A grassroots campaign is working to keep space shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport as federal lawmakers push to move it to Texas.

Joe Stief, founder of KeepTheShuttle.org, joined the Potomac Local News podcast to explain why he and other advocates believe Discovery should remain in Northern Virginia. He said removing it would risk damage, waste taxpayer dollars, and diminish the Smithsonian’s collection.


GAINESVILLE, Va. – Patrick Harders says he’s ready to carry on the legacy of the late Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir as he campaigns for the seat in this fall’s special election.

Harders, a Republican and longtime Manassas resident, won his party’s nomination on August 16. The Prince William County Republican Committee announced Harders’ win that evening, saying he earned 1,838 votes to Brian Landrum’s 840. He will face Democrat George Stewart in the November 4 election to fill the seat left vacant after Weir’s death in July.


Christopher Miller, president of the Piedmont Environmental Council, says Virginia is at a breaking point when it comes to data center growth.

On the Potomac Local News Podcast, Miller announced the launch of Virginians for a Smarter Digital Future, a new initiative aimed at bringing transparency and oversight to the state’s fast-moving data center industry. The campaign rests on four principles: transparency, state oversight, protection of families and businesses, and incentives for efficiency. “We call it a crisis by contract,” Miller said, pointing to local governments approving projects without fully considering power, water, or environmental impacts.


FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Local filmmakers say Fredericksburg’s mix of historic streets, supportive businesses, and a growing arts community is helping the city earn a reputation as a place to make movies.

On a recent episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, Fredericksburg Film Festival organizer Dalton Okolo called the city “cinematic” and “very easy to work with” when it comes to filming locations. “You can go down to the riverfront and have a beach scene, go into town and have an urban area, or step just outside for a rural backdrop,” Okolo said. “Almost any of these businesses will allow you to shoot in there if you just go in and talk to them.”


Join us for an in-depth, inspiring conversation with Mayor Derrick Wood of the Town of Dumfries, Virginia’s oldest continuously chartered town. Hosted by Uriah Kiser, publisher of Potomac Local News, this live podcast dives deep into the major transformations reshaping the town—making it a destination rather than a drive-through.


In this episode, Tug shares insights into his career, which spans TV, Broadway, and film, and talks about his return home to perform in this iconic American play. He opens up about his roots in Fredericksburg and what it means to come back and perform for a local audience. The conversation also touches on the relevance of To Kill a Mockingbird in today’s society and how theater continues to serve as a powerful medium for community connection and the exchange of ideas.

Listen to the full interview below and get your tickets to see To Kill a Mockingbird at Riverside Center:


View More Stories