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Neighborhood Notes

Community Notes

By Potomac Local News

Chocolate festival: Occoquan’s events lineup for calendar year 2022 kicks off this weekend with the annual ChocolateFest (previously known as the Chocolate Walk). [Press release]

Senate moves to allow masks: Virginia’s ongoing debate about masks in public schools – and who should decide whether students and staff wear them – took a surprising turn Tuesday when the Democratic-controlled state Senate approved a measure giving parents the power to decide whether their children don masks on school property. [Prince William Times]

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Racial and social justice commission’s work extended; 3 members call to abolish panel

By Uriah Kiser
Prince William County Racial and Social Justice Commission Chair Shantell Rock

On Tuesday, February 8, county leaders criticized a final report from the Prince William County Racial and Social Justice Commission, calling it incomplete.

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Teen pistol-whipped during pot-smoking session

By Potomac Local News

A teenager thought to have been shot actually suffered a pistol-whipping in Woodbridge.

Just after 7 p.m. Monday, February 7, a 17-year-old was taken to a local hospital after someone struck the teen with a gun. The blow caused the teen to lose consciousness, leading police to think he had been shot.

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OmniRide, weathering ‘storm’ of low ridership, staffing shortages, offers $2,000 hiring bonus

By Potomac Local News

The region’s commuter bus service, OmniRide, continues to shift its strategy amid a driver shortage and a lack of people commuting to office buildings.

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Decision on $7.5 million Brooke Road fix expected Feb. 15

By Rick Horner
Rains that fell on December 4, 2020 led to a washout on Brooke Road in Stafford County. [Photo: Jason Pelt]

A road in Stafford County long plagued by flooding will be fixed, officials say. 

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Lawmakers defeat bills making transgender student policies optional

By Potomac Local News

Virginia lawmakers blocked legislation that would allow school boards to opt out from policies and guidelines developed by the Virginia Department of Education to make K-12 environments more inclusive for transgender and nonbinary students.

Committee votes for the similar House and Senate measures mostly came down to party lines. The Senate bill was defeated 8-5 in committee. The House bill was approved by a subcommittee vote, but in committee the bill’s passage was deadlocked 11-11 when one Republican voted against the measure.

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Neighborhood Notes

Community Notes

By Potomac Local News
Prince William County Police officers stand outside the Western District Station near Manassas. [Mary Davidson/Potomac Local News]

New interchange: Developers are hoping to soon receive approval for the proposed Quartz District, a large mixed-use project in Woodbridge that will include a major road upgrade as well as Prince William County’s first Whole Foods Market. [Insidenova.com]

800 acres: Data center development company QTS Realty Trust, Inc. is “seeking to acquire” 800 acres of land within the proposed “PW Digital Gateway,” according to a QTS spokesman and Prince William County officials. [Prince William Times]

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Prince William Schools Chairman praises mask choice bill passed by Virginia Senate

By Uriah Kiser
Prince William County School Board Chairman At-large Dr. Babur Lateef [Photo: Uriah Kiser]

“This is a great day,” said Lateef.

Today in Richmond, the Virginia Senate passed an amendment from Fairfax Senator Chap Petersen (D) that gives parents the right to send children to public schools without a face mask. The bill now heads to the Republican-controlled House of Delegates and then on to Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who said he’ll sign the bill.

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Data centers can fund teacher pay raises in $1.5B budget, residents say

By Uriah Kiser
Prince William County School Board members Adele Jackson and Babur Lateef. [Photo: Uriah Kiser]

Several residents urged the Prince William County School Board to get on board with a plan to build data centers across a wide swath of rural land.

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