News - Page 50 of 1912 - Potomac Local News

Fredericksburg defends ‘deliberate pace’ of data center pursuit during public input session

Published January 24, 2025 at 2:00PM

Rather, it’s the terms and timetable governing said pursuit that comprised most of their questions asked during a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council.

More than one speaker noted that adjacent jurisdictions, such as Stafford County, have taken up to six months from initiating the public process to voting for a data center. By contrast, Fredericksburg’s city council first discussed a Technology Overlay District in detail on Dec. 10 and could vote on related resolutions and ordinances as early as its Feb. 25 meeting.

Fredericksburg Fire Department Responds to Germania Street Fire, Conducts Ice Rescue Training

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 24, 2025 at 1:59PM | Updated January 24, 2025 at 3:22PM

Photo: Fredericksburg Fire Department

On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the Fredericksburg Fire Department responded to a fire at 227 Germania Street in the Mill District. Firefighters arrived within minutes to find smoke coming from the basement of a one-story building housing a barber shop and beauty salon on the first floor and apartments in the basement.

Crews extinguished a kitchen fire within five minutes, searched the building, and found no occupants. Three cats were located unharmed. Two residents were displaced as Dominion Energy disconnected the power for safety. No injuries were reported. Due to icy conditions, City Public Works sent a sand truck to treat the street after the fire.

Prince William School Board Add Extra Day Off for Eid al-Adha

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 24, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated January 25, 2025 at 11:15AM

[Graphic courtesy of Prince William County Schools]

PWCS already observes Eid al-Fitr, the other official Islamic holiday, in mid-March. The district also observes many major holidays, including but not limited to Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur Christmas, Presidents Day and Memorial Day.

At the Nov. 19, 2024, meeting where the calendar was initially approved, there was some contention between Board members based on the results of a community survey; a majority of the community members wanted a different option than the one that was ultimately approved.

Safeguarding Stafford: Fire and Rescue’s Approach to Preventing Brush Fire Damage

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published January 23, 2025 at 10:03PM | Updated January 25, 2025 at 11:16AM

Stafford experienced several brush fires in 2024.

Inspired by the devastating wildfires in California that have affected over 38,600 acres and led to evacuation orders for 88,000 residents as of Jan. 15, we reached out to Stafford County’s Fire and Rescue team to explore how they get ready for wildfires in this area.

A wildfire outbreak began in California on January 7, 2025 and continues as of Jan., 23. Over 47,000 acres have burned, with a new fire starting yesterday in Hughes County. Over 16,000 structures have burned due to wildfires in 2025.

Patriot High School Principal Michael Bishop’s leave, his son’s felony and a controversial tenure

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 23, 2025 at 10:01PM

The disciplinary action taken against Patriot High School Principal Michael Bishop earlier this month is the latest chapter in a turbulent tenure at the school, Insidenova.com reports.

Bishop was placed on involuntary leave, the school announced Jan. 9.

Regional Crime Report: Fredericksburg Shooting Arrest, Stafford Burglaries, and Manassas Robbery

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 23, 2025 at 10:00PM

[Scott Rodgerson/Unsplash]

Stafford County Sheriff’s Office

Prince William County Police Department

Three Constitutional Amendments Move Forward in Virginia Senate

By The Center Square

Published January 23, 2025 at 2:46PM | Updated January 23, 2025 at 4:26PM

Virignia State Capitol

By Sarah Roderick Fitch

(The Center Square) – Three amendments are one step closer to being enshrined in the Virginia Constitution after passing the Senate on Tuesday. These amendments address abortion rights, marriage equality, and the restoration of voting rights for formerly incarcerated felons.

Germanna Expands in Stafford: Ribbon Cutting Marks Opening of New $20M Campus Buildings

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published January 23, 2025 at 10:53AM | Updated January 25, 2025 at 11:17AM

Germanna Community College Barbara J. Fried Center in Stafford County.

GCC was established in 1970 as part of Virginia’s Community College System and has locations in Culpeper, Locust Grove, Fredericksburg, and Stafford. The school’s website says over 13,000 students are enrolled.

The new expansion added 74,000 square feet to the campus with a $20 million investment. GCC plans to double enrollment in allied health services, like nursing. They will also expand their cybersecurity, IT, general education, and dual enrollment programs.

PowerSchool Cybersecurity Breach Impacts Local Schools

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 22, 2025 at 10:41PM | Updated January 25, 2025 at 11:19AM

A recent cybersecurity incident affecting PowerSchool, a global provider of education administration software, has raised concerns for school systems across the country, including Fredericksburg City and Manassas City Public Schools. PowerSchool confirmed that its internal systems were breached in late December, resulting in unauthorized access to data involving students and educators from hundreds of school divisions.

PowerSchool, widely used by schools worldwide, supports over 18,000 institutions, serving more than 60 million students. The platform handles essential administrative functions such as attendance tracking, grade reporting, and student data management. While PowerSchool has restored its systems’ security, the breach underscores the vulnerability of sensitive educational information.

Kristen Senechal Named New CEO, President of NOVEC

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 22, 2025 at 10:40PM

Kristen Senechal. [Photo courtesy of NOVEC]

“After an eight-month national search, the Board selected [Senechal] because of her extensive knowledge and more than 15 years of experience in the electric utility industry,” Board Chairman Wade House said. “The Board also is impressed with her leadership style of prioritizing people first.”

Senechal is the executive vice president of transmission and chief operating officer at Lower Colorado River Authority (LRCA) in Austin, Texas. She joined LRCA in 2017 following nine years at CenterPoint Energy in Houston.