The Fredericksburg Area MPO’s Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee advanced its Complete Streets Plan toward public review this summer while emphasizing the need for safer, more connected transportation networks as the region grows toward a projected 614,620 residents by 2055.
CTAC also ranked SmartScale funding priorities, supported further study of additional river crossings and southern routes to reduce congestion, and addressed ongoing TIP refinements and local maintenance concerns.
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday deferred action on a special use permit for the proposed Vint Hill Switching Station, in response to resident concerns and requests for more information about the technology and broader infrastructure impacts.
The project involves replacing an existing switching station (online since 2018) on an approximately 23-acre A-1-zoned site within a 1960s-era transmission corridor. The new gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) facility would be co-located with a NOVEC substation and a Reed Energy battery storage facility. It aims to meet North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards projected as early as 2027 due to substantial load growth, largely from data centers and other developments in the Gainesville and Manassas areas.
Manassas City Council used its June 22 meeting to celebrate the city’s recent successes and rally residents to keep their Independence Day celebrations local, highlighting a packed calendar of family-friendly events and community pride.
Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger and council members repeatedly encouraged residents to “shop, dine, and celebrate in Manassas” rather than heading to Washington, D.C. City Manager Steve Burke and council leaders pointed to the city’s vibrant offerings as the best way to mark America’s 250th birthday.
Lynn Forkell Greene, a former Manassas City Council member and candidate in the November 2026 election, raised pointed concerns about data centers and infrastructure strain during public comment at the Manassas City Council meeting on June 22, directly linking the issues to recent power outages and broader regional pressures.
Greene told council members she is “not against data centers, but I am against the amount of data centers we have and passing those costs on to the residents.” She highlighted demands for water, electricity, and land, questioned the expiration of tax exemptions, and called for stronger collaboration between local officials and state legislators to develop a coordinated response. She urged a localized plan rather than simply asking residents to cut usage amid ongoing grid and substation frustrations.
Are you tired of how hard it is to find out what’s really happening in your community?
Local events your family would love, school board decisions affecting your kids, tax hikes, development projects, safety updates — too often this vital information is buried, spun, or simply missing. At Potomac Local News, we’ve spent 16 years solving that problem: delivering straight facts about local events, government, and fun things to do in the community, so residents in Fredericksburg, Manassas, Woodbridge, and across Northern Virginia can stay informed and engaged.
The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Prince William County announced the passing of the Honorable Paul B. Ebert, the longest-serving commonwealth’s attorney in Virginia history.
Ebert, who served 52 years as the top prosecutor for Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, died at age 88. He retired in 2019.
An Alexandria man with a prior conviction in a Potomac Mills shooting was sentenced to four years in prison for illegally possessing a machine gun.
Jamarion Dawon Jackson, 23, was driving more than 100 mph on the right shoulder of Interstate 95 in Fairfax County on April 17, 2025, when a Virginia State Trooper tried to pull him over. Jackson crashed into a parked vehicle and two others on the roadway, then fled on foot before being apprehended after trying to enter several vehicles. A loaded handgun with a machine gun conversion device was found in his car.
The City of Fredericksburg’s FY 2027 budget includes a $1 million transfer from the Fredericksburg City Public Schools operating fund balance to the city’s operating fund.
The transfer was detailed during a budget work session and second reading ahead of final approval on May 12, 2026. Deputy City Manager Mark Whitley noted that city and school staff, along with Vice Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. and Council Member Jannan W. Holmes, met regarding the move. Whitley described it as “a good option” that allows the schools to accomplish their goals.
