Potomac Local News

Published March 31, 2026 at 2:05PM

The Virginia Court of Appeals has declared three large-scale data-center rezoning ordinances in rural Prince William County void from the outset, delivering a significant setback to the Digital Gateway project and a victory for nearby homeowners who challenged the approvals.

In a unanimous opinion released today by Judge Stuart A. Raphael, the court affirmed that the Board of County Supervisors’ advertising for the December 12–13, 2023, public hearing violated both state law and the county’s own zoning ordinance. The ruling invalidates the Compass, Digital Gateway North (DG North), and Digital Gateway South (DG South) rezonings approved by a 4-3 vote after a 27-hour marathon hearing.

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VRE On-Time Performance Rebounds to 87–88% but March Delays Highlight Challenges for Riders

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 31, 2026 at 1:00PM

A Virginia Railway Express train pulls into the Fredericksburg train station. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/PLN]

Virginia Railway Express trains have returned to 87-88 percent on-time performance over the past eight of the last 10 months, coming close to the agency’s 90 percent goal, but two difficult weeks in March exposed persistent reliability issues that continue to test commuter patience along the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines.

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Prince William

Haymarket Proposes Flat Real Estate Tax Rate for FY2027; Average Bills Up ~$20–22

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 31, 2026 at 11:00AM

The Town of Haymarket Town Council reviewed a proposed FY2027 budget during its monthly work session on March 30, 2026, that keeps the real estate tax rate flat at $0.098 per $100 of assessed value while projecting modest increases in average tax bills.

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Manassas

Manassas School Board Launches Review of Old Jennie Dean Building

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 31, 2026 at 9:00AM

Jennie Dean statue at Jennie Dean Memorial Park in Manassas, honoring the founder of the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in 1893.

The Manassas City School Board is reviewing its options for the nearly 70-year-old Jennie Dean Elementary building and site, while its replacement is under construction.

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Manassas

Manassas Events Roundup: March 30 – April 11, 2026

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 30, 2026 at 3:00PM

Hey neighbors! Spring is officially in the air in Manassas — from Easter hopping fun to important community conversations and the return of our favorite Saturday market. Plus, summer camp season is kicking off with open houses you won’t want to miss.

Whether your kids love creativity, athletics, or just need a great week of adventure close to home, these camps are designed to keep them active and smiling all summer long. Perfect for families in the greater Potomac region looking for convenient, local options.

Manassas

Manassas Schools Hikes Budget to $175.8M, Emphasize Staff Raises and Facility Needs

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 30, 2026 at 1:00PM

Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) has adopted a $175.8 million budget for fiscal year 2027 across all funds, marking a roughly $15 million, or 9.3 percent, increase over the FY2026 adopted budget. School officials presented the spending plan during a joint meeting with Manassas City Council on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, emphasizing a needs-based balanced budget required under Virginia law while noting ongoing uncertainty at the state level.

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Manassas

Manassas’ New Ballet Brand ‘R-Class’ Masters the Art of Rugged & Dainty Pointe Shoes

By Mike Salmon

Published March 30, 2026 at 11:00AM

Natalya Balatsenko displays shelves of the Russian-made ballet shoes

A very important part of ballet is shoes. For dancers dressed in tights and tutus, getting up on pointe is a move known as “pointe,” and it requires a rugged pair of ballet shoes. Rugged yet dainty is the combination that sets apart outfitter R-Class, a new ballet outfitter in Manassas.

“It’s important to really work on the fit,” said Jennifer Fitzpatrick, who is one of the founders of R-Class with fellow dancer Natalya Balatsenko. Ballet dancers start out at a young age, wearing socks or tights, but haven’t reached the pointe level with fancy shoes. That comes with experience. “When you get on pointe shoes, it’s a real big deal,” she said.

Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Teens die in crash, more scooter assaults, suicide reported

By Uriah Kiser

Published March 30, 2026 at 10:54AM

A 41-year-old woman was walking near McGuffeys Trail and Powells Creek Boulevard around 4:25 p.m. when she was inappropriately touched by a man on a black stand-up electric scooter. Separately, a 53-year-old woman reported being touched around 3:47 p.m. near Powell’s Creek Boulevard and Jedd Forest Lane. No injuries were reported in either case.

This comes after an earlier report of a similar incident the same day. On March 10, around 6:50 p.m., a 26-year-old woman jogging near River Ridge Boulevard and Powells Creek Boulevard was approached by a man on a black electric scooter who touched her inappropriately. She also told police about a similar encounter with the suspect in the same area in May 2025. No injuries were reported in that case either.

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