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OmniRide has resumed operations of all routes and has increased service levels on OmniRide Express buses which began in mid-June.

Weekday Express service to destinations in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. are running on a Friday schedule, which is one step down from full-service. The increase in service levels was based on the improving COVID-19 conditions, and the Governor’s order to begin reopening the state.

During the week of July 7-9, between 4:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., OmniRide staff will be stationed at designated commuter lots to welcome riders back and answer questions about routes and schedules.

Staff will also give away hand sanitizer and remind riders to continue to follow CDC and the Governor’s guidelines:

·Wash hands frequently

·Stay home if you have flu-like symptoms

·Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing

·Avoid contact with sick people

·Wear a face covering (mask, bandana, scarf, etc.)

·Do not ride the bus if you have tested positive for COVID-19.

For more information please contact Customer Service at 703-730-6664 or visit omniride.com.

Schedule of Events and Designated Lots:
Tuesday July 7

·234 & I-95 Commuter Lot (Dumfries)

·University Commuter Lot (Gainesville)

Wednesday July 8

·Horner Road & I-95 Commuter Lot (Off Prince William Parkway)

·Cushing Rd & I-66 Commuter Lot (Gainesville)

Thursday July 9

·Dale City Commuter Lot (Dale City)

·Portsmouth Commuter Lot (Manassas)

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In a highly unusual move, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors has edited all vulgarity out of the public comment portion of its June 16 video recording. 

Black Lives Matter supporters filled the citizen comments period demanding racial equality, the defunding of police, and the end of the 287(g) program, abolished the next day. All this comes after a month of nationwide protests that were sparked by the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd. 

Some of the comments were laced with profanity, all of which were subtly edited out of the uploaded video recording. “Beeps” were not used over the audio, the vulgar words were just cut out. 

“You guys f-ing suck,” said one commenter. 

“The minute you police the language that can be used here is the minute you lose the voices who are rightfully angry. All I have to say is F- decorum,” said another speaker. 

At the close of the comment period, Brentsville District Supervisor Jeanine Lawson requested the vulgarity to be edited out of the recorded video.

“I did not want that profanity played during those replays knowing we do not give a warning for the profanity,” Lawson told Potomac Local News. 

Lawson’s fellow conservative on the Board, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega, disagreed with the decision to edit the video. 

“This language was allowed, and thus I don’t think it should be censored to cover for the out of control tenor of the meeting. I actually think it’s good for the public to see that these are the types of people calling for the defunding and abolition of our police,” Vega said. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act, public comment minutes do not have to be recorded verbatim. The video recordings are public record, but they can be edited just as a report is changed from one draft to another in a database. 

Lawson also asked about changing board rules to allow only public comments only in English unless an interpreter is present. 

“I’d like to change our Board rules and procedures so that when people are addressing the Board during public comment time that English is the only language that they use unless they have an interpreter,” Lawson said at the June 16 meeting. 

Some Spanish-speaking residents were at the meeting that night.

The county attorney, Michelle Robl, will provide her legal advice to the Board at the July 14 meeting. 

“The Board may consider amendments to their rules of procedure regarding the issue,” Robl said.

The board discussed making the issue of decorum a topic at their upcoming retreat if one takes place. No time or place has been decided yet for the retreat as it is still in the planning stages.

The Board of County Supervisors will hold its next meeting on July 14, 2020.

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At the end of March, House of Mercy started a mask-making initiative to make 5,000 masks to donate to healthcare workers. Now, they have met and surpassed that goal with 5,308 masks made.

House of Mercy is a non-profit organization working to provide food, clothing, education, and prayer to those in need. Each month, they work with over 500 families through their food pantry and thrift store to supply their basic needs. The mask initiative was a response to the shortage of medical supplies for healthcare workers at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.  After reaching out to all their volunteers, supporters, donors, and friends, House of Mercy received support from all of Northern Virginia. People came forward to donate and cut fabric, teach volunteers how to make masks, and organize volunteers from their own communities, specifically the Heritage Hunt Community.  
"We were able to help healthcare workers and front-line employees better protect themselves while they are taking care of our sick neighbors. So, a huge thank you to everyone who supported us throughout this endeavor, and thank you to all of our heroes still tirelessly working on the front lines to protect us," said House of Mercy in a press statement.
House of Mercy delivered masks to several departments including:
  • NOVANT Hospital
  • Manassas City Police Department
  • Manassas City Public Works
  • Manassas City Treasurer’s Office
  • Manassas City Traffic Control
  • Manassas City Finance Department
  • Manassas City Department of Revenue
  • Manassas City Department of Social Service
  • Nokesville Fire Department
  • MedStar Hospital in D.C.
In addition, House of Mercy’s thrift store is now open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Their donation center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and their food pantry is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information regarding updated days and times as well as guidelines can be found on the House of Mercy website.

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Beginning July 1, 2020, Virginia House Bill 1250, commonly known as the Community Policing Act, will become law. It requires local law enforcement agencies to collect and report certain data pertaining to drivers to the Virginia State Police during a motor vehicle (traffic) stop.

In Prince William County, some of this data was previously collected on stops that resulted in an arrest or the issuance of a Virginia Uniformed Summons (VUS).

The Police Department will comply with this mandate, issuing written warning notices for the purpose of collecting the required data outside of an arrest or VUS being issued. This means police officers must document the demographic information of individuals on all traffic stop encounters. The data that is required to be collected during traffic stops includes;

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Since its founding in 1992, BEACON For Adult Literacy has grown to an organization that serves over 400 adult students while remaining true to its core mission of helping adults learn to read.

While the organization was preparing for its spring semester of classes, the coronavirus pandemic halted business as usual at the nonprofit organization. BEACON innovated and continued to deliver its classes online.

BEACON’s day-to-day operation relies heavily on its 130 volunteer instructors who teach in classrooms at one of the five locations in and around Manassas. BEACON classes primarily teach English but they also offer preparation for citizenship tests.

With their students coming from over 49 countries and a large variety of educational experiences, teachers have to be prepared to help students from a wide range of backgrounds.

In March as the coronavirus spread, BEACON stopped its class sign up and refunded any registration fees it had taken for its Spring semester. BEACON Executive Director Jen Mora Zuñiga and her staff came together and created an online class structure. Using the video conferencing system Zoom, BEACON volunteer teachers along with tech volunteers have been conducting classes during the quarantine.

“BEACON had never explored online programs before but we were very surprised by how smooth the transition was”, said Zuñiga.

With classes being online, attendance has been up to because students who may have had difficulty with transportation or getting child care don’t have to leave their homes and can access Zoom right on their phone.

“As we were facing the global pandemic, BEACON switched to remote learning; online learning helps to keep improving my educational skills because I don’t want to fall behind. My writing and vocabulary skills have significantly improved. Also, [BEACON] classes have provided me with effective communication skills that help me at work.” said Gunel Aydinova, is a BEACON student who is trying to improve her English skills so she can get certified in Information Technology.

Students with limited English language skills have felt even more negative impacts because they are not able to understand more written documents that have been put out to deal with the transition. Whether it be more e-mails from their children’s teachers, or reading health preventative measures, crucial information is harder to get if one can’t comprehend the language in which it’s written.

The organization has the vision to continue offering some online classes while going back to traditional classes at some point in time in order to serve more students. As with all non-profits, BEACON has been hit financially which makes offering these programs more challenging.

The organization was selected for the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington’s 2020-2021 class of nonprofits which increases its visibility, allows it to get more philanthropic donors, and get access to numerous professional development opportunities. The Catalogue is the region’s only locally-focused guide to giving and volunteering.

BEACON was founded by Benedictine Sister Eileen Heaps to teach a few illiterate adults to read. The organization has grown to serve over 400 adult students while remaining true to its core mission of helping adult learners reach their educational goals.

Donations for the program are accepted on the charity’s website.

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Small business owners in Prince William County will have a second chance at a grant to help them recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Board of County Supervisors authorized the second round of grants for small businesses, this time with different eligibility requirements. Last month, the county allocated $5 million from its federal CARES Act grant signed by President Donald Trump to use as small business relief.

The county awarded $1.2 million in grants to about 150 county businesses. With the $3.8 million left over, the county has reopened the application process to sole proprietorships, mainly home-based businesses have one full-time employee but also use contracted help.

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Prince William County’s largest concert venue will be having anything but a typical season.

All concerts at Jiffy Lube Live have been canceled, postponed, or rescheduled for the 2020 season due to concerns regarding the new coronavirus.

Popular performers, such as Rascal Flatts and Nickelback, have completely canceled their shows, while Earth, Wind & Fire has rescheduled to August 2021.

Those who purchased tickets for canceled shows will receive an automatic refund, and tickets for rescheduled shows will be automatically valid for the show’s new date(s), according to Live Nation, Jiffy Lube Live’s owner and operator.

The venue, which typically opens to concertgoers in May, will not be hosting an event until September 26. That event, as well as all others at the venue, cannot “exceed the lesser of 50% of the lowest occupancy load on the certificate of occupancy,” according to Gov. Ralph Northam’s phase two guidelines.

Additionally, ten feet of physical distance must be maintained between all performers, participants, and patrons who are not members of the same household, at the events until phase three is put into effect in Northern Virginia.

The venue’s updated season is as follows:

CANCELED:

  • Zac Brown Band: Roar with the Lions Tour presented by Polaris
  • Good Vibes Summer Tour 2020: Rebelution + Special Guests
  • Breaking Benjamin
  • Nickelback: All The Right Reasons Tour
  • Sammy Hagar & The Circle w/special guest Night Ranger
  • Journey with Pretenders
  • Dead & Company
  • Incubus With 311
  • Impractical Jokes “The Scoopski Potatoes Tour”
  • Foreigner: Juke Box Hero Tour 2020
  • Korn & Faith No More
  • Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is A Highway Tour 2020
  • Sam Hunt: Southside Summer Tour 2020
  • 2020 Jiffy Lube Live Country Megaticket

POSTPONED, DATE TBA:

  • Kenny Chesney: Chillaxification Tour
  • Megadeth and Lamb of God
  • Disturbed: The Sickness 20th Anniversary Tour With Staind & Bad Wolves

RESCHEDULED:

  • Backstreet Boys: DNA World Tour – Rescheduled to Jul. 20, 2021
  • The Doobie Brothers-50th Anniversary Tour – Rescheduled to Jul. 30, 2021
  • Jimmy Buffet – Rescheduled to Aug. 7, 2021
  • Santana/ Earth, Wind & Fire: Miraculous Supernatural 2020 Tour – Rescheduled to Aug. 21, 2021
  • Thomas Rett: The Center Point Road Tour 2021 – Rescheduled to Aug. 28, 2021
  • WMZQ Fest starring Brooks & Dunn REBOOT 2020 Tour – Rescheduled to Sept. 26, 2020

Live Nation has declined to comment on the season’s changes.

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Police in Prince William County arrested a driver who was wanted in connection with a fatal crash that occurred on an off-ramp in Gainesville.

Police tell us:

On June 16, investigators with the Crash Investigation Unit concluded the investigation into fatal crash which occurred in the area of Lee Highway and Interstate 66 in Gainesville (20155) on April 24.

During an inspection of the striking vehicle, a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, multiple defects were noted which contributed to the crash. Following the investigation, investigators obtained arrest warrants for the driver of that vehicle, identified as Christopher James PRUITT, who turned himself in to police without incident on June 16.

Arrested on June 16: [No Photo Available]

Christopher James PRUITT, 39, of 7100 Rose Hill Dr in Rapidan.

Charged with reckless driving-bad brakes, counterfeit inspection and defective equipment

Court Date: October 9, 2020 | Status: Released on a Court Summons

The deceased passenger in the 2016 Toyota Corolla was identified as Phillip Dennis Sorrells, 20, of Germantown, Md.

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They left the area. Now they’re back.

Police are now working to close a portion of U.S. Route 29 in Gainesville as protestors are filing down an exit ramp from Linton Hall Road and walking onto the six-lane thoroughfare that connects Interstate 66 and Charlottesville 81 miles to the south.

Those protestors are now headed toward Interstate 66. Virginia State Police have been called to the scene to assist Prince William police.

Prince William police have spent much of the afternoon escorting what it described as a peaceful protest that centered around Gainesville, and the intersection of Linton Hall Road and Route 29. The area is surrounded by homes and businesses, including the Virignia Gateway shopping center and a Regal Cinema.

Earlier, police were called to the cinema for a report of a fight between two rival groups, according to initial reports.

For the first time, the protests over the past four days have took place in the Virignia suburbs of Prince William County, located just over 30 miles from the urban core of Washington, D.C.

More as we have it.

10 p.m.

Protestors marched from Linton Hall Road on U.S. Route 29 north to Interstate 66, turned around, and marched back to Linton Hall Road.

11 p.m.

U.S. Route 29 in Gainesville has reopened.

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Today it was announced via a press release that Delegate Danica Roem (D-13th) has been appointed to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA). The NVTA provides funding for road, mass transit, and multi-modal transportation projects in Northern Virginia.

The appointment was made official by Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn.

Now in her second term, Roem represents the City of Manassas Park and western Prince William County in the Virginia House of Delegates.

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