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.
Yugene Vindman, a Democrat of Lake Ridge, who’s running to replace Abigail Spanberger (D) in Congress, is calling for a review of Virignia’s State Flag, one of the most unique in the world.
Vindman apologized after a photo posted to X (formerly Twitter) showed him posting with the Confederate State Flag of Virginia. It notes, “While monuments to the confederacy have been coming down and roads glorifying traitors are being renamed around the commonwealth, we need to look at all symbols that represent this tragic history, including our current banner which, frankly, too closely resembles the Civil War version.”
The Vindman campaign asked the person who posted the photo to remove it, and he complied. Afterward, he said the “average person would not know the difference” between the two flags.
Virginia has one of the most unique flags anywhere. On it is the state seal adopted in the 1700s, which shows a woman, representing Roman virtue, standing over a slain king, sword in hand, with the words “sic semper tyrannis,” meaning “thus [death] always to tyrants.”
The version adopted by the confederates, used during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, has a few notable differences, such as colors and a breastplate on the woman standing over the king. On the current version of our flag, the woman’s breast is exposed, leaving the Virginia State Flag as the only one in the U.S. to display not only a dead man but also nudity.
Vindman posed with Virignia’s Confederate State Flag last weekend after speaking at a conference about his home county of Ukraine in Washington, D.C. The photo, subsequent apology, and calls to review the state flag’s design have led both Democrats and Republicans to take to social media to condemn Vindman’s calls for changing the beloved state flag.
“The Commonwealth is my home – the place that raised me,” Derrick Anderson, a Republican vying for his party’s nomination to run for the 7th District seat, posted to X. “Don’t dictate to Virginians to change our flag because of your massive mistake and disrespect.”
“My first ever retweet of the Young Republicans,” Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas posted to X. The staunch Democrat served as leader of Virginia’s “Blue Brick Wall” during this year’s General Assembly session, working to block Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s legislative agenda, including a failed attempt to move the Washington Wizards basketball team from Washington, D.C., to Alexandria.
My first ever retweet of the Young Republicans ? https://t.co/XBV9qDvNOW
— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) April 16, 2024
Vindman, a key witness in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, has made his campaign a referendum on Trump. He’s raised nearly $2 million, mostly from out-of-state contributions.
Vindman, Clifford Heinzer, of Stafford, and Carl Bedell, of Greene County, are white men seeking the party’s nomination, while most of the Democrats in the 7th District race are black women. At voter forums, Democrats have questioned Vindman’s involvement in the state and local state Democratic Party apparatchik and why he won’t step aside and allow a black woman to be the front runner.
Voters will head to the polls for a June 18 Primary Election to decide the candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties. All eyes will be on congressional races in Northern Virginia this year, as seats in the 7th and 10th Districts have no incumbents.
The three-term Spanberger, who holds the 7th District seat, will run for governor in 2025, while three-term Jennifer Wexton (D) in the 10th is retiring for health reasons.
The Virginia 7th includes Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, and the big prize, voters in densely populated eastern Prince William County. Virginia’s 10th Congressional District includes western Prince William County, Loudoun, Fauquier, and Rappahannock counties.
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 forecasts from the National Weather Service, a stationary front lingering across central Virginia is expected to gradually shift northward today and transform into a warm front by early Thursday. This front, slated to move beyond the region by early Thursday, will pave the way for weather changes in the coming days.
The prevailing southerly winds maintain a mild air mass over the area, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to low 60s in most spots. Despite increasing cloud cover throughout the day, temperatures are anticipated to remain warm, with highs reaching the mid to upper 60s in northeastern Maryland and mountainous regions. Elsewhere, temperatures are forecasted to climb into the low to mid-70s.
As the day progresses, the threat of showers is expected to diminish, giving way to increasing low clouds overnight. Another mild night is forecasted, with temperatures dipping into the 50s to low 60s.
Outlook for the Coming Days
- Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected before 11 p.m., followed by isolated showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy conditions are forecasted, with temperatures around 61°F. Southeast winds are anticipated to shift to the west after midnight.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny skies are expected, with highs near 83°F. Northwest winds are forecasted at 5 to 8 mph.
- Thursday Night: Cloud cover is expected to increase, with lows around 51°F. Winds are forecasted to come from the east at 6 to 8 mph.
- Friday: There is a chance of showers, mainly after 2 pm, with mostly cloudy conditions and highs near 72°F. Southeast winds are expected at 6 to 9 mph.
Eugene Vindman has apologized for posing for a photo while holding the Virginia State Flag adopted by the Confederate state government during the Civil War.
Potomac Local was the first to report on the photo on Monday, April 15, 2024. Vindman asked the person who posted it to X, formerly Twitter, to remove it from the social media platform.
According to the Democrat, a congressional candidate who seeks to replace Abigail Spanberger in Virginia’s 7th District (Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fredericksburg) in a June 18, 2024, Primary Election, he posed for the photo after delivering a keynote speech at the Ukrainian Action Summit in Washington, D.C.
“Unbeknownst to me, in one of these pictures was a flag of Virginia spanning the Civil War era. When I glanced at the flag, I did not link it to the Civil War era. When I realized this mistake, I directed my team to reach out to this attendee to ask him to take the picture down, as it in no way aligns with any of my core values and background. I apologize,” Vindman wrote in a statement on X.
Democrats and Republicans were quick to criticize Vindman today on social media. The most notable, Virignia State Senator Louise Lucas, posted on X, “How could someone who wants to represent us be so ignorant of our history?”
Other Democrats seeking the party’s nomination in the 7th District race chimed in, too.
“One thing you’ll never see me do is pose for a picture with a Confederate flag,” said a former Virginia House of Delegates member, Elizabeth Guzman.
“It’s disheartening to see that someone who wants to represent so many people of color pose behind a confederate flag,” said Andrea Bailey, another Democrat seeking the nomination and a Prince William County Board of Supervisors member.
Republican Derrick Anderson, who’s in a race of multiple Republicans seeking that party’s nomination, said, “Yet another reason why this newcomer isn’t fit to serve Virginia’s 7th District.”
Vindman has raised more than $1.7 million in the race to replace Spanberger, more than any other Democrat or Republican seeking the congressional seat. Much of that cash has come from out-of-state contributors from places like California and New York.
The 25-year Army veteran, originally from Ukraine, was a crucial witness in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. He continues to campaign on that fact, all the while facing criticism from members of his party for being a political newcomer and from residents who question his intentions of being a white man running against a field of black female Democrats.
During a Democrat voter forum at the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Government Building in Woodbridge on March 27, 2024, a white man asked Vindman, “Currently, our Congressional representative is a white woman. Do you think it’s time to pass that torch to someone of color? And considering we have so many strong women of color running for this seat.”
“I’m an immigrant, and I’m Jewish, fleeing a bigoted communist regime. So I understand those perspectives,” Vindman responded.
Vindman has also been criticized for not being active locally in the Democratic Party. Delegate Joshua Cole asked, “I’m sorry – who is this? I’ve never seen this person in our area. At. All.”
During the March 27 forum, Vindman, currently a Prince William County resident, defended himself, saying he has lived in the 7th District since 2016. “My kids have gone to school here. I think for Northern Virginia, I qualify as a long-term resident since I’ve been here since 2016 in this transitory community,” said Vindman.
The three-term incumbent Spanberger announced her run for governor of Virginia in 2025. She seeks to replace Glenn Youngkin (R), whom the Virginia State Constitution prohibits from seeking a second term.
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At least five people were displaced after the fire, according to initial reports.
The fire was visible from two sides of a single-family house. All occupants were safely outside. The fire broke out at 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
We’re unclear how many people were inside the house at the time of the fire.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
If you’re nearby, please text photos from the scene to 571-989-1695.
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…
As a cold front leisurely makes its way southward, residents across the region can expect a shift in weather patterns, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service. The front, initially pushing below the I-66/U.S. 50 corridor is anticipated to stall near the Virginia/North Carolina border, marking the transition to cooler temperatures and increased precipitation chances.
The front’s departure is accompanied by a noticeable drop in dew point, signaling the arrival of drier air. Despite the recent warmth, temperatures are expected to dip to more seasonal levels, with highs in the low to mid-70s across much of the area, a welcome change from the 80-degree temperatures observed earlier this week.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, the Allegheny Highlands and Shenandoah Valley may experience scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. While the risk of severe weather remains low due to weaker shear profiles, residents in these areas are advised to stay weather-aware.
Looking ahead, the weather pattern is set to become more unsettled as the week progresses. Wednesday brings the potential for showers, with thunderstorms possible in the late afternoon and evening hours. Highs are expected to hover around 73 degrees, with southeast winds of 5 to 7 mph.
Thursday sees the passage of a weak cold front, followed by the arrival of a stronger cold front early in the weekend. These fronts are likely to bring further chances of precipitation, albeit with varying intensities.
Despite the inclement weather on the horizon, there is a silver lining for outdoor enthusiasts. High pressure is forecasted to return on Sunday and into early next week, offering a respite from the unsettled conditions.
Crimson Coward, a new restaurant specializing in hot chicken, has recently opened in Fredericksburg next to Mary Washington University. The owners, the husband and wife team of Naveed Javed and Aman Naveed, bring years of experience in the restaurant industry to this venture.
Naveed and Aman are not newcomers to the restaurant scene in Fredericksburg, having been part of the community for almost two decades. Their journey began with Vocelli Pizza in 2008, and since then, they have expanded to four pizza delivery locations across the area.
“When we decided to venture into something new, hot chicken seemed like the perfect fit,” Javed explains. “I had been researching and experimenting with recipes for a while, and when I came across Crimson Coward, I knew it was something special.”
The decision to join forces with Crimson Coward was not taken lightly. Javed emphasized the importance of the team behind the brand, stating, “I’ve been in the franchise business for a long time, so I know franchises inside and out. The team behind the scenes really grows the brand, and we are here to grow with this brand.”
The opening of Crimson Coward has also brought employment opportunities to the area. The restaurant currently employs around 25 people. The two owners provide jobs for 80 individuals across all their businesses, contributing to the local economy.
Located at 1217 Emancipation Highway in Eagle Village, Crimson Coward aims to cater to college students and the surrounding community. “It’s a good location, right at the intersection of a busy junction,” says Naveed. “We have a college crowd right across, and with the [Mary Washington Hospital] nearby, there are plenty of opportunities for us.”
Aman echoes Naveed’s enthusiasm. “So far, everyone on our team has tried the food, and they are as excited as we are. We want to continue spreading that excitement and provide a unique dining experience for our customers,” she said.
Looking to the future, Naveed and Aman are optimistic about Crimson Coward’s success. “Our goal is to grow,” says Naveed. If this location does well, we definitely plan to open more in the future. We’re in this business to grow and succeed.”
The Fredericksburg location marks the second Crimson Coward to open in the region this year. The restaurant chain opened at Embrey Mill in Stafford County, owned and operated by Nabil Asad, a longtime franchise restaurant who opened the first Subway restaurant in Stafford County at Aquia Town Center in the early 1990s.
Asad and his business partner, John Filipiak, also operate a Crimson Coward near Hoadly Road and Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge.
The Fredericksburg location is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
National Weather Service: A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia until 10 p.m.
Here is today’s full forecast, sponsored by the Prince William County Parks and Rec Department.
