Virginia

“State Sen. David Suetterlein and Del. Joe McNamara on Tuesday asked Gov. Abigail Spanberger to call a special session of the General Assembly to extend the time the Virginia State Corporation Commission has to review the proposed $67 billion Dominion Energy-NextEra merger,” Cardinal News reported. Under current law the SCC must rule within 180 days or the deal is approved by default, giving Virginia the shortest review window of any state involved.

The Roanoke County Republicans argue that forcing Virginia to decide first weakens its leverage and risks leaving Dominion ratepayers—who outnumber those in North Carolina and South Carolina—without the full benefit of any later concessions. A spokesperson said the governor is examining the merger’s effects on electricity costs, jobs and in-state renewable generation and is considering all options, including a special session.


Manassas

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of former Master Technician and Assistant Fire Marshal Justin M. Laidler,” the City of Manassas Fire & Rescue Department reported on Facebook. Laidler, born February 10, 1989, died July 20, 2026, after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of ALS; he served the department for more than 15 years before joining Frederick County Fire & Rescue as a Deputy Fire Marshal in September 2025.

He passed away at home in Woodstock surrounded by family and is survived by his wife Brittany and their three children, Grayson, Kellen, and Savannah. A celebration of life is planned for August 1 at Strasburg High School, with burial to follow at Sunset View Memorial Gardens in Woodstock.


Business

Manassas-based Electra announced Tuesday it will build its first production facility for the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft in Springfield, Ohio, not Virginia.

The $850 million project is expected to create 1,975 jobs at a new 96-acre site next to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. The nine-passenger plane is designed to take off and land in as little as 150 feet and is aimed at a new market Electra calls Direct Aviation.


Fredericksburg

What began as a competitive bracket battle is evolving into a cross-state partnership.

Mayor Kerry Devine and Fredericksburg Main Street Executive Director Chris Allen will travel to DeLand, Florida, July 23-25 to meet with Mayor Christopher Cloudman and Main Street Director Stephanie Garcia Mullins.


Manassas

Manassas is staring at big changes — and Eugene “Doc” Brown wants a seat at the table.

In this Potomac Local News podcast interview, longtime community advocate Eugene Brown sits down with Uriah Kiser to talk about his run for Manassas City Council, the controversial 167-apartment project planned next to the historic Meredith House, new affordable housing at the old DMV site on Godwin Drive, the city’s ongoing school challenges, and the political transition as Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger prepares to step down.


Virginia

“The gun used at Old Dominion University by a convicted foreign terrorist supporter came from a Virginian who stole it and was dealing firearms without a license, according to his guilty plea,” The Center Square reported. Kenya Mcchell Chapman, 32, of Smithfield, pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to three counts of making false statements during firearm purchases and faces up to 35 years at his Dec. 18 sentencing. Prosecutors say he stole the weapon from a vehicle in Newport News a year earlier and sold it to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh the day before the March 12 attack.

Jalloh, previously convicted in 2016 of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, killed one person and wounded two others during a shooting at an Army ROTC class on the Norfolk campus before he was subdued and fatally stabbed. Cellphone records showed Chapman’s number was the most frequently contacted in the week leading up to the attack, and ammunition matching that used in the shooting was recovered from Chapman’s residence the following day.


Schools

Tensions Rise as Stafford School Board Reconciles Budget After Supervisors’ Late Funding Reduction

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