Potomac Local News

Published January 16, 2026 at 4:57PM

Police outside the Red Carpet Inn near Dumfries on Jan. 16, 2026. [Submitted photo]

“Our office is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises that profit from human suffering.” “These arrests stem from a joint investigation between the FBI, the Prince William County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police,” U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said.

Following a raid yesterday, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, federal authorities allege that since May 2023, Kosha and Tarun Sharma, who operate the Red Carpet Inn in Dumfries, took a cut of profits from illegal activity on the motel’s third floor. Between May and December 2025, law enforcement conducted controlled buys of fentanyl and cocaine and prostitution encounters tied to the location. Four other individuals — Margo Waldon Pierce, Joshua Reddick, and Rashard Perrish Smith — were arrested on related charges. All defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, facing a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison if convicted.

Fredericksburg

From “Jeremiah” to a community: How one man’s story helped inspire Fredericksburg’s next homelessness response

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 16, 2026 at 3:30PM

[Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash]

A supportive-housing vision taking shape on more than 30 acres near Fall Hill Avenue is moving from years of planning toward phased construction, even as one major component of the broader development faces a longer and more uncertain timeline.

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg backs statewide gun giveback bill, cites local program as model

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 16, 2026 at 3:00PM

Fredericksburg City Council expressed consensus this week to support legislation creating a statewide firearm giveback program, highlighting the city’s own long-running initiative while broader debate continues over how effective such programs are and whether Fredericksburg’s approach is unique in Virginia.

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Stafford

Stafford Poised to Subsidize Olive Garden, LongHorn With Up to $500K in Tax Rebates

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 16, 2026 at 2:50PM

Stafford County leaders are expected to approve incentive agreements that would return up to $500,000 in meals tax revenue to two national restaurant chains seeking to open new locations in the county.

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Stafford

Stafford County to host public listening session on proposed Kraken Loop transmission line

By Potomac Local News

Published January 16, 2026 at 2:30PM

Stafford County residents will have a chance to weigh in on the controversial North Anna–Kraken Loop Electric Transmission Project during a public listening session on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Brooke Point High School, 1700 Courthouse Road. The session begins at 6:30 p.m. and is intended to provide information on the project’s regulatory process while gathering community feedback.

The evening will feature two identical presentations—one at 6:30 p.m. and another at 8 p.m.—to accommodate more attendees. Following the presentations, attendees can visit interactive stations organized by the five proposed transmission line segments located within Stafford County. County officials will be on hand to answer questions, collect feedback, and share large-scale maps to help residents understand how the project may affect their neighborhoods.

Fredericksburg

‘I Just Want to Serve:’ Sheriff Rashawn Cowles Outlines First-Term Vision

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 16, 2026 at 2:00PM

Kim Cowles pinning the Sheriff's Badge on Sheriff Rashawn Coles during his December 2025 swearing-in ceremony. [Fredericksburg Sheriff's Office via Facebook]

It’s been a busy couple of weeks at the Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Office with newly sworn-in Sheriff Rashawn Cowles.

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Winter Restaurant Week returns with new flavors and digital perks

By Potomac Local News

Published January 16, 2026 at 1:30PM

A fresh take on winter dining: Mason-Dixon Cafe's Italian Chicken Salad, part of Fredericksburg Winter Restaurant Week 2026.

Fredericksburg Winter Restaurant Week kicks off Friday, January 16, and runs through Sunday, January 25, 2026, bringing deals and special menus to diners across the city. The event features local restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and specialty food spots offering a wide range of price-friendly options.

This year’s Restaurant Week welcomes first-time participants including Locavore, Smugglers Cafe, and Fearless Gluten Free Cafe. Their addition brings new energy and flavors to the event, which has become a popular tradition in Fredericksburg’s food scene.

Prince William

Potomac View case shows human cost of Prince William schools’ reset

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 16, 2026 at 1:00PM

A Potomac View Elementary School parent demands school staff be transferred to a new Woodbridge-area elementary school ahead of the Potomac View's eventual closure.

As Prince William County Public Schools leaders debate how to adapt to declining enrollment and rising costs, families in Woodbridge are already seeing what those decisions mean in practice.

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Prince William

FBI, Prince William police raid Red Carpet Inn in Dumfries in trafficking investigation

By Potomac Local News

Published January 16, 2026 at 11:00AM

[Submitted Photo by: Betty Amanda Murray, used with permission]

Federal and local law enforcement conducted a joint operation at the Red Carpet Inn on Dumfries Road on January 15, targeting suspected drug distribution and sex trafficking activity.

The FBI and Prince William County Police Department executed multiple search warrants at the motel, located at 17005 Dumfries Road in Dumfries. Authorities say the action stems from a multiyear investigation focused on criminal activity at the location. Several arrests were made, though officials did not immediately release the number or names of those taken into custody.