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!

Manassas

Ross Snare Resigns as Chairman of Manassas Regional Airport Commission

By Uriah Kiser
Snare

Ross Snare has resigned as Chairman of the Manassas Regional Airport Commission, effective Monday, October 21, 2024. His departure comes amid unverified allegations involving disparaging remarks about a city council member, adding fuel to an already heated local election season.

Snare, a Prince William County resident, was appointed to the commission by the Manassas City Council in 2018 and reappointed in 2022. He made history in June 2023 by becoming the youngest and first county Prince William County resident to serve as Chairman. During his tenure, Snare played a pivotal role in the airport’s efforts to introduce commercial flights, a milestone now expected to be achieved in 2026, a year behind the initial schedule.

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News

Three Stafford Schools Face Accreditation Challenges Amid Performance Issues: District Prepares for State’s New Accountability System

By Uriah Kiser
Brooke Point High School [Photo: PTSO Facebook page]

Accreditation with Conditions Explained

During the October 8, 2024, Stafford School Board meeting, officials explained accreditation with conditions signals that while a school meets basic operational standards, it has significant shortcomings in academic performance that need to be addressed. These three schools earned a “Level 3” rating in at least one performance area, indicating performance “below standard.” According to Virginia’s accreditation system, schools at this level need targeted interventions.

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Fredericksburg

VRE Ridership Increases Slightly as System Adjusts to the ‘New Normal’

By Uriah Kiser

As the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) heads into 2025, its proposed budget reflects its challenges and opportunities in a post-COVID world. The budget discussed at the October 18, 2024, Operations Board meeting outlines plans to support ridership recovery, maintain reliable service, and position VRE for future growth as a regional rail provider.

VRE, like many public transit systems, saw a significant decline in ridership during the pandemic. However, the 2025 budget aims to address passengers’ slow but steady recovery by investing in enhanced service offerings and critical infrastructure projects. These efforts are intended to transform VRE from a commuter-focused system to a broader regional transportation network.

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Breaking News

Police Converge on Manassas Home

By Uriah Kiser

Update, Tuesday, October 22, 2024 —

On October 21, 2024, at 2:29 p.m., the Manassas City Police Department received a 911 call stating that a person had been shot in a residence located in the 9200 block of Brinkley Lane in Manassas. Police responded and found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel also responded to the residence and pronounced him dead on the scene. Read more.

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News

House Explosion: Dog Rescue from Debris 5 Days Later

By Uriah Kiser

From Prince William fire and rescue:

The family dog has been rescued. Earlier this morning, units were dispatched back to the scene of last week’s horrific house explosion for a report of a barking dog in the debris. Crews arrived to hear the dog under a portion of the collapsed structure. Firefighters were able to free the animal after about 20 minutes of deploying structure collapse stabilization shoring techniques and some good old coaxing by the home’s owner. She appeared to be in good shape and showed her happiness of being freed by rapid tail wagging.

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News

Quantico Station to Celebrate Major Upgrades with November Ribbon Cutting

By Uriah Kiser
A Virginia Railway Express train pulls into the Fredericksburg train station. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/PLN]

During the October 18, 2024, VRE Operations Board meeting, it was announced that invitations have been sent out for the event, with all necessary travel details, including train schedules, provided to ensure smooth participation. The excitement surrounding the completion of these upgrades was evident, with board members and VRE staff expressing their enthusiasm for what the improvements will mean for the station and the surrounding community.

“I’m very excited about the upcoming ribbon-cutting at Quantico. This project has been in the works for quite some time, and we’re thrilled to see it finally come to fruition,” said Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey, who sits on the VRE Operations Board.

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News

Metal Detectors: Prince William County Schools See Dramatic Drop in Weapons on Campus 

By Uriah Kiser

Prince William County Schools (PWCS) continues to focus on student and staff safety with a comprehensive security approach that blends advanced technology, leadership development, and a new Security Operations Center.

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Manassas

Nearly 1,800 Lose Power in Manassas

By Uriah Kiser
[Photo: American Public Power Association/Unsplash]

Nearly 1,800 customers were affected by a power outage that struck just before 10 a.m. on Friday, October 18, 2024, impacting residents and businesses across several areas, including Farmington Court, Hasting Drive, and Nantucket Court.

Crews are currently working to repair two underground connections that caused the outage. As of the latest update, power has been restored to the majority of affected customers, but 37 homes and businesses remain without electricity. Officials expect power to be fully restored within one to two hours as crews continue to make repairs.

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Manassas

Inside the Decline: What’s Happening in Manassas City Schools?

By Uriah Kiser

We just wrapped up an important discussion on the state of Manassas City Public Schools in our latest podcast episode, featuring insights from local education leaders and school board candidates. This special forum covered pressing issues facing our schools and presented diverse perspectives on how we can collectively move forward.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Robyn Williams, an eight-year school board member now running for City Council, and Caitlyn Meisner, our dedicated local editor covering Manassas City Public Schools since 2023. Several candidates endorsed by the city’s Republican committee, running for four open school board seats, also joined the discussion, including Allie Forkell, Javanese Hailey, Dayna Jackson-Miles, and Maidy Whitesell.

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