Uriah Kiser, Author at Potomac Local News

Tourism spending increases in Manassas as downtown, battlefield draw visitors

Published October 2, 2020 at 4:04PM

Downtown Manassas

More travelers are visiting Manassas.

New data released by the United States Travel Association shows all regions in Virginia saw an increase in tourism activity last year. Manassas continued its trend of annual gains for the 10th consecutive year with expenditures reaching $74.6 million, a 2.6% increase from 2018.

Schools

Parents, students organize to push Prince William for return to in-person classes

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 2, 2020 at 3:56PM

A group of Prince William County School parents, teachers, and students have joined forces to push Prince William County School Board members to hear their request for in-person learning at the start of the second quarter of the academic year, which begins on November 4.

Organizers are asking parents and students who want the option to send their children back to school with at least the 50/50 hybrid model, to rally at the following events:

Prince William

Judge exempts private messages between school superintendent, students

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 2, 2020 at 1:40PM

Prince William Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Walts.

A Prince William Circuit Court judge today dismissed a lawsuit filed by former School Prince William County School Board Chairman At-large Ryan Sawyers, against the Prince William School Board that sought the disclosure of more than 20,000 direct messages sent to and from schools superintendent Dr. Steven L. Walts, on his official school division Twitter account.

Following a hearing and her review of the direct messages, Prince William Circuit Judge Kimberly A. Irving held that the messages were “clearly exempted” from mandatory disclosure under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act because they were communications of the chief executive officer of the School Board, said school division spokeswoman Diana Gulotta.

News

Number of homes planned for mid-county rural area reduced

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 1, 2020 at 4:29PM | Updated October 2, 2020 at 11:23AM

The developer of a long-debated planned residential neighborhood centered on 340 acres of land has reduced the number of homes it wants to build.

The Preserve at Long Branch, formerly the Mid County Park and Estate Homes, would now have single-family homes on 102 ~~quarter-acre sized~~ lots, sized between one and four acres, down from the original 118. The project site in the center of Prince William County and residents would use both Classic Springs Way, off Bristow Road, and Classic Springs Drive, off Route 234 to access to the site.

Originals

ICE shifts focus to neighborhoods to arrest suspected illegals

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 1, 2020 at 11:12AM

Federal officials have fanned out into area neighborhoods in search of people who are suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.

The change in enforcement tactics comes as Prince William County ended its relationship with federal Immigrations and Customs authorities in June. Under the old 297(g) agreement that had been in place since 2007, customs officials were notified when a suspect with a federal detainer to their name was released from the Prince William County Adult Detention Center in Manassas.

Features

Fire prevention week: Most blazes caused by food on stove

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 1, 2020 at 9:34AM

The Prince William County Fire & Rescue System is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association the sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years—to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”

The campaign, which runs October 4 to 10, educates the public about cooking hazards and how one can take small, yet important actions to prevent cooking-related fires — the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

News

Utility truck struck during vehicle pursuit

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 30, 2020 at 4:57PM

A the driver of a car being pursued by law enforcement slammed into a power truck before being arrested. [Photo: Stafford sheriff's office]

A vehicle pursuit ended in Prince William County with an arrest and multiple charges.

A Stafford sheriff’s deputy tried to stop a Hyundai Sonata on Interstate 95 on Tuesday, September 29 at 1:53 p.m.

Prince William

2 shot in Woodbridge on Tuesday night

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 30, 2020 at 4:45PM

A man was shot while sitting inside a home in Woodbridge.

Police were called at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 29 to a home in the 13400 block of Greenacre Drive in the Marumsco Village section of Woodbridge to investigate a report of shots fired.

News

Leaders push to retool $2 million daycare plan

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 30, 2020 at 2:46PM | Updated September 30, 2020 at 5:00PM

John D. Jenkins Elementary School.

Prince William leaders are considering using $2 million in federal coronavirus aid awarded to the county to help residents pay for daycare.

The money comes from the CARES Act and had been earmarked by the local government to be granted to small businesses in an effort to help them recover from the coronavirus pandemic. However, county employees and some residents have said they need help paying for childcare now that public schools are back in session.

Publisher's Post

Our social dilemma: Is Facebook worth it?

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 30, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated September 30, 2020 at 12:27PM

Potomac Local News President Publisher Uriah Kiser

I just finished watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix.

I know Facebook is an avenue for people to find our news. Hell, I relied on it to practically build my business — especially 10 years ago, in the early days.