Uriah Kiser, Author at Potomac Local News

Survey Results Are Incredibly Insightful

Published February 3, 2025 at 7:52AM

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.

Publisher's Post

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

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 2, 2025 at 11:06AM

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.

Weather

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

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 2, 2025 at 8:23AM

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.”

News

House Roof Collapses as Fire Crews Work to Douse Blaze

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 2, 2025 at 8:20AM | Updated February 13, 2025 at 10:26AM

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.

News

Data from the deadliest U.S. air accident in a generation show conflicting altitude readings

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 2, 2025 at 8:16AM

Pets

Meet Echo: An Adorable Pup Looking for His Forever Home

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 31, 2025 at 3:24PM

Looking for a new best friend? Meet Echo, a 3-4-month-old pup full of love, energy, and curiosity. This little guy, possibly a Boxer mix, is still finding his voice, but one thing is clear—he’s all about cuddles and playtime.

Echo is working hard on potty training, though he still thinks “inside or outside?” is more of a suggestion than a rule. He’s curious about cats, does well with other dogs, and is eager to find a loving family. However, a meet-and-greet is required to ensure a good fit.

Manassas

Manassas Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison; Sex Trafficking a Child

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 31, 2025 at 3:20PM | Updated February 13, 2025 at 10:26AM

A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children.

According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car.

Health

Is Bird Flu a Threat to Humans? UVA Expert Explains

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 31, 2025 at 3:14PM | Updated February 13, 2025 at 10:49AM

UVA Prince William Medical Center in Manassas.

As bird flu cases continue to rise in the U.S., UVA Health infectious diseases expert Dr. Patrick Jackson provided insights into the latest developments and potential risks during a media briefing. With over 60 confirmed human cases nationwide and recent detections in birds across Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, concerns about the virus’s spread have resurfaced.

Jackson reassured the public that while the presence of bird flu in Virginia is noteworthy, it does not significantly change the risk level for humans. “We’ve known for a long time that H5N1 influenza, in its current strain, is widely distributed in wild bird populations,” he said. “The fact that it’s been detected in poultry operations in Virginia was something we expected to happen sooner or later.”

News

Stafford County School Bus Delays Due to Staffing Shortages

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 31, 2025 at 2:47PM | Updated February 13, 2025 at 10:49AM

Due to an unforeseen number of staff absences, Stafford County Public Schools is experiencing bus delays this afternoon.

Several schools are being significantly impacted by delays, including North Stafford High, Brooke Point High, and Colonial Forge High, which have reported delays ranging from 15 to 45 minutes. The elementary and middle schools, such as Garrisonville Elementary and Stafford Middle, are also experiencing delays, particularly for routes that have been combined or affected by traffic.

News

Fatal Crash in Nokesville and Bomb Threat on Stafford School Bus Under Investigation

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 31, 2025 at 2:39PM

[Photo: Alan Gloss]

A fatal crash in Nokesville on January 30 has left one man dead and another injured, according to the Prince William County Police Department. The incident occurred at approximately 3:28 p.m. at the intersection of Aden Road and Parkgate Drive.

Authorities report that the driver of a 2008 Nissan Titan, identified as 29-year-old David Joseph Russell Callen of Manassas, was traveling southbound on Aden Rd at a high rate of speed. The Titan crossed into oncoming traffic, colliding with a 2022 Subaru Outback heading in the opposite direction. The force of the collision caused the Titan to leave the roadway, rolling several times before coming to a stop on its roof.