Stafford

A staff-only trip to The Rose Gaming Resort on school buses has put Stafford County Public Schools on the defensive, with the division insisting that no taxpayer dollars were spent, while a supervisor argues that the outing reveals misplaced priorities.

The August 3, 2026 outing has drawn scrutiny for its optics and limited transparency at a time of rising real estate taxes and debate over a potential new local sales tax for school projects.


Police Blotter

A hit-and-run crash and a series of vehicle break-ins were among the incidents reported by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies are investigating several vehicles that were tampered with and had items stolen on Eustace Road and nearby streets. They are asking the public for camera footage from the early morning hours of Aug. 16 and 17.


Event

Dreaming about your next vacation? Join Cruise Planners Beth Borrego and Rod Rodriguez for an inspiring day devoted to ocean and river cruises, guided tours, luxury travel and unforgettable destinations!

Meet representatives from AmaWaterways, Collette, Oceania Cruises and Premier World Discovery. Hear informative presentations, ask questions, explore exciting vacation possibilities and discover which travel experience may be the perfect fit for you.


Stafford

A Stafford-based citizen group says Dominion Energy has delayed filing key segments of its proposed high-voltage transmission line and split the project in two, giving opponents more time to organize.

In an email to supporters this month, Towering Concerns said Dominion is postponing its State Corporation Commission application for segments 3 through 7 of what the utility now calls the North Anna to Bristers 500 kV and 230 kV project. The group said Dominion will file the southern portion in the coming weeks and the northern portion — which includes all of Stafford County — within a year.


Newslinks

A high-profile murder trial jury pool, reported ICE detentions after a fatal quinceañera shooting, and renewed plans for multiple data centers in Gainesville lead this roundup of Prince William County and Northern Virginia news, alongside a new parking ticket towing policy and a Youngkin-backed school choice campaign.

“A Prince William County judge ruled that 300 potential jurors – more than four times the usual number – will be summoned for the upcoming trial of Naresh Bhatt, the Manassas Park man accused of killing his wife,” Prince William Times reported. Judge Kimberly A. Irving cited extensive media coverage and the expected seven-week length of the trial, set to begin Oct. 5, as reasons for the larger pool and plans to select four alternate jurors.


Manassas

A Prince William County General District Court hearing on Manassas City School Board Member Sara Brescia’s Freedom of Information Act petition has been continued from Tuesday, Aug. 18, to Sept. 24.

Brescia filed the petition for a writ of mandamus on Aug. 11 (Case GV26019633-00), alleging that a majority of the board, facilitated by Chair Jill Spall, held an unlawful electronic or telephonic meeting and vote in violation of Virginia’s FOIA. The vote directed Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman to open a full investigation, using outside counsel, into allegations first raised by Board Member Diana Brown.


Fredericksburg

The Fredericksburg City School Board on Monday appointed Dr. Stan Jones to fill the vacant at-large seat, with the longtime educator and nonprofit leader sworn in during a special meeting.Jones, CEO of Action in Community Through Service (ACTS) in Prince William County, will serve as an interim member through the end of 2026. Voters will elect a permanent representative in November to complete the remainder of the term left open by Jarvis Bailey’s resignation, which runs through December 2027.

The appointment followed a competitive process. According to reporting by the Fredericksburg Free Press, Jones was one of five applicants who interviewed with the board. The others were Justin Carter, Beth Flanagan, Jacob Parcell, and Anthony Watkins. The Free Press reported that correspondence sent to board members showed Jones was the only candidate to draw written public support from residents, with 15 people urging his appointment. Read the Free Press report here.


Manassas

With the Federal Aviation Administration’s Finding of No Significant Impact now in hand, Washington Manassas Airport and its private partner Avports are shifting focus to the remaining steps required before commercial passenger flights can begin.

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