Uriah Kiser, Author at Potomac Local News

Manassas declares a local state of emergency in wake of cornavirus

Published March 17, 2020 at 4:49PM

Manassas City Hall at 9027 Center Street.

Manassas City is now under a local state of emergency in response to the spread of Chinese coronavirus.

The declaration comes as officials in neighboring jurisdictions Fredericksburg, and in Prince William, and Stafford counties made identical declarations yesterday.

News

Habitat for Humanity Prince William County scales back, keeps ReStores open

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 17, 2020 at 3:45PM

We’re hearing from Habitat for Humanity Prince William County, which is scaling back some of its operations in the wake of the Chinese coronavirus.

Director Traci DeGroat pens in an email:

Occoquan mayor pushes for financial relief for small businesses affected by coronavirus

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 17, 2020 at 3:37PM

Occoquan officials plan to hold a scheduled town hall meeting tonight, Tuesday, March 17, according to a statement from town mayor Earnie Porta.

Seating inside the town hall will be limited. The town does not provide a streaming option for residents to listen to and/or watch the meeting in real-time.

Schools

George Mason students to attend online classes for rest of semester, commencement rescheduled

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 16, 2020 at 10:47PM

George Mason University President Anne Holton today made an extraordinary decree: None of the university’s students would return for the remainder of the semester due to the Chinese coronavirus.

This late-breaking information comes to us in an email sent to students from Holton:

Traffic

VRE ridership declines in wake of coronavirus, schedule changes announced

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 16, 2020 at 4:31PM

Commuters should take note of some upcoming changes in the modes of transportation that get them to and from work.

Virginia Railway Express tells us that an increasing number of area businesses and government agencies are encouraging or mandating telework for its employees to help contain the spread of the Chinese coronavirus.

News

Manassas police suspend fingerprinting service

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 16, 2020 at 4:06PM

The ink will have time to dry at the Manassas police station.

City police announced they temporarily stop fingerprinting services at the station.

Originals

Prince William declares state of emergency, now has 3 coronavirus cases

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 16, 2020 at 1:14PM | Updated March 16, 2020 at 5:03PM

Prince William County Executive Christopher Martino

As of noon today, Prince William County and her residents are living under a state of emergency.

County Executive Chris Martino signed a Declaration of Local State of Emergency for Prince William County in response to the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control to limit crowds of people to 50 or less to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the COVID-19 virus that originated from Wuhan, China.

News

Coronavirus detected in Stafford, emergencies declared in county, Fredericksburg

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 16, 2020 at 12:36PM

Stafford County has its first case of coronavirus.

Wendi Lane, a health emergency Coordinator for the Rappahannock Area Health District says one person in Stafford County was a presumptive positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

Originals

Coronavirus in Prince William, changes to local government operations

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 14, 2020 at 6:25AM

Prince Wiliam County is making several changes in the wake of the coronavirus spread to the county.

At least one Prince William County resident has tested positive for the virus, the Virginia Health Department reports:

News

Statewide school shutdown | Fredericksburg aims to partner with businesses to provide wi-fi

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 14, 2020 at 5:51AM

Public school students in Fredericksburg are on spring break this week, along with faculty and staff.

The break started yesterday, Friday, March 12, 2020, and is slated to end on Friday, March 19. Students, however, won’t be returning to school as originally planned after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam yesterday ordered a mandatory shutdown of schools across the state.