Stafford

Bus Driver Charged in Deadly Stafford Crash Granted Bond, Release Hinges on Second Hearing

By Uriah Kiser

The bus driver facing five involuntary manslaughter charges in the deadly May 29 crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County was granted $25,000 secure bond on three of the counts Wednesday, but cannot be released until a second court weighs in, WTOP reported. Stafford County Circuit Court Judge Charles Clark ordered Jing Sheng Dong, who lives on Staten Island, to remain under house arrest in Virginia, surrender his U.S. and Chinese passports plus driver’s licenses, avoid alcohol or drugs, and have no contact with crash victims or their families.

Dong was driving a charter bus from New York to North Carolina when it struck a line of slowing vehicles in a construction zone near Marine Corps Base Quantico around 2:30 a.m. A bond hearing in General District Court on the remaining two charges could be scheduled as early as this week, with the trial currently set for Oct. 6.

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Tensions Rise as Stafford School Board Reconciles Budget After Supervisors’ Late Funding Reduction

By Uriah Kiser

Tensions Rise as Stafford School Board Reconciles Budget After Supervisors’ Late Funding Reduction

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Stafford County Pools Now Open Following Woodlands Closure

By Uriah Kiser
Woodlands Pool

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.

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Pool’s Closed… Again: Why Fredericksburg & Stafford Can’t Have Nice Pools

By Uriah Kiser
Woodlands Pool

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.

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Stafford Schools Welcome Two New Administrators

By Uriah Kiser
Meyers/Chamorro Barrios

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.

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Historic Cemetery Prompts Deferral of Potomac Creek Campus Data Center Plans in Stafford

By Potomac Local News

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.

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Concerns Mount as Stafford Eyes Return of BPOL Business Tax

By Potomac Local News

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.

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New Multi-Brand Ghost Kitchen to Open at Stafford Walmart Supercenter

By Potomac Local News

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.

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