News

Lawsuit fighting the Prince William Digital Gateway survives court challenge

By Jazbia Chaudhry

A lawsuit challenging the Prince William Digital Gateway – a rezoning that would allow up to 37 data centers at the edge of Manassas National Battlefield Park – survived an effort to dismiss it Thursday when a judge said she needed more evidence about a key element of the case, reports Prince William Times.

The ruling breathes new life into a lawsuit filed by Gainesville area residents who are upset about the county supervisors’ decision to open 1,700 acres of farms and homes to industrial data center development. The lawsuit was filed by the Oak Valley Homeowners’ Association and 10 residents who aim to undo the rezoning decision. 

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News

Federal employees reportedly told to remove pronouns from email signatures

By Jazbia Chaudhry

Federal employees were reportedly informed that they must stop including their pronouns at the end of emails, one of President Donald Trump’s latest actions to root gender ideology and diversity, equity and inclusion policies out of the federal government, reports The Center Square.

ABC News reported on the memo, which gave employees until 5 p.m. EST Friday to make the change, which applies not just to emails but all federal communications.

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Originals

Stafford County Animal Shelter Suspends Dog Adoptions Due to Parvovirus Outbreak

By Uriah Kiser

Stafford County Animal Shelter has announced that it will suspend all dog adoptions and viewings until at least February 15, 2025, due to a confirmed Parvovirus outbreak. One of the shelter’s dogs tested positive for the virus, leading to the closure of the adoption floor for 14 days.

Additionally, all surrender appointments will be rescheduled. The shelter’s top priority remains the safety of its animals, and they are working diligently to contain the virus. The public’s understanding and support during this time are greatly appreciated.

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Publisher's Post

Survey Results Are Incredibly Insightful

By Uriah Kiser
Kiser

I’m thrilled by the responses we’ve received from the reader survey we sent out on Sunday asking for your thoughts on our newsletter. The feedback has been incredible, and some of the numbers humble me.

A remarkable 70% of you have made our daily newsletter a regular part of your routine, and over half of you are “very satisfied” with it. Plus, more than half of you find the content highly relevant to your lives.

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Publisher's Post

Our Newsletter Is Growing – Here’s How You Can Help Us Improve

By Uriah Kiser

Since August 2024, Potomac Local News has seen significant growth in our email newsletter readership, with our audience expanding from 14,747 subscribers in August to 18,252 subscribers in February 2025. This growth highlights the increasing value of our content, and we’re thrilled to see more readers engaging with our daily updates.

Our newsletter performance has been strong, with impressive open rates and engagement. In January 2025, our newsletter reached over 758,000 subscribers, achieving an open rate of 29.3%, with more than 227,000 readers opening the newsletter. This follows a trend of consistent growth, as seen in previous months, with strong open rates in December and November 2024.

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Weather

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, handlers say, predicting 6 more weeks of wintry weather

By Uriah Kiser

Phil was welcomed with chants of “Phil, Phil, Phil,” and pulled from a hatch on his tree stump shortly after sunrise before a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club read from a scroll in which he boasted: “Only I know — you can’t trust A.I.”

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News

House Roof Collapses as Fire Crews Work to Douse Blaze

By Uriah Kiser

Press release:

At approximately 2:45 P.M. on Saturday, February 1st, units with Stafford County Fire and Rescue (SCFR) responded to a reported structure fire in the 100 block of Aquia Creek Road, near Aquia Creek. Callers reported a neighboring residence on fire, and first arriving units marked the scene less than 10 minutes later and confirmed fire and smoke coming from the rear and roof of a single-family residence.

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Pets

Meet Echo: An Adorable Pup Looking for His Forever Home

By Uriah Kiser

Looking for a new best friend? Meet Echo, a 3-4-month-old pup full of love, energy, and curiosity. This little guy, possibly a Boxer mix, is still finding his voice, but one thing is clear—he’s all about cuddles and playtime.

Echo is working hard on potty training, though he still thinks “inside or outside?” is more of a suggestion than a rule. He’s curious about cats, does well with other dogs, and is eager to find a loving family. However, a meet-and-greet is required to ensure a good fit.

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