About Us

Welcome to your one source for news and events happening right here in Virginia’s Potomac Communities. Launched in 2010, PotomacLocal.com is the only independently owned and operated source of local news in Dumfries, Stafford and Woodbridge.

Right here on PotomacLocal.com – which is constantly updated with the latest local information – on our Twitter and Facebook pages, to your mobile device, we are committed to being your one source to get breaking news and learn about events happening right where you live.

Please read, share, comment, send us a news tip, and tell a friend about PotomacLocal.com.

Who We Are

Uriah Kiser
Publisher

Uriah Kiser is a trained journalist with more than 10 years experience and is the recipient of the Virginia Press Association’s 2009 Breaking News Multimedia Storytelling Award.

In addition to producing PotomacLocal.com, Uriah worked as freelance journalist at WRC-TV in Washington where his stories appeared on the station’s website, NBCWashington.com.

Prior to writing for NBC he covered breaking news, transit issues, police, fire and rescue at News & Messenger and InsideNoVA.com in Prince William County, Va. While there, he covered the execution of Washington, D.C. area sniper John Allen Mohammed, covered the election and inauguration of President Barack Obama and many other stories that gripped the local community.

While writing, reporting and producing for Mills TV, Uriah was the recipient of a Telly Award for outstanding feature reporting.

He has also reported for News Channel 8 in Washington, and worked at WVVA-TV in Bluefield, WVa.

Uriah lives with his wife in Woodbridge.

Mary Davidson
Senior Photographer

Mary Davidson has been a freelance photographer for the past two and a half years.

She has worked with several publications including News & Messenger, Stafford County Sun and Insidenova.com.

Mary is excited to be covering the Potomac communities.

When it comes to shooting news, sports, features or anything else, she always looks to capture emotion in every photo she takes.

A longtime area resident, she currently lives with her husband in Stafford County.

Laura Cirillo
Contributing Columnist 

Laura Cirillo is one of the few “Potomac Locals,” born and raised and still residing in the Northern Virginia area. Before obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish at George Mason University, Laura delivered newspapers as a child with her younger brother, and later worked in the Circulation Department at the Manassas News & Messenger.

Laura writes the “Slug Tales” column on PotomacLocal.com, Laura admits the newspaper ink still runs in her blood.

Whether slugging in cars or riding the bus, Laura knows commuting is always more fun on Northern Virginia’s High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, avoiding rush hour madness and catching a power nap along the way. She enjoys sharing her daily adventures in the slug lines, and keeping her fellow commuters updated on all things traffic-related.

Laura lives in Prince William County with her fiancé and their dogs, Luigi and Mason, and commutes to work daily in Washington, D.C.

KJ Mushung
Contributing Reporter

KJ Mushung is a reporter and copy editor for PotomacLocal.com who actually likes going to local government meetings and reading the public works reports.

Mushung has over a decade of experience working for newspapers, magazines, radio and television.

Don’t worry, no one else can pronounce the name right either.

Stephanie Tipple
Contributing Reporter 

Stephanie Tipple is a New England native, student and freelance journalist, writing about local news, lifestyle features and fashion columns for PotomacLocal.com, Prince William Living Magazine, NOVA Fortnightly and USA TODAY.

She is obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Mary Washington, before attending law school for public policy law.

Stephanie is involved in the community as a member of the AAUW, as well as running her own marketing and writing solutions business. She enjoys writing, reading and getting her entertainment fix from Netflix. She plans to remain a resident in the Potomac Communities and hopes to move into a career in public policy.

Al Alborn
Contributing Editor 

Al Alborn is a political activist, wildlife Conservationist, and blogger. He has been blogging on public policy and technology for the past five years.

After a 22-year career in the Army that included seven years in the Far East and five in Europe, Alborn transitioned to the private sector. He has worked for several Fortune 500 Companies to include GE, Texas Instruments, and SAIC. After leaving SAIC as a Vice President & Division Manager, Al worked with a couple of start-ups as a “C” Level/VP and eventually started his own company.

Alborn is active in Prince William County Government. He has been a member of four budget committees as well as the 2008 and 2012 PWC Strategic Planning Teams. Al is a graduate of the Leadership Prince William Program and the Prince William County Police Department Citizens Police Academy. He is also a Charter Founding Member of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.

Alborn’s blog posts have been picked up by several local and national news outlets (including PotomacLocal.com) and have occasionally evolved into front-page news stories.

Alborn lives with his Wife and Daughter in Prince William County’s Semi-Rural Residential Area, in a log cabin, within walking distance of the Occoquan River.