Rock Hill Church Road is back open to traffic ahead of schedule after crews completed tree removal work at Aquia Creek in Stafford County.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced the reopening at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19. The road had been scheduled to remain closed through Monday, December 22, as part of preparations for a bridge replacement project set to begin in summer 2026.
The annual Stafford Christmas Parade returns to Pratt Park on Saturday, December 20, 2025, bringing holiday cheer, festive floats, and community spirit to the heart of Stafford County.
Presented by Stafford Fair, the parade will step off at 3 p.m. Organizers encourage spectators to arrive early to secure parking, grab food, and claim the best viewing spots.
A strong cold front is pushing through the area this morning, bringing scattered showers early, followed by clearing skies and falling temperatures this afternoon. Gusty west winds will be the main concern today, with breezy conditions lasting into the evening before calming overnight. High pressure builds in Saturday with sunshine and lighter winds, followed by a milder and mostly sunny Sunday.
Upcoming Weather Outlook:
“City Council has already stated publicly it will allow the data center developers to use city drinking water to cool their buildings for an unspecified period of time while the recycled water pipeline is being built,” posted Inform Fredericksburg on Facebook. “This creates a whole other set of problems that have yet to be discussed publicly by City Council.”
“So, here’s the question every city resident should be asking: Who’s going to pay to expand the city’s water treatment plant to accommodate a single user?” the post continued. “Taxpayers or the developer?”
The annual Jingle Mingle hosted by WFLS Radio brought the Fredericksburg community together for a festive night that raised more than $6,000 to help local rescue dogs. Held December 12 at the Fredericksburg Convention Center, the event featured a silent auction with big-ticket items like autographed Taylor Swift albums, Richmond getaways, and a recliner from Powell’s Furniture.
WFLS Market Manager Debbie Patten and Promotions Director Sean Quinn, both dog lovers, spearheaded the fundraiser to support Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS). Patten adopted her own dog from ODHS, while Quinn has regularly welcomed rescue dogs and volunteers on air to help connect them with new families.
“We encourage members of the Fredericksburg community to participate in these discussions and help shape the vision for this important memorial,” Fredericksburg Area Museum stated. “Public input is integral as we work toward a design that honors history, fosters understanding, and supports community reflection.”
The Fredericksburg Area Museum and the City of Fredericksburg will host a series of public presentations beginning in January 2026 to share and gather feedback on proposed designs for a new memorial at the former site of the historic Auction Block at William and Charles streets.
“VDOT’s free mobile 511 app offers information about construction, traffic, incidents and congestion as well as access to traffic cameras, weather, electric vehicle charging stations and more,” VDOT stated.
The lane-closure pause is intended to reduce congestion during peak holiday travel periods across the Commonwealth. VDOT is encouraging drivers to plan ahead using its 511 travel tools, which include real-time traffic updates, holiday travel trend maps, and hands-free phone alerts. Motorists in Northern Virginia can also check express lane schedules online, while travelers in Hampton Roads are advised to consider alternate routes due to ongoing tunnel construction and extended delays expected at the Route 17 George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge during bridge openings.
