Potomac Local News

Published January 6, 2026 at 7:00AM

News Links

Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 will host a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday, January 10, to honor General George Weedon, a Revolutionary War hero and early Fredericksburg civic leader. The event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Masonic Cemetery, at the intersection of Charles and George Streets, where Weedon is buried.

The Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, M.W. Matthew Todd Szramoski, will lead the tribute as part of his Founders’ Footsteps Commemoration Tour. The tour highlights the contributions of Virginia Freemasons to the American Revolution. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to a reception and tour of the historic Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, located at 803 Princess Anne Street.

Opinion

Why Dumfries Needs an Economic Development Authority Now

By Letters to the Editor

Published January 5, 2026 at 3:00PM | Updated January 5, 2026 at 3:17PM

Dumfries is Virginia's oldest continually chartered town.

Turning opportunity into results is one of the biggest challenges facing any town—and Dumfries is no exception. Ideas aren’t the problem; execution is. That’s why so many Virginia communities have created Economic Development Authorities (EDAs): to turn readiness into results.

An EDA is a public entity established under Virginia law to help towns attract investment, manage development, and implement projects more effectively. It doesn’t make policy or replace elected officials. It serves as a capacity tool to support execution, allowing towns like Dumfries to move faster and smarter when opportunities arise.

Manassas Park

Firearms ban now in effect inside Manassas Park city buildings

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 2:00PM

A new ordinance prohibiting firearms inside Manassas Park city buildings took effect January 1, following months of debate and public pushback over gun restrictions in government spaces.

The ordinance prohibits the possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or firearm components within any building owned or used by the City of Manassas Park for governmental purposes.

Event

Dialogue for Democracy

November 3, 2026 1:00 pm -5:30 pm

Event location

George Mason University, Buchanan Hall

4379 Mason Pond Drive

Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Add to Calendar

High school students from across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region are invited to participate in Dialogue for Democracy at George Mason University!

Hosted by the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, this event offers high school students an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about democracy, civic engagement, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.

Prince William

Push to rein in Virginia FOIA costs heads back to General Assembly

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 1:00PM

Roem [Photo courtesy Mike Beaty]

“It’s the same bill, different year,” Virginia Mercury reported. “The entire point of it is to reduce FOIA fees, so that the fees that are being charged are actually being used simply to cover the actual costs associated with pursuing FOIA requests in the first place, instead of being used as a deterrent for the public to not pursue FOIA requests.”

“Public documents are public, your tax dollars have already paid for these documents in the first place,” Roem said. “Therefore, you should have the lowest barrier possible to accessing them.”

Breaking News

Teen arrested after two men shot during argument in Stafford

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 12:46PM

Potomac Local News is just learning about a weekend shooting in Stafford County that left two men injured and a teenager in custody.

Deputies were called to the 1300 block of Providence Street around 4:25 p.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. They found a 25-year-old man and a 38-year-old man with gunshot wounds to the leg. Deputies provided first aid until Stafford Fire & Rescue arrived.

Business

Sheetz mourns the passing of former CEO and chairman Stephen G. Sheetz at 77

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 10:30AM

Steve (left) standing beside his brother Bob (middle) and nephew Stan Sheetz (right)

Stephen G. Sheetz, former president, CEO, and chairman of Sheetz, Inc., has died at age 77. The company announced his passing on Thursday, remembering him as a visionary leader who helped shape the Altoona-based convenience store chain into a regional powerhouse.

Sheetz began working at the family business at just 12 years old, eventually helping grow the company from four stores to over 100 by the early 1980s. He served as president and CEO from 1984 to 1995, overseeing a period of rapid expansion and innovation, including the launch of Sheetz’s Made-to-Order food program and entry into the fuel business.

Features

Virginia ARTfactory to Host Free Screening of “Prosperity Creek” on January 10

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 9:15AM

“Join us for a film screening on January 10th of Prosperity Creek, a social satire about a young woman hired to house-sit in an affluent and mysterious DC suburb,” Virginia ARTfactory announced. “As the plot twists and turns, she uncovers increasingly ludicrous secrets about the townspeople, culminating in a battle between humans and… others in this exciting feature film debut from Zack Walsh.”

“This ticketed screening is free to the public, but donations are kindly accepted at the door,” the organization stated. “Tickets are limited, so reserve your seat today!”

Features

‘Master Class of Emotions’: Prince William Father-Son Duo to Star in NBC’s ‘The Wall’

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 8:45AM

News Links

“It is a master class of emotions,” InsideNoVa reported. “From the highest point you can get to the lowest point – and somewhere in between, there’s a heck of a lot of joy and excitement. The show is a quintessential show.”

“We’re called ‘Hardeman and Hardeman,’ the law firm,” Seth Hardeman said. “We’re a duo in California and at home.”

Manassas

Late-Night Hit-and-Run Ends December of Dangerous Driving in Manassas

By Potomac Local News

Published January 3, 2026 at 8:00AM

Photo: Scott Rodgerson / Unsplash

A hit-and-run at a busy Manassas intersection just before New Year’s Eve left several people injured and capped off a month of serious vehicle incidents in the city.

Around 10:30 p.m. on December 30, a silver Hyundai sedan ran a red light at Sudley Road and Stonewall Road, crashing into two vehicles. The occupants of the Hyundai fled before police arrived and are believed to have been picked up by another car. Victims in the struck vehicles were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing.