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!

Prince William

Court Ruling Draws Fire from Oak Valley HOA Over Ignored Citizen Input in Data Center Plan

By Uriah Kiser
Village Place Technology Park in Gainesville, approved by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in 2022

GAINESIVILLE Va. – The Oak Valley Homeowners Association is sharply criticizing a Virginia Court of Appeals decision that upholds the Prince William Board of County Supervisors’ approval of a controversial land use amendment—despite what residents say was a deliberate disregard for public input.

The July 22, 2025, ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Oak Valley HOA and neighboring property owners challenging the Board’s 2022 vote to adopt the Prince William Digital Gateway Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA). The amendment clears the way for thousands of acres in the county’s Rural Crescent to be developed into one of the largest data center corridors in the world, adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park.

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Prince William

Feds Find Prince William Schools in Violation of Title IX Over Gender Identity Policies

By Uriah Kiser
The Prince William County School Board 2024 to 2027. Top left to right: Erica Tredinnick, Justin Wilk, Dr. Babur Lateef, Lisa Zarapur, Tracy Blake. Bottom row: Jennifer Wall, Richard Jessie, Loree Williams. [Photo: Prince William County Public Schools]

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that the U.S. Department of Education has determined that Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is among five Northern Virginia school divisions found to be in violation of Title IX, a federal civil rights law, due to policies allowing students to access restrooms and participate in sports based on gender identity.

In a press release, Youngkin said the school divisions—Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William, and the City of Alexandria—“have been violating federal law, deliberately neglecting their responsibility to protect students’ safety, privacy and dignity, and ignoring parents’ rights.”

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg’s Summer Restaurant Week Kicks Off Friday (Today) —Here’s What to Expect

By Uriah Kiser
A view of Downtown Fredericksburg from above Hurkamp Park [Photo: Fredericksburg City]

Newcomers to this year’s lineup include Galvin’s Delicatessen, River’s End, FIVE Chophouse, and Tales & Tales Book Cafe—joining longtime favorites to offer everything from casual bites to upscale dining. The event is designed to highlight the city’s growing food scene while giving locals and visitors a chance to try something new at special prices.

Josh Summits, the city’s Director of Economic Development and Tourism, says the event is about more than just good food—it’s also a celebration of community and culinary creativity.

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Prince William

Dumfries Delays Vote to Name New Park After Luke and Clarice Torian

By Uriah Kiser
Torian

DUMFRIES, Va. – A proposal to name a new public park after Delegate Luke Torian (D-24, Prince William County) and his wife, Clarice, was removed from the July 1, 2025, Dumfries Town Council agenda — delaying what many community members hoped would be a celebratory vote.

The park, which sits atop the town’s former landfill site, is part of a major transformation that’s turning more than 80 acres of reclaimed land into a public green space overlooking Quantico Creek. The site is adjacent to the Rose Gaming Resort and represents one of the most visible symbols of the town’s revitalization.

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Prince William

Prince William Planning Commission Approves Battery Storage Facilities

By Uriah Kiser

The Prince William County Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve two new battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities—one on University Boulevard in Bristow and the other on Bethlehem Road near Manassas

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Prince William

Retired Prince William Police Major Kevin Hughart Dies After 36-Year Career in Law Enforcement

By Uriah Kiser
Hughart

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Retired Prince William County Police Major Kevin Hughart, a highly respected and decorated officer with a 36-year career in law enforcement, died Tuesday, July 23, 2025. He was surrounded by close family at the time of his passing, according to a statement released by the Prince William County Police Department.

Hughart joined the department in 1989 after serving four years in the U.S. Army with the elite 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.” He began his police career in Eastern District Operations as a patrol officer and later worked as an auto theft detective. Over the years, he rose steadily through the ranks, becoming a sergeant in 1998 and a major in 2014. He most recently served as the department’s Assistant Chief of Operations before retiring in May 2025.

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Features

Fredericksburg Set to Shine During FOX 5 Zip Trip Broadcast at Riverfront Park on July 25

By Uriah Kiser

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Fredericksburg will be in the spotlight Friday morning as FOX 5 DC’s Zip Trip morning show rolls into town for a live broadcast from Riverfront Park.

The show airs from 7 to 11 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025, and promises a festive, street-fair-style atmosphere. Residents, visitors, and fans of the FOX 5 news team are invited to gather along the Rappahannock River to meet the anchors, celebrate Fredericksburg’s community pride, and enjoy family-friendly fun.

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Manassas

New ‘PWC Hunger-Free Campaign Launches’ with Rally, Food Drive in Manassas

By Uriah Kiser
The Harris Pavilion will host dozens of events this summer. [Courtesy of the City of Manassas]

MANASSAS, Va. – A new coalition aimed at ending hunger in Prince William County will launch its first public initiative this weekend at a rally and food drive in Manassas.

The PWC Hunger Free Campaign Kickoff Rally and Food Drive will take place Sunday, July 27, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center Street. The event will feature speeches from local, state, and federal elected officials, kid-friendly activities, and a food collection drive to support local pantries during the summer months.

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Stafford

Eugene Loew Out as Stafford Parks Director After Four Months on the Job

By Uriah Kiser
Loew

STAFFORD, Va. – Eugene Loew is no longer employed as Stafford County’s Director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism—just four months after he started the job.

According to records obtained by Potomac Local News through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Loew was hired on March 10, 2025, at an annual salary of $175,011.20. His last day with the county was July 15, 2025.

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Stafford

What Took Stafford’s Fire Boat Out of Service for Weeks? It’s Finally Back

By Uriah Kiser

STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County’s primary fire boat is back in the water and ready to respond after a crash earlier this summer temporarily sidelined the vessel.

Potomac Local News has learned exclusively that the boat struck an underwater object on July 4 while members of the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department were conducting routine training and patrol near the boat ramp at Widewater State Park.

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