Traffic

VRE Brings Back Fireworks Trains for July 4

By Potomac Local News
A Virginia Railway Express train pulls into the Fredericksburg train station. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/PLN]

Fireworks Trains on Saturday, July 4, 2026, to help locals celebrate Independence Day and the nation’s 250th anniversary without the usual traffic headaches.

Trains will operate on the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines, stopping at select stations. They will arrive in Washington, D.C., around 5 p.m. at L’Enfant or Union Station and depart south around 11 p.m. after the National Mall fireworks show. Tickets go on sale June 1 through Eventbrite and cost $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Each rider will receive a commemorative LED sparkler.

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Manassas

Community Rallies as Bennett School Named to 2026 Most Endangered Historic Places List

By Potomac Local News
Manassas residents, preservation advocates, and local officials gather at the Manassas Museum Plaza on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, during the “Save Bennett School” community event. Speakers called for the preservation of the 118-year-old historic building, which was recently added to Preservation Virginia’s 2026 Most Endangered Historic Places list.

Community members, preservation advocates, and local officials gathered Wednesday evening at the Manassas Museum Plaza to call for the preservation of the historic Old Bennett School, a 118-year-old building facing demolition as part of Prince William County’s planned judicial center expansion.

Logan Parham of Preservation Virginia announced that the Old Bennett School has been added to the organization’s 2026 Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places list. The annual list highlights significant historic resources across the commonwealth that face imminent threats.

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Prince William

OWL Fire Department Mourns Longtime Member Danny Thompson

By Potomac Local News

“It is with deep sadness that OWL Volunteer Fire Department announces the passing of Life Member Daniel “Danny” Thompson,” OWL Volunteer Fire Department announced. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

“Rest easy, Danny. Thank you for your many years of service and dedication,” the department added.

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Schools

Over Half of Stafford High Students Absent After Graffiti

By Potomac Local News

“We understand that incidents like this can cause concern and anxiety for students, parents, guardians, faculty and staff,” the sheriff’s office said. “After carefully reviewing all available evidence and information, the Sheriff’s Office has found no evidence indicating these threats pose a credible risk to the school community at this time.”

“The language used in the graffiti does not reflect the values of our school community,” Stafford High Principal Chelsea Tryon wrote in a letter to families.

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Police Seek Missing 17-Year-Old

By Potomac Local News

“Autumn Van Zandt was last seen on May 19, 2026 at approximately 1:00 p.m. Autumn is a 17 year old female and is described as 5’7, 135 lbs., brown hair, and brown eyes,” Fredericksburg Police announced. “Autumn was last seen wearing a black top and jean shorts with a red purse and has a heart shaped tattoo on the left/right side of her hip.”

She is known to frequent the downtown area of Fredericksburg and Southpoint Shopping area in Spotsylvania County and was last seen traveling with Ronnie Reel (DOB 11/17/1986). Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fredericksburg Police Department at 540-373-3122. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by texting “FPDtip” and the information to 847-411 or via the FPD Tip app.

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Stafford

Stafford County Honors WWII Aviators Memorial Day

By Potomac Local News

The ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. Friday, May 22 at Stafford Regional Airport (95 Aviation Way, Fredericksburg, VA 22406), featuring the Rise Above mobile history exhibit with a 160-degree theater, interpretive displays, and a restored P-51 Mustang. Keynote speakers include Rise Above Exhibit Director Chris Allen and Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Deuntay Diggs.

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Spotsylvania

Infant Dies After Being Left in Vehicle

By Potomac Local News
[Courtesy of Northern Virginia Police Cars via Instagram]

The child’s mother was with the infant inside a nearby business when first responders arrived. Fire rescue crews rushed the baby to Mary Washington Hospital, but the infant was later pronounced deceased.

According to the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office, investigators determined the child had been left in a car seat inside a vehicle for an extended period while the mother was at work. The vehicle was not running and the heat index was high at the time. The 42-year-old mother from Stafford County was arrested and charged with child endangerment and child abuse. She was taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

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Prince William

Prince William County Advances Stepping Up Initiative to Reduce Mental Illness in Local Jails

By Potomac Local News
Prince William County Adult Detention Center in Manassas. [Photo: Uriah Kiser / Potomac Local News]

Prince William County officials on May 19, 2026, heard a multi-agency presentation during a Board of Supervisors work session detailing ongoing efforts to reduce the over-representation of people with mental illness in local jails through the Stepping Up Initiative.

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Prince William

Prince William Schools Challenge Arbitrator’s Ruling

By Potomac Local News

“The school division has been attempting creative ways to re-litigate this matter ever since the arbitrator’s decision issued, because the basis for vacating arbitration awards is narrow,” Hansford’s attorney Toby Latham told InsideNoVa. “Neither the audit nor Ms. McCarthy’s declaration support this wild accusation… It desperately wants a do over.”

“The school system argued in its filing that vacating the final award in this case is warranted because the award was procured through fraud or other undue means, namely, Ms. Hansford’s false testimony at the hearing,” Prince William County Public Schools reported in its court filing.

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