In Stafford County, a resident reported a fraud involving an altered check and an attempted FDIC scam. A license plate was also reported stolen from a vehicle.
These incidents were among those detailed in recent reports from local law enforcement agencies.
Stafford County Government reported that Curtis Pool and Woodlands Pool are both open as of Sunday, July 19. The county had closed Woodlands Pool on July 16 after a glass item broke and entered the pool, but it has since reopened following cleaning and safety inspections.
Stafford County Parks and Recreation continues to prioritize patron safety while managing summer recreation programs, with updates provided for any rescheduled rentals or lessons. This ensures local families in Northern Virginia have access to public pools during the warm season.
This week’s brutal heat (highs near 96°, heat index up to 104°) sent everyone scrambling for the water. Unfortunately, a few creative individuals — and some stubborn construction gremlins — turned our local pools into a comedy of errors.
This is why we can’t have nice things. And why the hardworking pool staff across the region deserve combat pay.
Stafford County Public Schools has appointed Jennifer Meyers as the new principal of Hartwood Elementary School.Meyers brings more than 20 years of experience in education, including 10 years within the division.
She most recently served as assistant principal at Widewater Elementary School. Prior to that role, she worked as a math specialist at Winding Creek Elementary, an administrator designee, and a member of the Superintendent Advisory Committee. She began her career as a classroom and special education teacher across multiple school districts.
1:40 p.m. UPDATE: Route 1 northbound near Telegraph Road in Stafford County is now open. One lane on Route 1 southbound has also reopened.
Right lane on Route 1 southbound remains closed due to police activity. Delays are minimal.Check 511.vdot.virginia.gov for updates.
A family cemetery on a site in central Stafford has halted progress on a data center development. On July 7, 2026, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 to defer rezoning and conditional use permit applications for the Potomac Creek Campus project pending an archaeological investigation and report.
The deferral includes a time extension to October 31. It followed public comments and board discussion on the need to address the cemetery before land disturbance.
During the Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting on July 7, 2026, Supervisor Crystal Vanuch (Rock Hill District) expressed strong concerns about the potential reimplementation of a Business Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax, warning that it could harm local small businesses and urging residents to participate in an upcoming public hearing.
Vanuch, who reviewed discussions from a recent work session she could not attend, stated she was “appalled” that the tax appeared to be moving forward. She noted that Spotsylvania County is actively working to eliminate its similar BPOL tax. “The general consensus is that it’s gonna crush our business growth in Stafford County,” she said.
One Kitchen, a multi-brand ghost kitchen (also known as a cloud or virtual kitchen), has taken over the space formerly occupied by a McDonald’s location. The facility prepares food from more than 20 national brands out of a single shared kitchen, optimized for pickup, delivery, and limited dine-in.
Ghost kitchens focus primarily on online orders through delivery apps and in-store pickup rather than traditional sit-down service. Customers can order items from multiple concepts—such as MrBeast Burger, Quiznos, Cheesecake Factory desserts, Saladworks, Cinnabon, Ben & Jerry’s, and others—in a single transaction. A Halal-focused variant under the Babaz brand is also part of the One Kitchen family, expanding options for customers seeking compliant meals.
During the June 23, 2026, Board of Supervisors work session, Planning Director Michael Zuraf updated the board on the status of data center development in the county. There are currently 16 projects in the pipeline: five approved (three under construction) and 11 still under review. No new applications have been received since September 2025, following the county’s adoption of stricter ordinance and comprehensive plan amendments.
Board members and staff acknowledged community concerns about rapid growth, noise, power demands, and other impacts. However, Zuraf and county leaders emphasized that halting the 11 pending applications mid-review would not be legally viable. Virginia law limits localities’ ability to impose arbitrary pauses on lawfully submitted land-use applications, and doing so could invite legal challenges related to vested rights and due process.
