Potomac Local News

Published April 7, 2025 at 9:00AM

The Manassas City School Board will vote Tuesday, April 8, 2025, on whether to formally prohibit collective bargaining with employee unions—a decision that could halt a movement launched earlier this year by local educators.

The resolution up for consideration, R2025-03, declares that no official or employee of the school division has the authority to recognize a labor union as a bargaining agent or to enter into collective bargaining agreements. It reaffirms the board’s current stance of non-engagement with employee unions and instead promotes a “meet and confer” model for addressing employee concerns.

Breaking News

BREAKING: FredNats Championship Celebration Moved to Virginia Credit Union Stadium

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 7, 2025 at 8:37AM

Due to wet weather conditions across the region, the Championship Celebration and Ring Ceremony honoring the 2024 Carolina League Champion Fredericksburg Nationals has been relocated from Riverfront Park to Virginia Credit Union Stadium.

The event will take place Monday, April 7 at noon on the Total Property Services Club Level inside the stadium.

Features

Haymarket Police Chief Hosts Senior Summit to Empower and Protect the Community

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 7, 2025 at 7:00AM

Chief Allen Sibert of the Town of Haymarket Police Department is gearing up for the second annual Senior Summit, a free, one-of-a-kind event focused on empowering older adults with vital resources and protection from scams.

The event will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Park Valley Church, located at 4500 Waverly Farm Drive in Haymarket.

Publisher's Post

Publisher’s Post: Protests, Farewells, and a Championship Ring

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 6, 2025 at 8:00PM

Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood and Padrino's owner Sal Basile.

Protesters rally in Manassas and Fredericksburg against Trump policies

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Manassas and Fredericksburg on Saturday as part of the nationwide “Hands Off!” movement opposing the Trump administration’s policies. In Manassas, about 1,000 protesters gathered near the Social Security office. In Fredericksburg, demonstrators filled downtown with signs expressing concerns over cuts to public programs. The coordinated events were among more than 1,100 protests held nationwide.

Prince William

Delays to New Elementary Schools Mean More Trailers, Overcrowding for Students at Covington-Harper

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 4, 2025 at 2:00PM

Two new elementary schools that could help ease overcrowding in Prince William County won’t open until at least 2026 and 2027, respectively, school officials say.

The Woodbridge Area Elementary School, located across from Marumsco Plaza along Route 1, is now slated to open for the 2026-27 school year, following a series of delays. The civil plan approval process with Prince William County took six extra months due to floodplain considerations.

News

Battle of the Potholes Underway on Area Roads

By Mike Salmon

Published April 4, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated April 4, 2025 at 4:05PM

This one is in the parking lot near the Firestone tire shop but most of the parking lots are privately owned so they are not VDOT’s or the City’s responsibility.

The cold temperatures in February took their toll on area roads, and now the drivers are playing dodgeball with the potholes. When dodging isn’t successful, there can be a flat tire, a bent rim, or even worse for area drivers.

Daniel Martinez writes up the repair tickets all day at Power Tire on LaFayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg.

Press Release

From Mexico City to Northern Virginia: Noris Churros Brings Sweet Dreams to Life

By Uriah Kiser

Published April 4, 2025 at 11:00AM

If you’ve caught a whiff of cinnamon sugar in the air and followed your nose to a gleaming churro truck, chances are you’ve stumbled upon Noris Churros — a new local business serving up the sweet, golden treats of Mexico City right here in Northern Virginia.

The name “Noris” is a loving tribute to co-founder Nora Sanchez, who, alongside her partner Marcos Vazquez, turned a dream into a dessert-slinging reality. Their secret recipe? A mix of authenticity, patience, and just a pinch of daring.

Manassas

‘Too Many Lives Lost’: Judge Rebukes Drunk Driver in Sentencing

By Alan Gloss

Published April 4, 2025 at 9:00AM

Burns

Jose Rafael Lizama, a 48-year-old Manassas Park resident, was sentenced on April 3, 2025, to 10 years in prison, with five years suspended, for the 2023 death of Justin Burns. He will serve five years in the Virginia Department of Corrections, followed by five years of supervised probation. Lizama must also wear an ankle monitor for continuous drug and alcohol testing after release.

Four days before the start of his January 2025 trial, Lizama took a plea deal and admitted to striking and killing Justin Burns of Blackstone near Richmond while speeding and driving drunk on December 2, 2023. Justin was crossing the 8900 block of Center Street in downtown Manassas, near Old Town Sports Pub, just before 11 p.m. Police crime scene investigators determined that Lizama was traveling nearly double the speed limit in foggy weather when he struck Justin.

Press Release

Meet Prince William: Q+A with Jennifer Patterson, Library Director

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published April 4, 2025 at 8:00AM

Welcome back to a Potomac Local News series, “Meet Prince William.”

We’ve started this series so Prince William County residents can get to know the important people working behind the scenes to make the county run smoothly and efficiently. This is an opportunity to learn from experts on the county. Potomac Local has asked each leader the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.