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!

Press Release

Girlfriend’s Taphouse Opens in North Stafford with Comfort, Class, and a Killer Porterhouse

By Uriah Kiser

A familiar spot on Garrisonville Road has a fresh new vibe, a new name, and a menu worth talking about.

Girlfriend’s Taphouse opened its doors Friday, March 29, 2024, at 225 Garrisonville Road, in the space formerly occupied by Fatty’s Taphouse. General Manager Robert Shaw, along with partners Jen and Joe, completely reimagined the space — investing more than $200,000 into a full renovation that includes everything from new floors to fresh fixtures.

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Features

Goat Yoga, Raptors, and Riverfront Fun: Fredericksburg Gears Up for Earth Day Festival at Old Mill Park

By Uriah Kiser

One of Fredericksburg’s most popular parks will transform into an eco-celebration zone on Saturday, April 26, as the city hosts its annual Earth Day Festival at Old Mill Park.

Now in its 20th year, the festival draws thousands of attendees and celebrates environmental awareness through hands-on activities, live entertainment, and eco-friendly vendors.

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Fredericksburg

Youngkin Touts Virginia’s 250,000 Job Openings at Stafford Tech Firm

By Uriah Kiser
SimVentions President Joe Caliri said the company currently has nearly job openings.

Governor Glenn Youngkin visited Stafford County on Friday, highlighting more than 250,000 open jobs across Virginia—even as concerns mount over federal job cuts. Speaking at SimVentions, an engineering and technology services firm in Stafford, Youngkin told the crowd, “Virginia has jobs. Lots of jobs.”

The event, hosted at SimVentions’ headquarters, was organized with the help of State Senator Tara Durant (R-28, Fredericksburg, Stafford), who said the initiative behind the state’s jobs rollout has been years in the making.

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Press Release

Youngkin Blasts Local Leaders on Immigration Policy After MS-13 Arrest

By Uriah Kiser
SimVentions President Joe Claire and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) in Stafford County.

Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) visited Stafford County today, urging Northern Virginia officials to reinstate cooperation with federal immigration authorities following the high-profile arrest of a suspected MS-13 gang leader in Dale City.

“It is not rocking the boat. It’s collaborating to keep communities safe,” Youngkin said, referencing renewed calls from residents to restore Prince William County’s participation in the controversial 287(g) program. The program allows local jail officers to identify and refer undocumented immigrants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for possible removal.

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Manassas

Manassas School Board Honors Top Spellers, Musicians, and First-Ever Debate Team

By Uriah Kiser

It was a night of celebration at the Manassas School Board meeting as students from across the city were recognized for excellence in academics, fine arts, and public speaking.

The evening opened with a standing ovation for this year’s Spelling Bee champions, including Charlotte Vargas, an eighth-grader at Metz Middle School, who emerged as the division champion.

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Fredericksburg

FredNats to Celebrate 2024 Carolina League Championship with Ring Ceremony at Riverfront Park

By Uriah Kiser
(Photo | Facebook: Fredericksburg Nationals)

Fredericksburg is getting ready to paint the town red, white, and blue to honor its hometown heroes—the Fredericksburg Nationals—after their 2024 Carolina League Championship victory.

Fans are invited to join the Carolina League Championship Celebration and Ring Ceremony on Monday, April 7, at noon at Riverfront Park in downtown Fredericksburg. The event will honor the FredNats’ thrilling 2024 season and their second league title since the team’s arrival in the city.

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Breaking News

Sprinkler System Prevents Major Damage in Woodbridge Townhouse Fire

By Uriah Kiser

A fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon in a Woodbridge townhouse could have turned into a devastating incident—but thanks to a working sprinkler system, it was largely brought under control before it could spread.

At around 4 p.m. on March 26, 2025, fire and rescue crews were dispatched to the 14700 block of Mason Creek Circle, near Potomac Library on Opitz Boulevard, for reports of a townhouse fire. When units arrived, they found a fire at the rear of a set of double-stacked townhomes, with flames stretching from the ground level up to the attic.

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Breaking News

Crash Closes Portion of Route 610 in Stafford County

By Uriah Kiser

On Thursday afternoon, a single-vehicle crash brought down power lines and shut down a heavily traveled portion of Route 610 (Garrisonville Road).

According to Stafford County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ryan Wilbur, the crash occurred in the 1200 block of Garrisonville Road, between Tech Parkway—near the WaWa gas station—and Joshua Road, by a Tractor Supply store.

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Breaking News

MS-13 Gang Leader Arrested in Prince William County; Officials Say Suspect Tied to East Coast Criminal Activity

By Uriah Kiser
[Scott Rodgerson/Unsplash]

While officials provided few details about the suspect — whose name has not been released — U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erick Siebert said the individual was involved in gang-related criminal activity along the East Coast. The arrest is the latest in an ongoing effort to target violent gang members with suspected immigration violations.

“This arrest stems from a task force we launched on March 3, 2025, to identify and apprehend individuals in the country illegally who are involved in criminal enterprises,” said Siebert. “We are using an intelligence-based model to locate and arrest suspects.”

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Manassas

Manassas Council Voices Support for Competitive Teacher Pay Amid Budget Constraints

By Uriah Kiser

Members of the Manassas City Council voiced support for efforts to keep teacher pay competitive with neighboring Prince William County Schools during a joint meeting with the city’s School Board on March 26, 2025—even as the city faces tighter fiscal limitations and a far smaller student population.

The meeting came one day after the School Board adopted its overall budget for the next fiscal year on March 25, which includes $60.9 million in funding for Manassas City Public Schools. While the budget already includes a 5.5% average pay raise for all school employees, School Board members said an additional $1.7 million would allow them to offer a 7% increase—matching the raise announced by Prince William County Schools.

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