PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — The officials who’ve returned our requests for comment on a plan to float $600 million bonds for parks and roads are wary of increased taxes to pay for it.
Prince William County Occoquan District Supervisor Ruth Anderson said she wants a bond referendum to go to voters on the ballot in November in two parts: roads (up to $400 million and up to $200 million for parks).
HAYMARKET — When it was announced last year that Tough Mudder Classic was coming to Prince William County, it was heralded as a win for sports tourism.
The popular 10-mile obstacle course run will take place this weekend at Silver Lake Regional Park in near Haymarket. It’s expected to attract hundreds of participants, dubbed “mudders,” and generate up to $2.5 million in consumer spending in Prince William County — mostly through people booking hotel rooms, shopping in area stores, and eating in area restaurants.
STAFFORD — The Stafford County School Board will consider a controversial amendment to the school division’s non-discrimination policy later this summer.
School officials aim to add additional protections for transgender students. The School Board is reviewing a new non-discrimination policy that includes protection from discrimination against “race, color, national origin, political affiliation, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, age, or genetic information.”
STAFFORD — Amazon’s move to Crystal City will have far-reaching effects to the Northern Virginia metro area’s households. Even Stafford County, which is fairly removed from the D.C. corridor, should be considering how dynamics will change.
“Stafford should be thinking very proactively about the fact that we are a growing metropolitan area in the long-term,” Jeannette Chapman, deputy director and senior research associate for the Stephen S. Fuller Institute, told Potomac Local. “There are always going to be hard periods of adjustment as the region grows.”
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Prince William County officials are debating whether or not to allow voters to decide on allow them to borrow $600 million for new parks and roads projects.
A total of $200,000 would be used for parks and $400,000 for roads.
LAKE RIDGE — New school facilities help, but when it comes to recruiting and retaining the best teachers, it’s all about the money.
The Prince William Committee of 100 on Thursday night held a panel discussion on teacher retention in Prince William County.
STAFFORD — Students called Stafford’s antiquated two-lane roads dangerous as they remembered their friend, a 17-year-old girl who died behind the wheel of her car on her birthday.
Helen Wang, Colonial Forge High School student, was hit and killed after a picnic with her friends on her 17th birthday on May 16. She was leaving the Abel Lake Boat Ramp, where she met her friends for an afternoon at the reservoir.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Affordable housing’s future in Prince William County unclear amidst predicted federal funding cuts.
Federal subsidies for affordable housing are predicted to decline in the coming years. In Prince William County’s 2020 budget proposal, the county’s affordable housing needs are spelled out, but it remains unclear how demand will be met amidst rapid growth and change in the area.
STAFFORD — The Omniride commuter bus service is considering commuter expanding to Stafford County.
At the transit agency’s Board of Commissioner’s meeting on May 2, new options for OmniRide to help get cars off busy Interstate 95s and 395 during an expansion of the E-ZPass Express Lanes.
OCCOQUAN — New improvements are coming to the busy intersection of Old Bridge and Occoquan roads.
The state will allocate $11.8 million to improve the 10-lane junction just outside the Occoquan town.
