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News

OmniRide commuter buses and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) have released their service schedules for Monday, January 20, 2025, coinciding with both the Presidential Inauguration and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Riders are encouraged to plan as services will be adjusted.

OmniRide Service Schedule for January 20, 2025


News

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced significant highway changes and closures to support the Virginia State Police during the upcoming Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump. Drivers traveling from Virginia into Washington, D.C., on Monday, January 20, are urged to plan ahead and use alternate routes as multiple bridges and ramps will be closed. Portable and overhead message signs will provide reminders of the closures.

The closures will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, January 20, and remain in effect until the conclusion of the inaugural events. Here’s what drivers need to know:


Event

Join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon at the BlackRock Center for the Arts as Cruise Planners Beth & Rod present a special travel-inspired matinee featuring the beloved film Under the Tuscan Sun.

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


News

Prince William Times – For Heather Payne and her family, paying their annual car tax bill has been difficult. Together, she and her husband owe about $600 a year on two older cars, one of which is a 2014 model.

The Paynes have five children, and they’ve struggled since the pandemic. Payne said her husband was laid off from his job in sales, and she has juggled up to four jobs at a time to pay the bills.


News

“Virginia will never roll back Title IX under the guise of false equity,” Miyares said. “Let us stand firmly with every girl and woman in Virginia to protect fairness, ensure safety, and uphold the opportunities they have earned.”

Women from the Roanoke College women’s swim team were also in attendance, as a transgender student temporarily joined their team in 2023. So was Riley Gaines, the former University of Kentucky swimmer who became a voice for the Save Women’s Sport movement after competing against transgender athlete Leah Thomas.


Schools

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Stafford County School Board received a presentation detailing the root causes behind the failure of the school bus transportation system, which left about 3,000 students without a ride during the first week of the 2024-2025 school year this past August.

The analysis, conducted by Transportation Advisory Services (TAS), highlighted organizational restructuring and the rushed implementation of new routing software as major contributors to the debacle.

Departmental Restructuring: Confusion Amid Major Changes

One of the central contributors to the transportation system failure was the significant restructuring of the Stafford County School District’s transportation department. Key changes included shifts in leadership roles, reassignment of personnel, and an overhaul of departmental processes. These changes were introduced without a clear plan for ensuring staff understood their new roles and responsibilities.

The lack of clarity created a ripple effect of confusion among staff, who were left uncertain about their duties and how to collaborate effectively under the new structure. Misaligned expectations and unclear lines of communication resulted in operational inefficiencies, including delays in routing students and coordinating schedules. The confusion further weakened an already strained system, making it difficult to address the logistical challenges that emerged at the start of the school year.

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News

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Stafford County School Board voted 6-1 to approve redistricting plan F1 in preparation for the county’s sixth high school opening this Fall 2026. The plan addresses overcrowding and balances student populations across the district’s high schools.

Key Changes Under Plan F1


Podcast

In this episode of the Potomac Local News podcast, we sit down with Don Pannell from Prince William Water to discuss the vital role of water infrastructure in Northern Virginia. From emergency preparedness plans to lessons learned from recent events in Richmond, Don shares insights into how Prince William Water ensures reliable service for over 300,000 residents.


News

PWCS has an initiative in place, called “Inspiring Future Innovators: Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent,” which aims to foster more interest and engagement in careers related to computer science.

VDOE provided funding to several districts throughout the state that also have computer science initiatives in place. These districts include Clarke County Public Schools, Winchester Public Schools and Virginia Beach City Public Schools, among others.