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!

Prince William

Occoquan Awarded $15,000 State Grant to Transform Downtown Eyesore into Public Park

By Uriah Kiser

The Town of Occoquan has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia to help revitalize its downtown through the creation of a new public space—Mill Street Pocket Park.

The grant, announced Friday morning by Governor Glenn Youngkin, is part of a broader $5.4 million package awarded to 30 communities across the state. Funding comes through the Virginia Main Street (VMS) program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The initiative aims to strengthen local economies by supporting the transformation of underused spaces, growing small businesses, and revitalizing commercial districts.

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Features

Occoquan Targets Invasive Snakeheads with One-Night Fishing Event at River Mill Park

By Uriah Kiser
Occoquan riverwalk. [Photo: Occoquan Town Government Facebook page]

OCCOQUAN, Va. – In an effort to curb the spread of a harmful invasive species while offering a rare fishing opportunity in town limits, the Town of Occoquan will host the inaugural Snakehead Roundup on Sunday, August 3, from 8 to 11 p.m. at River Mill Park.

The nighttime fishing event is designed to draw attention to the ecological threat posed by northern snakeheads — an aggressive, non-native fish that has become a persistent problem along the Occoquan River. The event is open to licensed anglers and will focus exclusively on the catch and removal of the invasive species.

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Manassas

‘Greedy’ or ‘Overdue’? Manassas Salary Debate Now Heads to September

By Uriah Kiser

The Manassas City Council voted Monday night to delay a decision on a controversial proposal to raise council and mayoral salaries, setting a new vote for September 8 after a tense public hearing and divided council discussion.

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News

Teachers Union Calls on Manassas School Board to Create Safe Zone for Immigrant Students

By Uriah Kiser
Manassas Education Association President Anna Demeria (left) with Virginia State Senator Danica Roem.

The Manassas Education Association is calling on the city’s school board to adopt a Safe Zone policy to protect immigrant students and their families from potential immigration enforcement actions on school grounds.

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Prince William

Dumfries Hears From First-Ever Economic Development Authority Candidates

By Uriah Kiser

DUMFRIES, Va. – Dumfries Town Council heard from a group of community leaders, entrepreneurs, and development experts during its July 1, 2025, meeting — each vying for a seat on the town’s newly created Economic Development Authority (EDA).

The EDA, formally established in April by ordinance, will operate as an independent legal entity tasked with helping the town attract new businesses, support existing ones, and guide redevelopment along key corridors such as Main Street and the Quantico Creek waterfront. While the Council retains appointment power and oversight, the authority’s independence will allow it to pursue economic growth strategies more flexibly than town government alone.

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Prince William

Dumfries Approves Permit for Cultural Events at Outdoor Showplace

By Uriah Kiser
Dumfries Town Hall at 17739 Main Street in Dumfries.

DUMFRIES, Va. – The Dumfries Town Council reversed course and voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit (CUP) that will allow a local business to host cultural, entertainment, and community events on its property along Washington Street.

The business, Outdoor Showplace, is located at 17715 Washington Street, directly across from Dumfries Town Hall. Billed as the region’s largest fully custom landscape showroom, the two-acre property displays outdoor kitchens, fire pits, patios, water features, and more—giving customers the chance to walk through and experience sample backyard designs in a real-life setting.

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Stafford

Power Outage Affects Nearly 700 in Aquia Harbor, Restoration Expected Tonight

By Uriah Kiser

AQUIA HARBOUR, Va. – Nearly 700 residents in Aquia Harbor are without electricity this evening as Dominion Energy reports a power outage affecting 697 customers.

According to Dominion’s outage tracker, the disruption is due to a “circuit out.” The utility company estimates that power will be restored between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. tonight.

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Prince William

Court Ruling Draws Fire from Oak Valley HOA Over Ignored Citizen Input in Data Center Plan

By Uriah Kiser
Village Place Technology Park in Gainesville, approved by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in 2022

GAINESIVILLE Va. – The Oak Valley Homeowners Association is sharply criticizing a Virginia Court of Appeals decision that upholds the Prince William Board of County Supervisors’ approval of a controversial land use amendment—despite what residents say was a deliberate disregard for public input.

The July 22, 2025, ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Oak Valley HOA and neighboring property owners challenging the Board’s 2022 vote to adopt the Prince William Digital Gateway Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA). The amendment clears the way for thousands of acres in the county’s Rural Crescent to be developed into one of the largest data center corridors in the world, adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park.

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Prince William

Feds Find Prince William Schools in Violation of Title IX Over Gender Identity Policies

By Uriah Kiser
The Prince William County School Board 2024 to 2027. Top left to right: Erica Tredinnick, Justin Wilk, Dr. Babur Lateef, Lisa Zarapur, Tracy Blake. Bottom row: Jennifer Wall, Richard Jessie, Loree Williams. [Photo: Prince William County Public Schools]

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that the U.S. Department of Education has determined that Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is among five Northern Virginia school divisions found to be in violation of Title IX, a federal civil rights law, due to policies allowing students to access restrooms and participate in sports based on gender identity.

In a press release, Youngkin said the school divisions—Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William, and the City of Alexandria—“have been violating federal law, deliberately neglecting their responsibility to protect students’ safety, privacy and dignity, and ignoring parents’ rights.”

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg’s Summer Restaurant Week Kicks Off Friday (Today) —Here’s What to Expect

By Uriah Kiser
A view of Downtown Fredericksburg from above Hurkamp Park [Photo: Fredericksburg City]

Newcomers to this year’s lineup include Galvin’s Delicatessen, River’s End, FIVE Chophouse, and Tales & Tales Book Cafe—joining longtime favorites to offer everything from casual bites to upscale dining. The event is designed to highlight the city’s growing food scene while giving locals and visitors a chance to try something new at special prices.

Josh Summits, the city’s Director of Economic Development and Tourism, says the event is about more than just good food—it’s also a celebration of community and culinary creativity.

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