This is the final part of our three-part series exploring Virginia Railway Express’ vision for the future. Thank you for following along.
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Prince William County
Shooting Investigation – Gunfire Erupts Between Car Occupants and Pedestrians
Stafford County Government and Stafford County Public Schools will host a joint job fair on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 1:30 to 7 p.m. at the Rowser Building, 1739 Richmond Highway, Stafford. Stafford County Government is hiring for positions including Administrative Specialist II, Deputy Sheriff, Building Inspections Supervisor, Environmental Inspector, and Transportation Program Director. Stafford County Public Schools is hiring teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, and more. The event is aimed at helping federal employees and others continue their careers in public service.
Here’s the full press release:
Stafford County Fire and Rescue units responded to a structure fire at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2025, in the 00 block of Churchill Lane in the western part of the county. Crews arrived about eight minutes later to find heavy fire coming from the front and roof of a two-story, single-family residence. The fire was brought under control in about 40 minutes. The sole occupant evacuated safely and is being assisted by the American Red Cross. One firefighter was evaluated for a minor medical emergency. The Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Here’s the full press release:
Editor’s Note:
This is the second in our three-part series on the future of Virginia Railway Express (VRE). We’re breaking down VRE’s bold System Plan 2050 — and what it means for you.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Germanna Community College is inviting students, employees, alumni, and the broader community to weigh in as it begins the search for its next president.
The college launched a community survey this week, asking participants to rank the importance of various leadership priorities, from fostering student success and expanding career-focused programs to strengthening partnerships with business and education leaders. Germanna officials say public input will help define the values, qualities, and goals the next president should embody.
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At the April 18, 2025, VRE Operations Board meeting, planners unveiled a sweeping System Plan that would transform VRE from a traditional commuter service into a true regional backbone — connecting communities across the region with frequent, reliable rail service.
WOODBRIDGE — Prince William County police are investigating a shooting that occurred at approximately 1:48 p.m. on April 24 in the 14900 block of Enterprise Lane. Officers said a verbal altercation between occupants of a red sedan escalated into gunfire between the sedan’s occupants and nearby pedestrians.
The sedan fled the scene by vehicle, and the pedestrians left on foot before police arrived. One bullet struck a home, causing debris to injure a resident inside. Another round struck an unoccupied vehicle. Officers and a K-9 unit searched the area but were unable to locate anyone involved. The investigation is ongoing.
Stafford County Utilities has introduced a new online tool to provide residents with real-time updates on water outages and repair work. The interactive map, available at utilities.staffordcountyva.gov/outage, shows active outages, affected areas, and repair status. The tool aims to enhance communication and transparency for the county’s more than 40,000 water customers.
The full press release:
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – Stafford County homeowners will see a higher real estate tax rate this year — $0.9236 per $100 of assessed value — as the Board of Supervisors adopted the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on April 15. Although the tax rate is three cents higher than last year, it remains two cents lower than the original proposal by the County Administrator.
By comparison, neighboring Prince William County, with four times Stafford’s population, lowered its real estate tax rate to $0.906 per $100. Despite the rate cut, higher home values in Prince William mean its homeowners will still pay more. The average tax bill in Prince William is $5,162, based on a typical home value of $569,772. In Stafford, the average homeowner will pay $4,069 on a home valued at $434,400.
