President Biden is scheduled to deliver a speech today at Prince William Forest Park. The event, to commemorate Earth Day, will commence at 2:45 p.m. Those interested can watch the speech online.
A portion of the 13,000-acre recreational area near Quantico Marine Corps Base is closed to visitors to accommodate them.
The closure and restrictions imposed on the park are in response to a request from the United States Secret Service to ensure a secure staging area and perimeter with adequate standoff distance to safeguard the President during his visit, federal documents state. These temporary measures are also aimed at enabling the Secret Service to conduct security sweeps of the area, secure the landing zone for the President’s arrival, and ensure public safety.
The National Park Service, assessing the situation, deems the closure necessary to protect visitors during the Secret Service’s operations considering the nature of their activities. Although the National Park Service explored the possibility of an alternate or smaller area, the Secret Service determined that lesser restrictive measures or an alternate location would not suffice based on their security assessment.
This visit marks President Biden’s second to Prince William County in 2024. He kicked off his campaign with Vice President Kamala Harris in January at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. President Obama’s visit to Prince William County in 2012 marked the last time a Democrat running for the White House visited the area, once regarded as a bellwether for national elections. Obama held a campaign rally at Richard G. Pfitzner Stadium, formerly the home of the Fredericksburg Nationals (Potomac Nationals), where he arrived via helicopter.
Prince William Parks and Recreation sponsors today’s weather forecast.
Summer Job Alert: Parks and Recreation Hiring Seasonal Workers Now! Want to earn some extra cash this summer and enjoy your job at the same time? PWC Parks and Recreation is now hiring for seasonal jobs.. Camp Counselors, Lifeguards, Cooks and more…
We can expect a continuation of cool but clear weather as high pressure dominates the region today and into tomorrow. According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, a cold front is anticipated to pass through the area on Wednesday, ushering in another round of high pressure towards the end of the week.
As of today, an upper trough is approaching from the west, accompanied by surface high pressure centered across the lower Mississippi Valley. This configuration has led to elevated winds and a swath of high clouds, which have somewhat tempered the morning temperatures. However, a period of clear and calm conditions is still anticipated towards sunrise, maintaining the likelihood of frost and freeze conditions and prompting frost/freeze advisories to remain in effect.
Throughout the day, the high-pressure system is expected to strengthen over the area while the upper trough advances eastward. Consequently, mostly sunny skies are forecasted, though temperatures are projected to remain slightly below normal, ranging from the lower to mid-60s.
Tonight, the high pressure will shift towards the Carolinas, increasing the likelihood of calm winds. Skies will remain mostly clear until the approach of some high clouds towards sunrise. While dew points are expected to rise slightly, remaining in the lower 30s across much of the region, conducive conditions for radiational cooling will persist.
This may result in rural areas experiencing temperatures dropping into the mid to upper 30s, while urban centers are likely to remain in the mid-40s. Additional Frost Advisories are expected, with some areas, such as the Shenandoah Valley and Culpeper Basin, possibly touching freezing temperatures.
Looking ahead, Tuesday is anticipated to bring mostly sunny conditions, with temperatures climbing slightly higher, reaching around 72°F. However, Tuesday night may see a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m., with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures around 55°F. Winds are forecasted to pick up from the south at 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Wednesday is expected to bring a slight chance of showers, with partly sunny skies and a high near 74°F. Winds are forecasted to shift from the northwest at 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Congress today passed bill H.R.8035, known as the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, which gives $61 billion in assistance to Ukraine. This includes funds for various forms of aid, such as military, economic, and humanitarian support.
Locally, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-7th District, Prince William, Stafford, Fredericksburg), and Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10, Prince William, Manassas) supported the measure. Rep. Ben Cline (R-6th, Roanoke) and Bob Good (R-5th, Lynchburg) were among 112 Republicans who opposed the measure.
More than 10,500 people have been killed, and nearly 20,000 injured since Ukraine’s war with Russia began on on February 24, 2022. The war in Ukraine, often referred to as the Russo-Ukrainian War, started when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This conflict is part of a larger ongoing dispute that began in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
Spanberger and Wexton also voted today to send $14.3 billion to support U.S. military operations in and around Isreal in the wake of attacks from Iran last week. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Arlington) and Rep. Bob Good voted against the measure.
Spanberger and Wexton announced they will not seek office in 2024 after serving three terms. Wexton is retiring due to health matters, while Spanberger is mounting a run for Virginia governor in 2025.
It was a short drive from her school, and the city provided us with a chance to get to know one another better. Its backdrop was culture, fun things to do, restaurants, and what seemed to be a never-ending number of places where we could peer back into our nation’s both celebrated and troubled past.
I can remember walking along Monument Avenue at night, looking at the illuminated statues, and the gorgeous homes that lined the boulevard. I viewed these monuments, in what had been the capital city of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, not as something glorious or objects to celebrate but as a reminder of how the Civil War tore the country apart and as a reminder of the stain of slavery left on our nation.
The statues were constant reminders of our past, and reminders not to repeat the same mistakes again.
The statues, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and placed there in the late 19th century during reconciliation, are now a memory. Black Lives Matter protesters defaced them in 2020, and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney removed them the next year, placing them in a statue graveyard (location undisclosed) and transferring their ownership from the people to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.
He couldn’t move them to a national park or battlefield, like the ones we have here in Fredericksburg or Manassas. He sent them away from public view to send a message: This history won’t be tolerated in this city or anywhere else.
Now, the same people who celebrated their removal say they’re disappointed the city has not replaced the statues with something as pleasing. In fact, all that’s there now is some mulch, plants, and trees—a far cry from the historical significance of what once stood.
“I’m not sure I can even put into words what I see other than disappointment. There’s nothing there that has any meaning or purpose,” Caroline Bowers, who participated in the 2020 rallies and marches told WTVR-TV. “I was hoping for maybe a park-like setting where you could come and you could sit and you could kind of feel and reminisce what happened here.”
Stoney told the TV station he has no plan to replace the statutes and will instead divert city funds to other parts of the city. The Democrat hopes to be Virginia’s next governor. He is challenging Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D) for their party’s nomination in 2025.
People from across the U.S. went to what was the Confederacy’s capital to see the statues and learn the history of the Civil War. Now, the city is said to have the appearance of a communist Democratic Republic.
“Only Richmond could take one of its premier tourist attractions and the only street in America that was on the National Register of Historic Places… and turn it into a scene from East Germany,” one user posted to WTVR’s Facebook page.
“Those who voted for those statues to be taken down, couldn’t see past their hatred to even consider what they might put as a replacement. They were just so anxious to get them down, and for all of those folks who voted to take them down, I sure hope you feel good and you sleep better at night. Ignorance at its finest,” wrote another.
Residents like Bowers, who cheered when the historic monuments were defaced and removed, allowed themselves to be hoodwinked, played, and taken advantage of. Three years later, her neighborhood is no better off, and tourists no longer have a reason to visit the place history buffs flocked to and authors wrote about.
I’ve often heard, “The left likes to tear down because it’s easy. It doesn’t like to build anything, because that’s hard.”
This must be what they mean.
Uriah Kiser is the founder and publisher of Potomac Local News.
Prince William Parks and Recreation sponsors today’s weather forecast.
Summer Job Alert: Parks and Recreation Hiring Seasonal Workers Now! Want to earn some extra cash this summer and enjoy your job at the same time? PWC Parks and Recreation is now hiring for seasonal jobs.. Camp Counselors, Lifeguards, Cooks and more…
According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, a cold front is approaching, causing weather changes.
Today, cloudy skies will dominate the region, with temperatures reaching a high near 64 degrees Fahrenheit. A southeast wind of around 7 mph is expected. While there’s a chance of scattered showers, particularly before 2 a.m., residents can anticipate mostly cloudy conditions tonight with a low of around 52 degrees Fahrenheit. Patchy fog may develop between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.
Conditions will continue to fluctuate as the weekend progresses. Saturday will start mostly cloudy but gradually become sunny, with a high near 72 degrees. A northwest wind of around 10 mph will usher in cooler air. Saturday night will bring partly cloudy skies, with a low of about 43 degrees and a north wind of 6 to 9 mph.
On Sunday, expect mostly cloudy conditions once again, with a high near 64 degrees Fahrenheit. The north wind will shift to the west in the afternoon, blowing at 5 to 7 mph.
The forecast suggests that low pressure tracking northward will usher in a cold front, causing showers to move through the area late tonight. While shower chances will increase west of the Blue Ridge throughout the morning, the likelihood of widespread precipitation remains uncertain. However, keep an umbrella handy as scattered showers may persist.
With cooler air gradually entering the region, temperatures are expected to fluctuate, ranging from the lower 40s in higher elevations to the mid-50s in southern and eastern areas.
“The Town of Dumfries of Virginia is honored to announce its participation as an official stop on the National League of Cities (NLC) Centennial Roadshow: 100 Years, 100 Cities. This initiative is part of NLC’s year-long celebration, marking a century of commitment to advancing local government and advocating for the interests of cities, towns, and villages nationwide,” notes a press release from the Dumfries Town Government.
“During the roadshow stop in the Town of Dumfries, we will have the opportunity to tour the new construction site of the Rose Gaming Resort, a testament to our Town’s growth and development. Additionally, we will visit the Town’s outdoor fitness court, a vibrant space that promotes wellness and community engagement, reflecting our commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle.”
“As the journey progresses, the roadshow will continue making stops in cities across the country, including Tampa, Florida, where NLC will host its annual City Summit conference and culminating event this November.”
Prince William Parks and Recreation sponsors today’s weather forecast.
Summer Job Alert: Parks and Recreation Hiring Seasonal Workers Now! Want to earn some extra cash this summer and enjoy your job at the same time? PWC Parks and Recreation is now hiring for seasonal jobs.. Camp Counselors, Lifeguards, Cooks and more…
A stable atmosphere blankets the region as a long-lived outflow boundary pushes south and eastward. Radar echoes near the Mason-Dixon Line hint at light shower activity, but forecasters predict minimal impact from these isolated showers.
This weak cold front, currently spanning central West Virginia to western Pennsylvania, is forecasted to pass through by midday, bringing northwesterly winds and gusts up to 15 to 20 mph. This downsloping effect will usher in warm mid-April temperatures, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s across the Mid-Atlantic. Cooler conditions are anticipated along the Allegheny Front and northeastern Maryland, where highs will hover in the mid to upper 60s.
As evening approaches, winds will shift to an east-northeastern direction, reintroducing marine stratus and leading to a cooler night compared to recent days. Lows will be mainly in the mid- to upper 40s. Shower chances are expected to hold off until after sunrise on Friday.
Forecast Summary:
- Today: Mostly sunny with a high near 81. Northwest winds of 5 to 8 mph.
- Tonight: Increasing clouds with a low of around 49. East winds of 6 to 8 mph.
- Friday: Chance of showers after 2 pm. Mostly cloudy with a high near 70. Southeast winds around 6 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday Night: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 pm, then a chance of showers between 11 pm and 2 am. Mostly cloudy with a low of around 53. Southeast winds around 6 mph become light and variable in the evening. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday: Partly sunny with a high near 71. Northwest winds around 8 mph.
“Electra.aero, Inc. (“Electra”), a next-gen aerospace company committed to decarbonizing aviation and opening new air transportation markets, today announced a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the U.S. Army valued at $1.9 million that funds powered wind tunnel testing of Electra’s hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. The award enables the U.S. Army to explore Electra’s unique blown wing aircraft technology potential to broaden U.S. military capabilities, especially for fuel-efficient, resilient logistics in contested environments,” states a press release.
“(Electra) is a next-gen aerospace company leading the way in sustainable urban and regional mobility. The company is building clean, hybrid-electric, short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) airplanes that fly people and cargo quieter, further, and more affordably. Electra’s technology delivers 2.5x the payload and 10X longer range with 70% lower operating costs than vertical takeoff alternatives with far less certification risk.”
The firm is based at the Manassas Regional Airport.
Stafford County authorities are still looking for a bank robber who simply peddled away.
From Stafford sheriff’s office:
3:54 p.m. deputies responded to United Bank located at 289 Garrisonville Road. The suspect displayed a firearm and demanded cash from an employee. He was last seen leaving the area on a blue bike. The investigation is ongoing.
The sheriff’s office posted the suspect’s photo to its X account, which we shared in this post. Police did not say how much money the robber had gotten away with.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the sheriff’s office.
