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!

Politics

Patrick Harders Joins Gainesville Supervisor Race

By Uriah Kiser
Harders

GAINESVILLE, Va. – Patrick Harders, a longtime Manassas area resident and founder of a regional outdoor lighting company, is running for Gainesville District Supervisor—and he’s entering a race already stirred by internal Republican friction and calls for leadership rooted in integrity.

Harders announced his candidacy Thursday, casting himself as a conservative voice for responsible growth, fiscal accountability, and transparency. He says he’s stepping up to continue the work of the late Supervisor Bob Weir, who died earlier this month and was known for his outspoken opposition to data center sprawl.

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Prince William

Prince William Supervisors Vote to Cut Meals Tax to 3%

By Uriah Kiser
A waitress at Dixie Bones BBQ in Woodbridge.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to lower the county’s meals tax from 4% to 3%, a move intended to relieve economic pressure on families and local restaurants. The change, passed on a 5–2 vote, will take effect January 1, 2026.

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Features

Riverside Center Plans Tighter Runs, Bigger Impact for 2026 Season

By Uriah Kiser

As Next to Normal prepares to close on August 3, the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is already looking ahead—unveiling the first details of its 2026 season, which promises to blend musical nostalgia, literary beauty, and patriotic charm.

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Prince William

Prince William Forest Park Restores Cabin Camp Landscape to Its Rustic Roots

By Uriah Kiser

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Visitors staying at Prince William Forest Park’s Cabin Camp 3 this summer may notice small white flags scattered throughout the wooded landscape. Far from surrender flags, these markers represent the park’s latest effort to restore its historic cabin camps to their original, rustic charm.

Park officials are launching a revegetation project aimed at allowing the surrounding forest to naturally reclaim open areas around the camp’s historic buildings, which date back to the 1930s. According to Superintendent George Liffert, the process involves reducing mowing and encouraging native vegetation to grow in, helping the camp feel once again nestled within the forest rather than carved out of it.

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Politics

Data Centers, Development, and Distrust: Gainesville District Politics Erupt Ahead of Special Election

By Uriah Kiser

Just hours after the Prince William Board of County Supervisors paid tribute to their late colleague Bob Weir, political tensions flared in the race to replace him.

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Poll

Falls Run or Hartwood? Take Our Poll on Stafford’s New High School Name

By Uriah Kiser
An aerial view of Stafford County's sixth high school under construction. [Photo: Stafford County Public Schools]

On August 26, 2025, the Stafford County School Board will vote to name High School 6, which is currently under construction and slated to open in the near future. The Board will also finalize the school’s mascot and colors at that time.

The two names under consideration are:

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Manassas

Exclusive: Manassas Detectives Stop $194K Wire Fraud Targeting Local Nonprofit

By Uriah Kiser

A quick-thinking team of detectives at the Manassas City Police Department prevented a local nonprofit from losing nearly $200,000 in a sophisticated email fraud scheme.

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Manassas

City Council Greenlights Nearly $1M for Manassas Airport Tower Design

By Uriah Kiser

MANASSAS, Va. — The Manassas City Council voted on July 28 to allocate $985,456 from the airport fund to continue the design of a new air traffic control tower at Manassas Regional Airport, bringing the city one step closer to preparing the facility for future commercial service.

According to Airport Director Juan Rivera, the funding will bring the current 45% design plan to full completion.

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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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