The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has closed the left lane of westbound Balls Ford Road at the bridge over Prince William Parkway, near Gainesville, following damage caused by a truck strike. The closure was announced today, two days after a northbound vehicle on Prince William Parkway struck the bridge’s underside on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
VDOT has confirmed that the lane closure will be in place for an extended period to allow for further inspections and assessments of the bridge’s structural integrity. Officials have stated that an additional inspection will occur in the coming days, after which repair plans will be developed based on the findings.
Travelers using the bridge are advised to expect delays and to exercise caution in the area as crews continue to work on the affected span.
The Balls Ford Road bridge opened to traffic in April 2023 as part of a significant $64 million improvement project to widen a 1.2-mile section of Balls Ford Road between Doane Drive and Ashton Avenue in the Gainesville Magisterial District. This comprehensive upgrade transformed the corridor into a four-lane divided roadway featuring a 16-foot-wide grass median, a 10-foot-wide shared-use path, and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side of the road.
#Manassas: The left lane of westbound Balls Ford Road over Prince William Parkway will have an extended closure due to a bridge strike. Expect delays and pls watch for crews working in the area. @pwcgov@PWCPolicepic.twitter.com/O0toYjzLVI
Why did the chickens cross the road? Because they were seized by detectives and Animal Control Officers. An illegal cockfighting ring was uncovered earlier this month resulting in several felony warrants.
On November 7th at approximately 10:00 a.m. members of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office took flight to execute a search warrant on a residence on Norman Road [about a mile from Potomac Point Winery]. While this search warrant was related to a previous stolen property report, members of the Special Problems Unit had also received information regarding the same address hosting cockfight events.
During the original search warrant, a large number of chickens were located. Due to this, a plan was hatched to obtain a second search warrant, this one related to the allegations of cockfighting. As a result, exactly 80 Game Fowl Chickens were collected pending a seizure hearing. Additionally, controlled substances, equipment, and weapons directly related to cockfighting were located.
On the morning of November 13th, the seizure hearing was conducted. Animal Control was granted custody of all the chickens. Additionally, the suspect, Sergio Munoz, 47, of Stafford, was taken into custody by Sergeant A.J. McCall shortly following the hearing. Due to the fowl investigation, Munoz was charged with five counts of felony animal fighting. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $1,000 secured bond. Munoz was not the subject in question for the original search warrant.
All 80 chickens are currently being housed and cared for at the Stafford County Animal Shelter and are scheduled to be seen by a vet. The Stafford County Animal Shelter is currently exploring long-term solutions for their future.
Great work to all Animal Control Officers, Animal Shelter staff, and detectives for going above and beyond to ensure the safe rescue and care of each animal. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be sought.
[Image: Prince William Fire and Rescue]Fire crews responded to a car fire that spread to a house and surrounding brush on Molair Road near Manassas. The fire caused extensive damage to the home, which was deemed unsafe, and the American Red Cross is assisting two occupants.
Press Release from Prince William Fire and Rescue:
House Fire
Sunday, November 10, 2024
10:18 AM
This morning units were dispatched to the 11800 blk of Molair Road ([Near] Manassas) for a caller reporting a car on fire next to a house. Crews arrived on the scene with an auto fire and a rapidly spreading fire into a single-family dwelling. The surrounding brush and other combustibles were also ignited. The location of the home required rural water supply operations, but the fire was quickly brought under control. The home sustained extensive damage and was declared unsafe to occupy by the Building Official. No injuries were reported. The American Red [Cross] is assisting 2 adult occupants who were displaced. Based on observations and witnesses, indications are the fire was ignited by the recently driven and parked vehicle igniting combustible vegetation under the vehicle.
Update 11:45 a.m. — From Stafford fire and rescue’s Facebook page:
Due to dry conditions, low relative humidity and anticipated gusty winds, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS)has issued an Elevated Fire Danger across most of Northern and Central Virginia today. As a result, the Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office is implementing a ban on all outdoor burning for Friday, November 8th until 7AM Saturday, November 9th in Stafford County.
In addition to no open air burning, this is a friendly reminder to be extremely cautious when disposing of cigarette butts and matches and keep vehicles and equipment that could spark off of dry vegetation, like grass.
Original post — Good morning! Here’s a look at today’s weather forecast from the National Weather Service.
Yesterday’s cold front has moved down into the Carolinas, bringing cooler, drier air into our area. Early risers may have noticed some clouds, but they’ll clear out quickly, leaving us lots of sunshine and a breeze from the northwest. Temperatures will be mild, with highs reaching about 74°F. Gusty winds could pick up in the afternoon, especially in higher areas and north of US-50 and I-66, with gusts of 20-30 mph possible.
While it’s dry today, this windier weather is expected to continue into the evening, so take caution if you’re planning any outdoor fires, as conditions are primed for rapid spread.
Tonight, we’re looking at mostly clear skies, temperatures dropping to around 44°F, and a northwest breeze of 8-10 mph. Moving into Saturday, expect more sunshine but cooler temps, with a high near 59°F. Clouds will increase Saturday night as we head into Sunday, with the possibility of afternoon showers and temperatures near 60°F.
The proposed Bristow Campus data center project, slated for consideration by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on November 19, 2024, has been deferred.
Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir noted that the applicant may have anticipated a lack of support for the project. “I think they know they don’t have the votes,” said Weir. It’s unclear when supervisors may take up the case.
The Bristow Campus development, led by Stack Infrastructure, aims to rezone agricultural land near Nokesville Road and Broad Run Creek into a Planned Business District. This rezoning would permit two high-rise office buildings and light industrial structures up to 75 feet tall.
The proposed site plan includes a 50-foot buffer to protect critical areas, 25 acres of preserved open space, and nearly 14 acres dedicated to parks and recreation. A trail along Broad Run Linear Park is also planned.
Community leaders and residents have expressed growing concern over the increasing presence of data centers in Prince William County. Kathy Kulick, Vice Chair of the HOA Round Table of Northern Virginia, highlighted the potential impacts of data centers on residential communities.
“We’re essentially a discussion and information exchange forum for residential community leaders,” said Kulick, explaining her organization’s role in helping local communities understand development projects. Data centers, according to Kulick, often bring noise, environmental concerns, and infrastructure strain. “Data center noise is real… residents don’t really realize what’s going on until one night they can’t sleep,” she said, adding that diesel generators and air quality impacts are additional concerns.
Kulick also noted that this development falls outside the Prince William County Data Center Overlay District, a designated area approved in 2017 to provide infrastructure suited for data centers. The Overlay District aims to ensure new data centers have access to adequate water and power, yet, as Kulick pointed out, “This Bristow Campus… is located outside of that area.” This deviation has raised questions about whether the county’s infrastructure can support the energy demands of the data center, prompting discussions around alternative energy sources, including small modular nuclear reactors.
The Bristow Campus project mirrors other controversial data center developments in Prince William County, including the recently approved Devlin Technology Park. This project, backed by Stanley Martin Homes, has faced ongoing legal challenges from residents of the Bristow area, who formed the group Defend Devlin. These residents, represented by attorney Donna Gallant, are appealing a previous court dismissal of their case, hoping to prevent data centers from being constructed near Chris Yung Elementary School and several neighborhoods.
If approved, Bristow Campus would be part of a larger trend bringing data centers to residential areas, despite objections. Prince William County residents, particularly in the western region, are facing the possibility of high-rise data centers encroaching on neighborhoods, schools, and parks, potentially altering the character of these communities.
The HOA Round Table of Northern Virginia is working to alert residents across multiple counties, including Loudoun, Fairfax, and Fauquier, about potential developments. In addition to noise and environmental concerns, Kulick raised the issue of rising utility costs for residents, as extensive infrastructure upgrades would be necessary to support the Bristow Campus and similar developments.
In Virginia’s highly contested 7th Congressional District race, Democratic candidate Eugene S. Vindman currently leads Republican Derrick M. Anderson by a narrow 12,750 votes, with Vindman tallying 152,136 votes to Anderson’s 139,386.
However, Anderson’s campaign has emphasized that the race remains undecided, with significant numbers of ballots still uncounted and Orange County’s Election Day results not yet published.
“Simply put, like so many other races across the country, this race remains too close to call,” Anderson stated. “And like many other races across the country, it has not been called by any major media outlet. The reality is that there are thousands of outstanding ballots to count. In fact, according to the VA Dept. of Elections, Orange County hasn’t published any Election Day votes.”
In Orange County, so far, Vindman captured 4,174 votes, or 42.74%, while Anderson received 5,569 votes, or 57.02%. Anderson’s campaign expects the final tally here could play a significant role in the district’s outcome. “Many of those ballots will be counted today,” Anderson added. “Our team is deploying out to canvasses across all 11 localities in VA07 to get an accurate read on all the votes outstanding.”
The breakdown of votes in other counties shows Prince William County delivered the highest number of votes to Vindman, with 74,834 compared to Anderson’s 38,512. In Culpeper County, however, Anderson claimed a substantial lead, capturing 17,335 votes to Vindman’s 10,349. Other counties, including Spotsylvania and Greene, followed similar trends, with Anderson leading in more rural areas while Vindman garnered stronger support in urban and suburban regions.
The campaign also noted that the Virginia Department of Elections has a Friday deadline for voters to cure ballots that were rejected for various reasons. “We will be working hard to ensure that every vote is counted,” Anderson said, urging voters whose ballots were initially rejected to take action before the deadline.
Anderson criticized a local media entity for what he described as “misinformation” after an incorrect race call led to confusion. “To be exceedingly clear: this media entity gave Virginia voters misinformation at a critical point during an election,” he said. “We ask that, given the amount of misinformation already going around today, any outlet with questions please reach out to us immediately.”
As final counts and cures continue, both campaigns remain vigilant, with Anderson’s team actively tracking remaining ballots across the district’s 11 localities to ensure every vote is accounted for.
Updated 1 a.m, November 6, 2024 — The race for Virginia’s U.S. Senate seat remains closely watched, with updated numbers showing incumbent Senator Tim Kaine in the lead:
– Tim Kaine (D): 52.43% (1,833,594 votes)
– Hung Cao (R): 47.57% (1,663,630 votes)
Currently, 2,050 of 2,536 precincts have reported, and an estimated 885,261 early votes are still outstanding, which could impact the final outcome.
Virginia’s 7th and 10th Congressional Districts
The race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District has concluded, with all precincts reporting:
Vindman declared victory, releasing this statement via email:
Eugene Vindman
With the support of our grassroots army, we accomplished something together that many didn’t think was possible. It’s a testament to the power of the American experience, that an immigrant who escaped a Soviet Regime and came to this great nation with less than $800 in our pockets, would now stand here as a Congressman-elect of the United States House of Representatives. Thank you to my incredible wife Cindy, our two wonderful kids Max and Madi, and of course my less handsome twin Alex.”
In my 25 years of military service, and when we were jumping out of airplanes, it didn’t matter to me the color creed, background, race, or party affiliation of the person next to me. What mattered was getting the mission done. That’s the type of service I am going to take to Washington as the next Congressman from Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.
All votes have been counted in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, showing a lead for Democrat Suhas Subramanyam:
Suhas Subramanyam (D): 51.91% (206,621 votes)
Mike Clancy (R): 47.72% (189,946 votes)
“I am honored and humbled that the people of Virginia’s 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honor to continue serving this district in Washington,” Subramanyam posted to Twitter.
Manassas City Results
With five of six precincts reporting, the race for key positions in Manassas is nearing completion as candidates compete for mayoral, city council, and school board seats.
Manassas Mayoral Race
– E. Michelle Davis-Younger: Leads with 56.98% (7,741 votes).
– Xiao-Yin “Tang” Byrom**: Trails with 42.69% (5,799 votes).
– Write-In**: Accounts for 0.33% (45 votes).
Manassas City Council
The top three candidates poised to secure seats on the council are:
– Mark D. Wolfe: 19.35% (6,996 votes)
– Ashley R. Hutson: 18.52% (6,699 votes)
– Tom C. Osina: 16.40% (5,931 votes)
Close contenders include Robyn R. Williams (15.53%), Lynn Forkell Greene (15.27%), and Stephen D. Kent (14.67%), with write-ins making up 0.25% (92 votes).
Manassas School Board
The top four finishers in the school board race are:
– Suzanne Seaberg: 14.62% (6,317 votes)
– Diana Ivette Brown: 14.04% (6,063 votes)
– Zella M. Jones: 13.55% (5,851 votes)
– Dayna-Marie Miles: 13.06% (5,639 votes)
Additional candidates include A. R. “Allie” Forkell (12.53%), Javanese M. Hailey (12.44%), Maidy M. Whitesell (12.38%), and Christina S. Brooks (7.10%), with write-ins totaling 0.29% (124 votes).
These results reflect near-final standings, with only one precinct left to report. Potomac Local News will continue to track the final tallies as they come in.
CORRECTED Final Results: Manassas Park Mayoral and City Council Races
The latest and final tallies for the Manassas Park elections are in, showing decisive outcomes for both the mayoral and city council seats, all Democrats.
Mayor of Manassas Park
– Alanna M. Mensing: Won overwhelmingly with 83.78% (4,029 votes).
– Write-In Candidates: Accounted for 16.22% (780 votes).
All precincts have reported, with no early votes left to count.
### Manassas Park City Council
The top three candidates who have secured seats on the Manassas Park City Council are:
– Yesenia E. “Yesy” Amaya: 26.46% (2,739 votes)
– Darryl G. Moore: 26.26% (2,718 votes)
– Stacy J. Seiberling: 22.54% (2,333 votes)
Laura H. Hampton closely followed with 21.98% (2,275 votes) but did not secure a seat.
These results mark the final standings in Manassas Park. Potomac Local News will provide further updates if statements or additional analysis are released by the elected officials.
Town of Dumfries Council
In Dumfries, incumbents Brian K. Fields and Shaun R. Peet retain their seats, joined by newcomer Ebony E. Lofton. The final tallies are:
– Brian K. Fields: 25.60% (553 votes)
– Shaun R. Peet: 25.60% (553 votes)
– Ebony E. Lofton: 24.31% (525 votes)
Town of Haymarket Results
– Mayor: Tracy Lynn Pater, running unopposed, won with 96.47% (410 votes).
– Town Council: The top six finishers securing seats are Mary A. Ramirez (18.14%), Matthew J. Gallagher (15.03%), Joseph R. “Joe” Pasanello (14.84%), Kenneth M. “Ken” Luersen (13.81%), Justin L. Baker (13.50%), and Alexander M. Beyene (12.52%).
Town of Quantico Results
Quantico Election Results: Community Elects Mayor and Town Council
The residents of the Town of Quantico have cast their votes, finalizing the leadership for the upcoming term. The election saw competitive races for both Mayor and Town Council.
Mayor’s Race
Kevin P. Brown emerged as Mayor with 66.45% of the vote (103 votes). Write-in candidates accounted for 33.55% (52 votes), showcasing a spirited race.
Town Council Results
Quantico’s Town Council election allowed voters to select up to five candidates. Here are the official results, highlighting the top five who secured seats on the council:
In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Shirley Contracting Company, Transurban is set to unveil a new access point from Opitz Boulevard to the 95 Express Lanes in Woodbridge.
The access point, opening on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 10 p.m., will allow northbound entry during morning rush hour starting Friday, November 15, providing Prince William County commuters a faster and more reliable route.
The $70 million project, fully funded by Transurban, is designed to serve a growing community that includes major employers like Sentara Northern Virignia Medical Center and Potomac Mills. VDOT Northern Virginia District Megaprojects Director Michelle Shropshire expressed pride in delivering this new connection, citing its potential to ease congestion for drivers traveling from Prince William County and beyond.
“The new connection between Opitz Boulevard and the 95 Express Lanes will provide new access for drivers coming from Prince William County and points south, helping to relieve congestion locally and on I-95,” Shropshire said.
The Opitz Boulevard Ramp Project introduces a reversible, south-facing ramp offering northbound access to the 95 Express Lanes from Opitz Boulevard in the morning and southbound access in the afternoon. The project also includes rehabilitation and widening the Opitz Boulevard bridge over I-95, adding left-turn lanes in both directions and a sidewalk for bicyclists and pedestrians. This stand-alone direct access ramp is the first to be integrated into the existing Express Lanes network. It is expected to ease traffic flow across the highway on Opitz Boulevard.
Originally planned for summer 2024, the ramp’s opening was delayed due to project adjustments, according to Transurban. Despite the delay, Transurban North America President Beau Memory noted that the project reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to mobility improvements in Northern Virginia.
“The Opitz Boulevard Project is a great example of Transurban’s commitment to improving mobility in collaboration with our partners at VDOT,” Memory said. “We are always looking for more ways to provide faster, more reliable trips, and the new ramp will continue to build connections throughout our communities.”
Voters stand in line to cast their ballots at a DMV in Woodbridge.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will deploy federal monitors to observe elections in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park on Election Day. These monitors will focus on ensuring local compliance with federal voting laws, specifically related to accessibility for voters with disabilities and the availability of language assistance.
Susan Reed, the Voter Registrar for Manassas, confirmed the DOJ’s involvement, stating, “DOJ has contacted me and have agreed to allow DOJ to monitor the precincts. The DOJ monitored right after Manassas City was language required several years ago. The DOJ’s focus is ensuring localities are making progress with ADA and language requirements. I have had positive feedback and also helpful suggestions from them. The DOJ’s monitors are doing their job to ensure federal laws are being followed, and Manassas City wants to adhere to federal law.”
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office:
