Morning notes
🌬️ Late May brought a surprising chill
If you felt more like reaching for a hoodie than sunscreen this past weekend, you weren’t alone—temps dipped unusually low for this time of year, catching many off guard.
🧊 Here’s the chilly weekend recap from the National Weather Service
Prince William County supervisors approve a collective bargaining ordinance they admit is a work in progress — The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to adopt a collective bargaining ordinance that will allow most of its 6,000 employees – including hundreds of police officers and firefighters – to choose a representative to negotiate their pay and benefits with county executive staff and elected officials. [Prince William Times]
Man charged with killing Va. man, intentionally running him over in Philadelphia: Police — Police have arrested and charged a 22-year-old man for allegedly killing a Virginia man after running him over with a car in Philadelphia, Pa., authorities said. [WJLA-TV]
Indicted former registrar, struggling to raise funds for a lawyer, appears in Prince William County court — Former Prince William County Registrar Michele White is struggling to raise funds to defend against corruption charges she says are motivated by politics. White, 51, of Occoquan, appeared in Prince William County Circuit Court on Friday for a hearing on the status of her legal counsel. [Insidenova.com]
Data center decisions could have big land use impacts in Virginia’s Prince William County — A growing number of environmental groups and residents have come out against data center development in Prince William County, VA, where they say it would imperil water quality, natural resources and a national battlefield. At the same time, officials in the county continue to approve changes that are paving the way for such projects. [Bay Journal]
Prince William School Board passes collective bargaining rights as rancor continues between board and education association — The Prince William County School Board adopted a collective bargaining resolution Wednesday night, formally enshrining the right to collective bargaining on compensation and working conditions for thousands of county school employees in a 7-1 vote. [Insidenova.com]
Funeral costs for Dale City homicide victims to be paid by donations — Three GoFundMe fundraising campaigns are live to help pay for the funeral expenses for victims of the quadruple homicides in Woodbridge. [Patch]
‘It’s really sad’: Friends gather to mourn Dale City family slain in mass shooting — about 200 people gathered Tuesday night outside 5297 Mansfield Court, the Dale City home Flores and Sotelo had rented for more than a year for themselves and Sotelo’s three children: an adult son and two daughters, ages 19 and 13. [Prince William Times]
Silver Line Phase II could start ‘in time’ for Thanksgiving, but more trains needed, Metro says — The second phase of the Silver Line may finally be ready to begin in time for the start of busy Thanksgiving travel, Metro announced today. But the opening of the long-anticipated and long-delayed extension into Loudoun County is pending security certifications from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission. Metro says it also still needs more trains to officially support the extension. [FFXNow]
Protests continue as ‘PW Digital Gateway’ data center plan heads to the planning commission — Amid residents’ protests, ‘Devlin Technology Park’ data center on hold, for now, developer says The proposed “Devlin Technology Park,” a project that would have allowed between seven and 1…But that didn’t keep about 150 people from protesting in front of James J. McCoart Administration Building Tuesday night to call for county officials to put the brakes on both the Devlin Technology Park – and the much larger, 2,100-acre Prince William Digital Gateway. — Prince William Times
Fredericksburg-area community comes out in support of public library — The community came out in a show of support for the local library and its staff as public libraries across the U.S. have come under increased scrutiny since last summer. — Fredericksburg.com
Amid residents’ protests, ‘Devlin Technology Park’ data centers on hold for now, developer says — The proposed “Devlin Technology Park,” a project that would have allowed between seven and 11 new data centers to be built behind homes in Bristow, is on hold for now. [Prince William Times]
Dominion Energy announces it will delay Blackwell Substation Project, suggests transmission line may not be necessary — Dominion Energy announces it will delay Blackwell Substation Project, suggests transmission line may not be necessary [Fauquier Now]
Nearly 60 new security assistants coming to Prince William County elementary schools –– Prince William County Schools will be adding new full-time school security assistants for every elementary school this year, intended to help monitor entrances to school buildings and deal with any security issues on the property. [Insidenova.com]
Manassas loses out on roundabout funds –– Manassas is once again looking for money to fund its Centreville Road roundabout and Mathis Avenue road diet after being snubbed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s RAISE grant program for the third time. [Insidenova.com]
Police: Fairfax detective arrested in Stafford, faces DUI charge — Fairfax County detective was arrested early Friday after being accused of driving while intoxicated in Stafford County, police said. [Fredericksburg.com]
Virginians set to get student loan forgiveness, but analysts say the policy could have consequences — About 12.5% of Virginia residents owe some amount of student debt that could be reduced through President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, but some scholars are warning that the plan could have some negative consequences. [The Center Square]
Restaurant receives backlash for insensitive 9/11 menu, issues apology — A manager at a [Stafford County] country club apologized on Facebook Tuesday after receiving backlash on a 9/11 special menu that included a Remember-tini, Flight 93 Redirect and Pentagon Pie. [WJLA-TV]
How the Gun Trafficking Problem in Virginia Compares to Other States — The United States has nearly 121 guns per 100 people, according to the Small Arms Survey, a Swiss-based research project. That figure may be higher today since it was reported in the organization’s report published in 2018 and was already an increase from 88 guns per 100 people in 2011. (These are states with the most gun purchases per person.) [Virginia Mercury]
