across Virginia are questioning the true costs and benefits of data center expansion. Just last week, Manassas city officials learned a bank tenant inside a data center managed to sidestep millions of dollars in expected local tax payments, leaving a gap in the city’s budget and raising red flags for other localities facing similar projects.


Manassas

MANASSAS, Va. – The Manassas City Republican Committee is calling on residents to fill the room at the next Prince William-Manassas Regional Jail Board meeting, pushing for the jail to renew its 287(g) immigration enforcement partnership with federal authorities.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the conference room of the Adult Detention Center, 9320 Lee Avenue in Manassas.


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