Around Town

Incarcerated ex-Marine charged in 2009 slaying of Navy petty officer
The Washington Post reports A former U.S. Marine already serving a prison sentence was charged Thursday in the 2009 slaying of a female Navy petty officer at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington County, federal prosecutors said. The case has ties to Woodbridge.

Man convicted in chain saw attack
Fredericksburg.com reports A man who was hit in the head with a baseball bat after entering his wife’s boyfriend’s home with a chain saw was convicted of two charges Tuesday.

Stafford property values to drop
Fredericksburg.com reports Nearly half of the county’s property owners will see a drop in their values, according to data from Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky.

Shuttle ‘Discovery’ to make final landing at Dulles
WTOP.com reports After 39 trips in space and roughly half a billion miles, the space shuttle Discovery’s final journey will end in the D.C. area, arriving at Dulles International Airport before heading off to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

Expansion work on VRE’s Leeland Station lot to start this weekend
Fredericksburg.com reports Come Monday morning, Virginia Railway Express riders who use the Leeland Station lot in Stafford should notice the beginning phase of the expansion project.

Quantico, surrounding communities launch planning study
Staffordcountysun.com reports Quantico Marine Corps base is beginning its first joint land-use study with the communities that surround it.

Va. lawmaker calls for removal of ‘disrespectful’ Metro ad
WTOP.com reports WMATA issued a statement saying its advertising has been ruled by the courts as protected under the First Amendment, and the Authority does not decline ads based on their political content.

Va., NC to share flood-related data
WTOP.com reports Virginia and North Carolina plan to share maps, risk data and other flood-related information in an effort to improve preparation and floodplain management.

Judge overturns Va. man’s capital murder conviction
WTOP.com reports A federal judge has overturned a man’s capital murder conviction in the 1996 slaying of an elderly Culpeper woman.

Va. lawmakers want Washington’s holiday on Feb. 22
WTOP.com reports Legislation sponsored by three Virginia congressmen would restore Feb. 22 as the permanent federal holiday to recognize the birthday of Founding Father George Washington.

Dominion plans new natural gas-fired power station
The Washington Post reports Dominion Virginia Power plans to build a $1.1 billion, natural gas-fired power station in Brunswick County that will generate enough electricity to power 325,0000 homes.

Va. Senate Democrats kill another budget plan
The Washington Post reports In a bid for more committee power and more state spending, Senate Democrats killed the only remaining state budget plan Wednesday, a move likely to heighten partisan rancor in the General Assembly and force a special session.

Local Residents Meddle in Private Affairs of Students
The (Mary Washington University) Bullet opines The Fredericksburg community’s dissatisfaction with University of Mary Washington students has been a pervasive feature in local news, which is not unusual for residents of an active, often inebriated college town.