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!

Manassas Park

Manassas Park Community Center is Closed This Week for its Annual Deep Clean

By Uriah Kiser

MANASSAS PARK, Va. – The folks at the Manassas Park Community Center just told Potomac Local News they’re taking a short break this week for their annual cleaning and maintenance. From Sunday, August 10, through Friday, August 15, the entire center—including the indoor pool—will be closed. Doors reopen bright and early on Saturday, August 16, at 7 a.m.

This isn’t just any local rec center—it’s a multi-generational community hub that’s been serving Manassas Park since 2010. Built with a 50-year vision in mind, the $18.5 million, 79,280-square-foot facility has two full-size basketball courts, an eight-lane pool, a fitness center, multi-purpose rooms, event spaces, and areas for preschoolers, teens, and seniors. It’s also designed as an emergency shelter with backup power for more than 1,000 people.

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Prince William

Shooting at Bayvue Apartments Leads Prince William Police Blotter, Plus Gunfire, Assaults, and Arrests

By Uriah Kiser
[Scott Rodgerson/Unsplash]

In a separate shooting incident on Danbury Court Aug. 9, two men from Richmond — Deshawn Antione Baker, 20, and Deonte Antoine Carrington, 19 — were arrested after exchanging gunfire during an argument. An unoccupied vehicle was struck, but no injuries were reported.

Also in Woodbridge, an aggravated assault Aug. 7 on Nickelson Drive left a 46-year-old man with multiple wounds. He later arrived at a local hospital. Police are still investigating how the injuries occurred.

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Originals

Riding Toward a Milestone, VRE Looks at Weekend Trains and Long-Term Funding

By Uriah Kiser

Virginia Railway Express expects to welcome its 100 millionth rider this fall—and leaders hope the milestone can help bring more people on board, even as they wrestle with when to launch Saturday trains and how to keep the system funded in the years ahead.

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Fredericksburg

GWRC Seeks Public Input on First-Ever Regional Economic Development Strategy

By Uriah Kiser
A busy crowd outside Fredericksburg's Agave on First Friday.

FREDERICKSBURG — For the first time, the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) is creating a comprehensive economic development plan for Planning District 16 — and it wants to hear directly from the community.

GWRC, which serves Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties, as well as the City of Fredericksburg, has launched an online survey to help shape a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The initiative is funded by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and facilitated by GWRC’s consultant, RKG Associates, Inc.

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Fredericksburg

Board Member’s Son Has Salary Raised After Texts With Superintendent

By Uriah Kiser

Fredericksburg Advance — A Fredericksburg City elementary assistant principal’s salary was increased following text messages between his father, a member of the School Board, and division superintendent Marci Catlett. In the text messages, School Board member Jarvis Bailey shared communication from his son, Matthew Bailey, laying out his rationale for requesting that he be placed at a higher step on the elementary assistant principal salary scale. More from Fredericksburg Advance.

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Fredericksburg

Arlington Woman, 19, Drowns in Lake Anna

By Uriah Kiser
Lake Anna (Photo: Virginia State Parks)

InsideNoVa — A 19-year-old Arlington woman drowned in Lake Anna over the weekend. Deputies were called to Sandy Point Drive in Bumpass at 10:45 p.m. Saturday, where witnesses reported seeing the victim, 19-year-old Sally Bedell, jump from a structure into the water, resurface, and then go missing, the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. More from InsideNoVa.

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Politics

Gainesville Republicans Pick Nominee This Saturday—Dems Already Chose Theirs in Nail-Biter

By Uriah Kiser

GAINESVILLE, Va. – The folks at the Prince William County Republican Committee just told Potomac Local News they’ll hold a firehouse primary this Saturday, Aug. 16 to decide their candidate for Gainesville District Supervisor. Voting runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bull Run Middle School on Catharpin Road—and it’s only open to Gainesville District voters.

Two Republicans are vying for the nod: Patrick Harders, a longtime Manassas resident and founder of a regional outdoor lighting company, and Brian Landrum, who entered the race earlier this month. Harders says he wants to carry on the work of the late Supervisor Bob Weir—particularly his opposition to sprawling data center developments. Landrum has called for greater transparency in local politics and recently accused a prominent community leader of misleading voters—charges she denies while endorsing Harders.

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Originals

Dumfries Council Reduces Historic Dumfries Funding, Takes Over Park and Museum Maintenance

By Uriah Kiser

What began as public anticipation of a vote to remove Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. (HDVI) from the Weems-Botts Museum ended with a funding cut and a shift in maintenance responsibilities — but not the eviction many feared.

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Originals

Tourism Spending in Virginia Hits Record $35 Billion; Prince William Sees More Out-of-State Visitors

By Uriah Kiser
NOVA Live (formerly Farm Brew Live) just outside Manassas.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Virginia welcomed more visitors and more tourism dollars in 2024 than ever before, generating a record $35.1 billion in spending, Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Tourism Corporation announced this week. That’s up 5.4% from $33.3 billion in 2023 and marked the first time overnight visitation surpassed pre-pandemic levels. More than one million additional overnight visitors came to the Commonwealth in 2024 — a total of 44.7 million people.

Statewide, travelers spent an average of $96 million per day, up from $91 million the year before. Tourism supported more than 229,000 jobs in 2024, nearly 5,000 more than in 2023, and generated $2.5 billion in state and local tax revenue. Officials say that amounts to $990 in annual savings for each Virginia household.

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Originals

Exclusive: Stafford Schools Say Transportation System Ready After Last Year’s Collapse

By Uriah Kiser
Stafford County Public Schools Transportation Director John Wilcots

Stafford County Public Schools officials say they’re more prepared than ever to get students to class this year, thanks to sweeping changes in the division’s transportation department.

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