News

Lake Anna’s Summer Safety Plan: More Testing, Public Warnings After 2024 Illnesses

By Kelly Sienkowski

As Memorial Day approaches, local officials are ramping up safety efforts at Lake Anna in response to last summer’s E. coli outbreak that left two dozen people sick—most of them children.

In the summer of 2024, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported a total of 25 cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections associated with Lake Anna. The majority of these cases occurred among children under 18 years old. Five of the affected children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication requiring hospitalization.

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Help Name the Horse at Laudenbach Brewing’s Taproom

By Potomac Local News

STAFFORD, Va. –  Brewing wants your help naming a key part of its identity—the horse in its logo.

In a playful twist, the family-owned brewery announced it never gave the horse a name and is now turning to customers to fix that. Through May 18, guests visiting the taproom can submit their best name ideas by writing them down and dropping them into the suggestion box at the bar. The brewery’s owners will narrow the list to five finalists.

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From Discovery to Burial: Fredericksburg Honors Long-Lost Civil War Soldiers

By Jazbia Chaudhry

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The remains of three U.S. soldiers, believed to have died during the first Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862, were formally buried last week in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Their discovery during a 2015 excavation project on Sophia Street set off years of archaeological work, historical research, and coordination between the City of Fredericksburg and the National Park Service.

According to the city, the burial took place on May 2 after the remains were identified as those of U.S. soldiers using DNA analysis, radiocarbon dating, and military artifacts such as uniform buttons. In 2017, Fredericksburg officials formally requested that the remains be interred in the national cemetery. Since the cemetery has been closed to new burials since 1945, several investigations were needed to identify a clear burial site — a process delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and not completed until late 2023.

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Aging Gracefully Expo at Potomac Mills Set to Connect Seniors with Local Resources

By Potomac Local News

Now in partnership once again, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce and the Prince William Area Agency on Aging are co-hosting the event as part of Older Americans Month. The goal: to build stronger connections between seniors and local businesses that serve their needs.

“We’ve doubled the number of vendors this year,” said Chamber CEO Bob Sweeney, “allowing us to highlight a diverse range of local businesses that offer valuable resources to support our aging community.”

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Don’t Miss These Concerts and Events at Harris Pavilion

By Caitlyn Meisner
The Harris Pavilion will host dozens of events this summer. [Courtesy of the City of Manassas]

The city is kicking off the first of its Summer Concert Series on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with the Shane Gamble Duo. But this isn’t the only Tuesday concert.

Manassas is hosting an “Acoustic Tuesday” concert each week at 7 p.m. until Sept. 9, along with “Fresh Music Fridays,” “Saturday Night Concert Series” and “Sunday Funday Concerts.”

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Kids Climbed, Honked, and Smiled at Touch-a-Truck Events in Prince William and Stafford

By Potomac Local News

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Two communities in Northern Virginia celebrated big wheels and loud horns this weekend, giving children the chance to get hands-on with the vehicles they usually only see driving by.

In Prince William County, Veterans Memorial Park in Woodbridge welcomed more than 1,000 visitors on Saturday, May 3, 2025, for its annual Touch-a-Truck event. Children of all ages climbed inside fire engines, police cruisers, dump trucks, and more — even getting the chance to honk the horns and meet the men and women who operate them. Hosted as a free community event, it proved to be a hit once again, with organizers already planning next year’s return on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

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How Stafford Schools Are Adapting for English Learners and Students with Disabilities

By Potomac Local News

Editor’s Note: This article is part of our exclusive five-part series, “A Conversation with the Superintendent,” featuring an in-depth interview with Dr. Daniel W. Smith, Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools. In this series, we explore Dr. Smith’s vision, challenges, and priorities—from fixing school transportation to addressing equity gaps, funding shortages, and the future of education in Stafford County. New articles are published weekly.

Part 3: Reaching Every Learner — Special Education, ESL, and Academic Equity

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Republicans Hold Annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner Amid Record Attendance

By Alan Gloss
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]

County GOP Chairman Jacob Alderman said the party sold more than 300 tickets for the fundraiser, which brought in over $30,000 to support local political efforts. The evening featured prominent conservative speakers including Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega, and Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts.

A Focus on Diversity and Conservative Values

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City Officials Caught Off Guard as Bank Tenant Sidesteps Millions in Data Center Taxes

By Uriah Kiser

MANASSAS, Va. – A bank tenant inside a newly completed data center in Manassas has triggered a sweeping local tax exemption, upending financial expectations and leaving city officials blindsided.

At the April 30, 2025, Manassas City Council meeting, Commissioner of the Revenue Tim Demeria revealed that a tenant inside the new Brickyard data center, operated by Digital Realty Trust, had filed paperwork identifying itself as a bank. Under Virginia Code §58.1-1202, banks are exempt from local Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) taxes and the business personal property taxes that typically bring cities millions in revenue from data centers.

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