Prince William

The Prince William County School Board voted 4-3 on Dec. 3 to extend the teacher contract day by 30 minutes, a move that drew heated opposition from educators who packed the boardroom in red and warned the change would add “nearly one hundred hours of unpaid labor each year.”

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Stafford

“Due to unexpected driver absences this afternoon, we expect delays with student drop offs,” Stafford Schools stated. “Please be patient and use the My Ride K12 app for the most current information regarding your child’s bus.”

School officials said families should rely on the My Ride K12 app for real-time updates on bus locations and arrival times as transportation staff work through the staffing shortage.


Manassas

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Birmingham Green, a nearly century-old senior living community in Prince William County, is inviting the public to brighten residents’ holidays with a car parade designed for seniors who can’t easily leave campus.


Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg officials say they will install red-light enforcement cameras at two city intersections, but they are not disclosing which locations are under consideration — and do not plan to release that information before a final decision is made.

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Quantico

First Lady Melania Trump visited Marine Corps Base Quantico on December 8, 2025, where she spent time with children from the military community as part of a holiday-themed event. During the visit, Trump read a story to children, helped them sort donated toys for the Toys for Tots program, and joined them in making Christmas cards.

Photos from the visit show Trump greeting children, exchanging high-fives, and posing for pictures, including moments alongside Santa Claus. Santa and the First Lady were also photographed waving to children gathered on the runway at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico.


Features

“The ARTfactory is proud to present the 22nd Annual Off the Wall High School Art Exhibit & Competition, an inspiring showcase of emerging creative talent from across the region,” ARTfactory announced. “This free event invites the community to enjoy the artwork, meet the student artists, and celebrate the top winners in each category.”

“The 2025–26 exhibit features student artwork across five categories: Art & Technology, Painting/Drawing, Poetry, Wearable Art, and Photography,” according to ARTfactory stated. “Wearable Art designs will be unveiled and judged live during the ceremony.”


Fredericksburg

“Scheduled lane closures for road work in the Fredericksburg, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula areas, weather permitting. For updated information, check 511Virginia,” Virginia Department of Transportation announced. “Sunday – Thursday, 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Alternating lane closures on Route 1 northbound and southbound at the bridge over the Rappahannock River for pothole patching and spot concrete repairs.”

“A portion of Route 644 (Rock Hill Church Road) at Aquia Creek in Stafford County will close starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, through the morning of Monday, Dec. 22, for the removal of several trees, ahead of an upcoming project,” Virginia Department of Transportation stated. “Through traffic will be detoured during the road closure.”


Fredericksburg

“I returned to school after nearly two decades away. My first research assignment was a D — I almost quit,” Germanna Community College reported. “But a professor reminded me, ‘You’ve been out of school for years. Don’t give up.’ And I didn’t. My joy for learning was reignited. I finally allowed myself to be the person I always wanted to be.”

The college awarded 1,042 degrees, certificates, and credentials to more than 900 graduates during Thursday evening’s ceremony at the University of Mary Washington’s Anderson Center. Student speaker LaRai Diamond-Fortune, who earned an Associate of Applied Science in criminal justice, shared her journey of returning to college after nearly two decades and encouraged fellow graduates to embrace lifelong learning and personal growth.


Prince William

A Prince William County jury has found Edward Jackson Bland, 38, guilty in the 2024 killings of Leann Harris and Asia Payne, one of whom was pregnant at the time of her death. The verdict was delivered on December 11, following a trial in Prince William County Circuit Court.

Bland was convicted of multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated murder, second-degree murder, carjacking, and three firearm-related felonies. His sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2026, according to Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth.