Virginia

“As data centers continue to proliferate across Virginia, the General Assembly this winter is poised to take up a host of bills intended to address their impacts, including increased electricity costs and environmental pressures,” reports Charlie Paullin at The Virginia Mercury. “Virginia is home to the greatest concentration of data centers in the world. While the centers can be found around the state, most are in Northern Virginia, which has more than 300. Eastern Loudoun County, where the facilities cover roughly 573 acres, is known as Data Center Alley, and Prince William is increasingly becoming a hot spot after local officials recently approved a campus of 27 centers that would sit on 270 acres.”


News

National Weather Service Baltimore-Washington: “Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for all of the forecast area through early Tuesday morning. Light snow this morning may ease up around mid-morning before steadier snow overspreads the area mid-afternoon through tonight. Visit http://weather.gov/lwx/winter for more details.”


News

From Prince William police:

Animal Cruelty– On Satruday, January 13 at 8:30AM, officers responded to the 1500 block of Cherry Hill Rd. in Dumfries (22026) to investigate a dog that was located with an injury consistent with being struck with a projectile. A resident located the dog suffering from the injury in the area and contacted police. The dog, an American Bully, 1-3 years on age, red/tan and white in color, was transported to an emergency veterinarian.”


Fairfax

Virginia Railway Express: “The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget received final approval Thursday evening, as the second of its two parent commissions voted to adopt the budget and accompanying six-year capital improvement program (CIP).”

“VRE’s FY 2025 operating budget totals $119.9 million, which includes operations, maintenance, and existing debt service. This is an increase of $11.0 million or 10 percent over the FY 2024 operating budget. The budget includes increases to fares of 5 percent and jurisdictional contributions of 14 percent. Both take effect July 1. VRE’s last broad-based fare increase was 3 percent in FY 2020.”


Features

OmniRide: “OmniRide will hold an Extended Season of Giving Food Drive January 16 – January 19 in an effort to be a good partner in service to the community. In addition to accepting non-perishable donations on the buses, the organization will be accepting non-perishables in-person at several local government locations, and monetary donations online at the organization’s website.”

“The food drive will help to replenish shelves at local food pantries – one on each side of Prince William County. ACTS is on the east end of the county in Dumfries, and in addition to providing food assistance, offers utility assistance, programs to address domestic and sexual abuse, suicide prevention, and more. SERVE is in Manassas and provides food, shelter, utility assistance, services in foster care and adoption, health and dental services, mental health services, and more.”


News

National Weather Service Baltimore-Washington: “An Arctic front will pass through the area on Sunday. Snow squalls will be possible, especially along/north of US-50. Additional advisories are in effect across the Allegheny Front for the snow and sub-zero wind chills Sunday night.”