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!

Schools

NOVEC Accepting Scholarship Applications for High School Seniors

By Uriah Kiser

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) is accepting applications for its college scholarship program. High school seniors whose families receive NOVEC service in Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford counties, as well as the City of Manassas Park, are eligible to apply.

Students from public, private, or home schools must submit applications by April 1. Scholarship recipients will receive $1,500 and are automatically eligible for an additional $3,500 J. Manley Garber Scholarship, awarded to the most outstanding applicant.

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News

Education, Not Slot Machines: Lateef’s Plan to Fund Virginia’s Future

By Uriah Kiser

Dr. Babur Lateef, Chairman At-Large of the Prince William County School Board, has entered the race for Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, positioning himself as an education-focused candidate in a crowded Democratic primary. With years of experience overseeing Virginia’s second-largest school division, Lateef brings a track record of pushing for increased teacher pay, improved graduation rates, and infrastructure investments—all issues he hopes to prioritize at the state level.

An Education-First Platform

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News

Haymarket Town Council to Hold Meeting Tonight, Discuss Key Town Updates

By Uriah Kiser

The Haymarket Town Council is set to meet tonight, Monday, February 3, 2025, at 7 p.m. to receive an update from the town manager on several ongoing projects and initiatives. The meeting will occur at the Council Chambers, located at 15000 Washington St., Suite 100, in Haymarket.

Among the key topics on the agenda, town officials will discuss:

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Manassas

Manassas Notes: ARTfactory Wins Big at DC Broadway World Awards, Birmingham Green Welcomes New Leader

By Uriah Kiser
The ARTfactory at 9419 Battle Street in Manassas.

Several ARTfactory theatre productions and individuals were named “Best Of” in the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, with winners announced on January 16.

ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now known as Actors Theatre, secured seven awards in the non-professional category. Notable accolades include:

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News

Stafford County Public Schools Hosts Health and Wellness Fair at Colonial Forge High School

By Uriah Kiser
Hands-on CPR demonstration

On Saturday, February 1, 2024, Stafford County Public Schools hosted its highly anticipated Health and Wellness Fair at Colonial Forge High School, drawing hundreds of community members to participate in a day filled with activities, demonstrations, and fun.

The fair offered attendees a variety of informative experiences, including CPR and “Stop the Bleeding” demonstrations. Participants had the opportunity to engage in hands-on training, learning critical life-saving techniques. One popular demonstration involved a “Stop the Bleed” course, where attendees practiced applying pressure and gauze to a simulated wound, preparing them to respond effectively in an emergency situation.

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Originals

Stafford County Animal Shelter Suspends Dog Adoptions Due to Parvovirus Outbreak

By Uriah Kiser

Stafford County Animal Shelter has announced that it will suspend all dog adoptions and viewings until at least February 15, 2025, due to a confirmed Parvovirus outbreak. One of the shelter’s dogs tested positive for the virus, leading to the closure of the adoption floor for 14 days.

Additionally, all surrender appointments will be rescheduled. The shelter’s top priority remains the safety of its animals, and they are working diligently to contain the virus. The public’s understanding and support during this time are greatly appreciated.

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Publisher's Post

Survey Results Are Incredibly Insightful

By Uriah Kiser
Kiser

I’m thrilled by the responses we’ve received from the reader survey we sent out on Sunday asking for your thoughts on our newsletter. The feedback has been incredible, and some of the numbers humble me.

A remarkable 70% of you have made our daily newsletter a regular part of your routine, and over half of you are “very satisfied” with it. Plus, more than half of you find the content highly relevant to your lives.

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Publisher's Post

Our Newsletter Is Growing – Here’s How You Can Help Us Improve

By Uriah Kiser

Since August 2024, Potomac Local News has seen significant growth in our email newsletter readership, with our audience expanding from 14,747 subscribers in August to 18,252 subscribers in February 2025. This growth highlights the increasing value of our content, and we’re thrilled to see more readers engaging with our daily updates.

Our newsletter performance has been strong, with impressive open rates and engagement. In January 2025, our newsletter reached over 758,000 subscribers, achieving an open rate of 29.3%, with more than 227,000 readers opening the newsletter. This follows a trend of consistent growth, as seen in previous months, with strong open rates in December and November 2024.

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Weather

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, handlers say, predicting 6 more weeks of wintry weather

By Uriah Kiser

Phil was welcomed with chants of “Phil, Phil, Phil,” and pulled from a hatch on his tree stump shortly after sunrise before a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club read from a scroll in which he boasted: “Only I know — you can’t trust A.I.”

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News

House Roof Collapses as Fire Crews Work to Douse Blaze

By Uriah Kiser

Press release:

At approximately 2:45 P.M. on Saturday, February 1st, units with Stafford County Fire and Rescue (SCFR) responded to a reported structure fire in the 100 block of Aquia Creek Road, near Aquia Creek. Callers reported a neighboring residence on fire, and first arriving units marked the scene less than 10 minutes later and confirmed fire and smoke coming from the rear and roof of a single-family residence.

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