Potomac Local News

Published July 28, 2025 at 7:00AM

DUMFRIES, Va. – Dumfries Town Council heard from a group of community leaders, entrepreneurs, and development experts during its July 1, 2025, meeting — each vying for a seat on the town’s newly created Economic Development Authority (EDA).

The EDA, formally established in April by ordinance, will operate as an independent legal entity tasked with helping the town attract new businesses, support existing ones, and guide redevelopment along key corridors such as Main Street and the Quantico Creek waterfront. While the Council retains appointment power and oversight, the authority’s independence will allow it to pursue economic growth strategies more flexibly than town government alone.

Prince William

Dumfries Approves Permit for Cultural Events at Outdoor Showplace

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 27, 2025 at 11:00AM

Dumfries Town Hall at 17739 Main Street in Dumfries.

DUMFRIES, Va. – The Dumfries Town Council reversed course and voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit (CUP) that will allow a local business to host cultural, entertainment, and community events on its property along Washington Street.

The business, Outdoor Showplace, is located at 17715 Washington Street, directly across from Dumfries Town Hall. Billed as the region’s largest fully custom landscape showroom, the two-acre property displays outdoor kitchens, fire pits, patios, water features, and more—giving customers the chance to walk through and experience sample backyard designs in a real-life setting.

Weather

Stay Cool —Heat Index Could Hit 107 Today

By Potomac Local News

Published July 27, 2025 at 10:22AM

A heat advisory is in effect across the region today, with heat index values expected to climb as high as 107 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

The advisory runs from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday and covers much of northern and central Virginia, including Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Stafford County, and the City of Fredericksburg. It also includes the D.C. area and parts of southern Maryland.

Fredericksburg

Expect Overnight Lane Closures This Week in Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania

By Potomac Local News

Published July 27, 2025 at 7:00AM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Drivers in the Fredericksburg region should prepare for overnight lane closures this week as road crews carry out maintenance and construction along major corridors in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties and the City of Fredericksburg.

On I-95, paving and bridge inspections will cause single or alternating lane closures overnight between Exit 118 (Thornburg) and Exit 148 (Quantico). Route 1 and Route 3 in both counties will see daytime and nighttime closures for pavement marking, utility work, and intersection improvements. Fredericksburg’s Route 1 at Fall Hill Avenue and Princess Anne Street will continue to experience intermittent lane closures as part of long-term construction projects.

Stafford

Power Outage Affects Nearly 700 in Aquia Harbor, Restoration Expected Tonight

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 26, 2025 at 6:27PM | Updated July 26, 2025 at 6:48PM

AQUIA HARBOUR, Va. – Nearly 700 residents in Aquia Harbor are without electricity this evening as Dominion Energy reports a power outage affecting 697 customers.

According to Dominion’s outage tracker, the disruption is due to a “circuit out.” The utility company estimates that power will be restored between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. tonight.

Manassas Park

Signal Bay Waterpark Reopens Today After Summer-Long Delay — Free Admission for All

By Potomac Local News

Published July 25, 2025 at 3:10PM

MANASSAS PARK, Va. — After months of construction delays and missed opening dates, Signal Bay Waterpark will finally welcome the public back today, Friday, July 25, for a long-awaited soft reopening — and admission is completely free on Friday.

The waterpark will open its gates from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., marking the first time this summer that families can enjoy the popular destination in Manassas Park. The celebration comes after an extensive renovation project that began earlier this year and included the full replacement of the park’s central play structure, new spray features, and other safety upgrades.

Manassas

Fire Breaks Out at LIDL Grocery Store on Liberia Avenue

By Alan Gloss

Published July 25, 2025 at 2:57PM | Updated July 25, 2025 at 3:23PM

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Updated 3:23 p.m. A small fire broke out Friday afternoon at the LIDL grocery store on Liberia Avenue near Prince William Parkway, just outside the City of Manassas.

Prince William County Fire and Rescue spokesman Matt Smolsky said the fire was discovered by a shopper around 1:15 p.m. in the 9700 block of Liberia Avenue. Store management quickly evacuated the building and called 9-1-1.

Prince William

Court Ruling Draws Fire from Oak Valley HOA Over Ignored Citizen Input in Data Center Plan

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 25, 2025 at 2:30PM

Village Place Technology Park in Gainesville, approved by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in 2022

GAINESIVILLE Va. – The Oak Valley Homeowners Association is sharply criticizing a Virginia Court of Appeals decision that upholds the Prince William Board of County Supervisors’ approval of a controversial land use amendment—despite what residents say was a deliberate disregard for public input.

The July 22, 2025, ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Oak Valley HOA and neighboring property owners challenging the Board’s 2022 vote to adopt the Prince William Digital Gateway Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA). The amendment clears the way for thousands of acres in the county’s Rural Crescent to be developed into one of the largest data center corridors in the world, adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park.

Prince William

Feds Find Prince William Schools in Violation of Title IX Over Gender Identity Policies

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 25, 2025 at 2:08PM | Updated August 15, 2025 at 2:02PM

The Prince William County School Board 2024 to 2027. Top left to right: Erica Tredinnick, Justin Wilk, Dr. Babur Lateef, Lisa Zarapur, Tracy Blake. Bottom row: Jennifer Wall, Richard Jessie, Loree Williams. [Photo: Prince William County Public Schools]

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that the U.S. Department of Education has determined that Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is among five Northern Virginia school divisions found to be in violation of Title IX, a federal civil rights law, due to policies allowing students to access restrooms and participate in sports based on gender identity.

In a press release, Youngkin said the school divisions—Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William, and the City of Alexandria—“have been violating federal law, deliberately neglecting their responsibility to protect students’ safety, privacy and dignity, and ignoring parents’ rights.”