News

Fredericksburg Residents Urge Greater Oversight of CSX Operations in Mayfield Neighborhood

By Uriah Kiser

At the Fredericksburg City Council meeting on October 22, 2024, residents of the Mayfield community voiced growing concerns over safety and environmental risks linked to CSX railroad operations in their area.

Representing the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, Sabrina Johnson highlighted the relocation of a critical safety device, known as a derail device, near the Mayfield neighborhood. The device had been involved in a recent derailment in Cobblestone Square on July 19, 2024.

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The Third Annual Veterans Day Celebration

By Jazbia Chaudhry

Sheriff Roger Harris is honored to host our 3nd annual celebration in honor of Veterans of all military branches. The event will be held on November 9, 2024, between 10am and 2pm at the Spotsylvania Public Safety Building located at 9119 Dean Ridings Lane, Spotsylvania, Virginia 22553. Please join us at the opening ceremony at 10 am. A variety of guest speakers will help kick off our event. There will be performances by the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon and the Kena Highlanders Pipes and Drums Team.

Multiple military equipment displays and various presentations from other military vendors will be on hand for attendees along with all military recruiter branches. This event is open to the public and we hope you and your family can join us to honor our military veterans.

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Wegmans Launches Check Out Hunger Campaign

By Jazbia Chaudhry

Starting Wednesday, Wegmans Food Markets will kick off its companywide Check Out Hunger scan campaign to raise money for the company’s 48 Feeding America food bank partners. According to Feeding America, more than 47 million people in the United States face hunger, including 1 in 5 children. The annual Check Out Hunger campaign raises critical funds for local food banks who provide year-round assistance to food-insecure families.

From October 23 to November 30, customers can donate $2, $3, $5, or any amount at checkout, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to each store’s local food bank. In response to Hurricane Helene, Wegmans’ four North Carolina stores launched their campaign early on October 1 to raise money for local food banks assisting with disaster relief efforts. All donations made at Wegmans’ North Carolina stores will continue to go directly to the shared Feeding the Carolinas fund for local food banks.

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ARTfactory Hosting ‘Factory of Fear’ Haunted House This Weekend

By Caitlyn Meisner

The ARTfactory’s building, which many believe is haunted, will be transformed into different levels of scariness for visitors to enjoy. Ahyrel Tinker, director of education at the ARTfactory, created the haunted house.

“There’s nothing like this downtown and our community of spooky season lovers need something Manassas strong to haunt them this season,” Tinker said. “We listened to the feedback from last year’s sold-out Haunted Hallows event, and decided to ramp up the scare factor.”

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Manassas Faces Potential Water Supply Challenges Due to DEQ Review

By Uriah Kiser
Lake Manassas

The City of Manassas is facing a potential threat to its future water supply, as the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has initiated a review of the city’s water withdrawal permits from Lake Manassas. The DEQ is evaluating whether to rescind the city’s grandfathered rights, which have long allowed Manassas to withdraw water under older, less restrictive conditions.

A change in the city’s withdrawal permit could significantly impact its ability to meet future water needs. City officials, during a recent council meeting, expressed concerns about the DEQ’s review and stressed the urgent need for action.

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Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment Gains in Stafford Schools

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Stafford County Public Schools

Stafford County Public Schools saw significant growth in both Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment participation during the 2023–2024 academic year, continuing their efforts to offer more rigorous academic options and improve student outcomes. As discussed during the Stafford County School Board meeting on October 8, 2024, the district has focused on expanding access to AP and Dual Enrollment courses, resulting in increased participation and success rates.

The number of AP exams administered in Stafford schools has risen steadily over the past few years. During the 2023–2024 academic year, 3,452 AP exams were administered to 1,974 students, with 67% earning a score of three or higher. This score is critical as it is typically the threshold for earning college credit, reflecting the district’s progress in offering challenging coursework and preparing students for post-secondary education.

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First-of-Its-Kind Crisis Center in Prince William to Open in 2025

By Uriah Kiser

Prince William County is poised to address the community’s mental health needs with the projected 2025 opening of its first Crisis Receiving Center (CRC), which will be located in the old Gander Mountain Store on Worth Avenue in Woodbridge.

Announced during the October 15 Board of County Supervisors meeting, the CRC will offer immediate, short-term care for individuals in mental health crises, following the Crisis Now model designed to reduce unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations and keep law enforcement focused on public safety.

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Public Health Officer Charged with Second-Degree Murder

By Uriah Kiser

On October 21, 2024, at 2:29 p.m., the Manassas City Police Department received a 911 call stating that a person had been shot in a residence located in the 9200 block of Brinkley Lane in Manassas. Police responded and found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel also responded to the residence and pronounced him dead on the scene.

A suspect at the scene was identified as the shooter and subsequently detained by police. Investigators determined that the incident was between domestic partners who both lived at the residence. The suspect was placed in custody and transported to the Prince William County Adult Detention Center. She was charged with the following criminal offenses and held without bond.

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