Renee Shelly lives in Stafford and is married to a Prince William County Police officer.
She knows her husband’s job working on immigration cases is a tough one, but community celebrations like the one Saturday in Woodbridge honoring the department’s 40th anniversary makes her entire family feel appreciated, she said.
“There is a lot of good support from the community out here and within this organization. Police officers take care of their own too, so we are glad to know we all have the support we need,” said Shelley.
In addition to taking care of their own, Prince William police have been taking care of the community since they began patrolling the streets on July 1, 1970.
This weekend, hundreds turned out for a birthday celebration where the community came to learn about the SWAT team, scuba team, forensics, crash investigations, and mounted, marine and K9 patrols.
The free event was so large it attracted visitors from other states.
“You don’t realize how many people protect you. There’s so much involved in all of the different areas of police work. My nephew has been waiting days to come see this,” said Liz Aleo from New Jersey.
And while it was police officers who were all smiles and shaking hands with visitors, the robot that does the job these officers can’t was also on hand.
Jason Kohl, a 14-year veteran with the department, spent the afternoon operating the remote control robot used by the SWAT team. It along with the artillery they use drew many visitors to their table.
“The turnout has been really nice. The SWAT team does a lot of demos, we do a lot of shows to show people the equipment that we have… certainly it nice opportunity to meet the public and show them what we do,” said Kohl.
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Virginia Scope – The Virginia Senate is blocking multiple appointees from Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration. A source told Virginia Scope that these appointees had no idea they were not going to be removed.
Jeff Goettman, Yesli Vega, Meg Bryce and Ken Marcus were among the appointees blocked.
When these appointments made it to the full Senate floor Friday afternoon, the debate lasted hours.
Fredericksburg Free Press – Community leaders and local officials in the Fredericksburg area are grappling with how to protect undocumented immigrants in the context of mass deportation efforts directed by President Trump and enforced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
One aspect of the president’s new border policy is particularly troubling to some in the Fredericksburg area — the removal of the protection of migrants at schools, churches and hospitals.
Spotsylvania County Public School Superintendent Clint Mitchell sent a letter to the “SCPS community” stating that school officials and administrators will not inquire about the immigration status of students, or their families and that confidential student information will only be disclosed to authorities “in strict compliance with state and federal laws.”
WRIC-TV — In an effort to improve workers’ rights, Virginia Democrats have introduced two bills during this year’s General Assembly session to allow all public employees at both the state and local levels to collectively bargain.
“We need collective bargaining and we need it now,” Harry Szabo, an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University said at a press conference on Friday.
Currently, public workers are allowed to join a union, but they can’t collectively bargain for higher wages or better working conditions unless collective bargaining has been approved by their locality.
Traffic disruptions and lane reductions are set to begin on northbound I-495 (Capital Beltway Inner Loop) near Tysons, Virginia, as part of the 495 NEXT project’s Big Beam Weekend. The impacts will start tonight, Friday, January 24, at 9 p.m., and continue through 5 a.m. Monday, January 27. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area and plan alternate routes, as significant delays and backups are anticipated.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
