The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce has named Ginni Matern, Owner and President of Matern Staffing in Spotsylvania, as the 2026 Chair of the Board. Matern brings extensive leadership and business experience to the role and has been a longtime advocate for regional economic growth and workforce development.
The Chamber also announced its 2026 Vice Chair, Treasurer, and several new board members who represent a cross-section of industries across the region.
Two Northern Virginia nonprofits — Northern Virginia Food Rescue (NOVA-FR) in Manassas and Fauquier FISH in Warrenton — received a massive food delivery earlier this month to support local families facing hunger. Each organization was given 18,000 pounds of food and pantry staples on December 11 as part of a national initiative by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The donation marks the first in the Washington, D.C. area from the Church’s America250 campaign, which pledges to donate 250 semi-trucks of food to food pantries across the U.S. by the end of 2026. Items included peanut butter, pancake mix, canned vegetables, pasta and more.
“New this year, DCR will be hosting a few guided hikes at natural area preserves, which are managed by the Virginia Natural Heritage Program,” DCR stated. “Visit the special event website for more information on how to reserve your spot for this unique way to kick off the new year.”
Virginia State Parks will offer a wide range of First Day Hike activities on January 1, including midnight hikes at Pocahontas and Lake Anna, sunrise hikes at parks such as Widewater and Sky Meadows, wildlife and history-themed hikes, and special dog-friendly programs at select locations. Visitors will receive a commemorative sticker while supplies last, and most parks will host multiple guided hikes and programs throughout the day. A full list of hikes and details is available on the DCR website.
Prince William County Supervisor Victor Angry says the county must continue approving new housing, even as residents raise concerns about traffic, schools, and infrastructure, arguing that Northern Virginia’s housing shortage leaves local leaders with few alternatives.
Angry, who represents the Neabsco District on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, joined Potomac Local News founder and publisher Uriah Kiser for a wide-ranging interview focused on growth, long-term planning, and several major development projects now moving forward across the county.
Beginning Jan. 5, 2026, Prince William County Police Department radios will switch to encrypted transmissions, preventing residents, media outlets, and scanner apps from monitoring police activity in real time.
Police officials say the move reflects national public safety standards and is designed to protect sensitive information routinely transmitted during calls for service.
Rock Hill Church Road is back open to traffic ahead of schedule after crews completed tree removal work at Aquia Creek in Stafford County.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced the reopening at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19. The road had been scheduled to remain closed through Monday, December 22, as part of preparations for a bridge replacement project set to begin in summer 2026.
The annual Stafford Christmas Parade returns to Pratt Park on Saturday, December 20, 2025, bringing holiday cheer, festive floats, and community spirit to the heart of Stafford County.
Presented by Stafford Fair, the parade will step off at 3 p.m. Organizers encourage spectators to arrive early to secure parking, grab food, and claim the best viewing spots.
A strong cold front is pushing through the area this morning, bringing scattered showers early, followed by clearing skies and falling temperatures this afternoon. Gusty west winds will be the main concern today, with breezy conditions lasting into the evening before calming overnight. High pressure builds in Saturday with sunshine and lighter winds, followed by a milder and mostly sunny Sunday.
Upcoming Weather Outlook:
“City Council has already stated publicly it will allow the data center developers to use city drinking water to cool their buildings for an unspecified period of time while the recycled water pipeline is being built,” posted Inform Fredericksburg on Facebook. “This creates a whole other set of problems that have yet to be discussed publicly by City Council.”
“So, here’s the question every city resident should be asking: Who’s going to pay to expand the city’s water treatment plant to accommodate a single user?” the post continued. “Taxpayers or the developer?”
