Author: Potomac Local News

News

Potomac River Named Most Endangered in U.S. for 2026, Citing Data Center Growth and Water Demands

By Potomac Local News
The Neabsco Creek meets the Potomac River near Woodbridge. [Uriah Kiser/Potomac Local News]

The Potomac River ranks as the most endangered river in the U.S. according to American Rivers’ 2026 list, released this month. The designation is largely driven by rapid, uncontrolled data center expansion in the watershed and by the impacts of a major sewage spill into the river in January 2026.

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) issued a statement on April 16 in response to the report. PEC President Chris Miller stated that the listing underscores the cumulative impacts of data centers on natural resources, including access to clean and abundant water that serves the Washington metropolitan area.

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Schools Admit ‘We Can’t Keep Up’ with Bus Complaints, Allocate $100K for New Transportation Office Manager

By Potomac Local News

Transportation challenges for Fredericksburg City Schools continued to draw attention during the April 14, 2026, joint work session between the School Board and City Council, as officials reviewed the proposed FY2027 budget and explored ways to improve bus timeliness and routing.

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Stafford

Stafford Fire Crews Battle Three Weekend Blazes

By Potomac Local News
Firefighters extinguish a large shed fire in the 500 block of Sanford Drive near Greenbank Road on Saturday afternoon, April 18, 2026. The adjacent residence sustained some damage, but no one was hurt. (Stafford County Department of Fire and Rescue)

Just before 1 a.m. Sunday, April 19, units were called to a structure fire along Glen Oak Road near Deacon Road. First-arriving crews found smoke and flames coming from the rear of a single-family home. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze to the back deck, with only minimal heat damage to the exterior of the residence. The Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause as routine procedure. Units were assisted on scene by the Fredericksburg Fire Department.

Earlier on Saturday, April 18, two other fires kept crews busy. Just before 1:30 p.m., units responded to a reported structure fire in the 500 block of Sanford Drive near Greenbank Road. Crews arrived within about five minutes and found a large shed heavily involved in flames that had begun spreading to the surrounding area. Firefighters extinguished the fire and confirmed it did not extend into the adjacent residence, though the home did sustain some damage. The Fire Marshal’s Office is also investigating this incident.

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Fredericksburg

Family Fun Planned at Earth Day on the Rappahannock

By Potomac Local News

The City of Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events Department invites the community to its annual Earth Day Festival on the Rappahannock this Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Old Mill Park, 2201 Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg.

The region’s largest Earth Day celebration offers free family fun with more than 70 local vendors, live music, food trucks, hands-on environmental activities and a sensory tent. Attendees can try kayaking in a paddling pool, climb a rock wall, join goat yoga or relax with live music. Activities suit all ages.

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Stafford

Clark Patton Road Residents Renew Plea for Permanent Water Fix

By Potomac Local News

Clark Patton Road wells remain dry or insufficient for many of the more than 30 homes in Stafford County’s Hartwood District. Residents returned to the Board of Supervisors on April 7, 2026, to renew their plea for a permanent water solution.

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Prince William

Supervisors Cut Prince William Meals Tax, Citing Relief for Restaurants and Diners

By Potomac Local News
A waitress at Dixie Bones BBQ in Woodbridge.

Prince William County supervisors on April 14, 2026, approved a 1 percentage point reduction in the meals tax during the fiscal year 2027 budget markup session, lowering the rate from 3% to 2% effective January 1, 2027. The change is projected to result in an annual revenue loss of more than $6 million for the county.

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Prince William

Prince William County Employees Gain Stronger Union Path as Board Removes 12-Month Card Expiration

By Potomac Local News

The Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted 5-3 on April 7, 2026, to amend the county’s collective bargaining ordinance, eliminating the 12-month expiration on employee authorization cards in Section 2-217.B.3.

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Fredericksburg

Aging School Infrastructure Takes Center Stage: JM Boilers, Hugh Mercer Roof, and Other Capital Needs

By Potomac Local News
[Image: James Monroe High School]

As Fredericksburg City Schools prepares its FY2027 budget, aging building systems and deferred maintenance took center stage during the April 14, 2026, joint work session with City Council.

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Stafford

Riverside Center Calls for County Partnership: 90-Day Joint Working Group Proposed

By Potomac Local News
[Photo: Riverside Center for the Performing Arts]

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts has completed its transition to nonprofit status. At the April 7, 2026, Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting, Liz Lane provided an update on the organization’s progress.

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Features

‘Newsies’ Musical Opens at Hylton This June

By Potomac Local News

Actors Theatre at the ARTfactory will present Disney’s Newsies the Musical at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas this June. The high-energy show, based on the real 1899 Newsboys Strike in New York City, follows young newspaper sellers who unite against powerful publishers for fair treatment. It features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman with a book by Harvey Fierstein.

The production runs June 5 through June 21 in the Gregory Family Theater. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20, and at 2 p.m. on June 7, 14 and 21. Directed by Caroline Scarborough, the cast includes Evan Zimmerman as Jack Kelly, Sean Pflueger as Joseph Pulitzer, and many others from the area.

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