A Dale City resident who regularly bikes along Minnieville Road noticed a visible sign of change this week: a new traffic signal going up along the busy corridor.
“Took these pictures today at about 1–2 p.m. on my bike ride on Minnieville Road. Maybe newsworthy,” wrote Kevin Parker, who stopped to photograph construction crews erecting the signal. “If so, I would be happy to see you use one or more of them.”
The Prince William County Democratic Committee and the Stafford Democratic Committee will hold an unassembled caucus on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, to select the Democratic nominee for the 23rd District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Voting will take place from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at two locations: the Dumfries Community Center, 17757 Main St. in Prince William County, and Porter Branch Library, Room 3, 2001 Parkway Blvd. in Stafford County.
Police officers responded to a call about shots fired in the 17200 block of Wexford Loop in Dumfries late on December 9. The homeowner confronted a man suspected of attempting to steal from his vehicle. During the encounter, a gunshot was reportedly heard, but no injuries or property damage occurred.
The suspect, described as a black male in his late teens to early 20s, wearing dark clothing and a light-colored beanie, fled the scene on foot. No weapon was seen, and no evidence of a shooting was found. The homeowner’s car keys, believed to be in the vehicle, were missing.
Local economic leaders in Fredericksburg and Prince William County are launching new initiatives to strengthen small businesses and entrepreneurs, reflecting a broader shift toward locally driven networking, education, and collaboration.
In Fredericksburg, the city’s Economic Development Authority announced today the launch of two new quarterly programs — FXBG Local Loop and The Business Pour — designed to support business growth and deepen connections within the local business community.
A Prince William County jury has found Edward Jackson Bland, 38, guilty in the 2024 killings of Leann Harris and Asia Payne, one of whom was pregnant at the time of her death. The verdict was delivered on December 11, following a trial in Prince William County Circuit Court.
Bland was convicted of multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated murder, second-degree murder, carjacking, and three firearm-related felonies. His sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2026, according to Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth.
“I am announcing my candidacy for the 23rd District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates,” Prince William Times reported. “This special election is an opportunity to continue delivering for our community in Richmond.”
Franklin, 39, who currently serves her second term as the Woodbridge District representative on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, formally entered the race Thursday to succeed Del. Candi King, who Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger selected to serve as secretary of the commonwealth. The date for the resulting special election has not yet been set, and Franklin is the first candidate to declare her bid for the seat officially. King’s appointment created the vacancy in the 23rd District in Prince William and Stafford counties.
Police are investigating a disturbing report of a man impersonating a federal agent at Glen Ridge Commons Apartments in Woodbridge. On December 10, a resident said the man aggressively banged on their door around 1 p.m., wearing a black plate carrier marked “ICE,” a badge, a holstered firearm, and a black mask. He claimed to be an ICE agent, but the resident did not open the door. Authorities later confirmed he is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency.
In a separate case, a 46-year-old woman with no fixed address has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery that took place at Macy’s in Manassas Mall on November 6. The woman allegedly pulled a knife when store security tried to stop her for shoplifting. She was arrested on December 10 and is being held without bond.
A 68-year-old man was killed early Wednesday morning in a hit-and-run crash in Woodbridge. Police say the man, later identified as Shedrick Eugene Gibson, was found lying in the road around 6 a.m. at the intersection of Cardinal and Donald Curtis drives.
Officers performed CPR before Gibson was taken to a hospital, where he died. Investigators believe he was crossing Cardinal Drive outside of a crosswalk and wearing dark clothing when he was hit. The vehicle that struck him did not stay at the scene, and police currently have no description.
