Potomac Local News

Published October 27, 2026 at 9:51AM

Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano. Photo: Prince William County Police Department

A Mexican national accused of damaging the Iwo Jima memorial near Marine Corps Base Quantico faces federal charges upon his transfer to federal custody, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, 27, remains in Prince William County custody following an Oct. 26 bond hearing in Prince William County Circuit Court. Judge Petula Metzler reversed a cashless bail order issued by Prince William General District Judge Fernando Villarroel, setting a $2,500 bond and ordering mental health screening and treatment as conditions of release.

Prince William

Board adopts 2027 legislative agenda

By Potomac Local News

Published October 27, 2026 at 8:59AM | Updated October 27, 2026 at 9:52AM

The Board of County Supervisors adopted its 2027 legislative agenda Tuesday, giving county staff authority to begin lining up sponsors in the General Assembly for roughly 125 positions heading into the 2027 session.

Legislative Affairs Liaison Glynn Loope presented the package during the regular meeting. The board adopted it unanimously. Prefiling of bills for the 2027 General Assembly begins with draft requests due to the Division of Legislative Services by 5:00 p.m. Monday, November 30, 2026. Prefiling ends at 10:00 a.m. on the opening day, Wednesday, January 13, 2027. The short session is scheduled to adjourn around February 27, 2027. The county said it would start soliciting sponsors immediately.

Manassas

Manassas council names Ralph Smith interim mayor effective Oct. 27

By Potomac Local News

Published October 27, 2026 at 6:59AM

Manassas City Council unanimously appointed Council Member Ralph J. Smith as interim mayor on Oct. 26, 2026, with his term beginning Oct. 27 and running until certification of the November 2027 mayoral election.

Vice Mayor Mark D. Wolfe presided after former Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger’s resignation took effect Sept. 30. Davis-Younger had first said in February she would leave at the end of 2026, then moved the date up; Potomac Local News reported the city’s confirmation of the earlier exit and covered her final meeting on Sept. 28. Smith, Wolfe and Council Member Tom Osina had each made their case at an Oct. 5 special meeting, but council took no vote that night.

Event

Dialogue for Democracy

November 3, 2026 1:00 pm -5:30 pm

Event location

George Mason University, Buchanan Hall

4379 Mason Pond Drive

Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Add to Calendar

High school students from across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region are invited to participate in Dialogue for Democracy at George Mason University!

Hosted by the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, this event offers high school students an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about democracy, civic engagement, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.

Features

Call to Action: New Volunteer Opportunities in Prince William

By Potomac Local News

Published October 27, 2026 at 6:54AM

Greetings, Prince William.

The holiday season is a time for giving. Volunteer Prince William’s Untrim-A-Tree & Senior Basket Program brought cheer to about 4,000 children and 800 seniors last year. All kids are adopted; the focus is now on more seniors. Ways to help:

Spotsylvania

Spotsylvania athlete Kei Daniels wins gold in first short-track ice race

By Potomac Local News

Published October 27, 2026 at 6:54AM

Spotsylvania athlete Kei Daniels, center, celebrates his gold medal win in Buffalo, NY. File photo from the family.

A Spotsylvania athlete won gold at his first official short-track ice competition this past weekend in Buffalo, New York.

Kei Daniels, who trains with Synergy Skating in Stafford, finished the 500-meter race in 58 seconds. The release credits coaches from both the Stafford club and the Potomac Speed Skating Club for the move from roller skates to ice.

Prince William

Kukur Tihar USA honors dogs at Prince William Animal Services Center

By Potomac Local News

Published October 27, 2026 at 6:53AM

Dog honored during Kukur Tihar. Photo: rubber bullets via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Local families and organizers marked the third annual Kukur Tihar USA at the Prince William County Animal Services Center on Sunday, Oct. 25, honoring dogs with marigold garlands, a red-carpet walk and blessings while promoting shelter adoptions.

Prince William County Animal Services confirmed the event would take place on the property but said it was not a formal partnership and that staff would not allow any marking on the dogs. Organizers had described optional red tika marks in advance materials. The celebration drew community members and local officials, according to the group.

Virginia

Virginia orders plans to address artificial intelligence cyber threats

By Potomac Local News

Published October 27, 2026 at 6:43AM

Gov. Abigail Spanberger. File photo.

Virginia will develop plans to prevent and respond to artificial intelligence-related cyberattacks and deploy an independent team to review security weaknesses across connected state data systems, The Center Square reported.

First-year Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger ordered the work through Executive Directive 6, signed Friday. The directive specifies no spending amount or completion deadline. The action follows an Oct. 13 legislative review that found gaps in Virginia’s oversight of government AI use.

Fredericksburg

Shannon Air Museum sets Genesis of Flight gala for Nov. 14

By Potomac Local News

Published October 27, 2026 at 6:41AM

Photo: Potomac Local News

The inaugural Genesis of Flight Gala is Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Genesis of Flight Pavilion at the Shannon Air Museum in Fredericksburg, the Fredericksburg Free Press reported.

The museum says the Genesis of Flight Experience, opening in 2027, is built around one of the world’s premier collections of Wright Brothers aircraft and artifacts. Reservations for the gala are due by Nov. 2. Details are at shannonairmuseum.com.

Prince William

Investigator testifies on stains inside Naresh Bhatt’s electric saw

By Potomac Local News

Published October 27, 2026 at 6:40AM

Naresh Bhatt. Credit Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center.

Former Prince William County crime scene investigator Andrea Feldman testified Monday that she observed reddish-brown stains and black hair-like strands inside a Ryobi electric saw Naresh Bhatt gave to a landscaper shortly after his wife disappeared, WTOP reported.

She said she believed the stains were blood. The saw was purchased at a Home Depot less than two months before the disappearance, according to the report. Defense attorneys challenged aspects of the investigation and noted some test results were negative.