Author: Uriah Kiser

I'm the Founder and Publisher of Potomac Local News. Raised in Woodbridge, I'm now raising my family in Northern Virginia and care deeply about our community. If you're not getting our FREE email newsletter, you are missing out. Subscribe Now!

Manassas

Manassas bids farewell to City Attorney S. Craig Brown after 8 years

By Uriah Kiser

The Manassas City Council paused its March 9, 2026, meeting to honor retiring City Attorney S. Craig Brown, presenting a proclamation commending his eight years of service as the city’s first in-house legal counsel.

Vice Mayor Mark D. Wolfe, the sole remaining council member from those who unanimously appointed Brown on February 20, 2018, read Resolution R-2026-743. Wolfe lightheartedly noted he “drew the short straw” for the task but affirmed the decision’s success. “We made a good choice… Life is a lot easier in Manassas than in Charlottesville,” he said, alluding to Brown’s prior role in the more contentious environment of Charlottesville.

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Breaking News

Republican Jeannie LaCroix Wins Woodbridge District Supervisor Special Election in Upset Victory

By Uriah Kiser
LaCroix

Republican Jeannie M. LaCroix, Republican, has won the special election for the Woodbridge District seat on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, defeating Democratic nominee Muhammed Sufiyan “Sef” Casim and write-in candidate Pamela Montgomery, Democrats, in a low-turnout contest marked by controversy and party division.

Unofficial results from the Prince William County Office of Elections show LaCroix receiving 43.73% of the vote (1,694 votes), Casim with 37.07% (1,436 votes), and write-ins (primarily for Montgomery) at 19.20% (744 votes). The total turnout reflects a divided Democratic base in a district that has historically leaned strongly Democratic.

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Stafford

Buc-ee’s Hearing Deferred Again at Stafford Planning Commission, Stage Set for Other Zoning Debates

By Uriah Kiser

A hearing on the proposed Buc-ee’s travel center has been deferred for a second time at the Stafford County Planning Commission, shifting the public hearing from January to March 25, 2026.

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Features

Egg Hunts, Reptiles and Free Movies: Stafford Parks’ Spring Lineup

By Uriah Kiser

Stafford Parks and Recreation is gearing up for a fun-filled spring with a lineup of family-friendly special events designed to entertain kids and parents alike. From egg hunts to reptile encounters and sensory-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in the coming weeks.

Families looking for engaging ways to spend time together should mark their calendars and register soon—these popular programs tend to fill up quickly.

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Prince William

Prince William’s Co-Responder Program Diverts 72% of Crises from Custody: A Year in Review

By Uriah Kiser
Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham [Photo: Uriah Kiser]

In a year marked by innovative partnerships and proactive measures, Prince William County’s co-responder program has emerged as a beacon of progress in addressing behavioral health crises, successfully diverting 72% of cases from custody in 2025.

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Manassas

Manassas Police Report 15% Crime Drop in 2025, Highlight Community Collaboration

By Uriah Kiser

Manassas Police Chief Douglass Keen presented the department’s 2025 annual report to City Council on March 9, 2026, announcing a 15% reduction in the crime rate—from 21 to 17 crimes per 1,000 persons—and crediting collaborative efforts between law enforcement and residents.

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Prince William

Fatal Shooting at Potomac Shores Basketball Courts Claims Life of Man, 18

By Uriah Kiser
[Photo: Alan Gloss]

The homicide investigation began on March 9 at approximately 5:33 p.m. when officers responded to the 1800 block of Potomac Shores Parkway (22026), an outdoor recreational area near the Shores Club in this master-planned Dumfries neighborhood.

Police say several people were playing basketball when another group arrived, leading to a confrontation that escalated into an exchange of gunfire. Everyone scattered after the shots were fired.

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Schools

Hansford Wins Back Job: Arbitrator Slams PWCS for Union Discrimination in Hiring Denial

By Uriah Kiser

In a decision that underscores the protections afforded to union leaders under Virginia’s collective bargaining laws, a neutral arbitrator has ruled that Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) committed unfair labor practices by refusing to rehire former Prince William Education Association (PWEA) President Mary “Maggie” Hansford in August 2025. Hansford, who led the union through historic wage negotiations, described the ruling as a moment of “relief and gratitude” in an exclusive statement to Potomac Local News.

The case centers on PWCS’s denial of Hansford’s applications for a speech-language pathologist position and a substitute teacher role. The school division cited media reports of a Virginia Education Association (VEA) audit alleging mismanagement during Hansford’s PWEA presidency, which led to an emergency trusteeship imposed on July 21, 2025. The trusteeship, which suspended Hansford and the PWEA board, was upheld following a contentious 14-hour hearing in August 2025.

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Prince William

Woodbridge District Supervisor Special Election Set for Tuesday, March 10, 2026

By Uriah Kiser
Casim, LaCroix, Montgomery

Prince William County voters in the Woodbridge Magisterial District head to the polls tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in a special election to fill a vacancy on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.

The seat became vacant after former Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin won a special election in January 2026 for the Virginia House of Delegates’ 23rd District. The Circuit Court ordered the special election to replace her.

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