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.
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.
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.
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, 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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Residents, families, and community members recently gathered at Acclaim at Belmont Bay, a senior living community in Woodbridge, for a lively masquerade celebration, complete with colorful masks, festive attire, and community spirit. Guests enjoyed wine, mimosas, and chef-prepared small bites and desserts as they mingled with neighbors and team members.
Designed to bring together current residents, their families, and prospective community members, the masquerade highlighted Acclaim at Belmont Bay’s focus on creating meaningful moments through shared experiences.
