RICHMOND – As the General Assembly enters the second half of its 2018 session, state legislators representing Prince William County can see light at the end of the tunnel: 29 percent of the bills they filed are still alive.
But that average masks a disparity: The county’s senators have fared far better this session than the state delegates.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Now called a zombie road after the Prince William County Board of Supervisors removed it from the county’s comprehensive plan, David Birtwistle, of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, urged officials to bring back the Bi-County Parkway.
The Alliance, known for championing road projects in the growing sections of western Northern Virginia, said the road would allow the George Mason University Science Center outside Manassas to boom, attract new employers to the county, and provide better access to Dulles International Airport.
From the Potomac Nationals press release:
Woodbridge, VA—The Potomac Nationals are excited to announce their complete Legends Autograph Series for the 2018 season featuring six celebrity autograph signing appearances at Pfitzner Stadium.
From the Stafford County press release:
Stafford, Va. – Stafford offices, departments, facilities and all courts will be closed on Monday, February 19, 2018, for the President’s Day holiday. All offices of the Rappahannock Area Health District will be closed as well.
WOODBRIDGE — It’s the second phase of a much talked about project: a new interchange at Routes 1 and 123.
For years, this road improvement has been viewed as a catalyst for redevelopment in “North” Woodbridge. The overpass would remove a traffic light notorious for stalling traffic at the congested intersection of the two major thoroughfares Routes 1 and 123, and would provide direct access to more than 1 million square feet of commercially-zoned land in Belmont Bay along the Occoquan River.
From the Prince William police press release:
Felony Embezzlement | Arrest of County Employee – On January 7, detectives from the Property Crimes Bureau began an investigation involving equipment reported missing by the Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue. The investigation revealed a civilian employee, assigned to the Logistics Section located at 9027 Euclid Ave in Manassas (20110), sold County owned equipment through a personal online E-Bay account for personal gain. Between October 2017 and January 2018, the employee is alleged to have sold approximately $20,000 worth of equipment online. The employee is also alleged to have used the County’s prepaid delivery account to send personal items and stolen items to E-Bay purchasers at an estimated $800 expense. Following the investigation, detectives obtained warrants for the arrest of the employee. On February 14, the accused, Charles Bryan MARCUS, was arrested without incident.
From the Prince William police press release:
Shooting Investigation *ARREST – On February 13, detectives from the Violent Crimes Bureau received a tip which ultimately led to the identity of the suspect involved in the shooting that occurred in the 8300 block of Sudley Rd in Manassas on January 28. Following the investigation, detectives obtained warrants for the arrest of this suspect, identified as David Alfredo RODRIGUEZ RAMOS. On February 14, the accused was located in Fairfax County and arrested without incident. A search warrant was subsequently executed at the residence of the accused on Heritage Crossing Ct in Manassas.
RICHMOND – Virginia legislators are seeking to mitigate the personal and economic consequences of their constituents’ student loan debt by creating a state-level ombudsman to troubleshoot problems and educate borrowers regarding college loans.
In 2017, more than 1 million Virginians owed more than $30 billion in student loan debt, state officials say. Nationally, student loan debt is more than $1.3 trillion and climbing.
The fifth week of session brought a furious pace to legislating including some of the most contentious bills of the session as we approached “crossover” – the day the Senate and House are required to complete action on legislation originating in each chamber. It was mostly a successful week for me. Twenty-one of my bills are now set to pass the Senate to be considered by the House of Delegates.
First, Governor Northam announced an agreement to raise Virginia’s threshold between misdemeanors and felonies from $200 to $500. Once enacted, Virginia’s threshold will still be the second lowest in the United States. I have introduced this legislation every year for nine sessions I was pleased it is finally going to be enacted into law.
