Police Blotter

Prince William County police reported two notable arrests stemming from incidents on July 30. The most serious involved a Woodbridge man charged in connection with brandishing a firearm and impersonating a law enforcement officer during encounters reported the previous week.

In a separate case, a juvenile was arrested after allegedly assaulting an officer who responded to a shoplifting at a local grocery store. Both incidents occurred in Woodbridge.


Stafford

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Friday that Justin Forman is no longer employed by the agency and directed all further questions to the FBI.

Jackson Arnold, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, said Forman’s employment was terminated due to personal conduct that violated agency policies. He specified the termination was not related to professional or on-duty conduct.


Publisher's Post

Stafford County Public Schools is about to open three new schools — Hartwood High, Falls Run Elementary, and Crow’s Nest Elementary. That is real progress for a rapidly growing division. Families have waited years for the seats. The excitement from the school board and administration is understandable.

What is not understandable is the language that comes with it.


Business

Believe it or not, the struggle to minimize food waste can begin with an app. Kevin Barr of Fredericksburg has just the app—and the energy—to do something about it when he launches “Health Barr” on August 30, just before Food Waste Prevention Week, September 28–October 4.

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Politics

David Williams enlisted in the Navy in Norfolk, became a Marine Corps infantry officer with two combat tours in Iraq, served as a State Department diplomat, and rose to CIA Chief of Station. Now the combat veteran and intelligence officer is running in Virginia’s August 4 Republican primary for U.S. Senate, arguing the Commonwealth needs someone who can actually beat longtime incumbent Democrat Mark Warner in November.


Politics

Rick Smithers is not currently a resident of Virginia’s 7th District—but he says he’ll move the day after the primary if voters choose him. In this Potomac Local News interview, the pastor, veteran, construction business owner, and recent public-policy doctoral graduate lays out why he’s running in the Republican primary for the seat that includes Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Prince William and surrounding localities.


Manassas

Manassas City Public Schools students are taking far more Advanced Placement exams and earning higher scores, according to an update presented to the School Board this week.

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Fredericksburg

The University of Mary Washington will open its Fall 2027 application on Aug. 1 through its website or the Common App and has joined the Common App Direct Admissions program for eligible Virginia students, the University of Mary Washington reported. Direct admission offers are non-binding, waive the application fee and give students an early indication of acceptance along with details on more than 100 majors, scholarships, the new Piscopo Rodgers Science Fellows program, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and other pathways.

The Fredericksburg-based public liberal arts university said the initiative reduces barriers in the college search process and aligns with its longstanding focus on access and student success for Virginia applicants, who can activate it simply by adding UMW to their Common App list.