Board Chair Suzanne Seaberg opened the discussion by acknowledging the Manassas Education Association notification that they intended to begin their campaign: "The MEA would like to initiate their collective bargaining campaign. So we can talk about that in the future, or if you have any questions now, we can try and address them. Weâre gonna have to budget more money for the attorneys. Itâs gonna be a lot."
Board Member Sara Brescia questioned the necessity of the MEAâs formal notification. "I donât think they had to tell us that they were initiating a collective bargaining campaign." However, she noted that the MEA may have wanted to inform the board before making a public announcement. "They wanted to let us know before they put it on Facebook and heard it from somebody else."
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In a unique and chilly demonstration, residents of Fredericksburg gathered Wednesday to protest a proposed data center development near the Rappahannock River by building snowmen.
Organized by the Rappahannock Community Coalition, the âSnowmen Against Data Centersâ rally took place just one day after nearly 10 inches of snow blanketed the region. The snowmen were erected on the Mary Washington University Campus, City Hall, and a house off Harrell Road in Stafford County.
The protest comes on the same day of the Fredericksburg Planning Commission meeting, where commissioners took up a proposal to endorse a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, a Zoning Map Amendment applying the Technology Overlay District, and a Zoning Proffer Amendment â which would clear the way to build the city's first data center. The city council announced it would pursue the data center on an "accelerated" timeline in December but has yet to disclose which firm would develop the project.
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Fredericksburgâs Riverside Center for the Performing Arts has welcomed a new force in its kitchen: Chef Stefan Boutchyard. With a rich culinary background spanning Fredericksburg, Culpeper, and high-profile catering eventsâincluding the inauguration of President Donald TrumpâBoutchyard is breathing new life into the dinner theaterâs menu.
A Culinary Journey to Riverside
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Updated 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 5 â As another major snowstorm blankets Stafford County with over six inches of snow on February 11, 2025, local officials are grappling with Virginia Department of Transportationâs (VDOT) depleted snow removal budget, which was exhausted by a previous winter storm on January 5â6.
During a Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting on February 6, 2025, VDOT Residency Administrator Kyle Bates delivered a stark warning about the agencyâs financial limitations.
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A waitress at Dixie Bones BBQ in Woodbridge.
Updated 10:30 p.m. â Local restaurant owners are voicing strong opposition to Prince William Countyâs meals tax, which is set to generate $42 million in Fiscal Year 2025âan increase of $10 million, or 31.25%, from the previous year.
Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson has signaled the meals tax will be discussed during the annual budget process this spring. "It would like to see a partial repeal of the meals tax, but it truly depends on our proposed budget for the next fiscal year," Jefferson told Potomac Local News.
The meals tax, enacted in 2022, has been a consistent contention among business owners, who argue it places additional strain on their already tight profit margins. Inflation, staffing shortages, and rising costs for food, rent, and utilities have made operating a restaurant more expensive, and many owners believe the meals tax exacerbates these challenges.
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Manassas is considering a significant tax incentive to support Micron Technology Inc.'s planned expansion, which includes a $2 billion capital investment in its semiconductor manufacturing facility. The proposal, set to be discussed at the Manassas City Council meeting on Monday, February 10, 2025, would extend Micronâs favorable tax classification for semiconductor equipment through 2035.
The expansion comes as Micron is slated to receive $275 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce under the CHIPS and Science Act, a federal initiative to boost domestic semiconductor production. The funding will help Micron modernize and expand its Manassas facility, particularly by onshoring its 1-alpha DRAM technology, which improves memory chip performance and power efficiency. The project is expected to create over 400 direct manufacturing jobs and up to 2,700 indirect jobs at its peak.
Cityâs Proposed Tax Incentive
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Updated â The National Weather Service (NWS) Baltimore-Washington office has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the region, warning of heavy snowfall and hazardous travel conditions from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.
Snowfall Forecast & Timing
Forecasters predict four to six inches of snow, with some areas possibly receiving higher totals.
- Tuesday Afternoon: Light snow begins across the region.
- Tuesday Evening into Overnight: Snowfall intensifies, becoming steady and heavy at times.
- Wednesday Morning: Additional wintry precipitation is possible before tapering off.
Impact on Travel & Commutes
The Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes could be significantly impacted due to slippery and snow-covered roads. Drivers are urged to exercise caution and prepare for reduced visibility and potential delays.
Midweek & Weekend Weather Outlook
The active weather pattern will continue through the week:
- Wednesday: Snow transitions to a wintry mix, with freezing rain likely in areas west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a rain/snow mix possible east of the mountains.
- Weekend: Another storm system may bring heavy rain or a wintry mix, increasing the risk of flooding as rain falls on a snow-covered landscape.
How Much Snow Will Fall? Guess & Win!
Think you can predict the total snowfall? Comment with your guess for the official snowfall recorded at Reagan Washington National Airport.
The first correct guess posted by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, February 10, 2025, wins a prize! The winner will be announced later this week.
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors has appointed Dr. Janet L. S. Brown-Page to the Central Rappahannock Regional Library Board of Trustees as the citizen representative for Stafford County. She replaces Mary Becelia, who was removed from the board in 2024.
Brown-Page brings experience in human and community relations, having served as a senior manager at the director level within the federal government. She is the President and CEO of JB Associates Enterprise International, LLC, providing mediation, individual and family coaching, and court-ordered co-parenting classes. Additionally, she is a Virginia Supreme Court Certified Mediator/Mentor in multiple court systems, including General District, Circuit, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts.
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Prince William County's ambitious $300 million Route 28 Bypass project is dead.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted to cancel the long-debated road expansion earlier this week, leaving county officials to determine the next steps in addressing traffic congestion along one of the regionâs most vital corridors.
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A journey from DCâs Capitol Hill to the Shenandoah mountains led Emily Woodhull to Fredericksburgâs music scene. The 23-year-old singer and songwriter just released her first single, âVirginia, Iâm Home.â
Woodhull grew up in Washington, D.C., and learned to play piano, guitar, ukulele, and drums by the time she was sixteen. Woodhull became the opening act for her fatherâs band, âThe NativeMakers,â as they toured DC.
