Author: Uriah Kiser

I'm the Founder and Publisher of Potomac Local News. Raised in Woodbridge, I'm now raising my family in Northern Virginia and care deeply about our community. If you're not getting our FREE email newsletter, you are missing out. Subscribe Now!

Fredericksburg

Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy Opens New Firearms Range

By Uriah Kiser

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. — The Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy has opened a new 9,000-square-foot indoor firearms range, marking a major upgrade to officer training in the region.

Located on Lee Hill Drive beside the academy’s main campus, the facility features 14 lanes, classrooms, storage, and the ability to simulate darkness for nighttime training.

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Traffic

VDOT Lifts Lane Closures, I-95 Express Lanes On Holiday Schedule For Labor Day

By Uriah Kiser
Looking south along the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes near Springfield. [Photo courtesy of Transurban]

Holiday travelers heading out for Labor Day will see fewer work zones and a different schedule on the Interstate 95 Express Lanes.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) says most lane closures on interstates and major highways will be lifted from noon Friday, August 29, through noon Tuesday, September 2. The goal is to ease congestion for drivers making one last summer trip.

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Prince William

Police searching for missing Woodbridge teen, may be in New York

By Uriah Kiser

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Prince William County Police are asking for the public’s help to find a missing 19-year-old woman who may be in New York City.

Investigators say Faith Charity Pastore was last seen at her home on Troika Court in Woodbridge around 11:30 p.m. on August 24. Police now believe she may be in the Brooklyn area of New York.

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Police Blotter

Death in Rideshare, Shootings, DUI Busts, and Robbery Arrests

By Uriah Kiser
[Scott Rodgerson/Unsplash]

In Dumfries, police also arrested a 14-year-old boy for a May armed robbery where masked individuals with guns stole shoes during a sale arranged via Instagram. Another armed robbery took place in Woodbridge on August 24, when a teen was held at gunpoint during a basketball meet-up.

Back in Stafford County, multiple DUI arrests made headlines, including a driver caught running a red light while “trying to get to interviews” and another with an open case of beer in the car. An underage driver at a party was also cited for alcohol-related offenses.

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Features

Crunch Fitness Is Opening a New $3M Gym in Fredericksburg

By Uriah Kiser

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The folks at Crunch Fitness just told Potomac Local News they’re opening a brand-new, $3 million gym right in Central Park, near Interstate 95 and Route 3 —and it’s throwing a grand opening bash this Wednesday, August 27.

The new Crunch Fredericksburg promises serious fitness with a fun twist, offering everything from Olympic lifting platforms and HIIT turf zones to HydroMassage beds and saunas. Memberships start at $10 month, and grand opening day deals include a $1 signup and the first month free. One lucky attendee could even score a free one-year membership.

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News

Confetti & Cocktails Opens Near Dumfries, Blending Creativity and Celebration

By Uriah Kiser

A new event center in Prince William County is inviting residents to raise a glass — and maybe make a candle while they’re at it.

Confetti & Cocktails, located near Dumfries, celebrated its official ribbon-cutting on August 21, 2025, in a ceremony hosted by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.

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Features

Step Back in Time: Freedom Museum’s 4th Annual Sock Hop Keeps History Alive

By Uriah Kiser

The Freedom Museum in Historic Manassas is once again inviting the community to lace up their dancing shoes and step back into the 1950s. The Step Back in Time: 4th Annual Sock Hop will be held Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Bishop Russell Hall, 9290 Stonewall Road in Manassas.

The fundraiser is more than just a night of rock ’n’ roll, poodle skirts, and hula hoops. It’s the Freedom Museum’s biggest opportunity to keep its doors open and continue preserving the stories of local veterans.

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Schools

Prince William Education Association to Remain Under VEA Trusteeship

By Uriah Kiser

The Virginia Education Association (VEA) has voted to keep the Prince William Education Association (PWEA) under state trusteeship, extending a takeover that began in July after an audit raised questions about the local union’s finances and governance.

The decision came Sunday, August 24, 2025, after a nearly 16-hour hearing the day before in Manassas. In an email to members, trustee Linda J. Cook, a former Fairfax local president, said the VEA Board of Directors had “carefully considered” testimony and affirmed the trusteeship imposed initially on July 21.

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Neighborhood Notes

GMU Sanctioned, New Manassas Eateries, Free School Meals & More

By Uriah Kiser

Today’s roundup includes major updates from local governments, schools, and community organizations—from housing policy and school attendance to business openings, library renovations, and live-fire military training. Catch up on what’s new, what’s changing, and what’s coming up across the region.

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