Breaking News

Republican Jeannie M. LaCroix, Republican, has won the special election for the Woodbridge District seat on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, defeating Democratic nominee Muhammed Sufiyan “Sef” Casim and write-in candidate Pamela Montgomery, Democrats, in a low-turnout contest marked by controversy and party division.

Unofficial results from the Prince William County Office of Elections show LaCroix receiving 43.73% of the vote (1,694 votes), Casim with 37.07% (1,436 votes), and write-ins (primarily for Montgomery) at 19.20% (744 votes). The total turnout reflects a divided Democratic base in a district that has historically leaned strongly Democratic.


Stafford

A hearing on the proposed Buc-ee’s travel center has been deferred for a second time at the Stafford County Planning Commission, shifting the public hearing from January to March 25, 2026.

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Features

Stafford Parks and Recreation is gearing up for a fun-filled spring with a lineup of family-friendly special events designed to entertain kids and parents alike. From egg hunts to reptile encounters and sensory-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in the coming weeks.

Families looking for engaging ways to spend time together should mark their calendars and register soon—these popular programs tend to fill up quickly.


Prince William

In a year marked by innovative partnerships and proactive measures, Prince William County’s co-responder program has emerged as a beacon of progress in addressing behavioral health crises, successfully diverting 72% of cases from custody in 2025.

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Manassas

Manassas Police Chief Douglass Keen presented the department’s 2025 annual report to City Council on March 9, 2026, announcing a 15% reduction in the crime rate—from 21 to 17 crimes per 1,000 persons—and crediting collaborative efforts between law enforcement and residents.

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Prince William

Prince William County Police have upgraded their investigation into Monday evening’s shooting near the basketball courts in the Potomac Shores community to a homicide after an 18-year-old man from Dumfries succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

The incident occurred on March 9 at 5:33 p.m. in the 1800 block of Potomac Shores Parkway, near Dumfries, an outdoor recreational area in the master-planned Dumfries neighborhood known for its family-friendly amenities, including the Shores Club and nearby basketball courts.


Schools

In a decision that underscores the protections afforded to union leaders under Virginia’s collective bargaining laws, a neutral arbitrator has ruled that Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) committed unfair labor practices by refusing to rehire former Prince William Education Association (PWEA) President Mary “Maggie” Hansford in August 2025. Hansford, who led the union through historic wage negotiations, described the ruling as a moment of “relief and gratitude” in an exclusive statement to Potomac Local News.

The case centers on PWCS’s denial of Hansford’s applications for a speech-language pathologist position and a substitute teacher role. The school division cited media reports of a Virginia Education Association (VEA) audit alleging mismanagement during Hansford’s PWEA presidency, which led to an emergency trusteeship imposed on July 21, 2025. The trusteeship, which suspended Hansford and the PWEA board, was upheld following a contentious 14-hour hearing in August 2025.


Prince William

Prince William County voters in the Woodbridge Magisterial District head to the polls tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in a special election to fill a vacancy on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.

The seat became vacant after former Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin won a special election in January 2026 for the Virginia House of Delegates’ 23rd District. The Circuit Court ordered the special election to replace her.


Traffic

Officers responded around 6:45 p.m. March 8 to the intersection of Cardinal Drive and Whips Run Drive in Woodbridge after reports of a multi-vehicle collision, according to Prince William County police.

Investigators say a 2015 Hyundai Genesis was traveling the wrong way in the eastbound lanes of Cardinal Drive when it struck a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe head-on. The force of the crash pushed the Santa Fe into a 2025 GMC Hummer also traveling eastbound. Debris from the crash struck an unoccupied 2024 Honda Accord parked in a nearby driveway on Whips Run Drive.