Strong thunderstorms with damaging winds swept through the region Monday night, leaving thousands of customers without power across Northern Virginia on Tuesday morning.
– Strong winds from severe storms caused widespread outages, with Stafford County seeing the heaviest impact
Key Takeaways
Date, time, place: Feb. 10, 2026, Fredericksburg City Council meeting
Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Democrat, issued a new executive order establishing statewide principles for law enforcement and directed Virginia agencies to end participation in federal civil immigration enforcement agreements.
Key Takeaways
Fire and rescue crews in Dumfries helped rescue a dog Wednesday afternoon after she slid several hundred feet down an ice-covered embankment near her home, according to a Prince William County press release.
Units from Fire Station 23 in River Oaks were dispatched at 12:39 p.m. on January 28, 2026, and found the dog, a 10-year-old black Labrador named Shelby, unable to climb back up the steep, frozen slope. Firefighters worked to safely retrieve her and carried her back to her owners.
Fire & Rescue officials said the program was developed in partnership with the Northern Virginia Emergency Response System and Inova Blood Donor Services. The initiative allows specially trained EMS supervisors to provide whole blood in the field, improving care for patients with severe bleeding before they reach a hospital.
“Due to the potential impacts of weather conditions, Prince William County government facilities will be closed on Sunday, January 25,” Prince William County Government announced. “This includes the Landfill and Compost Facility.”
County officials advised residents who need to visit a county facility this weekend to do so on Saturday, when offices remain open.
A Manassas-area lawmaker has introduced legislation that would allow Virginians to sue police officers and other government officials in state court for alleged civil rights violations.
House Bill 1314, filed by Del. Michelle Lopes Maldonado, would establish a new section of Virginia law creating a state-level civil cause of action for people who say their constitutional or legal rights were violated by officials acting under government authority.
“Most of Virginia’s Democratic congressional delegation is making the case for Virginia to be one of the early primary states in the 2028 presidential race,” Virginia Scope reported. “According to the New York Times, the Democratic National Committee … has said that one state from each of four regions will hold nominating contests in the early window before Super Tuesday.”
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The potential closure of Potomac View Elementary School moved closer to a formal decision this month as Prince William County Public Schools administrators outlined plans to relocate students to a new Woodbridge-area elementary school, prompting renewed concern from parents and school board members over staffing, communication, and student stability.
Meeting: Prince William County School Board, Jan. 7, 2026, Kelly Leadership Center, Woodbridge
