A group of Fredericksburg women returned from Las Vegas $10,000 richer after winning the 2026 APA Ladies 8-Ball Championship. The team, known as the Viper Queens, defeated the competition at the Westgate Las Vegas late last month to earn the title and bragging rights back home.
Team members Joanna Powers, Heather Riley, Jean Walston and Imelda Samples play regularly in the American Poolplayers Association league at their local poolroom in Fredericksburg. They were one of 256 teams that qualified for the national event.
Stafford County Public Schools honored more than 700 employees for five to 60 years of service at its annual Years of Service ceremony held at Mountain View High School.
The event recognized teachers, support staff, administrators and workers from every department who help prepare students to excel. Mr. Jimmy Andrews of Stafford High School stood out as the most tenured, marking 60 years since joining the district in 1966.
Join us on Sunday, May 31st, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM for a beautifully curated afternoon celebrating the romance and inspiration of European travel. We recommend arriving at 2:45 PM for the best seating. We’ll begin with a brief presentation highlighting unforgettable journeys along Europe’s iconic rivers with AmaWaterways, followed by a special screening of Under the Tuscan Sun — a heartwarming story set against the breathtaking landscapes of Tuscany and the transformative power of embracing life abroad. A minimum $5 per person donation to Manna Food Center is required to attend, and we are proud to match donations up to $500. You may also elect to donate more. Non-perishable food donations are also warmly welcomed. Raffle proceeds will benefit Manna as well, helping provide nourishment and support to families in our community. Come immerse yourself in the beauty of Europe, enjoy wonderful company, and make a meaningful difference. We look forward to welcoming you.
By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – Virginia ranked 14th in a new financial transparency report examining how clearly states report audits, pension costs and other long-term financial obligations to taxpayers.
A tractor-trailer crash with at least one other vehicle sparked a massive explosion and fire Thursday morning, fully closing Interstate 95 southbound near Centerport Parkway in Stafford County.
The crash occurred just past the Ramoth Church Road bridge in the southbound lanes, with the tractor-trailer exploding on the right shoulder of the highway. Thick smoke and flames were visible from the scene, according to exclusive video obtained by Potomac Local News.
“Data centers at this location would put an industrial facility at the headwaters of Quantico Creek and at the edge of one of the most ecologically significant forests in the Mid-Atlantic,” the Prince William Conservation Alliance reported. “Was it not enough to have one of our two National Parks under threat? You’ve got people all over the county saying, ‘We don’t want to see industrialization near our National Parks, next to our state parks and next to our homes and schools. Read the room.’”
Officers were called to the 1200 block of Potomac Vista Drive around 8:58 p.m. on May 12. The victim had already been taken to a hospital by a family member, where he later died. Police said the man was involved in a fight with one person when a third man pulled out a gun and shot him. The two suspects left the area.
Detectives do not believe the shooting was random. Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the police. Additional details will be released as they become available.
Stafford County School Board Chair Dr. Elizabeth Warner opened the May business meeting with a point of privilege to directly address a recent hate incident at Stafford High School.
Warner stated that one of the board’s main goals is to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment that ensures mental, physical, and emotional safety for all students and staff.
By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – Virginia labor unions and local government leaders are pressuring Gov. Abigail Spanberger over legislation expanding collective bargaining rights for public employees.
