The morning quiet is disrupted by the whine of the saw and the din of bulldozers as yet another swath of woodland gets decimated.
Virginia, a state of great beauty and diversity and a history unmatched anywhere in the United States, is currently under pressure from rapid data center construction.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The University of Mary Washington is now accepting applications for first-year students hoping to begin classes in Fall 2026—and those who apply early could land some of the school’s top scholarships.
According to a university press release, applications opened August 1 and can be submitted through the Common App or directly at umw.edu/admissions/apply. Early decision (binding) applications are due by November 1, while early action (non-binding) applicants have until November 15. Regular decision applicants have until February 1, 2026. Students who apply early are given priority for scholarships and admission decisions.
QUANTICO, Va. – If you love jazz and big band music, mark your calendar for Thursday, August 7. That’s when “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Big Band brings its swing-era style to the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
This high-energy jazz ensemble performs the music of legends like Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Count Basie. It’s part of the U.S. Marine Band, the oldest professional musical group in the country.
MANASSAS PARK, Va. – The folks at Manassas Park City Schools just told Potomac Local News they were the target of a ransomware attack back in June—and some personal information might’ve been exposed.
The school division says it first learned of the incident on June 13, 2025, and quickly brought in IT staff and outside cybersecurity experts to investigate and secure its network. Hackers had reportedly accessed the system a day earlier and encrypted parts of it. While there’s no confirmation that anyone’s personal data was taken or misused, officials are alerting those who might be affected—just in case.
City crews responded quickly, and all power was back on by 11:39 a.m. Residents still experiencing issues are encouraged to contact Manassas City Utilities at 703-257-8353.
Here’s the full press release:
A man died early Tuesday morning after crashing his motorcycle in Dale City. Police say 56-year-old Gary Virgil Teman was riding a 2016 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide east on Dale Boulevard just after 1:40 a.m. when he failed to make a curve near Greenwood Drive and veered off the road, striking a parked vehicle.
Teman was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators later determined he did not have a motorcycle endorsement. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact them.
To the Editor,
Data centers may serve the digital age, but they don’t belong next to homes—especially not in Four Seasons, a 55+ community in Dumfries that includes seniors, veterans, and the disabled.
MANASSAS, Va. – Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-10) dropped by Birmingham Green on July 30 to see firsthand how this nearly century-old senior care center is serving vulnerable older adults in our region—and to talk about the urgent CNA shortage affecting facilities like it across the country.
The Congressman toured the center’s Willow Oaks Assisted Living, visited with residents, chatted with staff, and even tested his reflexes in their rehab clinic. He spent time in the facility’s CNA training room, where Birmingham Green offers completely free training to help address the national shortage of Certified Nursing Assistants—a shortage that’s reached more than 100,000 positions.
As Manassas tries to position itself as a destination for major business investment, I can’t help but wonder what message we’re really sending—especially when our public schools are struggling so visibly.
Recent reporting from Potomac Local News highlights that Standards of Learning (SOL) scores in Manassas City Public Schools are not only falling, but are also well below the state average. Osbourn High School and Metz Middle School remain only partially accredited, and our grading policies are under fire for allowing late work and multiple test retakes. These may be intended to help struggling students, but the result appears to be grade inflation and a lack of accountability.
