Darden Restaurants is winding down its Bahama Breeze brand nationwide while moving forward with taxpayer-backed expansion of Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse in neighboring Stafford County.

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Prince William Republicans and Democrats are moving forward with plans to select their candidates for the upcoming Woodbridge District Supervisor special election, scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

At a Feb. 2 special meeting, the Prince William County Republican Committee unanimously selected Jennie LaCroix as its nominee. LaCroix, a longtime Woodbridge resident and local business professional, previously ran for the Board of County Supervisors and was chosen to represent Republicans in the race to replace former Supervisor Margaret Franklin.


Gunfire reported near a Woodbridge shopping center led police activity in Prince William County during the first days of February, according to police.

Officers responded to the 14200 block of Smoketown Road in Woodbridge after callers reported hearing multiple gunshots. Investigators found several shell casings in an alley behind the Prince William Square Shopping Center. No injuries or property damage were reported, and police did not release suspect information.


A Prince William County resident won more than $1 million at The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries after placing a 25-cent wager, according to a press release from the casino. The $1,014,879 jackpot is believed to be the largest historical horse racing payout in U.S. history.

The winning bet was placed on January 22, 2026, on a “Straight Cash” historical horse racing terminal at the Dumfries casino. The jackpot surpassed the previous record of $914,530, which was won at Rosie’s Hampton in 2021, the release states.


A 17-year-old male was shot in the arm during an encounter at an intersection near Manassas on Thursday afternoon, according to police.

Officers were called around 4:55 p.m. to the area of Strasburg Street and Copeland Drive in Manassas (20109). Investigators say the teen was sitting in his vehicle at the intersection when three males approached him.


Two Catholic school educators from Prince William County were recognized for their teaching excellence during the Catholic Business Network–Prince William Chapter’s annual Catholic Teacher Awards ceremony. The awards were presented on Wednesday, January 21, during a dinner at the Benedictine Monastery in Bristow, according to a press release from the organization.

This year’s honorees were Kathleen Benjamin, a fifth-grade teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School, and Kimberly Hall, an art teacher at Linton Hall School. Both educators were selected based on their impact on student learning, creativity in teaching, leadership and commitment to service. The event brought together educators and local business leaders and was sponsored by CJM Enterprises–Study Smart.


Two new indoor entertainment venues are coming to Potomac Mills, adding more options for families with children, according to a press release from the shopping center. Slick City Action Park and Kids Jungle Playground are both planned for Neighborhood 5 at the Woodbridge mall, though opening dates were not announced.

Slick City Action Park will be the first East Coast location for the fast-growing national chain. The waterless indoor action park is expected to feature multi-lane dry slides, air courts, a Junior Jungle area for toddlers, and party rooms. Mall officials say the attraction is designed for a wide range of ages and offers a high-energy alternative to traditional trampoline parks. It is planned near Visionworks.


The Prince William County Board of Supervisors has set a special election to fill the vacant Woodbridge Magisterial District supervisor seat following the resignation of Margaret Franklin.

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The Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation will host its fourth annual State of the Parks address later this month, highlighting major accomplishments from 2025 and previewing priorities for the year ahead.

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