Stafford County Public Schools honored more than 700 employees for five to 60 years of service at its annual Years of Service ceremony held at Mountain View High School.
The event recognized teachers, support staff, administrators and workers from every department who help prepare students to excel. Mr. Jimmy Andrews of Stafford High School stood out as the most tenured, marking 60 years since joining the district in 1966.
By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – Virginia ranked 14th in a new financial transparency report examining how clearly states report audits, pension costs and other long-term financial obligations to taxpayers.
A tractor-trailer crash with at least one other vehicle sparked a massive explosion and fire Thursday morning, fully closing Interstate 95 southbound near Centerport Parkway in Stafford County.
The crash occurred just past the Ramoth Church Road bridge in the southbound lanes, with the tractor-trailer exploding on the right shoulder of the highway. Thick smoke and flames were visible from the scene, according to exclusive video obtained by Potomac Local News.
“Data centers at this location would put an industrial facility at the headwaters of Quantico Creek and at the edge of one of the most ecologically significant forests in the Mid-Atlantic,” the Prince William Conservation Alliance reported. “Was it not enough to have one of our two National Parks under threat? You’ve got people all over the county saying, ‘We don’t want to see industrialization near our National Parks, next to our state parks and next to our homes and schools. Read the room.’”
Officers were called to the 1200 block of Potomac Vista Drive around 8:58 p.m. on May 12. The victim had already been taken to a hospital by a family member, where he later died. Police said the man was involved in a fight with one person when a third man pulled out a gun and shot him. The two suspects left the area.
Detectives do not believe the shooting was random. Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the police. Additional details will be released as they become available.
Stafford County School Board Chair Dr. Elizabeth Warner opened the May business meeting with a point of privilege to directly address a recent hate incident at Stafford High School.
Warner stated that one of the board’s main goals is to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment that ensures mental, physical, and emotional safety for all students and staff.
By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – Virginia labor unions and local government leaders are pressuring Gov. Abigail Spanberger over legislation expanding collective bargaining rights for public employees.
A large police presence converged Tuesday afternoon near Embrey Mill Park following the discovery of an abandoned baby in the popular Stafford County recreation area. Authorities report the infant is safe and receiving care, while emphasizing their primary concern for the child’s mother.
According to a release from the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office issued around 5 p.m. on May 12, deputies responded to the area of Coriander Lane and Embrey Mill Road after a baby was found in the park earlier that afternoon. The baby is now in the custody of the Sheriff’s Office and is being cared for, with Child Protective Services notified and assisting.
The Manassas City Council on May 11 approved the city’s FY 2027 budget, setting the real estate tax rate at $1.24 per $100 of assessed value while repealing the $25 annual vehicle license decal fee, offering some direct relief to households even as assessments and utility rates continue to climb.
The budget, which takes effect July 1, passed with support but drew a dissenting vote from Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis. It maintains healthy reserves at approximately $33 million — about 20% of the budget, well above the city’s 15% target — while funding full staffing for Engine 501, competitive salaries and health insurance, schools, and state-mandated social services.
