NVCT is a regional nonprofit founded in 1994 to safeguard the region’s wildlife and natural landscapes. According to the nonprofit’s website, it has protected more than 9,000 acres of land across the region in both urban and rural areas.

Doves Landing is a 308-acre park with access to the Occoquan River. 95% of the land is forested and the area around the river are considered a crucial wetland habitat. The county acquired the land in the 1990s, but remained vacant until the Board of County Supervisors made it a park in 2013.


The UVA Health Prince Wiliam Medical Center in Manassas has earned a top spot in the U.S. News & World Report list of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, a recent press release stated.

The hospital system’s Manassas campus received a “high-performing” rank from the publication, the highest recognition a hospital can receive. U.S. News & World Report highlighted the hospital’s low unnecessary Cesarean section and newborn complication rates and saw it as a birthing-friendly facility.


The Prince William County Fire and Rescue System warns residents to stay off naturally occurring ice on local waters, as it is often too thin and weak for safe outdoor activities. Unlike ice in colder northern climates, ice in this area is prone to cracks, instability, and variability due to fluctuating temperatures, moving water, and wildlife activity.

Key dangers include rapid ice deterioration, which can outpace its formation, and the risk of falling into icy waters, where hypothermia can occur in less than 10 minutes, making rescues extremely time-sensitive.


Planet Fitness opened its first location in Stafford. The new 30,900-square-foot facility, located at 1455 Stafford Market Place in the Stafford Market Place shopping center, is designed to provide a welcoming, judgment-free environment for individuals at all fitness levels.

The building used to house a Best Buy that announced its closure one year ago after 16 years in business. Our coverage of the closure was some of the most-read content on Potomac Local News in 2024.

The Stafford location features state-of-the-art equipment, including strength machines, free weights, a dedicated area for high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and a functional training room with turf for agility exercises. Members can also access amenities such as fully equipped locker rooms with showers, a mobility and stretching space, and free WiFi.

A highlight of the facility is the Black Card Spa, available to those who pay for a higher membership tier. The spa includes Hydro Massage Loungers, massage chairs, recovery loungers, and salon-grade tanning beds, offering members an opportunity to relax and recover post-workout.

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A man wanted in connection with a fatal crash in Nokesville has been arrested. On January 8, 2025, Prince William County Police apprehended James Francis Byrd, 62, of Woodbridge. Byrd faces charges of involuntary manslaughter – DUI related and DUI for his role in the crash that occurred on August 28, 2024, along Bristow Road near Windy Hill Drive.

Police reported that Byrd, the driver of a 2021 Toyota Tundra, had a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit at the time of the crash. The collision claimed the life of Thomas Spencer Stark, 63, of Nokesville, who was driving a 2003 Lexus GX. Byrd’s court date is pending, and bond information is unavailable.


The fast-food chain would be located on a one-acre property at 4115 Talon Drive, at the southwest corner of Talon Drive and Dumfries Road (Va. 234). It would mark the second Sonic in Prince William County and the third overall in Northern Virginia.


The Stafford County Board of Supervisors began its first meeting of 2025 with a significant leadership transition. Supervisor Deuntay Diggs was elected chairman in a 4-3 vote, succeeding outgoing Chairwoman Meg Bohmke. Diggs addressed his new role during the meeting and outlined his expectations for the year ahead, emphasizing transparency and teamwork.

Chairman Diggs’ Vision


On January 7, the U.S. House of Representatives convened for the first session of the 119th Congress and passed H.R. 29, the “Riley Laken Act,” with bipartisan support.

The bill is named in memory of Riley Laken, a 22-year-old nursing student tragically murdered in February 2024 while jogging on the University of Georgia campus. Her assailant, José Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. illegally, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.


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