Prince William

Police said two men stole shoes from the New Balance store at Potomac Mills after a struggle with employees on Monday afternoon.

Police said the suspects were spotted concealing merchandise just after noon on August 11. When confronted, they fought with staff and ran from the mall with a pair of shoes. No one was hurt. The suspects are described as Black men — one wearing a gray sweatshirt and dark shorts, the other in a blue-and-white tank top and gray shorts. A police K-9 search did not locate them.


Prince William

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – The folks at Prince William County just told Potomac Local News they’ll host a September 11 remembrance ceremony next week to honor the 22 county residents killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks.

It’s happening Thursday, Sept. 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the 9/11 Liberty Memorial Fountain, right outside the county’s McCoart Government Center in Woodbridge. The event will feature the Presentation of Colors, the National Anthem, the Tolling of the Bell, remarks from County Chair Deshundra Jefferson and County Executive Christopher Shorter, a reading of victims’ names, and the playing of taps.


Opinion

Dear Editor,

The recent selection of George Stewart as the Democratic nominee for Gainesville District Supervisor came amid a deeply emotional moment for our community. The seat was vacated following the death of Supervisor Bob Weir on Sunday, July 20, 2025, after his battle with metastatic colon cancer. While I appreciate the efforts to move swiftly toward a replacement, the compressed timeline for the Democratic caucus raises legitimate concerns about voter engagement.


Originals

OmniRide buses are carrying more passengers than they have in years, and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) is on track to set a system-wide ridership record in the coming year — even with fewer commuter trips than before the pandemic.

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Newslinks

The Center Square: President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration is placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and activating the National Guard to address violent crime in the nation’s capital. The move, made under Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, includes sending 800 National Guard troops to the district, according to the White House. — More from The Center Square.


Schools

Classrooms across Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) filled this morning as more than 31,500 students returned for the 2025–2026 school year. SCPS operates 34 schools and maintains an average student–teacher ratio of 13:1. Superintendent Dr. Daniel W. Smith leads the division, headquartered at 31 Stafford Avenue.

The county kicked off the year with its Transition Day on Monday, August 11, 2025. Designed for incoming kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade students, Transition Day provides a softer start—allowing these students to tour their schools, meet teachers, and get familiar with their surroundings before the whole student body arrives. School officials say the program reduces first-day anxiety and helps build connections that last throughout the year.


Newslinks

InsideNoVa: Democrat Elizabeth Guzman holds a comfortable fundraising lead over incumbent Republican Ian Lovejoy in the closely-watched House of Delegates 22nd District race. As of the latest filings, which cover through the end of June, Guzman had raised nearly $403,000 to Lovejoy’s $251,000. — More from InsideNoVa.


Health

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Sentara Health said they’ve teamed up with Carient Heart & Vascular and Polaris Heart & Vascular Clinic to open a brand-new outpatient cardiovascular center—something Northern Virginia has never seen before.

The Northern Virginia Heart & Vascular Center, located on Groupe Drive just three miles from Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, officially treated its first patient on July 24. It’s designed for people who need specific heart procedures but don’t require a hospital stay.


Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Fredericksburg Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office states a jury has found Shawn O’Neal Parker guilty in a 2024 shooting that left one man severely and permanently injured.

Jurors convicted Parker on July 30 of aggravated malicious wounding and using a firearm in the crime. Days later, a judge also found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say Parker shot David Franklin Greenhow III in Fredericksburg on October 28, 2024.