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!

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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Features

See The Sound of Music in Fredericksburg—with Manassas’ Own in the Spotlight

By Uriah Kiser
Glyptis

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – International opera and musical theater performer Kelly Glyptis is returning to her roots this month, starring as Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts.

Glyptis, who grew up in Manassas and graduated from what was then Stonewall Jackson Senior High School—now Unity-Reed High School—called the opportunity to perform back home “really special.” She previously toured with The Sound of Music in 2018 and now steps fully into the role for a limited run that begins August 20 and continues through October 26. Glyptis is scheduled to perform through October 6.

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Fredericksburg

A ‘Glorious’ Opening, Shadowed by Spending: Walker–Grant Middle School Begins a New Chapter in Fredericksburg

By Uriah Kiser

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Community leaders, educators, and descendants of historical figures gathered Wednesday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly built Walker–Grant Middle School, celebrating what many called the start of a new era in Fredericksburg education.

The former middle school at 1 Learning Lane, just off Route 1, will be repurposed as Gladys West Elementary School. 

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Features

Riverside Expands Concert Series with Motown, Rockabilly, Big Band, and More

By Uriah Kiser

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is tuning up for a year of music, nostalgia, and dance as it formally launches a new concert series featuring tributes to Motown, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra—with even more to come in 2026.

Artistic Director Patrick A’Hearn confirmed the lineup will bring a variety of genres to Riverside’s mainstage beginning in August, alongside a newly adopted strategy of shorter theatrical runs to make room for more live music.

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Prince William

Navy Vet George Stewart Enters Gainesville Supervisor Race as Democrat

By Uriah Kiser
Stewart

GAINESVILLE, Va. – The race to replace the late Bob Weir on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors just got more crowded. George T. Stewart, a Navy veteran and longtime community advocate, has officially entered the Gainesville District special election—and he’s joining the Democratic caucus.

Stewart, who lives in Gainesville, says he’s running to fight “unchecked” data center growth, support affordable housing, and preserve the area’s quality of life. With a background in finance and civic leadership—including work with Dominion Valley’s board and Democratic campaigns—he says it’s time for leadership that “puts people before profits.”

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Fredericksburg

AI’s Growing Power Bill: Why Northern Virginia May Face Hundreds of Hours Without Electricity

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

MANASSAS, Va. – Northern Virginia could face more than 400 hours of power outages a year by 2030, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Energy, raising alarms about the region’s ability to keep up with the explosive growth of artificial intelligence and data centers.

The report, released in July, highlights a significant imbalance: while demand from AI infrastructure and data centers is expected to surge by 50 gigawatts nationally, the U.S. is retiring 104 gigawatts of firm generation—like natural gas and coal plants—with only 22 gigawatts of firm replacement power planned. The gap puts pressure on the electric grid and raises the risk of prolonged outages across the country.

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Prince William

Prince William County Unveils Beautification Project in Potomac District

By Uriah Kiser
An aerial view of Route 1 in Dumfries, looking south. [Photo: Potomac Local News]

Prince William County officials recently unveiled a new beautification project in the Potomac District, focused on the area known as the Southern Gateway—stretching from Marine Corps Base Quantico through the Town of Quantico and north toward Dumfries.

North Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey, who serves as vice chair of the Board of County Supervisors, announced the project in a recent video, highlighting its emphasis on native landscaping, environmental awareness, and community pride.

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Manassas

Manassas Councilwoman Slams Proposed Pay Hike in Latest Podcast Update

By Uriah Kiser
Coates Ellis

Manassas Councilwoman Teresa Coates-Ellis says she was “surprised” and “frustrated” by a recent proposal to more than double the salaries of the city’s mayor and council members—an idea that drew heavy criticism from residents and prompted the council to delay a final vote until September.

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Schools

Stafford Schools Rolls Out SCOUT, a New Mobile Engagement Vehicle

By Uriah Kiser
[Photo: Stafford County Public Schools]

The event, held in the parking lot of Target at Stafford Marketplace, featured music, giveaways, children’s book readings, and the collection of filled Empower Packs—backpacks stocked with school supplies for students in need.

SCOUT, which stands for Strengthening Community through Outreach, Understanding, and Trust, was unveiled at 9 a.m. to applause and chants of “Roll out SCOUT!” led by School Board Chair Maureen Siegmund. The vehicle is designed to bring educational resources, enrollment help, wellness information, and support services directly into neighborhoods across Stafford County.

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