Press Release - Potomac Local News

VRE opens new 740-space parking garage at Manassas Park station

Published October 21, 2025 at 8:51AM

Commuters in Manassas Park now have more parking options, thanks to a new 740-space garage at the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station. Officials gathered Tuesday, October 21, to celebrate the grand opening of the garage, which supports both VRE riders and the city’s growing Park Central downtown.

Of the total spaces, 540 are designated for VRE commuters and visitors to Park Central — a recently revitalized mixed-use development that includes a new City Hall and library. The $35.2 million project was funded by multiple regional partners and responds to increasing demand identified in a 2017 VRE study.

James Madison University announces summer 2025 graduates

By Press Release

Published October 7, 2025 at 4:30PM

[Photo by Leon Wu on Unsplash]

Founded in 1908, James Madison University is a public university located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

JMU is one of the nation’s leading lights in higher education, where students enjoy engaging relationships with world-class faculty who drive education innovation and support advanced research.

First Friday kicks off fall fun with Scarecrow Fest in downtown Fredericksburg

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 3, 2025 at 1:30PM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Downtown Fredericksburg is full of fall spirit as Scarecrow Fest returns now through October 31. The annual event transforms the city into a festive, family-friendly destination with creative displays, activities, and Halloween-themed events.

The Scarecrow Contest is already underway, featuring more than 30 handmade scarecrows on display outside local businesses and organizations. Visitors can pick up a map from participating spots or download one online, then vote for their favorite display through the end of the month.

Fredericksburg School Board to appoint interim Ward 3 representative

By Press Release

Published October 3, 2025 at 10:18AM

The vacancy follows the resignation of Jennifer Boyd, who stepped down on September 8 after moving out of the city. The Board must appoint someone to serve out the remainder of her term, which ends December 31, 2025.

Four city residents have applied for the interim seat: Christopher James Butz, an attorney and city schools parent with advisory committee experience; Caitlin Finlayson, Ph.D., a University of Mary Washington geography professor; Elizabeth Rehm, a former nine-year School Board member and physical therapist; and Keon Toyer, an education technology executive currently serving on the board of a national literacy nonprofit.

Man arrested in 1998 murder of Strasburg woman; baby daughter still missing

By Press Release

Published September 29, 2025 at 8:35AM

CULPEPER, Va. – After 27 years, Virginia State Police have made an arrest in the cold case murder of Sylena Jo Dalton, who was found stabbed to death in her Strasburg apartment in 1998.

Daniel E. Pompell, 56, of Culpeper, was arrested Friday, September 26, and charged with murder. He was taken into custody without incident, according to police. Pompell is the father of Dalton’s infant daughter, Allyson Kathleen Dalton, who was just 10 weeks old at the time and has never been found.

King George Man Found Safe After Statewide Missing Adult Alert

By Press Release

Published September 29, 2025 at 8:26AM | Updated September 29, 2025 at 1:28PM

KING GEORGE, Va. – A man reported missing over the weekend in King George County has been found safe.

The Virginia State Police canceled a Critically Missing Adult Alert for 63-year-old Randolph Frank Campbell on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 11:20 a.m. According to authorities, Campbell has been located and is safe.

Attorney General Miyares Announces Action Against Deceptive Cancer Charity Fundraising Scheme

By Press Release

Published September 26, 2025 at 9:00AM

Virignia Attorney General Jason Miyares

RICHMOND, Va. — Attorney General Jason Miyares today announced that his office, along with the Federal Trade Commission and 18 other states, has shut down a deceptive charity fundraising scheme and its operators who made false or deceptive claims to donors. This resolution restricts future fundraising and secures $550,000 for distribution to cancer-related charities.

Kars-R-Us.com, Inc. (Kars) and its operators solicited charitable donations nationwide on behalf of United Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (UBCF), a charity that claims to assist individuals affected by breast cancer, according to a complaint filed by Virginia, the FTC and other states. Kars claimed that vehicle donations would allow UBCF to “save lives” by providing free and low-cost breast cancer screenings. In reality, however, only $126,815 or 0.28% of the more than $45 million that Kars raised was used to provide breast cancer screenings, the complaint alleges.

Fredericksburg wraps phase 1 of smart water meter upgrade

By Press Release

Published September 24, 2025 at 4:30AM | Updated September 24, 2025 at 9:59AM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The city just finished installing new smart water meters in every home and business—saving money, cutting waste, and making life easier for residents.

On September 23, Fredericksburg held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Phase 1 of its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project. The $4.5 million upgrade replaced nearly 8,800 aging water meters across the city with smart technology that automatically tracks water usage and helps detect leaks more quickly.

Sheetz Offers Coffee Perk for National Coffee Day

By Press Release

Published September 23, 2025 at 8:47PM | Updated September 23, 2025 at 9:43PM

[Photo: Sheetz, Inc.]

To celebrate National Coffee Day, Sheetz is offering a free self-serve coffee with any purchase, September 29 (National Coffee Day) through October 1, 2025.

Sheetz Bros. Coffee features four signature blends, ranging from light to dark roast, all freshly ground in-store. You must use the Sheetz app for the free National Coffee Day offer at www.sheetz.com/app.

PWC Works Wins Prestigious IT Award for Customer Service Innovation

By Press Release

Published September 23, 2025 at 8:38PM

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va.— Prince William County has been recognized with a Commonwealth of Virginia IT Award for PWC Works, the county’s centralized online engagement platform, in the category of “Serving the Customer and Business.”

The annual awards program, sponsored by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) and Government Technology magazine, honors excellence in public sector information technology innovation. The award was announced during the 28th Annual Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS) on Sept. 16 in Richmond, Va.