MANASSAS, Va. â Firefighters from the City of Manassas, Manassas Park, and Prince William County responded to an apartment fire this afternoon at 8872 Oliver Court, just off Liberia Avenue, where smoke was seen billowing from a second-story unit in a three-story building.
The fire broke out in a bedroom on the second floor shortly before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15. According to Manassas Fire Chief Edward Mills, the unit was unoccupied at the time. Crews arriving at the scene reported smoke showing but no visible flames from outside.
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BRISTOW, Va. â A pickup truck driver was hospitalized Tuesday morning after a collision with an Amtrak train near the Bristow Road railroad crossing, just south of Manassas.
According to Prince William County Fire and Rescue, the crash occurred at 9:21 a.m. on April 15, 2025. A southbound Amtrak train had departed Manassas Station only minutes before when it struck a privately owned pickup truck at the crossing on Bristow Road, east of Nokesville Road.
Emergency crews arrived quickly on the scene and extricated the driver from the vehicle. The driver was then transported by ground to a regional medical facility. Authorities have not yet released the driverâs name or condition.
âThere were no injuries reported on the train,â officials with Fire and Rescue said in a statement.
Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods confirmed that Train 151, traveling from New York to Roanoke, was involved in the collision.
âAt approximately 9:20 a.m. ET, an occupied vehicle obstructing the track came into contact with the train in Manassas, Va.,â said Woods. âThere have been no reported injuries to the 137 passengers or crew onboard. Amtrak is working with local law enforcement to investigate the incident.â
The crash caused delays along the busy passenger rail corridor as emergency personnel cleared the scene and began the investigation. Local law enforcement has not yet released additional details about what caused the vehicle to be on the tracks at the time of the collision.
Photo courtesy of Prince William County Fire and Rescue.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. â Woodbridge has been named the fastest-growing suburb in the United States, according to a new report from Travel + Leisure, shining a national spotlight on eastern Prince William County and prompting praise from local business and government leaders.
The article, published April 10, 2025, highlights Woodbridgeâs explosive 887% population growth between 2018 and 2023, jumping from approximately, in what it cited as 4,000 to more than 43,000 residents. However, anyone who has lived here knows there were more than 4,000 residents in Woodbridge in 2018.
The ranking is based on recent Zillow and United Van Lines data, factoring in migration trends and real estate activity.
âThis is an amazing honor and recognition for what we already know is such a great reward!â said Robert âBobâ Sweeney, President and CEO of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. âI am particularly proud of the supervisors on the East End that are not resting on their laurels, but instead doubling down to make it even a better destination!â
Sweeney credited Prince William County Supervisors Margaret Franklin (Woodbridge), Andrea Bailey (Potomac), Victor Angry (Neabsco), and Kenny Boddye (Occoquan) for their leadership, citing their efforts to drive housing affordability and economic development.
âBetween Margaret Franklin, Andrea Bailey, Victor Angry and Kenny Boddye, we will get to a place where people can continue to come to Prince William Countyânot only to visit but to liveâbecause we have progressive, smart, and thought-through housing affordability policies so citizens can truly live, work and play in Prince William County,â said Sweeney.
The article also notes Woodbridgeâs relative affordability in the Washington, D.C., region, with median home prices around $500,000 and to major commuter routes like Interstate 95 and the Virginia Railway Express. It also highlights the presence of Potomac Mills, one of the areaâs largest outlet malls.
Sweeney pointed to recent successes in tourism, including the Solheim Cup and LIV Golf events, as signs that the regionâs visibility is rising internationally. He also praised Christina Winn, Executive Director of the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, for helping attract global attention.
âChristina Winnâs leadership of our Economic Development and Tourism efforts are paying off!â Sweeney said. âAs I always say: âThere is this man across the pond that is going to be King someday and his name is Prince William. What are we going to be?â We are just starting to see the answers!â
Sweeney also floated the idea of a County-supported multi-use athletic facility, which he said could attract national tournaments and provide an additional economic boost by bringing sports teams and their families to the area.
The Historic Manassas Farmers Market is back for the 2025 season â and itâs bringing fresh produce, handmade goods, and community vibes to Downtown Manassas all spring, summer, and fall.
Whether youâre a market regular or planning your first visit, here are five things to know about this yearâs market:
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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. â When Diane Wheeler and her family adopted Honey from Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) five years ago, they quickly realized she had a calm, friendly personality well-suited for more than just home life. After five years as a beloved family pet, Honey began the process of becoming a certified therapy dog.
In 2024, Honey earned her certification from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), an international registry that tests and certifies dogs for animal-assisted activities. The process ensures each dog has the right temperament, obedience, and relationship with its handler to provide comfort in therapeutic settings.
Today, at 10 years old, Honey volunteers with Blue Gray Therapy Dogs, visiting children in therapy, memory care residents, rehabilitation centers, and patients at a local hematology/oncology infusion clinic.
Research shows that interacting with therapy animals reduces blood pressure, relieves pain, and increases endorphinsâpromoting calm and emotional well-being.
On April 30, Honey will help mark National Therapy Animal Day, founded by Pet Partners to honor the more than three million visits made each year by therapy animals and their handlers. The day celebrates the important role these animals play in supporting physical and emotional health.
Old Dominion Humane Society, the organization that connected Honey with her forever family, holds weekly adoption events:
- Wednesdays from 5â7 p.m.
- Fridays from 6â8 p.m.
- Saturdays from 11 a.m.â3 p.m.
- Sundays from 11 a.m.â1 p.m.
Visit them at 3602 Lafayette Blvd., Fredericksburg, VA, or learn more about available dogs, adoption applications, volunteering, fostering, and donations at olddominionhumanesociety.org.
Note: ODHS does not train or select dogs for therapy certification. Its mission is to match rescue dogs with loving homes.
The Manassas Park Governing Body will meet on Tuesday to review several vital items impacting regional development, transportation, and public safety.
Here's what residents can expect:
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MANASSAS, Va. â Bill Reeder, the founding dean of George Mason Universityâs College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), died over the weekend after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by family in hospice care, according to a message shared by current Dean Rick Davis.
Reeder joined George Mason University in 2001 and led the newly established CVPA for 14 years. Under his leadership, the college expanded its offerings to include now-thriving programs in Film and Video Studies, Computer Game Design, and Arts Management. These additions played a pivotal role in shaping the college into a comprehensive institution for arts education.
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The Spotsylvania County Sheriffâs Office said the shooting stemmed from an attempted illegal gun sale and robbery.
Four suspectsâtwo 16-year-olds, one 17-year-old, and 18-year-old Jeremiah Upson of Caroline Countyâhave been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and unlawful assembly. One of the 16-year-old suspects, who had been hospitalized with a gunshot wound, has since been released and is now being held at the Rappahannock Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
The other three suspects, all from Spotsylvania County, are being held without bond. The suspect still hospitalized will be taken into custody upon release.
The three deceased victims have been identified as:
- Chase Feaster, 18, of Spotsylvania County
- Alonzo Goffney, 18, of Spotsylvania County
- Sincere Devon Fitz, 19, of Spotsylvania County
The Sheriffâs Office initially responded to the scene around 5:30 p.m. on April 8 and discovered multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds. Three individuals were pronounced dead, and three others were transported to local hospitals.
The investigation remains active, but officials say significant progress has been made thanks to the efforts of detectives and assistance from the Fredericksburg Police Department and the Virginia State Police.
âWe commend our detectives on bringing this tragedy to a closure,â said Major Elizabeth Scott in a statement. âWe would certainly be remiss if we didnât thank our community during what has been a stressful and heartbreaking several days.â
SuperCon is back in downtown Manassas and promises a weekend packed with geek culture, gaming, cosplay, and a brush with Hollywood.
The convention, hosted by ARTfactory, will take place Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at 9419 Battle Street. This yearâs headliner is Jamie Flanagan, a Bram Stoker Award-winning writer and actor known for their work on Netflix series including "The Haunting of Bly Manor," "Midnight Mass," and "The Fall of the House of Usher," as well as AMC Shudderâs "Creepshow" and "Peacockâs Hysteria!".
