The arrival of 2026 brought more than fireworks and celebrations across the region — it welcomed some of our newest residents.
Hospitals in Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Manassas marked the start of the New Year by welcoming their first babies of 2026, each arrival bringing joy, hope, and a memorable beginning for families and medical teams.
The vehicle has been newly outfitted with a state-of-the-art 3D imaging machine that produces clearer, more detailed scans. Unlike traditional two-dimensional mammography, the new system captures multiple images of the breast from different angles, then reconstructs them into a three-dimensional view. This allows technologists to examine tissue in thin slices, similar to turning the pages of a book.
The result is earlier detection of potential concerns, greater accuracy for women with dense breast tissue, fewer false positives, and fewer retakes.
MANASSAS, Va. — A bird caused a power outage at UVA Prince William Medical Center on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, marking the second disruption to the city’s electric service in less than a week and raising new questions about the reliability and cost of Manassas’ electric utility.
City officials said the bird came into contact with utility lines near the hospital, damaging a transformer. The hospital, which has three backup power options, quickly switched to an alternate source, restoring power soon after the incident. However, the hospital later experienced a separate internal breaker trip, leaving one building without electricity for a short time.
As bird flu cases continue to rise in the U.S., UVA Health infectious diseases expert Dr. Patrick Jackson provided insights into the latest developments and potential risks during a media briefing. With over 60 confirmed human cases nationwide and recent detections in birds across Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, concerns about the virus’s spread have resurfaced.
Jackson reassured the public that while the presence of bird flu in Virginia is noteworthy, it does not significantly change the risk level for humans. “We’ve known for a long time that H5N1 influenza, in its current strain, is widely distributed in wild bird populations,” he said. “The fact that it’s been detected in poultry operations in Virginia was something we expected to happen sooner or later.”
The UVA Health Prince Wiliam Medical Center in Manassas has earned a top spot in the U.S. News & World Report list of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, a recent press release stated.
The hospital system’s Manassas campus received a “high-performing” rank from the publication, the highest recognition a hospital can receive. U.S. News & World Report highlighted the hospital’s low unnecessary Cesarean section and newborn complication rates and saw it as a birthing-friendly facility.
Miranda Cormack, the proud mother, welcomed her son, Colson James Cormack, at 2:43 a.m. on January 1, 2025. Colson weighed in at seven pounds and four ounces and measured 20 inches long. He was delivered by Dr. Victor R. Khayat, with assistance from nurse Kiani Hudgens, RN, and a dedicated team of medical staff, according to a press release.
According to the press release, the delivery team shared their excitement in welcoming the first baby of the year, playing a special role in this milestone for the Cormack family. Colson will reside with his family in Warrenton, where they are looking forward to new adventures and memories in the year ahead.
Updated 1:20 p.m. — UVA Health says its medical centers in our region are affected by the global CrowdStrike computer outage. The firm operates hospitals in Manassas, Haymarket, and Culpeper.
From UVA Health:
