Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Wins Best Main Street in the South

By Potomac Local News
Shoppers line Caroline Street in Downtown Fredericksburg on Small Business Saturday.

Fredericksburg’s Caroline Street has been named the Best Main Street in the South by Garden & Guns magazine. The historic downtown centerpiece beat out 15 other Southern contenders in a March Madness-style public voting bracket that wrapped up this week.

The win highlights the city’s mix of locally owned shops, restaurants, historic sites and walkable charm that draws residents and visitors year-round. Mayor Devine credited the victory to strong community support from businesses and residents who rallied during each round of voting.

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Fredericksburg’s Voluntary Gun Give-Back Program Heads Statewide as HB 702 Advances

By Potomac Local News
Fredericksburg City Hall

At the Fredericksburg City Council meeting on April 14, 2026, Vice Mayor Charlie Frye delivered an enthusiastic update on a homegrown public safety initiative that is poised to benefit communities across Virginia.

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Fixed-Income Seniors Push Back Against Fredericksburg’s Tax and Rate Hikes

By Potomac Local News
Fredericksburg City Hall

Barbara Saunders, a retired Fredericksburg public school teacher living on Pony Drive, opened her latest property tax bill with a familiar sense of dread.

At $4,980 already, her real estate taxes are set to climb again under the City of Fredericksburg’s proposed FY2027 budget. In a written letter read aloud at the April 21 City Council meeting, the senior citizen described the cumulative impact: a 0.4-cent increase last year, followed by the proposed 0.5-cent hike this year, for a total 0.9-cent jump over two years.

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Roadside Clearing in Fredericksburg Part of Power Grid and Data Center Upgrade

By Mike Salmon
On one side of the cleared corridor is the jogging trail; on the other sits Mary Washington Hospital.

In response to booming data center growth and population increases in the Fredericksburg area, Dominion Energy has launched a power line upgrade project along Falls Run near the canal crossing and Friends of the Rappahannock headquarters.

Passersby on the road can easily spot the cleared space beneath the power lines, now equipped with temporary roads and a temporary bridge. Dominion crews are steadily advancing on the initiative known internally as “Project TL29.” A major component involves replacing aging power lines installed in the 1950s.

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Trolley of UMW Basketball Players Hits Fredericksburg Streets in Mini-Parade

By Mike Salmon
University of Mary Washington basketball players wave and high-five fans from the trolley during Saturday’s championship parade through downtown Fredericksburg on April 18, 2026. The Eagles were celebrating their 2026 NCAA Division III national title. (Photo by Mike Salmon)

The City of Fredericksburg celebrated the University of Mary Washington’s national basketball championship with a drive-thru parade through downtown on Saturday, complete with blue and white balloons, smiling basketball players, and streets lined with enthusiastic onlookers.

At the first corner where the trolley full of players turned onto Princess Anne Street, Chloe Paino was waiting to greet them. Paino’s father is Troy Paino, president of UMW, and she wore a UMW sweatshirt.

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Fredericksburg Schools Admit ‘We Can’t Keep Up’ with Bus Complaints, Allocate $100K for New Transportation Office Manager

By Potomac Local News

Transportation challenges for Fredericksburg City Schools continued to draw attention during the April 14, 2026, joint work session between the School Board and City Council, as officials reviewed the proposed FY2027 budget and explored ways to improve bus timeliness and routing.

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UMW Basketball Champ to Be Celebrated City-wide Saturday; Kahn Named National Coach of the Year

By Kelly Sienkowski
UMW Head Coach Marcus Kahn talks with players during a timeout in the Eagles’ NCAA Sectional win over Wisconsin–La Crosse. Photo by Kaitlynn Kimball.

The University of Mary Washington men’s basketball team will be honored with a city-wide celebration this weekend following its historic NCAA Division III national championship. The university’s Fan Fest is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Anderson Center on the Fredericksburg campus, with a team trolley traveling through downtown ahead of the event.

The celebration will include fan activities, food trucks, and opportunities for the public to meet players and celebrate the title.

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Family Fun Planned at Earth Day on the Rappahannock

By Potomac Local News

The City of Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events Department invites the community to its annual Earth Day Festival on the Rappahannock this Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Old Mill Park, 2201 Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg.

The region’s largest Earth Day celebration offers free family fun with more than 70 local vendors, live music, food trucks, hands-on environmental activities and a sensory tent. Attendees can try kayaking in a paddling pool, climb a rock wall, join goat yoga or relax with live music. Activities suit all ages.

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Aging School Infrastructure Takes Center Stage: JM Boilers, Hugh Mercer Roof, and Other Capital Needs

By Potomac Local News
[Image: James Monroe High School]

As Fredericksburg City Schools prepares its FY2027 budget, aging building systems and deferred maintenance took center stage during the April 14, 2026, joint work session with City Council.

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Fredericksburg Schools Face 29% Teacher Turnover; Officials Debate Retention Strategies in Joint Session

By Potomac Local News

Fredericksburg City Schools reported a 71% teacher retention rate for the current year, equating to 29% turnover, during a joint work session with the Fredericksburg City Council on April 14, 2026.

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