Republican candidates for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District faced off Wednesday evening, June 17, 2026, at a candidate forum hosted by the Fredericksburg GOP at VFW 3103 Post in Fredericksburg.
The 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. private, member-rented event drew local party members as the three contenders vying for the GOP nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Rep. Eugene Vindman in November sought to distinguish their platforms.
The Free Lance-Star reported that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a notice of violation to the City of Fredericksburg in May following persistent wastewater issues, including an overflow of untreated wastewater reported Monday near Lee Drive in the Fredericksburg Battlefield.
Including two recent spillages, the city has seen eight such incidents through mid-June, with details of overflows in February, March, April and May totaling thousands of gallons of untreated sewage, some impacting local waterways like Hazel Run, the Rappahannock River and Deep Run.
“Jennifer Sharp was the director of technology with the United States Parachute Association in Fredericksburg,” 12 On Your Side reported. Federal investigators are on scene in Butler, Missouri, where a skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 12 people on board. A post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft, and the NTSB has not identified a cause.
The incident hits close to home for the Northern Virginia skydiving community, as Sharp held a key role with the national organization based in Fredericksburg. Wreckage recovery is underway, with a preliminary report expected in about a month.
The Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, a longtime regional economic development organization, has officially rebranded as Virginia’s Innovation Crossroads (VIC), aiming to position the area as a unified hub for innovation, advanced manufacturing, and talent retention.
It looks like this will be the last summer of barbecue and live music on Caroline Street as Billikens Smokehouse opts not to buy the antique house it operates from and closes the restaurant when the lease expires in November.
It’s a loss for everyone — including the diners, the bands that play in their outdoor venue, and especially the Shalawylo family: Greg, Sharon, and Ashlie — who have put the final touches on their special barbecue for more than 10 years.
“This is a financially motivated lawsuit that has nothing to do with patient care. Despite rumors and false assumptions, there will be absolutely no disruption of any kind in our radiology services, including mammography, women’s health services, and other vital outpatient radiology services,” Mary Washington Healthcare stated to The Fredericksburg Advance.
Virginia Medical Imaging, which has provided outpatient diagnostic imaging through a joint venture with Mary Washington Healthcare for 26 years, filed the $2.65 million suit in Fredericksburg Circuit Court after negotiations for a new agreement failed.
“The Normandy Pedestrian Bridge, which connects the Rappahannock Canal Trail to Normandy Avenue within the Normandy subdivision, has deteriorated to a point at which we have determined to temporarily close it,” the City of Fredericksburg announced. “To help maintain access to the Canal Trail during repair/construction, a temporary detour has been established via the Fall Hill Pedestrian Bridge (1,500 feet to the west) near the Fall Hill Avenue and Mary Washington Boulevard traffic circle.”
“Projects like this help ensure our trail network remains accessible, and enjoyable for years to come,” said Jenny Casarotti, Director of Parks, Recreation and Events. “We appreciate the community’s patience and support as we make these, and other improvements, throughout our Parks.”
“A woman of action,” Fredericksburg Free Press reported.
“I hope there is an awakening that comes from this tragedy,” Stephon Myers said.
City Council discussed shifting parking management on the 1000 block of Sophia Street during a June 2026 work session, weighing revenue potential against impacts on downtown businesses, employees, and Riverfront Park visitors.
The city owns approximately 37 spaces on the block near Riverfront Park, intertwined with adjacent parcels owned by Stover General in a “piano keys” pattern of alternating ownership. A legacy free parking agreement dating to roughly 2007-2009 has allowed unrestricted use, but Stover General is moving toward a paid model similar to the William Street parking garage operated by Bigos.
