News

Central Rappahannock library to reopen branches for limited service

By Uriah Kiser
Central Rappahannock Regional Library Porter Branch sits at 2001 Parkway Boulevard in North Stafford.

Central Rappahannock Regional Library will open branches to the public for 45-minute appointments starting Monday, October 12.

The new Library Express service is aimed at expanding branch access while prioritizing customer and staff safety. Customers will be able to make appointments to browse the collection; check out materials; use computers to print, copy, scan, and fax; and checkout materials. Beginning Monday, October 12, customers will also be able to return items to the library book drops.

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Woman faces assault, breaking and entering charges

By Uriah Kiser
Murdock [Stafford sheriff's office]

Stafford sheriff’s deputies were called to a report of an assault on Ballantrae Lane just off Hope Road on Sunday, October 4 at 9:02 p.m.

Deputy R.M. Connelly said the suspect was inside of a car when arrived, and was trying to flee the scene. The deputy was able to stop the suspect, according to a Stafford sheriff’s office spokeswoman.

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Caught on video: Meltdown at Stafford Dunkin Donuts

By Uriah Kiser
A woman is captured on video making a scene at a Dunkin Donuts in North Stafford.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to a Dunkin Donuts store at 305 Garrisonville Raod at 2:10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, for a disturbance.

A video, which contains profanity, of the incident posted to YouTube shows a woman standing in the lobby of the restaurant yelling at store employees.

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Mary Washington, Germanna lobby for more federal coronavirus aid

By Rick Horner
Senator Mark Warner holds a roundtable discussion at the University of Mary Washington on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. [Rick Horner/PLN]

The University of Mary Washington and Germanna Community College pressed Senator Mark Warner on Thursday for more federal funding to help students who don’t have access to the internet and computers to continue online learning.

The colleges are asking for more federal funding as Germanna, in particular, had a 12% increase in enrollment this semester and expressed a need for additional funds to provide students with computers. Both intuitions pivoted to online learning in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and expressed concern about students who want to attend their schools but cannot due to a lack of computer equipment.

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I-95 traffic to shift as river crossing project enters final phases

By Rick Horner
A 14-feet 9-inch bridge overpass will be replaced with a taller bridge as part of the Rappahannock Bridge River Crossing Project. [Rick Horner/PLN]

On Tuesday, Oct. 13 the Virginia Department of Transportation will begin the final phase of road construction in the effort to build a new bridge over the Rappahannock River.

Construction crews will demolish an existing overpass, that stands about 15 feet tall on the southbound portion of Interstate 95 at Route 17 in Stafford County, and replace it with a new, taller overpass.  The higher bridge means will eliminate potential strikes and collisions by trucks and other oversized vehicles driving underneath.

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Seniors should get coronavirus vaccine injections, association urges

By Olivia Aveni Briscoe

Seniors should be some of the first prioritized to receive a vaccination for the coronavirus when it becomes available, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living told the National Governors Association.

“Given that long term care facilities care for our most vulnerable when it comes to this virus and employ hundreds of thousands of essential health care workers, we urge that your plans to the CDC make residents and staff of these settings the highest priority for the vaccine. Long term care facilities are comprised of our nation’s nursing homes, assisted living and memory care communities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities, and independent living communities,” states the letter.

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Tourism spending increases in Manassas as downtown, battlefield draw visitors

By Uriah Kiser
Downtown Manassas

More travelers are visiting Manassas.

New data released by the United States Travel Association shows all regions in Virginia saw an increase in tourism activity last year. Manassas continued its trend of annual gains for the 10th consecutive year with expenditures reaching $74.6 million, a 2.6% increase from 2018.

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