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Sears to Visit Prince William School Board After Arlington Appearance Sparks Viral Controversy

Published September 3, 2025 at 2:49PM

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears addresses the crowd at the Lincoln Reagan Dinner in Manassas, laying out her 2025 gubernatorial campaign priorities. [Photo: Alan Gloss]

MANASSAS, Va. – Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle‑Sears is headed to the Prince William County School Board meeting tonight, following a now-infamous appearance in Arlington that triggered a national firestorm and sparked bipartisan backlash.

Sears will appear alongside her lieutenant governor running mate, John Reid, national Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich, and the group’s Prince William County chapter chair. The group plans a press conference and rally at 6:15 p.m. outside the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center at Independent Hill, before the School Board meeting.

Judge Refuses to Stay Ruling Voiding Prince William Digital Gateway Rezonings

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 27, 2025 at 2:19PM | Updated August 27, 2025 at 3:38PM

MANASSAS, Va. — The court fight over the Prince William Digital Gateway reached a turning point Wednesday as Judge Kimberly Irving declined to stay her ruling that voided rezonings for the massive data center corridor.

Irving struck down the rezonings on August 7, finding that the county’s public notices ahead of December 2023 hearings did not comply with state and local law. County lawyers and developers had urged her to put the decision on hold while they appealed, warning that the ruling could stall plans for 37 data centers on 2,100 acres along Pageland Lane.

PWEA Hearing Set for Saturday—Now Virtual After GMU Declines to Host

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 20, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated August 20, 2025 at 5:10PM

MANASSAS, Va. – A hearing meant to decide the future of the Prince William Education Association, the largest local teachers union in Virignia, will go forward this Saturday. It will be held virtually after George Mason University declined to host the event.

Suspended PWEA president Maggie Hansford said earlier this week that members had been left in the dark. She told Potomac Local News that members only received a single email from a state-appointed trustee saying the hearing would run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at GMU’s Manassas campus. Members were also told they must choose either to attend in person or online, but not both.

That New PWCS Bus App? Still Down—And Might Be for Days

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 18, 2025 at 6:49AM | Updated August 18, 2025 at 2:30PM

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Prince William County Public Schools’ brand-new bus tracking app still isn’t working—and now it looks like it may stay down for a few days.

The folks at PWCS just shared with Potomac Local News that the EZ A2B app is still offline and won’t be up in time for this afternoon’s school bus routes. The vendor says it may take “multiple days” to restore service.

Patrick Harders Wins GOP Primary for Gainesville Supervisor Seat

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 16, 2025 at 7:21PM

Harders/Landrum

GAINESVILLE, Va. – Patrick Harders just clinched the Republican nomination to run for Gainesville District Supervisor this November, winning today’s firehouse primary with more than twice the votes of his opponent, Brian Landrum.

The Prince William County Republican Committee announced Harders’ win this evening, saying he earned 1,838 votes to Landrum’s 840. The seat opened unexpectedly following the death of Supervisor Bob Weir last month.

Crash Closes I-95 North Near Quantico—Expect Major Delays

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 16, 2025 at 7:30AM

I-95 looking south

QUANTICO, Va. – The folks at the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office just told Potomac Local News they’re investigating a serious crash that’s shut down all northbound lanes of I-95 near mile marker 148, right by Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Even though the crash happened in Prince William County, Stafford deputies are handling the scene. VDOT says traffic is backed up for about 3 miles, with vehicles being detoured off the interstate at Exit 148.

Prince William Schools Defy Feds in Bathroom Policy Fight

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 15, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated August 15, 2025 at 3:40PM

Photo by Sung Jin Cho on Unsplash

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — Prince William William County Public Schools joins other public school divisions in Northern Virginia, and is rejecting the U.S. Department of Education’s directive to reverse policies that allow transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms matching their chosen gender identity.

On Friday, August 15, 2025, Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) formally rejected the federal agency’s proposed Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA), calling it legally flawed and out of step with binding case law in Virginia.

Water Main Break Closes Lanes on Route 28 in Manassas

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 12, 2025 at 4:17PM

MANASSAS, Va. – Crews are working to repair a water main break that’s forced lane closures on Route 28 (Centreville Road) this afternoon.

The folks at Manassas Public Works told Potomac Local News that the break has shut down both northbound and southbound inside lanes from Liberia Avenue to Carriage Lane. Drivers should expect delays and plan to use an alternate route.

Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir Dies

By Potomac Local News

Published July 20, 2025 at 5:58PM | Updated July 20, 2025 at 9:00PM

Weir

9 p.m. update – The Office of Supervisor Bob Weir confirmed his passing on Sunday, July 20, 2025, from metastatic colon cancer. In a statement, his family and staff remembered him as a devoted public servant, husband, and father who deeply valued transparency, community service, and the people of Gainesville District.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Prince William County Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir, who died on Sunday, July 20, 2025, from Metastatic Colon cancer.

Updated: Police Identify Man Shot, Killed by Officers Near Potomac Mills Mall

By Potomac Local News

Published July 17, 2025 at 8:46PM | Updated July 18, 2025 at 10:58AM

11 a.m. Friday, July 28, 2025 update – Prince William County police have identified the man who died during an officer-involved shooting on July 17 near Garza Way and Potomac Mills Circle in Woodbridge as Harrison Charles Deppe, 52, of Woodbridge. The investigation remains active and is being led by the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). More information will be released as it becomes available.

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