Potomac Local News

Published September 17, 2026 at 3:09PM

[Scott Rodgerson/Unsplash]

Fredericksburg police said they arrested Jose Caal Choc, 38, of Fredericksburg, after a Sept. 16 morning assault on Ivanhoe Court. Officers said a woman was taken to a hospital in serious condition. Detectives charged Caal Choc with aggravated malicious wounding, abduction, entering a dwelling at night to commit assault, destruction of property and domestic assault and battery. He was held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Prince William County police are seeking a suspect after a Sept. 14 aggravated assault at Almita’s Restaurant in Woodbridge, in which officers said a 30-year-old man was struck with a belt buckle and taken to a hospital. The same county report listed an indecent-exposure complaint in Gainesville and an attempted residential burglary in Nokesville.

Manassas

ARTfactory’s No Exit opens Friday in Manassas

By PLN News

Published September 17, 2026 at 10:19AM | Updated September 17, 2026 at 10:45AM

Show bill for No Exit at the ARTfactory in Manassas. (Courtesy ARTfactory)

ARTfactory’s production of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit opens Friday, Sept. 18, at the ARTfactory in Manassas.

The four-actor existentialist drama follows three souls — Vincent (Andrew Chi), Inez (Becca Parsons) and Estelle (Amantha Peterson) — ushered into a single room in the afterlife by a mysterious Valet. Expecting the physical torment of damnation, they instead find they are destined to become one another’s eternal tormentors, according to ARTfactory press materials. Ned Kieloch plays the Valet for performances Sept. 18–20, and Brendan Banner plays the role Sept. 25–27.

Features

Virginia Beach filmmaker’s “No Grace” lands in Tackett’s Mill horror fest

By Mike Salmon

Published September 17, 2026 at 7:15AM

Poster for the Clearbrook Artist Collective Horror Film Fest at Tackett’s Mill in Lake Ridge. Photo: Clearbrook Artist Collective

The Horror Film Fest at Tackett’s Mill is set for Oct. 16, and one of the shorts on the slate was shot in Virginia Beach.

Kendra Louka of LoukaRound Productions submitted No Grace. She told Potomac Local’s Mike Salmon the film will screen at the Clearbrook Artist Collective program inside the shopping center arts space at 2230 B Tackett’s Mill Drive.

Event

Manassas Latino Festival

September 26, 2026 11:00 am -6:00 pm

Event location

Harris Pavilion

9201 Center Street

Manassas, Virginia 20110

Add to Calendar

Manassas Latino Festival is the oldest Hispanic/Latino, family-centric festival in the area! Held during National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), join in the celebrations with live music, dance performances, diverse foods, and fun for the whole family! Come enjoy this premier annual tradition filled with cultural heritage and contributions of the Latin American community.

Prince William

Families urge blood donations as Board marks Sickle Cell Awareness Month

By PLN News

Published September 17, 2026 at 7:10AM

Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School. Photo: Potomac Local News / file.

Candis King would have turned a year older this month.

The Colgan High School 10th-grader died Oct. 4, 2025, of complications of sickle cell disease. Prince William County Public Schools confirmed her death the next day. Principal Tim Healey told Colgan families in a letter that counseling would be available that week. Potomac Local reported the death Oct. 5, 2025.

Features

Weekend Roundup: Fall Family Festival in Fredericksburg, Oktoberfest in Manassas, and a free band night in Woodbridge

By PLN News

Published September 17, 2026 at 7:05AM

Guests raise steins around a golden keg during Oktoberfest at 2 Silos Brewing Co. in Manassas. Photo courtesy of 2 Silos Brewing Co.

From a free inclusive festival at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds and Oktoberfest at 2 Silos in Manassas to a free outdoor band concert in Woodbridge and Friday night music in Market Square, here are things to do Friday evening through Sunday.

According to the disAbility Resource Center, the Fall Family Festival is Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. A Weekend Roundup Tips media advisory from the center says admission and parking are free, and Deputy Director Seth Whitten said more than 2,700 people attended last year. The festival page promotes a family-friendly day with 80-plus vendors, live music and entertainment, and free family activities.

Newslinks

News Links: Prince William Seeks $373,000 for Behavioral Health Court; Manassas Water Tastes Musty

By PLN News

Published September 17, 2026 at 7:00AM

News Links

Prince William is asking the state for nearly $373,000 to staff a new behavioral health court docket, Manassas says musty tap water is seasonal and safe, and Dominion and NextEra sweetened a $67 billion merger bid that would change Virginia electric bills.

According to InsideNoVa, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors has approved a $373,187 grant request to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to expand the county’s new Behavioral Health Docket. The money would come from the department’s State Opioid Response program for fiscal 2027 and would go to the Office of Criminal Justice Services if the state awards it.

Weather

Warm, humid Thursday with storms late; cooler weekend starts Friday

By PLN News

Published September 17, 2026 at 6:18AM

National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington today’s forecast high temperatures map for Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026.

It is already warmer and stickier than Wednesday. Early this morning, temperatures sit in the mid 60s to low 70s. Dew points are mostly in the 60s. Clouds have built along and east of I-95. Isolated showers may brush western Maryland around daybreak, but most of the region starts dry.

Highs today reach the mid 80s to low 90s. Humidity stays up. Showers and thunderstorms should fire first over the Alleghenies and then slide toward the I-95 corridor between about 4 and 9 p.m. The chance of severe weather is low. A few stronger storms could still produce brief gusty winds. Storms should fade a couple of hours after dark.

Stafford

Stafford Sheriff: missing and endangered person near Pepper Tree Lane located safely

By PLN News

Published September 16, 2026 at 8:16PM | Updated September 17, 2026 at 12:07AM

Photo: Stafford County Sheriff’s Office

UPDATE (11 p.m. Sept. 16): The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said the missing and endangered person has been located safely. The office said there is no threat to the community at this time and thanked people who submitted tips or information that helped locate him.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday evening it was trying to locate a missing and endangered person and that there was a large police presence near Pepper Tree Lane and Regester Chapel Road.

Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Robbery Arrest Near Manassas; Teen Charged After Gun Discharge

By PLN News

Published September 16, 2026 at 3:39PM

Photo: Scott Rodgerson / Unsplash

Prince William County police arrested a 27-year-old Manassas man after a strong-armed robbery report at a Home Depot near Manassas on the night of Sept. 15. Officers said the man took a leaf blower, threatened employees and was detained in the parking lot; they also recovered pliers and shoes reported stolen. The same day’s county report charged a 15-year-old Woodbridge boy with reckless handling of a firearm after a gun discharged at a Woodbridge apartment complex and struck two nearby units.

Stafford County deputies reported a late-night traffic stop on Richmond Highway that led to two narcotics arrests, plus an altered-check fraud complaint.