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

Double Whammy: Manassas Hit by Back-to-Back Power Outages as Dominion Feed Fails Again

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

Just days after Dominion Energy’s feed failure darkened large sections of Manassas, a separate power outage hit the city’s downtown area early Wednesday, October 16 — this time caused by a blown manhole inside the city’s own distribution system.

City spokesman Jeremy Beale said the incident was unrelated to the Dominion outage on October 11, which knocked out the Battery Heights and Prince William substations and affected about 6,000 customers.

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Newslinks

Popular Merrifield Garden Center to close after selling for data centers

By Uriah Kiser

Prince William Times – The upcoming holiday season will be the last for Merrifield Garden Center, the Gainesville nursery known for its live Christmas trees and extensive holiday decor.

Its owners sold the 38-acre store site to a data center developer for a whopping $160 million.

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Breaking News

Shooting at Wellington Station Shopping Center leaves 1 injured

By Uriah Kiser

A man was shot Friday morning at the Wellington Station Shopping Center in Manassas, prompting a swift police response. Officers arrived around 9:10 a.m. and found the victim with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital and is now in stable condition.

The suspect, who police say is related to the victim, fled the scene but was taken into custody within 20 minutes. Investigators say the incident was isolated, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg and Prince William County to host government job fairs this October

By Uriah Kiser

Job seekers will have two chances this month to connect with local government employers in Fredericksburg and Prince William County.

Job seekers can apply on-site and learn about career development programs. Pre-registration is encouraged via the city’s online form.

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Newslinks

Threats against School Board, Combative Signage Raise Tensions

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Martin Davis, FXBG Advance (used with permission)

The Fredericksburg Advance – A spate of violent language has captured the headlines across the state and nation over the past two weeks. This week, that language landed in Spotsylvania.

Concerns about violent language in politics have become hot topics in recent weeks in Virginia and across the country.

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Health

Sentara to host free drive-thru flu shot clinic in Woodbridge

By Uriah Kiser
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical center sits at 2300 Opitz Boulevard in Woodbridge.

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center will offer free flu shots during a drive-thru event on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The clinic will take place in the hospital’s main parking lot at 2300 Opitz Boulevard in Woodbridge. Adults 18 and older can receive their flu shot without leaving their vehicles.

The event runs rain or shine and is first-come, first-served while supplies last. No appointment is necessary. Sentara staff will be on-site to provide both standard flu vaccines and a limited number of Fluad high-dose shots for seniors age 65 and older.

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Fredericksburg

From Airlie to Kalahari: Hospitality Leaders Take the Reins in Expanded VRLTA Chapter

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association

The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA) has expanded its Bull Run Chapter to include Spotsylvania County, the City of Fredericksburg, the City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park — strengthening the group’s presence across the I-95 and Route 28 corridors.

The Bull Run Chapter, which represents restaurant, lodging, and tourism businesses in Northern Virginia, now spans some of the region’s fastest-growing communities. VRLTA says the move will help hospitality professionals connect, collaborate, and advocate more effectively on issues affecting their industry.

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Newslinks

‘It has not been civil:’ Tensions high in Fredericksburg area ahead of Election Day

By Uriah Kiser
A vandalized campaign sign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger stands along Route 17 near Poplar Road in Stafford County on Friday, September 19, 2025. The words “Remember Charlie” were spray-painted in red across the sign, referencing slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Fredericksburg Free Press – Four years ago, when the Virginia General Assembly voted to instruct all localities to hold elections in November, officials in Fredericksburg had a decision to make.

Where the city had previously held its local elections in May, leaders found themselves tasked with choosing between November of even or odd-numbered years moving forward.

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Manassas

Class Act! Manassas Launches $2 Million Fix for Failing Grades

By Uriah Kiser
[Photo: Manassas City Public Schools]

The Manassas City School Board heard its first full update Tuesday night on Manassas Pathways, a $2 million alternative education program set to open in January 2026 for students who need a nontraditional path to graduation.

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Prince William

Supervisors split over the future of Prince William’s data center zone

By Uriah Kiser

After nearly a decade of courting data centers as a cornerstone of its commercial tax base, Prince William County is signaling a major shift. Supervisors say the county has reached a saturation point—where growth, power demand, and community impact are outweighing the once-unquestioned financial rewards.

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