Uriah Kiser, Author at Potomac Local News

Podcast: OmniRide’s rebranding, and its future growing beyond transit buses

Published May 4, 2018 at 10:48AM

In this episode of the Potomac Local Podcast, I talk with OmniRide Executive Director Bob Schneider about the transit agency’s new look, how it is overcoming internal struggles in its organization, and a new service that will operate more like Uber than a transit bus.

We recorded this podcast at the OmniRide Transit Center, home of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission in Woodbridge, on Monday, April 30, 2018.

News

Property assessments lower than city leaders hoped, and a school funding promise is driving a higher Manassas tax rate

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 3, 2018 at 10:06PM | Updated June 7, 2018 at 12:35PM

MANASSAS — The proposed rate in the fiscal year 2019 Manassas budget is about 2.6 percent higher than last year.

That means residents and business will most likely be paying more next year once the city council approves the budget May 14.

News

Manassas city pride license plates narrowed down to two designs

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 3, 2018 at 9:21PM

MANASSAS — As Manassas officials search for a design that could grace the city’s first licenses plate, it’s down to two designs.

City officials took a private vote on the designs they liked and narrowed the designs down to two:

News

Taxes going up in Stafford, and teachers on track to get raises

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 3, 2018 at 5:05PM | Updated May 4, 2018 at 10:04AM

STAFFORD — The Board of Supervisors is prepared to fund a cost-of-living raise for Stafford County teachers — something they’ve wanted for a long time.

“Our schools are hemorrhaging people, from teachers to paraprofessionals, to bus drivers,” said George Washington District Supervisor Tom Coen, who works as a history teacher at Stafford High School.

Business

At Tang’s Alterations, the art of wearing the clothes is part of the deal

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 2, 2018 at 11:04PM | Updated March 30, 2023 at 11:12PM

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News

Corey Stewart and his one-time opponent, now interim Chairman of the Prince William School Board, agree on something: More cops in elementary schools

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 2, 2018 at 5:35PM

Lateef

Dr. Babur Lateef, the newly appointed Prince William County School Board Chairman, says a plan funded by the county’s Board of Supervisors to put five armed community safety officers in elementary schools is a good idea.

“I fully support the pilot program. I believe it is another layer of security we can provide on a system that has multiple layers already. I look forward to the implementation of the program and the ultimate results. I think this program is a good example of community agencies, elected officials and community stakeholders working together to address serious concerns of the public,” Lateef states in an email to Potomac Local.

Business

If you’ve been to Farmville recently you might be familiar with the hotel that will be built at the Landing at Cannon Branch in Manassas

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 2, 2018 at 3:50PM | Updated May 3, 2018 at 10:41AM

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News

Wood wins Dumfries: The results from Tuesday’s town elections in Prince William County

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 1, 2018 at 9:33PM | Updated May 1, 2018 at 11:25PM

Wood

DUMFRIES — Derrick Wood will be the next Dumfries mayor.

He beat his opponent Cliff Brewer by more than 46 points in Tuesday’s town election. Wood will replace Mayor Gerald Foreman who did not seek re-election after serving two terms as mayor, as well as a term on the town council before he was elected Mayor in 2012.

News

Impending Quantico Corporate Center property auction concerns Stafford leaders

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 1, 2018 at 3:49PM

Quantico Corporate Center off U.S. 1 in Boswell's Corner. (Photo:Mary Davidson/PotomacLocal.com)

STAFFORD — Stafford County officials are closely watching a land auction at Quantico Corporate Center.

Four commercial properties zoned for office space were supposed to have been auctioned to the highest bidder on April 20, but a title issue with one the properties forced the auction’s postponement.

Podcast

Podcast: Manassas goes from ‘investing’ to ‘maintaining’ in this year’s city budget

By Uriah Kiser

Published May 1, 2018 at 1:54PM

Last year, Manassas City officials passed a budget that increased the average real estate tax bill by an average of $198. It was called an “investing year” as the budget included multiple capital improvement projects that included the construction of a new police public safety center, a new fire station, and funding for a project that would remake Grant Avenue — once a main entrance to the city prior to the construction of Prince William Parkway in the 1990s.

This year’s budget process is about “maintaining” the funding the city council committed to funding last year. And, that means city residents are on the hook to pay about $60 more per year on their real estate tax on average.