Author: Potomac Local News

Manassas

Manassas Encourages Local 4th of July Celebrations with Fireworks, Music, and America 250 Exhibit

By Potomac Local News

Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger and council members repeatedly encouraged residents to “shop, dine, and celebrate in Manassas” rather than heading to Washington, D.C. City Manager Steve Burke and council leaders pointed to the city’s vibrant offerings as the best way to mark America’s 250th birthday.

The message came after a highly successful weekend. Councilmember Tom Osina praised the well-attended Play in Your Parks Day and Bee Festival on Saturday, calling them shining examples of the city’s vibrancy. “This weekend was another example of the vibrancy of our city,” Osina said. Valor Awards recognizing local first responders are also taking place this week.

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Manassas

Power Outages and Data Center Growth Spark Debate at Manassas Council

By Potomac Local News

Lynn Forkell Greene, a former Manassas City Council member and candidate in the November 2026 election, raised pointed concerns about data centers and infrastructure strain during public comment at the Manassas City Council meeting on June 22, directly linking the issues to recent power outages and broader regional pressures.

Greene told council members she is “not against data centers, but I am against the amount of data centers we have and passing those costs on to the residents.” She highlighted demands for water, electricity, and land, questioned the expiration of tax exemptions, and called for stronger collaboration between local officials and state legislators to develop a coordinated response. She urged a localized plan rather than simply asking residents to cut usage amid ongoing grid and substation frustrations.

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Stafford

Stafford Shifts River Crossing Alignment to Spare Subdivisions in Comprehensive Plan Update

By Potomac Local News
Interstate 95 over the Rappahannock River. [VDOT]

Stafford County is advancing revisions to its Comprehensive Plan that include a new alignment for a proposed outer connector and river crossing. This comes as regional transportation planners continue debating the project’s role in addressing long-term growth in the Fredericksburg area.

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News

Job Opening: Appointment Setter – Help Local Businesses Thrive in Northern Virginia

By Potomac Local News

Are you tired of how hard it is to find out what’s really happening in your community?

Local events your family would love, school board decisions affecting your kids, tax hikes, development projects, safety updates — too often this vital information is buried, spun, or simply missing. At Potomac Local News, we’ve spent 16 years solving that problem: delivering straight facts about local events, government, and fun things to do in the community, so residents in Fredericksburg, Manassas, Woodbridge, and across Northern Virginia can stay informed and engaged.

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Breaking News

Longtime Prince William Prosecutor Paul B. Ebert Dies at 88

By Potomac Local News

The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Prince William County announced the passing of the Honorable Paul B. Ebert, the longest-serving commonwealth’s attorney in Virginia history.

Ebert, who served 52 years as the top prosecutor for Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, died at age 88. He retired in 2019.

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Prince William

Potomac Mills Shooter Gets Four Years

By Potomac Local News

An Alexandria man with a prior conviction in a Potomac Mills shooting was sentenced to four years in prison for illegally possessing a machine gun.

Jamarion Dawon Jackson, 23, was driving more than 100 mph on the right shoulder of Interstate 95 in Fairfax County on April 17, 2025, when a Virginia State Trooper tried to pull him over. Jackson crashed into a parked vehicle and two others on the roadway, then fled on foot before being apprehended after trying to enter several vehicles. A loaded handgun with a machine gun conversion device was found in his car.

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Transfers $1 Million from School Fund Balance in FY 2027 City Budget

By Potomac Local News
Fredericksburg City Hall [Photo: Fredericksburg Va. Government Facebook page]

The City of Fredericksburg’s FY 2027 budget includes a $1 million transfer from the Fredericksburg City Public Schools operating fund balance to the city’s operating fund.

The transfer was detailed during a budget work session and second reading ahead of final approval on May 12, 2026. Deputy City Manager Mark Whitley noted that city and school staff, along with Vice Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. and Council Member Jannan W. Holmes, met regarding the move. Whitley described it as “a good option” that allows the schools to accomplish their goals.

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Manassas

Manassas City Council Sets 2026 Legislative Agenda: Water Rights, Taxes, and Local Control Top List

By Potomac Local News

The Manassas City Council on June 15, 2026, outlined its 2026 legislative priorities for the General Assembly, focusing on protecting water resources, streamlining local processes, ensuring tax equity, and enhancing quality-of-life measures.

City staff presented an initial set of priorities, which were later expanded during discussion. These will be addressed at a legislative breakfast scheduled for July 14.

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Prince William

Dumfries Secures $7 Million for U.S. Route 1 Corridor Redevelopment in State Budget Amendment

By Potomac Local News
Overlooking Dumfries, Virginia [Drone photo/ Uriah Kiser / PLN]

The Town of Dumfries stands to receive $7 million to support redevelopment along the U.S. Route 1 corridor, thanks to a budget amendment advanced in the Virginia General Assembly’s conference report.

The amendment, Item 103 #8c, was included in the conference report for HB30 released on Friday, June 19, 2026. It provides $7 million in the first year (FY2027) from the General Fund to the Department of Housing and Community Development for projects in Dumfries.

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Stafford

NTSB: Bus Did Not Slow Before Deadly I-95 Crash in Stafford; Local First Responders Praised

By Potomac Local News
Photo: Virginia State Police

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on the deadly May 29, 2026, charter bus crash on southbound Interstate 95 in Stafford County, revealing that the bus “did not slow” as it approached a traffic queue formed by a work zone.

According to the report, the bus, traveling at a high rate of speed, struck the rear of a Chevrolet Suburban and an Acura MDX at the end of the backup before continuing nearly half a mile (0.44 miles) through the queue, involving eight additional vehicles and resulting in a post-crash fire in one vehicle. The crash killed five people and injured dozens more.

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