Locals Only Fredericksburg – Stafford

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VRE On-Time Performance Rebounds to 87–88% but March Delays Highlight Challenges for Riders

By Uriah Kiser
A Virginia Railway Express train pulls into the Fredericksburg train station. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/PLN]

Virginia Railway Express trains have returned to 87-88 percent on-time performance over the past eight of the last 10 months, coming close to the agency’s 90 percent goal, but two difficult weeks in March exposed persistent reliability issues that continue to test commuter patience along the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines.

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VRE Commits $66,405 Over 3 Years to FredNats Sponsorship: What Taxpayers Get in Return

By Uriah Kiser

Virginia Railway Express has entered a three-year marketing and sponsorship agreement with the Fredericksburg Nationals minor league baseball team, committing public funds totaling approximately $66,405 through the 2028 season to gain visibility among potential riders in the Fredericksburg area.

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Stafford

Planning Commission Narrowly Recommends Approval of Buc-ee’s Travel Center Despite Staff Concerns Over Traffic

By Uriah Kiser

The Stafford County Planning Commission voted 4-3 late Wednesday night to recommend approval of both the zoning reclassification and conditional use permit for the proposed Buc-ee’s Travel Center at the northeast corner of Courthouse Road and Austin Ridge Drive, just off Interstate 95 Exit 140 in Stafford County.

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Stafford

Stafford supervisors oppose collective bargaining bills over unfunded costs

By Uriah Kiser
Stafford County Administrator Bill Ashton presents the proposed FY2027 budget to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 17, 2026, at the Government Center.

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution opposing two state bills that would expand collective bargaining rights for public employees, citing unfunded mandates that would impose additional costs on the county.

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Stafford

Buc-ee’s Could Bring 2,174 Sunday Peak Vehicles to Exit 140 – Here’s How the Roads Would Change

By Uriah Kiser

If the proposed Buc-ee’s travel center at I-95 Exit 140 is approved, drivers in the Garrisonville area should prepare for significantly higher traffic volumes at key intersections they use every day, particularly during evening rush hour and on weekends, according to the newly released February 2026 (Version 6) Traffic Impact Analysis.

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VRE Brings Back 4th of July Fireworks Trains After 10-Year Hiatus

By Uriah Kiser

Virginia Railway Express is reviving its Fourth of July fireworks trains after approximately 10 years to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

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Stafford

Stafford Board Approves $25M Literary Loan for Drew Middle School Replacement

By Uriah Kiser

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the issuance of a $25 million literary loan at 3 percent interest to fund the replacement of Drew Middle School.

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Stafford

Stafford Supervisors Advance Land Conservation Efforts with PDR Program Update and New Tank Creek Easement

By Uriah Kiser
Widewater State Park in Stafford County. [Photo: Virginia State Parks]

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors on March 17 received an update on its long-running Purchase of Development Rights program and unanimously approved a resolution accepting a co-holder open space easement on a forested preserve in the Widewater area, actions aimed at protecting rural lands and waterways.

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Stafford

Stafford Faces Tax Rate Showdown: State Budget Delay, “Tens of Millions” in New Mandates, and 40%+ Tax Hikes Spark Audit Push

By Uriah Kiser
Stafford County Administrator Bill Ashton presents the proposed FY2027 budget to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 17, 2026, at the Government Center.

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors must set its real estate tax rate on April 21 without a final state conference budget, forcing a decision amid unresolved funding for schools, teacher pay, and constitutional officers, county officials heard March 17.

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Stafford

Stafford Residents Air Fears Over Possible ICE Detention Center; Board Declines to Pass Opposing Resolution

By Uriah Kiser
A 62-year-old man from Virginia was arrested by CBP officers. [Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection]

Fears of a large-scale ICE detention facility in Stafford County dominated public comment at the March 17 Board of Supervisors meeting, with more than a dozen residents citing a Dec. 24, 2025, Washington Post article that listed the county as a possible site for a 5,000- to 10,000-bed center.

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