Prince William

Prince William County Seeks Nominations for Universal Rights Day Awards

By Dalila Conde

The Prince William County Human Rights Commission is once again accepting nominations for its Universal Human Rights Day Awards. These awards recognize people in the community who have made significant contributions in fostering equality and advancing human rights for all people in Prince William County. All submissions are due by Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024.

Past awardees have been recognized for their work in combating sex trafficking, addressing homelessness and alleviating food insecurity. Others earned the award through activities such as mentoring Prince William County youth, providing health education and workshops tutoring, supporting college and career planning, and promoting informed decision-making.

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VDOT Rolls Out App for Real-Time Parking at Commuter Lots

By Jazbia Chaudhry
Courthouse Road commuter lot in Stafford County. Photo: VDOT

Press Release:

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is evaluating the performance of ParkZen, a new smart parking mobile app that enables local travelers to view real-time parking availability in six commuter lots in Fairfax, Prince William, and Stafford counties at no cost. The ParkZen app helps commuters check for and navigate to unoccupied parking spaces.

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100 Unity Reed High Students Attend County Skilled Trades Expo

By Caitlyn Meisner
[Photo courtesy of Prince William County]

Held at the school driver’s education range, the event was meant to “inspire students to consider careers in public service and skilled trades,” a county press release stated.

FFM showcased various vehicles in the fleet and its maintenance equipment. The Prince William County Police Department also brought some emergency vehicles to show URHS students how to manage and maintain the vehicle during an emergency.

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New Opitz Boulevard Ramp and Neabsco-Potomac Commuter Garage Set to Open in Woodbridge

By Potomac Local News
A seven-story parking garage at Opitz Boulevard and Potomac Center Boulevard should be open by October. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/Potomac Local News]

Opitz Boulevard Ramp Ribbon Cutting

On Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 11 a.m. to noon, local leaders will officially open the Opitz Boulevard ramp on the 95 Express Lanes. This $70 million project, funded by Transurban and executed in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Shirley Contracting Company, provides a dedicated northbound access point for morning commuters, connecting directly to a busy area that includes Sentara Medical Center, Potomac Mills, and the new Neabsco-Potomac Commuter Garage. This new entry to the Express Lanes is the first stand-alone ramp integrated into the 95/395 Express Lanes network, and it is expected to relieve congestion for drivers heading northbound during peak hours.

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Riverwalk Expansion in Limbo as Occoquan Awaits Funding Decision

By Uriah Kiser

At the Occoquan Town Council’s November 6 meeting, members revisited the Riverwalk Project, a long-anticipated expansion to connect more of the town’s waterfront to its main pedestrian pathways.

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Security Guard Charged Pinched Student’s Cheek, Say Police, Faces Charges

By Aya Karouane

Press Release from Prince William Police:

Assault & Battery – On November 7, the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Freedom High School located at 15201 Neabsco Mills Rd in Woodbridge (22191) began an investigation into an assault by a school staff member against a student that reportedly occurred on October 8. The investigation revealed the victim, an 18-year-old female student, was on a bus in the parking lot of the school when she encountered a school security officer, identified as the accused. During the encounter, the accused pinched the victim’s cheek while he engaged in an inappropriate conversation. No injuries were reported. The incident recently came to the attention of school officials who notified the police. Following the investigation, the SRO obtained a summons for the accused, identified as Pedro S. CHIRINO who was served on November 8.

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Prince William Launches Survey to Guide $3 Million in Federal Funds

By Caitlyn Meisner
[Photo by Kawê Rodrigues via Pexels]

Because the county, the City of Manassas and Manassas Park receive $3 million in federal funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the county is administering this survey to best determine where the highest needs are in the community.

Some of the questions on the form are:

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America Recycles Day – Take the “I Recycle” Pledge through Nov. 20

By Aya Karouane
[Photo courtesy of Prince William County]

Press Release:

On Nov. 15, Prince William County will join communities nationwide to celebrate America Recycles Day (ARD). ARD, an initiative of Keep America Beautiful, has been an annual awareness campaign dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States since 1997.

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Human Rights Commission Welcomes Largest Student Cohort

By Caitlyn Meisner
The new Human Rights Commission's Student Leadership Council. [Courtesy of Prince William County]

The SLC welcomed its first cohort of students in 2015, and in its nine years, this year’s cohort has the largest group of students across the county’s public and private schools and home school students. The council is comprised of sophomores, juniors and seniors.

The council is meant to help students “develop leadership skills and learn about county government through the lens of human rights,” a county press release stated. Students will learn about equity and inclusion; the United States Equal Opportunity Commission; the Fair Housing Act; and the rights and responsibilities in the workplace.

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Andrade Sentenced to 30 Years in 2023 Manassas Park Murder

By Potomac Local News
Andrade

On November 7, 2024, Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Angela Horan of the Prince William County Circuit Court ordered Anthony Omar Andrade, 26, to serve 30 years in prison for the second-degree murder of his close friend, Jose Alonso Bedregal, in November 2023.

The case, prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Garrett Jagtiani, reached its conclusion after Andrade’s guilty plea to the murder charge, with the court sentencing him to 40 years with 10 years suspended, followed by five years of supervised probation upon his release.

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